“I can’t. He’ll claim you.”
“No, he won’t. Fucking me will assuage the ache. Do it. I want you to let him out. Let me fuck my wolf,” I begged.
Rowan swore. But he fought a losing battle. The wolf was incredibly powerful. And it wanted me with a desire bordering on obsession.
Before my eyes, his body changed. His chest thickened and grew wider, taller, with short black hair coating his form. His head transformed, his mouth elongated as his snout emerged. Black claws extended from his hands, a bite of pain as they pricked my flesh.
And his cock lengthened like before. Fuck, I loved the way he felt inside me. His massive rod turned as black as the rest of his form.
But then he truly began to fuck me. His wolf tossed its head back like it was fighting itself.
“Just fuck me. Make my body your vessel to slake your lust upon,” I moaned, writhing at the rigorous fucking.
He snarled. Claws pierced my flesh. The sharp bite of pain only added to the fervor of our mating. The table shook at his violent thrusts. And I wondered again how I could leave.
I’d been so sure of myself when I escaped Avalon City. And I was glad I’d done it. Because it had forced us together in the most brutal of ways, made us acknowledge what we both knew in our souls. If we mated, our relationship would stand the test of time.
And I mourned even as ecstasy crashed over me as I climaxed. Because he had forever changed me.
I would leave Avalon in a few days’ time. But my heart would remain behind.
And Rowan, both man and beast, tossed their head back and howled as he climaxed and filled my womb with his seed.
Rowan shifted back into human form, never withdrawing from me, and carried me over to the bed, where he made love to me until our bodies were spent beyond measure and sleep claimed us.
22
Rowan and I spent the next week fucking, eating, and sleeping, not necessarily in that order. In that time, I’d come to realize the depth of my feelings. I loved him. Not that I would ever admit it. The specter of my leaving Avalon hung over everything we did. It was the unwelcome guest in our tent.
We were lying in bed on our sides with Rowan at my back, spooning me, when he said, “We have to leave in the morning. If we don’t head back, my father will send a search party out after me.”
“I know. When we reach the city, how long before you plan on sending me through the barrier?” The thought of never seeing him again was a dagger through my soul.
“I’ll need a day, two at most, to finish getting everything organized. I was already in the process of setting up bank accounts and everything else you’d need in the outside world before you left.”
He what? Rolling over, I cupped his face in my hands. “You were? Really?”
He kissed one of my wrists before responding. “Yes. You’re my mate. Just because I can’t claim you, do you really think I would send you to the outside world unprotected without the means to support yourself?”
Well . . . “I didn’t even consider it. Let’s face it, we didn’t have the easiest beginning.” Nor would we have the easiest ending. And it would be an ending.
“Ember, I haven’t spent my life building a fortune for nothing. Shifters have to take care of their mates. It’s in our damn bones to do so. And the managers at the factory are overseeing the setup. You’ll have everything you will need. A house, bank accounts, and the proper identification to thrive in that world.”
“Rowan, I—” I shook my head. There was no point in divulging my feelings. It would only hurt us both in the end. But a single tear escaped and slid down my face. This man continued to surprise me. And while we hadn’t known each other long, it didn’t matter. My heart and soul knew he was it for me.
He caught my tear with his thumb and brought it to his lips. “I know. It’s the same for me.”
“Can I ask you a favor?” I hated doing it. I didn’t want him to think I was taking advantage.
“Name it.”
“Make sure my sister is never sacrificed. I couldn’t bear it. And without me here to protect her . . .”
“Ember, I’m putting an end to the gladiator tournaments as Avalon knows it. We will still use it to settle disputes, but the prize will change. I haven’t decided what the prize will be each time. But I will figure it out.”
“Do you think your father will allow it? I mean, I know I will reinforce the barrier before I leave.”
“How long will your way reinforce it?”
