Page 31 of Hexmate

“And I would never take from you, Caden,” I added, my eyes still closed. “I won’t ask you to kiss me or be with me or anything else. What happens between us is on your terms. I am your willing servant, your protector, and your mate. It’s my job to give you what you need, not take from you what I desire.”

Caden’s breath hitched at my words, his fingers tightening in my fur. I could feel the rapid beat of his heart, smell the intoxicating mix of arousal and nervousness emanating from him. For a long moment, we stayed like that, foreheads pressed together, breathing each other in.

Then, with a soft whimper, Caden closed the distance between us. His lips met mine hesitantly at first, then with growing confidence. The kiss was gentle, exploratory, nothing like the forceful ones Rowan had stolen. I let Caden set the pace, my hands remaining carefully on his face as he leaned into me.

When we finally broke apart, Caden’s cheeks were flushed, his pupils dilated. He looked up at me with wonder, as if seeing me for the first time.

“That was...” he trailed off, searching for words.

“Real,” I finished for him, my voice rough with emotion. “That was real, Caden.”

He nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. It was the first genuine smile I’d seen from him without holding back, and it made my heart soar.

“I believe you,” he whispered. “I know it’s really you, Atlas.”

“Come here,” I said, pulling him into my lap so his back was against my chest.

I wrapped my arms around him as we sat there on the floor in front of the fireplace, both of us basking in the heat. We were quiet as we stared at the crackling flames. The blizzard outside continued to rage, slowly covering the windowpanes with snow until they were impossible to see out of. All the world had fallen away, like time itself stood still for us. It was a beautiful feeling and one I knew wouldn’t last forever.

But that feeling was interrupted by the wolf inside of me. Being so close to Caden had made me lose track of my energy levels. Between all the running, the fighting, and the shifting, I was running out of time in my Alpha form.

“Caden,” I said softly. “I’m going to shift back soon. I can’t hold this form much longer.”

He glanced up at me. “That’s fine.”

I hesitated for a moment. “And I’ll uh… be naked. My clothes got destroyed in the shift.”

His cheeks turned bright red in an instant, his eyes darting down my body.

“Oh.”

Chapter 13

Caden

Atlas’s form began to shrink around me. In a matter of seconds, the muzzle shrank back into the handsome face I recognized, the fur fell away, and the claws retracted. What was once a hulking monster of a werewolf was now a familiar man, albeit still large and muscular. I slid forward, not wanting to encroach on his personal space. However, the moment I glanced back at him, my gaze dipped to his groin, getting a full view of his cock in all its glory.

It was bigger than I expected.

My face turned bright red as I turned away. “Oh my god…” I said, shaking my head. “I’m… I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to do that. It just kind of?—”

But my words were cut off as Atlas’s arms wrapped around me once more, pulling me close. “It’s okay, Caden. I don’t mind.” He paused for a moment. “Do… Do you like the way I look?”

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest. Atlas’s warm breath tickled my ear, sending shivers down my spine. I wanted to turn and look at him again, to drink in every inch of his chiseled form, but I was paralyzed by a mix of desire and trepidation.

“I... yes,” I finally managed to whisper, my voice barely audible. “You’re beautiful, Atlas.”

His grip on me tightened, and I felt something hard pressing against my lower back. A small gasp escaped my lips as I realized what it was. Apparently my words had more of an effect on him than I thought.

“I’m glad you like it,” he said softly, his chin resting on top of my head. He paused again. “And… uh… sorry about my… you know.”

“I-It’s okay,” I stuttered, trying to pretend it didn’t send a thrill shooting right through me. My own body reacted, my jeans suddenly very tight. “So… uh… what did you mean by me being your mate?”

Atlas’s chest rumbled with a low growl as he nuzzled into my neck. “It means you’re mine, Caden. My wolf chose you the moment I first caught your scent. I might not have realized what was going on, but now that I do, I know it’s true.”

His words sent a shiver through me. Part of me wanted to melt into his embrace, to give myself over to this primal connection between us. But another part hesitated, remembering all I’d been taught about witches and werewolves and any kind of shifter for that matter.

“But... we can’t,” I whispered. “It’s forbidden. Witches and shifters aren’t supposed to...”

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