Page 36 of Burned By My Mate

“I know you will, and I love you for that.”

Logan’s whole body goes rigid, and he stares at me in wonder.

“Say that again,” he says hoarsely.

“I love you, Logan. Mate,” I say softly, and his lips crash down on top of mine.

“I love you too, mate. So much. More than anything.”

His hands pull me tighter against him, and my arms twine around his neck as he kisses me. I love the feeling of the hard planes of his body pressed against my curves. His tongue slides along mine, deep and hungry, and everything else—the loomingthreat, the war talk, even the fear—melts away under the heat of his kiss.

Logan rolls us, settling between my thighs as his mouth trails from my lips to my jaw and down my neck. Each kiss, each scrape of his teeth against my skin, sends sparks dancing down my spine. I arch against him, my fingers diving into his thick hair, tugging gently as he worships me with his mouth.

“You drive me crazy, mate. I love you so much,” he murmurs against my skin. “I’m never letting you go.”

“You better not,” I whisper back, breathless.

His hands slide down my sides, over my hips, gripping me tight like he needs to make sure I’m real. Like he needs to feel every inch of me to believe this moment is really happening. I reach down between us, guiding him back to where I want him most, and when his body presses fully against mine again, we both groan.

“I need you,” I pant. “Now.”

“You have me,” he growls, lips crashing into mine again, deeper this time, possessive and tender all at once.

He moves slowly at first, like he’s savoring the moment, like he wants to memorize the exact way I feel wrapped around him. But soon the pace builds, our bodies moving in sync, every thrust driving us higher. His forehead presses to mine, our breaths tangled, and I feel everything—his love, his desperation, his promise to protect me no matter what.

“I’ve got you, Emerson,” he whispers against my lips as we fall together, hearts pounding in unison.

And in that moment, even with war on the horizon, I feel nothing but safe. Nothing but his.

Things are probably about to get rough around town, but I know that there’s nothing that I can’t get through as long as Logan is with me.

After all…we’re mated for life now.

I smile as Logan kisses me softly and cuddles me against his side. I know that I’m right where I’m meant to be.

Forever.

TEN

Logan

Five Years Later…

The scentof pine and fresh-baked cookies fills the air as I step onto the porch of our home, shaking the light dusting of snow from my jacket. The sun is dipping behind the trees, casting a golden glow over the property, and inside, I can hear the soft hum of Emerson’s laughter mingling with the high-pitched giggles of our kids.

My chest tightens in that familiar way, full of a love so deep, so consuming, I sometimes don’t know how I ever lived without it.

Five years. Five years since I almost lost her before I even had the chance to truly have her. Five years since I held her as her world burned, promising to protect her, to love her, even when she didn’t fully understand what we were to each other yet. Five years since she walked into my life and completely reshaped it.

And now, this—this home, this life, this family—is everything I never knew I needed.

I push open the front door and am immediately greeted by a tiny, red-haired missile.

“Daddy!”

I barely have time to brace myself before our daughter, Hazel, launches into my arms, her tiny limbs clinging to me as she buries her face in my chest. She smells like vanilla and paint, a combination that always reminds me of Emerson.

“Hey, baby bear,” I murmur, pressing a kiss to her temple. “What’s got you so excited?”

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