I rubbed her back, a feather-light touch meant to soothe, then gestured to the untouched food. "Anything you like?" I managed, my voice tighter than I intended. "I can get more if you'd prefer."
Cassy shook her head, a shy, almost imperceptible movement, and shifted, a ripple of restless energy against my lap. A low growl, entirely involuntary, rumbled in my chest. I suppressed the surge of raw need, trying to keep my voice even. "Cassy," I began, aiming for gentle, but it emerged as a thick, guttural rasp, "Could you… could you try to hold still for me?"
The subtle, provocative rhythm of her hips against my most sensitive part stilled instantly. The knowledge that she felt the hard evidence of my burgeoning arousal, the undeniable proof of my losing grip, sent a fresh wave of heat through me. Just as I began to wrestle the escalating tension back under some semblance of control, a sweet, intoxicating scent, thick with undisguised desire, flooded my senses.
My wolf erupted, a low, possessive sound vibrating deep within me, a warning, a claim. My teeth throbbed, a primal ache that spoke of instinct overriding reason. I could feel him straining against the leash, a desperate need to break free, to mark her, to possess her right there, against the polished surface of the table. Her scent, so potent, so overwhelmingly *hers*, was a siren's call driving me closer to the edge of madness.
All rational thought vanished, replaced by a raw need. I moved without conscious command, spinning her to face me, her legs wrapping around my waist with a life of their own. The fabric of her dress shifted, baring more of her, and my hands settled on her hips, an anchor in the rising tide of desire. Her eyes widened, a fleeting moment of surprise before her scent, so potent, so overwhelming, consumed me. A low rumble escaped my throat as I drew her flush against me, my hardness pressing into her yielding heat. A moan, soft and involuntary, escaped her lips as her head fell back, her fingers digging into my shoulders, a clear sign that control had already been surrendered by us both.
"D-derick," she moaned, her eyes fluttering open to meet mine. They were a startling emerald, shot through with a wild flicker of gold, and I knew her wolf was pressing just beneath the surface. My hand, which had been resting on her hip, slid up to cup her neck, pulling her mouth to mine.
Her lips were impossibly soft, and the kiss, though deep, felt like it was only teasing the edges of a hunger I hadn't realized existed until this very moment. A desperate plea escaped me as I licked her parted lips, a silent request for something more, for entrance. She granted it, her mouth opening to mine, and my tongue, no longer content to linger, plunged in to explore hers with an urgency that stole my breath.
Then she moved, a soft, yielding pressure against me, her own desperation mirroring mine as she shifted. A slow, deliberate rub against me, a silent, undeniable invitation that shattered my resolve. My hand fell back down, a primal instinct taking over, cupping her, guiding her slick heat against me through the cloth. A ragged breath tore from my chest. I wanted more. Needed more, and I pressed harder, the friction igniting a fire that consumed all thought, all restraint.
Each soft moan that escaped her lips, lost in the desperate press of our kiss, fanned the flames that already raged through me. I felt her body surge against mine, a clear sign she was enjoying this as much as me. My grip tightened on her ass, a possessive anchor, while my other hand moved with urgent intent, sliding beneath the lace of her panties to find the throbbing pulse of her clit. The liquid heat that greeted my touch was a shock, slick and overwhelming, a promise that sent a shiver of near-unravelling pleasure through me.
Her breath hitched, a sharp, sudden intake, as my thumb found its target, a subtle pressure that sent a delicious shockwave through her. Her hips, which had been moving with a languid, tantalizing rhythm, now writhed with an urgent, unbidden dance. "Derick," she gasped, her lips parting from mine, her face flushed with a radiant heat that spoke of a burning desire. "Please," the word was a confession, a desperate plea. I answered by deepening the pressure, my thumb a focused point of fire, as I guided a finger into the slick, yielding warmth that pulsed beneath.
Her eyes fluttered shut, a low murmur escaping her, blooming into a guttural cry as her body arched against me. The tension in her built, a breathtaking crescendo, and then she was undone, consumed by shuddering waves, her breath coming in ragged, desperate gasps. I held her close, anchoring her, slowly releasing the pressure, guiding her through the overwhelming surge of her release. And as she came undone, so did I, a low growl of her name my final surrender.
The raw intensity of her release left me breathless, her tremors echoing through me. I held her tightly, my own body thrumming with a powerful, protective instinct. As her breathing steadied, she stirred against me, her eyes slowly opening to meet mine, a dazed wonder in their depths. The storm within us had passed, leaving behind a fragile calm, a shared vulnerability that bound us even tighter.
"Derick," she whispered, her voice husky. The lingering heat between us was a silent promise, a unspoken understanding that this was only the beginning of a journey we would navigate together.
I shifted her slightly, bringing her fully into my arms, my chin resting on her forehead. The scent of her, mingled with the lingering essence of our shared passion, was an intoxicating balm to my soul. She was mine, and the knowledge settled deep within my bones, a truth as solid and unyielding as the earth beneath our feet. My wolf purred in contentment, a deep, resonant rumble that spoke of a peace I hadn't known I was missing until this very moment.
"Can I mark you?" The words tumbled out, a raw plea born of a need that had intensified with every breath we'd shared. It wasn't just about claiming; it was about anchoring myself to her, about finally completing the circuit of this bond that had sparked between us, weaving us together in a way only our kind truly understood.
She pushed back against my chest, a gentle resistance that somehow amplified the vulnerability in my own heart. Then, she tilted her head, her gaze lifting to meet mine, and a soft whisper escaped her lips, "Please." It was a surrender, a trust that made my own shaky resolve feel a little more solid.
Gently, I lowered my head, my lips brushing against the sensitive skin of her neck, right where the pulse throbbed a frantic rhythm against my cheek. This was where my mark would be, a tangible declaration to the world and to myself that she was irrevocably mine. Her faint gasp was all the encouragement I needed. With a careful, almost reverent touch, I applied the slightest pressure with my canines, a gentle nip that would leave a subtle, permanent imprint. A wave of pure, unadulterated bliss washed over me as I felt the subtle shift in the bond, a deepening, a strengthening that solidified our connection. Cassidy's body went rigid for a moment, a sharp intake of breath, before she melted against me, her fingers tangling in my hair as if to pull me closer, to ensure this was real. The scent of her, now mingled with the faint, sweet tang of my mark, was an intoxicating elixir, a promise of forever whispered on the wind.
I eased my fangs back with a deliberate gentleness, my tongue a soothing balm over the tender mark. My smile was a promise as I offered my own neck, an open invitation for her to forge our bond with her own claim. Cassy's hesitation was a mere flicker, a breath before her lips found my skin. Then, the soft resistance of her mouth, the familiar sting as her canines pierced my flesh, quickly dissolving into a pleasure so profound it vibrated through my entire body. I felt the echo of that pleasure in her, a mirroring intensity as she moved against me, our unspoken connection deepening with every shared sensation.
I pulled her closer, burying my face in her scent, the sweet, intoxicating aroma of wolf and woman now intrinsically linked with my own. My wolf was content, finally at peace, nestled beside hers, two halves of a whole finally finding their rightful place.
The hum of contentment had faded, replaced by a hushed quietude that felt both fragile and charged. Cassy stirred against me, her breath a soft whisper against my chest, and I felt the subtle tension return to her small frame. The emerald depths of her eyes, now clear of the golden haze, held a flicker of apprehension that tugged at my wolf, urging me to reassure her. The scent of my mark, still warm and potent, mingled with hers, a constant reminder of the profound intimacy we'd just shared, yet beneath it, a new scent, fainter but sharper, began to surface—fear. I held her tighter, my resolve hardening. Whatever shadows lingered from her past, they would not touch her now. Not while I was here.
"Cassy," I murmured, my voice a low rumble, a promise of protection. I felt her hesitate, her body stiffening minutely against mine. I knew she held unspoken words, burdens she carried alone, and the thought of her suffering in silence gnawed at me. My wolf bristled, a protective instinct roaring to life. I wanted to shield her from every hurt, to erase every scar, to absorb every ounce of pain she'd ever known. But I couldn't demand her secrets; they had to be offered, freely and without coercion. My own brand of vulnerability was in offering my mark, in showing her that I was hers, completely and irrevocably. Now, it was her turn.
She finally pulled back, just enough to look at me, her raven hair cascading over my arm. Her expression was unreadable, a complex tapestry of lingering bliss and nascent dread. "Derick," she began, her voice barely a whisper, "there's... there's something I need to tell you." Her gaze dropped, her fingers tracing the faint sting on my neck, her hesitation palpable.