Mutual. She was his, but most of all, he was hers.
He pulled Josie against him, burying his face in her neck. He just needed to hold her, feel her. Those slender arms went around his neck and she melted into him. The skin on skin contact was exactly what he needed.
“My mate. My strong and beautiful mate. I finally have you,” he breathed.
Taking her to the bed, he pressed his weight down on her, forcing her to feel his need for her, and caught her moan with his lips.
“Your mark,” she said when he pulled back. She brushed her finger over the slashes. “My cat remembers it.”
Magic nodded.
Carefully, she turned, showing him her back. There, on her shoulder, was the mark his panther had given Mandi so many years ago. It was three faded pink lines across Josie’s shoulder blade, and like everything else in his life right now, it was a miracle.
Magic swallowed hard.
“All these years I thought it was a shrapnel scar from the wreck. It isn’t like yours.” She shook her head, staring at him over her shoulder, her eyes landing briefly on his ancient mark. “This is how she gave me her cat. When I was dying she clawed me. It’s not a mating mark, you see. It’s… a birth mark. A cat was reborn. A new life, a new chance. This is right, Magic. Do you feel it?”
He nodded, determination making his chest tight. “I feel it.”
Josie lowered her head to the pillow, and he spread her legs wide to make room for him. Gripping his erection, he carefully slid it between her wet folds, bumping the tip against her tender clit.
She gasped, squeezing her eyes closed against this new pleasure.
Over and over he slipped his cock against her, teasing her entrance but never giving her what she wanted. He needed her primed to the point of bursting. Shaking and quivering for release. Because he never wanted her to forget this moment when they came together. The moment they changed history.
“Magic,” her voice was helpless as she shook under his seductive assault.
“I know, baby. I know.”
He was sprung too tight himself. It was almost time.
“Please. My cat wants out,” she groaned. “I don’t know if I can hold it.”
“You can, Josie. You’re strong.” He kissed her neck, whispering in her ear, “So fucking strong. My little firecracker.”
Not waiting another second, he plunged into her, stretching and filling her. She gasped, and he met it with a guttural groan.
“Fuck, woman.” Her body gripped him tight as he gave her time to adjust to his size. Heat flooded his cheeks as sensations he hadn’t felt in ten years assaulted him. She was hot, and soft, and her claws in his shoulder drew blood that inched down his back in warm lines.
It made him feel wild. Rabid for her.
Need. To. Move. Claim. Now.
Magic pulled back, and then plunged forward, earning a satisfied moan from his mate. He needed to hear more. He wanted all her sounds blasting in his ears. He wanted the whole goddamn lodge to hear how well he pleasured his female.
Somehow, he found her eyes and focused on them. They flickered from ice blue to amber with every hard thrust of his hips, and he felt her body tighten and contract around him, preparing for her release.
“My Josie,” he murmured. “My second chance.”
God, he loved her. He fucking loved her, and someday, he hoped he could find the damn courage to tell her.
“Magic,” she whimpered, and he increased his speed, gripping her hips to pound harder. “I’m afraid of losing control. My… my animal…”
He rose up on his knees, holding her hips in both hands, pistoning into her and watching her head whip back and forth against the pillow. Her tits bounced with his rhythm. Her eyes… her fucking eyes had gone full cat. Her pussy gripped him tight before fluttering with release, and she screamed.
The whole damn thing was so beautiful, tears wet his eyes. And he wasn’t even sorry.
On the next push, Magic pumped his scent into her body. The scent she already carried, and now would for eternity. With a roar, he slashed his claws from her ass cheek half way down her thigh, and continued thrusting, filling her with his arousal until it spilled from her body.
But Josie wasn’t done. Her entire body shook and her cries of pleasure didn’t fade. Her eyes peeled wide and he could see she was close to turning.
He pressed his weight down on top of her, holding her arms above her head to force her to look at him.
“Don’t turn, Josie. Not yet, baby. Your mark needs to set.”
She nodded frantically, but her eyes didn’t return to normal.
“Stay with me, baby. Stay right here.”
Magic thrust his spent cock against her, soothing, bringing her back from the edge. He kissed her gently, licking her lips, tasting her now that things between them were permanent. She tasted the same, but better. Sweet. So sexy.