Page 56 of Crush's Fall

“Can I see my cut?” He set a can of pop down next to her left hand and slid something around her neck before he rounded the island and took a seat on a stool on the other side.

Glancing down, she saw a semi-thick silver chain that was long enough to end in her cleavage where a heart-shaped Tiger’s Eye Stone pendant laid. It was surrounded by silver and had little devil horns jutting from the top. It perfectly encapsulated the two of them — strong and resilient. Her tiger quietly purred at the sight of it as a few of the bricks in her wall of protection crumbled to dust.

Choked up by the sentiment and raw, Crush fell back into her typical surliness. He didn’t deserve it, but she couldn’t let him see how much the necklace meant to her. It would give him leverage she wasn’t ready for him to have.

She took another bite of her chili as she watched him open the plastic container holding his meatball sub and fries. After she chewed and swallowed, she answered, “No. I haven’t decided if I’m giving it to you.”

He looked over at her and raised a brow as he popped a French fry into his mouth. The look on his face clearly meant to say,Who in the hell do you think you’re fooling? And don’t for a minute think I don’t know you love my gift.

She fingered the pendant as she looked down at her bowl of chili. “We have traditions, Lucy.”

“Is my patch going to say Lucy?”

Because she was still raw and feeling backed into a corner, Crush shrugged and replied, “It’s what I call you.” She knew damn well that it saidLucifer.

Seemingly unbothered, Lucifer popped another fry into his mouth and chewed. After swallowing, he said, “You’re welcome for the necklace, by the way. We need to talk about the mating.”

“Mating,” she croaked and almost choked on her bite of chili. Coughing, she slammed a hand against her chest. When it looked like he was about to get up and come around to her, she shook her head and opened her pop. After taking a drink, she cleared her throat and took a deep breath. “Mating?”

“I’m your mate, Crush.”

“Yes, but… mating?”

He looked at her like she lost her mind. “Yes. That’s what happens. You find your mate and you complete themating.”

“Don’t patronize me, Lucy,” she growled. “I fucking know that.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“The problem is you seem to be making all the decisions here,” she shouted. “That’s not fucking okay with me.”

“You made the decision the second you launched yourself at me this morning. I told you I’m done playing your fucking games.” His dark eyes stared hard at her, unwavering. “I fucking meant it. I’m your Ol’ Man, so fucking claim me right. I’m your mate, so fucking mate me right. Or. Let. Me. Go. You may be the boss around here, and I’m cool with that, but you won’t lead me around by my dick. I will go head-to-head with you. Iwillmake you face shit you don’t want to face. I’mnothere to be your fucking slave. I’m here to be yourpartner.” He lifted his sandwich. “Get the fuck over your bullshit and make a real decision. And I meannow,Crush, because if you don’t fucking want me, I’ll go find someone who will.”

That did it. The thought of him wrapped around someone else, touching them, kissing them, fucking them… Crush couldn’t take it. She rounded the island, grabbed him by the arm, and pulled him off the stool. He was barely able to set his sandwich down before she was pulling him over to the couch and shoving him down.

Her tiger was snarling at the thought that someone else would be that close to their mate, and Crush fully understood it.

Once he was sitting on the couch, she started stripping off her clothes. He wasn’t a fool, so he unfastened and shoved his jeans over his hips before he yanked off his tee. Naked, she straddled his lap and slammed her lips to his. As their tongues explored and teeth nipped, one of his arms snaked around her waist, and his free hand cupped her ass, his fingertips digging into her skin.

Crush wrapped her arms around his neck, the fingers of one of her hands sliding into his hair and fisting. Their kiss was desperate and messy as she lifted her hips and adjusted so the head of his cock sat at her entrance.

Without hesitation, she dropped her hips down. Lucifer broke the kiss to groan as he entered her. “Fuck, Crush,” he breathed.

Kissing along his jaw, she lifted and dropped again, soaking in each moan he gave her. When she lifted and dropped again, he slapped her ass, sending a burst of pleasure to her core.

When her mouth reached his neck, she nipped the skin on her way down. “You want my mark?”

“Hell yes,” he groaned, helping her lift and drop with his grip on her. “Mark me, Crush. Make me yours, Sugartits.”

“It’s forever, Lucifer.” She continued her movements with her hips as she pulled her head back and looked down into his eyes. “Permanent.”

His eyes were clear as he smiled up at her. “Good.”

Her tiger purred its approval at his answer and intensified the demand to complete the mating.

She lowered herself onto him and stayed there. Her heart was pounding, but it wasn’t from exertion. It was from fear. “I’m…”

He nodded. “I know.” His arms moved so he could cup her face in his hands. “I know, Crush.” He gave her a soft kiss that had tears filling her eyes. “I don’t want you to change, and I won’t try to control you. I’ll tell you that as many times as you need me to, but you don’t have to be afraid of us. Babe, I just want to be yours.”

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