Page 23 of Warlords, Witches & Wolves

Chapter 10

Anise sank her fangs into the thick column of Caraway’s neck. Her hormones went haywire and a mating-musk scent seeped from her pores, coating Caraway. Usually, two shifters marked each other. Caraway wasn’t a wolf, but hewasfae, and mating in any fae race was classed as a serious union of commitment. He was ready. So was she.

She clutched him tightly as she bit down.

He moaned, his eyes rolled back, and he staggered toward the bed where he landed heavily with her on top of him. She laved at the wound she’d created with loving care and relished the evidence of their commitment. He didn’t wait long before he started peeling her clothes from her body. First, her cape. Then her shirt, and then his thick fingers were digging into her pants, fumbling at the buttons.

Somehow, they managed to both end up completely naked, sweaty, and in each other's arms. She thought she would be ashamed of being like this with him, but when he looked at her body... especially her breasts... his eyes heated with desire. A hungry growl rumbled from his throat and he latched onto her nipple, sucking greedily and sending showers of bliss coursing through her body.

They kissed and touched and played with each other, savoring this new level of intimacy. There was no doubt. He’d let her mark him, and from the way he fervently touched her and kissed her, it turned him on as much as it did her.

He rolled so he was on top and fit his hips between her legs. He took his erection in hand and entered her in one slick motion. She gasped, back bowing, as she adjusted to the sensation of him filling her. Moans and groans filled the room as they adjusted to the new onslaught of sensations, then he gave a self-satisfied masculine grunt and kissed her lips. Meeting her eyes, he braced his hands on either side of her head.

“You ready?” he asked, voice gravelly.

She lifted her hips. “Yes.”

“I’m claiming you tonight, too. Are you ready?” he repeated, intense brown eyes pinned her so hard she lost her breath.

All she could do was nod and hold on as he pulled out and thrust back in until there was no doubt in her mind that he claimed her more thoroughly than any bite mark. Theirs was a claiming of hearts, bodies, and minds. Of futures and of pasts. Of wolves, fae, shifters, and ox. It didn’t matter what they looked like, only what theyfelt. Their love was forged from ice and fire, from kisses and wishes. And it was real.

* * *

Anise woke entwinedwith Caraway’s muscular, naked body. She was so happy, she didn’t want to leave, but one look at the black leather Guardian jacket hanging on the door hook reminded her of reality. They might have claimed each other, but it didn’t mean the world would let them be together.

A Guardian warrior, and a lesser fae.

The world was full of cruel boundaries.

She sighed and rested her head on his shoulder. Her exhale ruffled the hair on his chest. His rumble of appreciation brought a smile to her lips so she ran her fingers through the coarse hair, wanting to elicit more sounds from her sleeping giant. His hand snapped up and swallowed hers whole, and then he directed it downward with a cheeky smirk, keeping his eyes closed the entire time.

“So demanding, already.” She laughed.

He chuckled. It came from deep in his belly and sent Anise’s hormones crazy. She’d always loved his laugh. It was so genuine, so real, and she never wanted to lose it again.

He must have sensed the change in her mood because when he looked down at her, a solemn shadow flittered in his eyes. He rolled to face her and gently traced fingers down her arm.

“We’ll figure it out, Anise,” he promised.

“You can’t quit being a Guardian.” She touched the glowing blue teardrop tattoo beneath his right eye. “It’s a part of you.”

His brows joined in the middle. “So are you.”

“How will we make this work, then?”

He shrugged. “Live with me at the Order.”

“That’s not possible.”

“It is for Rush and Clarke, and Thorne and Laurel.”

“But they’re Well-blessed. Their union is honored above all else, especially by an organization that worships the Well.”

“We don’t worship it. We respect it and work to keep it flourishing. There’s a difference.” Darkness formed in his eyes. “And I don’t care if our union is blessed by the Well. I’m not leaving you again. They can all go and fu—”

“Shhh.” She put a finger on his lips and sat up. Her ears twitched as she picked up voices. “Someone is outside.”

She’d never seen Caraway move so fast, but within seconds, he was out of the bed. He threw a blanket over her and collected Justice. Heedless of his nudity, he went to the window and peered through. All the tension left his shoulders as his eyes latched onto their visitors, and then he turned back to her with confusion.

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