Page 31 of Nanny's Mate

Just as she reached her peak, he sunk his teeth into her shoulder, marking her and claiming her. She cried out from the pain and the intensity of the orgasm.

It was the most profound moment of his life. As he marked her as his mate, Mike felt his control slipping away. He had been careful not to hurt her, but now the intensity of his orgasm was imminent and unavoidable. The sight of Beatriz writhing beneath him, whispering his name like a sacred chant, was enough to send him spiraling into ecstasy.

With one final thrust, he groaned out her name before collapsing beside her, holding her trembling body close to his. His heart pounded in his chest as he tried to regain control over his breathing. He could feel Beatriz's heartbeat matching his own erratic rhythm, two lovers finally spent after the tumultuous journey they had embarked on.

But this was only the beginning, a taste of their eternity together. They lay there, bodies intertwined, hearts pounding in sync with one another.

Mike tenderly caressed the mark he had made. His fingers traced over the delicate bite wound, wanting to soothe her with his touch but also admiring the unique bond it symbolized.

"I'm … I'm okay," she whispered, tracing her fingers down his arm to his hand, intertwining their fingers together once more.

“Does it hurt?”

“A mild sting,” Beatriz admitted. “But it's worth it. It's a mark of love that will bind us together forever.”

He looked into her eyes, feeling himself glowing with an intensity that was as beautiful as it was terrifying. It was his love for her manifesting physically. He kissed her forehead lightly before whispering into her ear. "I love you, Beatriz.”

His confession lingered in the air between them. A three-word sentence that held more power than anything else in their world. Beatriz looked at him, a soft smile spreading across her lips before she answered just as sincerely. "I love you too."

With those words echoing in his mind, they fell asleep in each other's arms. Even as he slept, his dreams were filled with promises of shared tomorrows and endless love.

EIGHTEEN

BEATRIZ

The next few days with Mike at his lakeside oasis were pure bliss. Having been marked, Beatriz healed at a miraculous speed, even for a shifter. Her head no longer throbbed, and all of her strength had returned. It felt strange but extraordinary. Beatriz leaned into it, and for the first time, she let herself be taken care of.

With a lot of intentional effort, of course.

It wasn’t something she was used to. She was the caretaker for her nine siblings, helping her mother when it was needed. Very few people prioritized her needs. In fact, there was no one else she could think of beyond her mother who had done just that.

Mike was a natural. It wasn’t only because she had been injured, Beatriz found. He made her dinner, he gave her massages, and he made sure she was the first to climax in bed. He was hungry to know more about her, studying her reactions the way a hawk studies its prey. It was intense, but being a shifter herself, Beatriz knew there was no other way.

She was engulfed with admiration and burning with pure want. And because he’d marked her, she could believe his every word.

She had been worried when they first met that finding her mate would only break her heart. She had specific expectations for a partner, even one she was destined for. She wanted a happy home and lots of children, and she feared Mike’s work as an enforcer would leave him unable to give her the attention she deserved.

Luckily for her, he had proven time and time again that he was more than capable of doting on her just the way she had always dreamed her mate would.

“I can make dinner tonight, darling,” she called.

Mike was already in the kitchen, prepping a stew. The weather had calmed for a few days, the sun a welcome change, but the evenings were often fraught with rain and rolling thunder. Beatriz found them to be exceptionally romantic, hearing the tapping of rain against the glassy waters of the lake while he thoughtfully investigated her body with the delicacy of a jewel hunter.

He shook his head adamantly. That was what he always did when she offered to cook.

“You stay put,” he responded, growling slightly. “Do you want more tea?”

She was sitting cozily in the living room, curled up on the L-shaped couch with multiple cushions and soft blankets. Mike had lit a few candles once the storm had begun, casting a gentle glow throughout the snug lakeside estate.

Beatriz smiled to herself, elated by his unshakable resolve to care for her. She held her empty mug in the air, and he came to her, calm, cool, and gorgeous as always.

“You know, I might be a better cook than you,” she said, smirking. “But we will never know unless you let me try.”

Their fingers touched as he grabbed the mug from her, sending a spark through Beatriz’s skin that settled at the base of her spine. That was all it took.

Mike smiled. It made her jubilant to see him so tranquil.

“You have a hard time letting people do this, don't you?” he teased.

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