Because he would finally have all he would need to keep that smile forever on his face.
She untucked her head from his chest and peered up into his face. He looked so happy! It made her smile. She gently touched his cheek. There were healing scars and bruises on it, the badges of honor and courage he carried from saving his brother, no doubt. Because that was the kind of man Jaxson River was.
“I can hardly believe it worked,” she breathed. “Good thing Gwen was able to bring me back, though. I don’t think I would have made it without her.”
“Gwen didn’t bring you back.” He smirked, the joy still on his face. “I did.”
She frowned her confusion. “What do you mean?”
“Your aunt transferred some of my magic—the magic in my blood—to you.” His eyes shone as he said this.
Olivia straightened up and leaned away to get a better look at him. “You what? How is that… is that even possible?”
He shrugged. “She used some spell—I don’t know what it was—but believe me, I felt every second of it.” He bit his lip and raked his eyes over her body. “And now, there’s part of me that will forever be inside you.”
She frowned and worked her way out of his lap, scooting a couple feet away. She wanted to stand, get some distance from him, figure this thing out… but her legs were too shaky to trust. “What does that even mean?” Dread trickled through her heart. Had he foiled her attempt to free him with a last-ditch attempt to save her?
The joy fell off his face, but his eyes stayed glued to hers. “It means you’re forever bound, magically, to me. A part of me is inside of you.”
The dread found its way to her face. “Like a mating?”
Pain winced across his face. “It doesn’t have to be. It could be like the connection I have with my brothers. Or my pack. But we are connected… I guess you could be like a sister to me, if that’s what you want. But Olivia…” The pain doubled on his face. “I want so much more than sisterly love from you.”
Oh no. “No, no, no.” She backed away from him, shaking her finger at him. “You need to find a real mate. One who’s a shifter! One who can give you pups and bind your pack together and let you lead Riverwise!” Tears were working her way to her face, despite her effort to keep them buried. “That was the whole point, Jaxson! To free you to find your true mate!”
He blinked and dropped his gaze to the floor, not meeting her accusing look. “This is about the boyfriend, isn’t it?”
“No!” she cried. “This is about you… and giving you what you need to be happy!”
His head whipped up. “You are what makes me happy.” He crossed the floor between them, crawling on his hands and knees to reach her but stopping just short of touching her. His face was inches from hers. “You, Olivia Lilyfield, are everything I’ve always wanted in a mate. Everything I thought I would never have.”
“But you have to save your pack—”
“My pack will survive. Riverwise will go on. It’s you that I can’t live without.” Tears were glassing his eyes, and it nearly broke Olivia’s heart on the spot. “Tell me you love this boyfriend of yours. That you love him more than me. Because I know there’s some part of you that loves me. But if you tell me it’s not enough… if you tell me to leave… I’ll go.”
She was shaking again, but with a torment she could barely describe. Something inside her—something strong and magical and born of love—was crying out for her to take him in her arms. It took everything she had to hold herself back, but… the words slipped out without her permission.
“There is no boyfriend.” She sucked in a breath.
His eyes flashed, and suddenly she was flat on her back on the floor with Jaxson looming over her. He had that hungry look again, like he wanted to take her, consume her, claim her. It fired a visceral response through every part of her body, igniting her everywhere at once.
His chest was heaving. “Say you love me.”
“I love you.” She was equally breathless.
He lowered himself down to her, still not touching, but panting even harder. “Say you want me.”
“I want you.” She couldn’t help herself. It was true, and with him looking at her like that—
“Olivia Lilyfield, I want you for my mate. To hold and love and protect. Forever. Please, God, say yes.”
She swallowed. She could barely breathe. But she couldn’t say no to him, not like this. Not ever again. “Yes,” she breathed.
His lips and body crashed down on hers, claiming her with his urgent need to kiss her, touch her, have her for his own. Her heart soared again, and the magic inside her rejoiced at his nearness and his touch. That spark she had always felt racing across her skin whenever he touched her now thrilled through her entire body. Every molecule of her belonged to him. With him.