Page 16 of Hunting for Redemption

CHAPTER EIGHT

AXEL

Fuck.Fuck, he knows. How does he know?

I can’t focus on working through this logically, all I can do is be washed away in this kiss. Jeff kisses me with a passion I’m not prepared for. It’s like nothing I’ve experienced before. My hands grip the front of his shirt and I’m not sure if I want to push him away so we can talk this out or hold him tight so he can never go.

Thankfully, the decision is taken away from me. Jeff pulls back, resting his forehead against mine. Having him this close is everything I’ve been craving since he woke up. Was that truly just yesterday? Has it only been a day of knowing this man? How can my feelings be so deep already?

“Axel,” he breathes, his lips just barely out of reach of my own. “I know you’re my true mate.”

“How?”

I can feel his smile. “Cooper brought me some really interesting reading material. He’s a true keeper of lore and knew exactly what grimoires to bring me. There was an entire section about true mates.”

“Oh,” I say, my stomach flooding with a mixture of joy and trepidation. I pull back so I can look into his brown eyes. “Are you mad at me? For not telling you?”

Jeff shakes his head, his eyes going soft. “I understand why you didn’t say anything sooner. You were hoping to protect me while I was undergoing my transformation. You were trying to do what you thought was right.” He leans down and places the gentlest kiss against my lips. “I’m not upset, but maybe next time something like this happens, we talk it out instead, okay?”

There are butterflies zipping around inside my belly at the idea of next time. This sentence implies that Jeff plans on sticking around. He plans on this being a real relationship. I smile so wide my cheeks hurt. “I can handle that,” I tell him before pulling him into another kiss.

This kiss feels different. It feels full of potential. It feels like the start to something new, something beautiful. When Jeff’s lips part, I push my tongue into his mouth, moaning when our tongues touch for the first time. Fuck, Jeff tastes even better than he smells. My head feels like I’m underwater and the only thing giving me air is Jeff.

Jeff’s hand slides under my shirt and a shiver runs through me. “Can I?”

I nod my head, pulling back so that Jeff can easily pull my shirt over my head. His hands slide over my exposed skin, his touches almost reverent in nature. I feel so desired, so fucking wanted.

“Fuck,” Jeff murmurs, his eyes looking over my chest. “Fuck. You’re so hot.”

If I was capable of blushing, I know my face would be bright red right now. Instead, I bite my bottom lip, letting his compliment wash over me. “Let me see you,” I say, grabbing at his shirt.

Jeff is quickly pulling his clothes off until he’s in nothing but his boxers. His body is strong and toned, beautifully pale. There are scars leftover on his skin from being a hunter. He’s breathtaking and I thank Lady Fate for giving me such a beautiful mate.

“I have all these instincts that I’m not used to,” Jeff murmurs, stepping into my space and running his hands over my sides.

“Like what?”

“I want to bite you so fucking bad. Not to drink from you. I just want to mark you. Is that normal?”

“Very much so,” I tell him, desire rushing through me at the thought of having Jeff’s mouth on me, leaving marks for me to find before they heal. I want that so fucking badly and I want to do the same to him. “I want to mark you too. I want to claim you. I want to cement our mating.” I clear my throat, getting ahead of myself. “But that’s only when you’re ready. I can be patient, Jeff. I can wait until you’re more used to the idea, until you’re more acclimated to being a vampire.”

Jeff’s eyes narrow. “Fuck that, Axel. I want you right now. Can I have you? Please?”

I suck in a shaky breath and nod my head. This is everything I’ve wanted to hear since Jeff woke up. “Gods, yes.”

A growl radiates from Jeff’s chest and the noise makes my knees go weak. Thankfully, he’s right there to catch me, scooping me up and tossing me onto the bed. A giggle escapes my lips without my permission as I scoot back onto the bed until my head is against my pillow. I shimmy out of my boxers, tossing them onto the floor and spreading my legs for Jeff. His eyes take all of me in and I can see his desire for me reflected in his pretty hazel eyes.

“Get over here, my mate.”

Jeff pulls his own boxers down and I get to see his hard cock in all its glory. It’s a gorgeous cock, hard and long. I can’t wait to feel it inside of me. I can’t wait to touch it and taste it. I can’t wait to both feel pleasure from it and give Jeff pleasure through it.

I reach out my hands, pulling Jeff down against my chest as he crawls onto the bed. Feeling his naked skin against my own makes a noise of pleasure leave my lips. Oh gods. This is amazing yet my stomach blazes, begging for more, begging to feel him stretching me open.

Jeff rides his hips down against me and I tilt my head back, letting out a gasp. “Fuck,” I murmur, my skin feeling like it’s on fire every place we touch. “Fuck, Jeff!”

“Does it always feel like this? It’s overwhelming,” he whispers, his mouth going to my exposed throat and leaving barely there kisses.

“No,” I say softly, wanting him to understand. “It’s never felt like this. What we have is special.”

---