Page 62 of Marked For A Bite
Having her father Jared living with them had been like discovering a missing piece of her soul. Every evening after brutal training sessions, they'd sit by the fireplace while he shared stories about her mother's laugh and about the brief but blazing love affair that created her. Her father possessed Logan's same protective intensity tempered with gentleness, and she finally understood why Patricia Raymond had risked everything for one chance at true love.
No wonder Mom fell so hard.
The bacon grease popped and sizzled as she flipped the strips, lost in memories of her father's patient answers to years of accumulated questions. He'd filled in gaps she hadn't even known existed—her mother's favorite song, the way she hummed while cooking, and how Patricia's eyes had sparkled when she talked about her unborn daughter's future.
If only she could see us now. Dad free, me with my mate, fighting for a future where love isn't forbidden.
But threads of darkness still wove through their newfound happiness. The experiments conducted on her father andthe other twenty-four prisoners revealed a disturbing pattern that made her skin crawl. Enhanced healing abilities, magical manipulation, forced shifting under extreme duress—the Council had been playing God with ancient bloodlines for decades.
Why experiment on those with ancient bloodlines if they want hybrids dead? Dad keeps saying they're trying to harness power, but that doesn't explain the kill orders...
Strong arms suddenly encircled her waist from behind, and familiar warmth pressed against her back as Logan's bare chest molded to her spine. His chin settled on her shoulder as he inhaled her scent.
"Sneaking out of bed to cook for me?" His voice carried that gravelly morning rasp that never failed to make her blood heat. "What did I do to deserve this?"
Everything. You saved my life, claimed me as yours, and gave me a purpose worth fighting for.
"Maybe I just wanted to see if I could wake up before my hypervigilant mate for once," she teased, leaning back into his solid warmth. "How does it feel to actually sleep past sunrise?"
Logan's arms tightened around Zoe, possessive and protective even in this tender moment. "Strange. Good strange." His lips found the sensitive spot behind her ear. "Though waking up to an empty bed nearly sent me into tactical mode until I caught the scent of bacon."
"Mmm, so you're saying your stomach led you to me, not romantic devotion?"
"Both." His hands splayed across her abdomen through the thin cotton of his shirt, his fingertips tracing lazy patterns that made heat pool low in her body. "You know I can't function properly when you're not within arm's reach."
She turned in his embrace, taking in the sight of him—hair mussed from sleep, green eyes still heavy-lidded, wearing onlylow-slung pajama pants that showcased the map of scars across his chest. Battle-hardened and beautiful, her dangerous mate who'd chosen love over duty.
"Breakfast is almost ready," she murmured, though her attention was rapidly shifting from food to the way Logan's gaze heated as it traced her bare legs. "Unless you had something else in mind..."
A slow, wolfish grin spread across Logan's face. "Funny you should mention that," he said, his voice low and gravelly. In one fluid motion, he reached behind her and turned off the stove, the click of the burner loud in the sudden quiet. Before she could protest, he lifted her effortlessly onto the small kitchen island, her legs parting instinctively to accommodate his hips as he stepped between them. His hands gripped her thighs, his touch firm and possessive.
"The food's going to get cold," she managed to say, her breath already hitching as his lips found hers in a searing kiss. His mouth was demanding, his tongue sliding against hers in a rhythm that made her head spin. She wound her arms around his neck, her fingers threading through his dark auburn hair.
Logan pulled back just enough to murmur against her lips, "We can make more." His hands slid up her thighs, bunching the fabric of her—well, his—t-shirt until it was hiked up around her waist. With a tug, he pulled it over her head, leaving her in nothing but her panties. The cool air of the cabin brushed her skin, but it was nothing compared to the heat of Logan's gaze as it raked over her body.
He didn't waste time. His mouth trailed down her neck, leaving a trail of kisses and gentle nips that made her shiver. When he reached her breasts, he took one hardened nipple into his mouth, sucking and flicking his tongue in a way that made her gasp. His other hand cupped her opposite breast, his thumbbrushing over the sensitive peak in a rhythm that matched his mouth.
"I think this cabin was a good idea after all," he breathed, his breath hot against her skin.
Zoe's head fell back, a soft moan escaping her lips. "You're only saying this cabin was a good idea because we've had sex five times since we got here yesterday," she teased, her voice breathless.
Logan lifted his head, his green eyes gleaming with mischief. "That's all?" he asked. Before she could respond, he moved lower, his lips trailing down her stomach until he reached the waistband of her panties. He hooked his fingers into the fabric and slid them down her legs, tossing them aside. "Let's make it six."
His hands spread her thighs wider as he knelt before her, his breath hot against her core. She whimpered as his tongue found her slick folds, licking and teasing with a skill that made her legs tremble. His hands gripped her hips, holding her in place as he worked her into a frenzy. Every stroke of his tongue brought her closer to the edge, her moans growing louder and her hips arching into his mouth.
Just as she was about to tip over into ecstasy, Logan pulled back, his lips glistening and his eyes blazing with satisfaction. "Not yet," he said.
Before she could protest, he lifted her off the counter and carried her to the loft bed. He laid her down gently, then stripped off his pajama pants, revealing his fully erect cock. Zoe's breath caught at the sight of him like it always does—he was so hard, so powerful, and utterly hers.
He climbed over her, his body hovering above hers for a moment before he sheathed himself inside her in one deep, delicious thrust. Zoe's back arched, a loud moan tearing from her throat as he filled her completely. He always felt so good, soperfect, stretching her in ways that made her forget everything else but him.
Logan started slow, his thrusts deep and deliberate, pulling out almost completely before driving back in. It was maddening, tantalizing, and she dug her nails into his back, urging him to move faster.
"Please," she gasped, her voice breaking. "More."
He obeyed immediately, his pace quickening, and his thrusts growing deeper and harder. Their bodies moved in perfect sync, the rhythm of their lovemaking a dance they'd perfected over countless nights. Zoe's legs wrapped around his hips, pulling him even closer, her moans echoing in the quiet cabin.
When her orgasm hit, it was explosive, her body convulsing around him as she cried out his name. Logan followed moments later, his own release shuddering through him as he spilled himself inside her. They clung to each other, their breathing ragged, and their bodies still trembling from the intensity of their connection.
