Page 29 of Rising Darkness

My heart squeezed in my chest at the idea that he may not come and join us.

“I want you.” I met Kota’s heated gaze. “Both of you.”

Slowly, Kota closed the door and leaned against it, his attention intense.

I shuddered a breath.

“What are you scared of?” Axel gently grabbed my chin and made me face him.

Did I tell him how scared I was that Kota wasn’t ready to take our relationship to the next level? Pressuring him wasn’t an option. If he walked out of the room, I’d let him leave. But I’d never stop fighting for him and our relationship. I saw what we could have together, and it was a dream worth fighting for.

“I just hope the mating bite works this time.” The white lie slipped free, and I swear Kota saw straight through me.

“Hey,” Axel soothed. “It’s going to work this time.”

“And if it doesn’t,” Kota started before Axel shot him a glowering look. Kota held his hands up. “You didn’t let me finish. I was going to say, even if we can’t, that changes nothing, Lorn. We’re still mates.” He shrugged like that was all there was to it.

My mate, who’d been so resistant, so stand-offish, had finally let me see the sweet man beneath the surly exterior. His casual promise warmed me. It settled into my heart like a flame in the middle of winter.

We still had a lot to work through together, but I couldn’t help but marvel at how far we’d come.

What had started as a tense bond had developed into something so much more. Our chemistry was undeniable, and together we were letting ourselves heal from the scars the world had inflicted.

I saw the man he was beneath the pain and anger he shrouded himself in, and slowly, he’d opened to me, letting me see every beautiful layer. The artist, the healer, the nurturer, the protector.

When the bond between us had broken, I’d worried he’d run. But here he was, standing before me, choosing me, promising that with or without the mate bond, he was all in.

It was everything I needed to hear, and I didn’t even know how to react.

Slipping off of Axel’s lap, I sauntered over to Kota and curled my hands into the dark t-shirt he was wearing. I pressed close, enjoying the shocked way his eyes widened before they darkened with lust.

Kota didn’t have much experience with women. So far, we’d only kissed a couple times, and he’d only touched me for the first time the other day.

Already, I’d become addicted. I wanted to sip on his lips, to kiss every hard muscle of his body, to feel him tense beneath me as I taught him all about the pleasure we could share.

Before I’d met the guys, I wasn’t that experienced, but I’d certainly settled into my personal little harem with ease. My mates knew how to romance me, how to turn me on, how to keep me on edge, and I was always ready for their attention. But with Kota, our roles were reversed. I was the teacher, and I wanted to show himeverything.

Boldly, I took a chance and asked, “Are you saying you’re mine, Kota?” My voice was more airy than I’d meant it to be. Being this close to my mate and breathing in his fresh forest scent had my head spinning in the best way.

Kota swallowed, and I bit my lip. His gaze darted to the flesh I worried between my teeth, then a sweet heat licked along my spine as Axel moved closer and joined us.

“You heard the woman. She asked you a question, brother,” he pressed, tone low and demanding.

Kota stared down at me intently, making sure I saw the truth in his gaze. “I’ve always been yours, kitten, even when I tried to fight it.”

Elation shot through my heart like adrenaline, washing away the pain of a possible rejection. A smile curved my lips as I popped onto my tiptoes, leaning into Kota’s chest to steady myself.

My mates were freaking tall, and I tipped my face toward his, waiting for him to lean in and seal his lips to mine. I needed Kota more than my next heartbeat. “Then kiss me,” I challenged, delighted when he swayed forward.

Drawn together like magnets, unable to resist the pull, our lips touched. The first light taste of him had me humming for more, and I tugged his shirt, playfully reeling him in until, on a groan, his hands met my waist and our kiss deepened naturally.

“Lorn,” he rasped, and the way he said my name had my toes curling in pleasure. I loved the desperate way it rolled off his tongue, and the tightening of his fingers pressing into my skin, as if he was afraid to truly grab me and haul me into his body.

But I wanted his complete and total surrender.

Nipping at his bottom lip, I arched into him and trailed a light line of kisses along his jawline and neck. My searching hands found their way under his shirt to smooth over the etched lines of his stomach. They traced along each dip and rise, exploring him, worshiping him, begging him to stay and not pull away this time.

When we’d last kissed like this, we’d been at the pack party. Being between the twins was almost déjà vu, reminding me of that night on the dance floor. He’d run from me after a searing kiss, ripping away as though I’d physically burned him. So much had changed since then, but I couldn’t stop my heart from protecting itself, half expecting that he would suddenly stop and disappear.

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