She rubbed absently at the back of his neck, and his eyes closed.
“You’ve always felt like you were mine,” he croaked. “And now you smell like mine, and I can’t figure out how, when I’ve been so careful to stay away from you. But damn it all, maybe I don’t want to know. Maybe I just want to feel this with you. It’s been so long since I’ve felt anything other than… lost.” He let out a shuddering breath, his eyes opening. “Goddamn it.”
“Then do that,” she whispered, somehow drawing closer to him without even trying. “Just feel something good.”
She shook within the strength of his arms, and it was all about the way he looked at her. He didn’t know her connection to Mandi yet. He didn’t realize she knew things about him even he probably didn’t know. Still, he looked at her like she was the only woman on earth. Like she was the last drink of water in a parched desert.
Josie is important.
And she felt the truth of that in his powerful gaze. It settled her nerves, knowing that she meant something to him even without her connection to his past mate.
Slowly, and with his breath heaving between them, he closed the distance between their lips. Soft at first, like he was just remembering how to do it. Then more urgent. His mouth seared hers with just that tender brush, and made her burn all the way down to her toes.
Magic let out a little growl that had her spine tingling with excitement before licking at the seam of her lips, demanding entrance. Her gasp allowed him in, and then it was all tongues dancing and teeth clashing, breath swapping and soul wrenching. Every delicious sweep of his hot tongue seemed to claim her. He tasted so good, so right.
This was hers now. Magic was hers according to their shifter laws.
Strength came from somewhere and Josie tunneled her fingers through his thick hair, pulling him closer.
Mine. All mine.
She kissed him with a fervor she’d never known before, needing more of him than was even possible. She wanted to crawl inside his heart and live there for the rest of her life. She’d be safe with him, somehow she knew. She wouldn’t have to worry with Magic. No expecting him to turn into an asshole. No wondering if he wanted another, even counting the instincts of a male cat.
Because she knew what the others were slowly learning: remaining faithful was a choice.
In the wild, big cats didn’t keep a designated mate. For the shifters, that animal side of them simply didn’t require monogamy. But as Magic said, they were part human. And humans have choices. Magic had never chosen wrong. He’d only failed to realize he had an alternative to the big cat way of life. And he wouldn’t make that mistake again, she knew it.
His throat rumbled with a purr. The sound echoed in the room and turned her insides to jelly. He took her lower lip between his and sucked hard, nipping it as he broke their connection.
“Slow down, sexy cat.” His voice was husky with pent up passion and reeked of warning. “Slow down. We aren’t ready for this.”
“I’m ready,” she insisted, placing kisses along his tight jaw line.
Yes, it was her style to rush into things, but this wasn’t rushing. She’d known him all these years, and knew everything now. Most of all, she knew what she wanted, had found what she’d been searching for. She wouldn’t put the brakes on now.
Still holding her, he stalked from the bathroom to the bed while she dragged her tongue along the day’s growth covering his jaw. He followed her down to the bed, pressing his weight into her. She felt the hardness at his hips and a wonderful fragrance bloomed in the room, mixing with her own. The scent of their arousal was heady and made her squirm beneath him.
Her senses were getting stronger.
Magic kissed frantically along her collar bone, stopping at the spot just below her ear. He inhaled, taking in so much air his broad chest expanded to full capacity, brushing against her hardened nipples through her shirt.
“I belonged to another, Josie.”
“I know.”
One more deep inhale.
“Males die with their mates. I didn’t. I chose to stay and help my friends.”
“I know.”
He ran his nose along her heated skin.
“This shouldn’t be possible. We only get one chance at mating. There shouldn’t be this bond between us. But fuck… it’s powerful.”
“You have no idea,” she moaned.
Magic pulled back to stare into her eyes. What she saw there was a splash of cold water for her libido.
Defeat. So permanent and final, she had to remind herself not to believe it.
“I can never ever mate you, Josie. No matter how strong our connection is. I can’t.” His words were sad but determined. “What I can promise you is that I will always keep you safe. I will protect you and make sure you have anything that you need. But I cannot lay claim to you.” His voice became little more than a breath. “And I cannot give you my young. I can’t have you, do you understand?”