Finding Course

18

*Warning: This chapter contains sexual content.

Katherine.

After people started clearing out of the house, I retired to the bedroom to relax. Zane remains with a few others in the office, so I decide to take a bath in an attempt to clear my mind. Much like the shower, the bathtub is a pretty drastic upgrade compared to Daniel's. My mind wanders back to the house that is currently sitting vacant. My things, Daniel's things, still sitting there. My life has taken such a drastic change from when I first arrived to Bettam.

Reflection was supposed to help bring clarity, but instead I just feel frustrated by the situation. I study my toes, peaking out from the section of bubbles floating on the water. Steam rises up as I move my feet through the water deep in thought. A throat clears from the bathroom entrance and I jump slightly at Zane standing in the doorway.

"Hey," he says, his serious expression still in place. Aside from the amusement he showed at my reaction to the elders, his scowl has been in place all day.

"Hi," I whisper. My hair is pulled back in a clip to keep it from getting wet, but I fidget with it anyways.

"Everyone's gone for the night," he says, leaning against the door frame.

"Are you going to question Liam tonight?"

"Tomorrow," he clarifies and moves further into the bathroom. I'm suddenly a little self conscious of being naked in the bathtub, and my pulse quickens as he takes a seat at the edge of the tub. "Tonight, I figured we could try something new. Get to know each other better, outside the hell hole."

"What, nightstand bourbon and reality TV wasn't enough last night?" I tease and smirk up at him. A small glint of a smile graces his features before he pulls his arm from behind his back holding a bottle.

"I was thinking we could try bathtub bourbon instead." He chuckles as he gives the bottle a slight shake. I laugh and cover my mouth with amusement.

"Bathtub bourbon. That's creative." He nods in agreement and glances down at my mark.

"You did good today. I know it was...a lot."

"Thanks," I say, grateful for the compliment. My fingers lightly touch the mark he continues to stare at, and his eyes flash red for a brief second. I can feel myself starting to get turned on just by how he studies me, eyes exploring further down my body that is hidden beneath the bath.

"Kat," he starts, swallows, then meets my gaze again. "I..." he trails off and looks up at the ceiling.

"I want you to kiss me," I blurt out, courage coming from absolutely nowhere. I can't believe the words that come from my mouth, but I say them all the same. "We're mates now, right? No cameras, no survival mode, just us," I whisper the last part, my confidence wavering. He quietly sets the bourbon bottle down on the floor and drops to his knees just outside the tub. Reaching forward he puts his hand on the base of my neck and furrows his brow.

"You need to tell me if any of this makes you uncomfortable. Tell me to stop if it's too much, too soon. We're not exactly playing by the rule book here," he says, moving closer. I nod weakly, nervous but excited at the same time. He leans forward, carefully kissing me on the lips. Arousal flashes through me like an electric current, and I feel my instincts willing to take over. I want more, I want to feel more. His hand caresses my mark as he continues to deepen our kiss and I feel a a stronger pull towards him with each minuscule movement.

Reaching up to place my hand on the side of his face, he slides his other arm around my bare back. Both of us become more needy with each touch, and it's as if all the pent up energy behind our new mate bond is released. Picking me up out of the tub, he carries me to the bed not bothering to drain the water or grab a towel. I'm lying under his large form as his kisses begin trailing down my neck toward my breasts. My skin is so sensitive I can't help but squirm a bit as his hands roam down further. His mouth encircles a nipple, lightly sucking while his hand moves to the other. Barely breaking his kiss, he tears his shirt off and I feel his warm skin against my own. His face comes back up to mine, kissing me with more need than before.

I feel flushed as he continues kissing me, and his hands move past my breasts lower to the space between my legs. I gasp at his first touch and his blaze red eyes dart to mine. "You're beautiful, you know that, right?" I can't find the words to answer him, too heated to respond, so I kiss him instead. His fingers continue their caress between my legs and I become lost in the moment. I'm not a virgin, but the touch of my mate is recognized on instinct and feels a thousand times more stimulating than anything I've experienced. He moves his other hand toward the base of my neck and gently pulls me to directly face him. I'm locked in his eyes as the pleasure keeps building, his motions not stopping. "Let go, Kat," he whispers, and I do. The ecstasy of release finds me as he lets me ride the waves of my orgasm.

As I come down from the high his hand moves again to my other breast and he goes back to kissing my neck. The mark brings a second zing of excitement and he focuses on it. I feel and hear him remove his shorts, his hard length pressing against the inside of my thigh. I wrap my leg around his torso, wanting to feel him closer. He lets out a small groan and adjusts himself, almost holding back. "It's okay, I'm ready," I whisper with a still satisfied smile. He hesitates another second before nodding and moving forward. He's touching me in so many places at once I'm almost overstimulated as he enters me. It takes a moment to adjust, but once he starts moving the pleasure once again begins to build. His grip tightens with one hand securing my waist while the other presses down on my mark. The friction and connection continues, building higher and higher as we move together. Looking down at me I see his eyes burning with a fire I've never seen before with any shifter. It's something completely new and part of me likes to think it's just special between us two. I know it's ridiculous to think he hasn't experienced this kind of connection with other women in bed, but my mind can't help but hope it's unique to our mating bond.

His pace increases, as does his hold on my waist. I see his crimson stare fixated in my mark, and feel him grip me tighter as he bends down to kiss me again. My focus falters as another explosion hits me and I let out a whimpering moan as I come a second time. I feel his barely elongated canines brush against my neck, lightly nipping in pleasure at my mark as he finds his own release. It is by far the most intense sex I've had, mainly because of the heightened senses with Zane. Each point of contact feels different with him, more in tune.

As we both come down, he pulls me against him and positions us against the pillows. We lay in silence, holding and feeling one another. 'Well, that's a first for me,' I say through the link out of habit. Nights spent only talking via link at the facility makes it feel familiar.

'What do you mean?' he asks with a raised eyebrow.

'That...intense.'

'It's the mate bond,' he explains.

'I think I like the mate bond.' He laughs at my answer and looks down at my hand running up and down his bare chest.

"I think thats the idea," he says aloud. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"Perfectly fine," I say and rest my head against his chest before closing my eyes. "Also tired." I fall asleep to his hand gently running up and down my right arm, and it lulls me to sleep in minutes.