Chapter 427 – Cora’s Promise

Cora

I smiled up at my mate, shaking my head slightly. “Do I…,” I laughed, “just say what you said?”

“You can,” he replied, shrugging and smiling. I felt his happiness vibrating through our bond. “Or, say what you want. There are no wrong answers, Cora.”

“Okay,” I said softly, sitting up straight and squaring my shoulders. I took a moment to consider.

“I take you, Roger,” I said softly, gazing into his perfect face. “Even though…I never expected you. I take you because you challenge me, you hold space for me, and because…” I hesitated, searching for words. He waited patiently, listening.

“Because you make me feel like the world is a rich and wonderful place worth exploring. And I want to do that—I want to see it all, experience it all, at your side. I love you, Roger,” I continued, tears welling in my eyes, “because you make me brave.” My voice cracked with emotion. He leaned forward, gently cupping my cheek. I laughed, leaning into his touch, but shook my head; I wasn't finished.

“So, I promise to love you through it all—through our whole lives, and whatever comes. But with you, I have so much faith that it will all be good. I love you, Roger—I am yours, and you are mine, and I think…I think it’s been that way for a long time. It just took us a little longer to figure it out.”

He laughed, nodding. I felt that same golden warmth, doubled this time, as my promise solidified our bond. I felt it singing between us, our fated mating bond ringing true. Now, only the mark remained.

My wolf circled eagerly within me, lifting her face to the sky with a deep howl. I felt Roger's wolf surge forward.

He claimed me then, his body bridging the distance as if he couldn't wait a moment longer. He pulled me close, his arms enfolding me as his mouth found mine, kissing me with a rough determination I craved.

I fisted my hands in his shirt, pulling him on top of me as I lay back on the blanket. Chills raced through my body as my mouth opened to his, his tongue pressing against mine.

Roger's hands were intent; one pressed me close, his breath sharpening, the other slid to the center back of my dress, finding the zipper and slowly lowering it. His mouth followed his hand, moving from my lips to my jaw, my neck, and then lower, pushing the wedding gown down until it settled on my hips.

“Come back,” I breathed, panting, wanting him again. He complied, kissing me as his hand continued to lower the dress. I lifted my hips, allowing it to slide completely off and fall to the edge of the blanket.

Frantic with desire, my hands trembled as I worked at the buttons of his shirt. He growled, lifting the shirt over his shoulders and tossing it aside.

The wind picked up, strengthening the breeze as he pulled me against the warm skin of his chest, his hand drifting down my back to grip my buttocks. He groaned, turning his head, his body clenching with want.

My hands moved almost instinctively as he kissed my neck, his teeth bared, grazing my skin in a way that made me shudder—I knew how badly he wanted to bite me, right there.

I fumbled with his belt, the button at the top of his pants, but I was so distracted—

“Fuck, Cora,” he breathed. Suddenly, I felt myself lifted and turned as he sat back on his haunches, my knees on either side of his hips, my stomach pressed against his face. He reached for his clothing, hastily unbuttoning and unzipping his pants and kicking them off. He shook his head slightly, looking up at me. “Please,” he begged, desperate, “I can’t—I can’t wait any longer—”

I breathed his name, bringing my mouth to his as I lowered myself onto him, feeling him position himself at the apex of my thighs and then, slowly, insistently, press inside me.

I moaned loudly into his mouth as he filled me, my inner walls stretching, squeezing him, wanting him. My eyes squeezed shut as my back arched involuntarily, my hips pulsing against him.

Roger’s groan as he fully entered me made me shudder with the pleasure of it, with how perfectly he fit, with how deep he went.

He pulsed with me, each steady thrust sending him deeper, pressing against the building intensity within me. He went slowly, letting it build. Then, when I knew I was close, feeling him tremble beneath me, wanting his release as much as I wanted mine, I moaned, my whole body shuddering as I focused on that point, on him, my mate. I leaned forward, tucking my head next to his, baring my throat.

“There, little mate,” he growled, wrapping his fingers in my hair at the nape of my neck and pulling—not harshly, but not gently—stretching my neck and shoulder. He kissed the spot as our hips continued to move, bringing me closer.

He then licked the spot between my shoulder and neck, and I moaned and shuddered, my body shaking as I—

As I came so close, as I wanted it so badly I could scream—

“Ask me for it,” he murmured, pressing his sharp teeth to the edge of my flesh.

“Please,” I begged, barely able to form the words, “give me your mark, Roger. I want it—”

Another low growl as he thrust hard, and then, a moment later, sank his teeth into my skin. Everything exploded within and around me.

The air whipped around us, and the earth—I swear it—shifted and shook in time with my sharp gasp and steady moans. It intensified, the shaking, the wind, as I felt Roger’s body tense and clench as he reached his peak.

There was pain too, mixing with the bliss and satisfaction, a sharp, salty edge that intensified the pleasure as my head fell back, as I felt the warm rush of his seed spreading inside me—as his teeth lifted from his bite, his mark.

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He held me close for a few long moments as the wind died down, catching his breath as I continued to shake and shudder.

As he regained his composure, he murmured softly, pressing me close and slowly laying back, turning so that I rested against the blanket, his chest pressed tight to mine.

I didn't know when I started crying—sobbing softly with the intensity of it all—the joy, the pleasure, the completeness.

“Cora,” he murmured, his face close to mine, stroking my hair. “Are you…are you all right?”

I opened my eyes, confused, then laughed because his face was so worried. “I’m fine, Roger,” I murmured, kissing him repeatedly. “It was just…really intense—well, you were intense.”

“It was incredible,” he murmured against my lips, then pulled away. “Does it…are you hurt?”

I bit my lip, twisting to look, but I couldn't quite see; he'd marked me higher, closer to my neck than my shoulder. “It does hurt,” I said truthfully. “But…not in a bad way, if that makes sense.”

He murmured in affirmation, the rumbling pleasure in his chest showing he understood as he nuzzled my face.

I collapsed, exhausted, and he lay half on top of me, his head close to mine. I kissed his forehead, catching my breath, then turned my face to the sky, opening my eyes.

And then, utterly shocked, I gasped.