The Bad Girl in Boots

Marked

Warning: explicit sex scene in this chapter

I nod, sighing and starting to back my body up, away from his warm bulk. His fingers tighten infinitesimally on my hips, and he shakes his head. "Nope." Then he turns to slip a shirt on, perhaps thinking it will stop us from getting distracted.

I smile, some of the nervous tension easing from my body.

"Right. Ask me questions." He declares, and puffs his chest out as if expecting an attack. I snort.

"Okay," I pause "I don't really understand how the whole mate bond works. It scares me that I have to be with you." I rush to explain as his eyes flash with hurt. "I want to be with you, of course." I soothe, smoothing a hand across his chest. I continue shyly, "I want it more than anything I've ever wanted in my life. But it just seems strange to me, really unnatural, like it's not choice, or like I've lost my free will."

Hunter's chest rumbles against mine as his wolf hums in approval at my declaration, before shifting slightly to a growl at my last statement. I pout, nestling my head on his shoulder, soothing his agitated beast as I quickly kiss the crook of his neck.

"I see why it would seem that way to you," Hunter muses when he calms. "But it's the most natural thing in the world. The moon goddess made you for me, and me for you. That's the way it is. In our world, it's unnatural to not be with your mate. Especially an Alpha. I need a Luna in order to rule. Myself and my pack would be weak without you. I know it's hard for you to accept."

I lean back to assess him. "I've started to accept it already. This - us, it feels like the most natural and right thing in the world." I blush at my words, and Hunter's chest rumbles again. "That was really my only issue with it." I murmur.

Hunter considers me, green eyes raking across my face. "I have a confession." I tense at the look on his face - dread.

"What?" I ask warily. He sighs, head dropping down to my shoulder.

"You remember I said it was very rare for an Alpha to not claim his mate within hours of finding her?" I nod slowly. "And you remember when I said it was the hardest thing I've ever done?" My head shifts in a nod again. "Well, when I saw you in the airport, I recognised you as my mate and almost claimed you right there and then. But Mr Hadfield had warned me that you knew nothing of this life, so I knew it would damage you to do that. I also knew I wouldn't be able to stop myself once you got within a few metres of me. So I put my wolf into a state of iremia. It's a state where we are less in touch with our wolves, like they're less close to the surface. It's very painful and disorientating at first, which is why I was so rude to you. It means we are less driven by our instincts and our wolves have less effect on us. It's meant to make us in touch with our wolves at about 20% capacity. Because my wolf is so strong, I'm feeling the way a normal wolf would towards his mate." He pauses, searching my face worriedly. "It will also be effecting your feelings towards me as well. As soon as I bring my wolf out of iremia, I doubt you or I will either be able to stop ourselves from completing the mating. But I'll wait until you're ready." He sighs, closing his eyes.

I grasp his chin gently, tilting his eyes up to meet mine. "I'm ready now, Hunter. I want you, and I'm ready."

Heat flares in his gaze, gaze darkening to near-black. His hands clutch me closer, inadvertently dragging me across his crotch. He stiffens, then abruptly relaxes. "You have to be sure." He states. "I'll be nearly out of control when it happens, and if you're not completely ready, it could end badly."

"Hunter." I wait for his eyes to meet mine, before leaning forward and pressing my lips to his. He immediately pulls me closer again, our chests pressing together, and takes control of the kiss, tongue dominating mine. He presses the small of my back, demanding I get closer, and I stand up on my knees to shuffle in, grinding into him yet again. He lets out a small groan. "I cannot wait to claim you, love." With these words, he nips my neck, smoothing it over with his tongue and sucking a trail of hot kisses down to my collarbone. I moan, hands tangling in his hair.