Chapter 12

Maya's eyes widened as Garrett's mouth lowered to hers, claiming her lips in a deep kiss that stole her breath and the rest of her heart. At the contact, the mating bond flared to life like a bonfire given oxygen and new life, roaring and surging, heat spreading throughout her entire body. Need pulsed hot and heavy, demanding her to seal the bond, claim her mate. But that sure as hell wasn"t happening in the middle of a war, in the forest, on the side of the highway. But they could steal some time for themselves.

He cupped the back of her head and angled her to deepen the kiss, his tongue sweeping into her mouth to tangle with hers.

Maya wasn"t passive. She tangled her hands in his thick, silky hair and kissed him back. She moaned as his taste flooded her senses, drowning out the chaos around them. Earth, fir, vanilla musk, and pure Garrett, all flowing through her in a heady elixir of bliss and lust.

She broke away from his mouth to trail kisses down his jaw. Damn, he still tasted good. Better than any man she"d ever kissed. Her hands descended to his shoulders and then shoved his jacket open.

She had to touch him. She had to feel his skin.

The kiss broke again when his jacket fell to the ground. His lips moved to her neck, trailing more kisses up to her ear. "I need you," he whispered. "Please, say you"re mine."

The stark emotion in his voice sent an arrow of pain through her heart and despite her brain screaming no, she went with her heart. "I"m yours, Garrett. Always."

"Don"t say them unless you mean them."

She drew back and looked him straight in the eyes. "I"ll always be yours, Garrett, no matter what happens."

His eyes glittered with emotion, and his nostrils flared. He nodded and yanked off the t-shirt beneath his jacket. "Good. It will have to do for now."

"It"s the best we can do," she whispered.

"For now, Maya."

He tugged her further into the trees so they couldn"t be seen from the road. He reached behind her and unclasped her bra. He pulled the straps off her shoulders and tossed the lacy garment away, then plucked at the button of her jeans. She sucked in a breath as he stared into her eyes, his own glowing with raw lust. "For now, we have this."

He pushed her against the tree, then his hand slid inside her jeans, past her panties, to settle between her legs. Then two long fingers slipped inside her. Her breath hitched at the invasion, the invasion of something alien and yet familiar at the same time. A welcome invasion.

"See? I told you I don"t need words."

She bit her lip and nodded, trying to focus on his words rather than the mind-blowing sensation of his fingers as they eased deeper into her and stroked.

Her muscles clenched around his fingers as they moved within her. She whimpered, her eyes sliding closed as her head fell back. "I need—" She broke off another moan as her insides coiled tight.

"I know. I know what you need, Maya. Fuck, I need it too."

He pulled his fingers free from her and dropped to his knees in front of her. She reached for him, but he grabbed her wrists and pulled them to either side of her body.

"Let me. I need to taste you."

Before she could say anything, he tugged her jeans down her legs and she lifted one leg out. He lifted the leg to his shoulder and buried buried his face between her legs. His tongue swept over her, tasting her, teasing her, pushing her past that last little hesitation that held her back. The heat of his mouth on her pussy was incredible, the sensation of his tongue doing something she"d never felt before, something that made her want so much more.

She cried out, her head falling back as the pleasure inside her coiled tighter and tighter. "Garrett, please."

His tongue swept over her again, and this time she couldn"t help the way her hips jerked. He flicked her clit, sending jolts of pleasure through her as her entire body tensed with need. Her hands balled into fists as her lungs struggled to draw in air.

She came with a scream as wave after wave of pleasure washed over her. She shook against the tree, her body blasting apart at the seams as her orgasm broke over her.

His hands slid to her thighs, holding her open to his gaze and his tongue as he licked her all over again.

When the final tremors passed, she pulled her hands free and reached for him. He rose and undid his jeans, lowering them until his cock was freed.

She grasped his arms and pulled him closer. "What are you doing?"

His eyes glittered as he stared at her. "Tell me what you want."

Her heart raced with his. "I want you. All of you."

He couldn"t stop himself from flexing his hips against her and his hard shaft, already fully erect, lined up with her pussy. She was so wet, so ready. He could have been inside her with just one thrust.

"You"ll have me. I"m here."

He buried his nose against her neck, inhaled deeply, and groaned at the sweet scent of her. "Yes, you are."

* * *

Garrett put his hands on Maya's hips, hitching one leg around his waist, and positioned himself against her entrance. He stared at her for a long moment, seeing her eyes dark with passion, her lips swollen from his kisses, and all he heard was his wolf screaming Mate. His teeth ached to bite her, give the claiming mark that would seal with bond forever, but it wasn't the right time. Hell, maybe there never would be for them. Their packs were too fucked up. But they could have this moment.

He slid his cock along her wet slit, swirling it in her juices. He bit back a shout as his cock slipped inside her pussy. He flexed his hips and pushed inside her, his hands on her hips, steadying her. She was perfect, warm, wet, tight.

So fucking tight.

"Fuck."

He pulled back and then thrust back inside her again. Her pulse beat against his lips as he kissed her neck again. He thrust into her again, wanting to take her hard and fast, but a hint of control kept him from doing that. Not yet. Not so soon. It had been so long since he"d been inside her. All the years he"d spent searching for his mate, only to find her as the one he'd known as a pup. To be with her again, even if it was only for a moment, made it worth it.

He kissed down her neck and nuzzled her breast. "I missed you."

She cupped his face and stared up at him with shining, tear-filled eyes. "I missed you too."

He licked her nipple, then suckled it between his lips, swirling his tongue around the tip and sending a jolt of pleasure through her. She arched her back and thrust her breast into his mouth for more. He obliged, licking and sucking and teasing, his cock sliding in and out of her wet pussy.

"Garrett, harder."

He groaned and lifted her, wrapping both her legs around him, giving him better leverage to thrust into her with more force. He shoved deep inside her and froze, then pulled back and slammed into her again. She cried out, her heels digging into his lower back as she rocked her hips in time with his.

The tempo picked up as he thrust into her again and again. He groaned against her neck. His cock thrust hard into her pussy, stroking over her clit with each forward motion. She was so wet, so hot. Every inch of her skin was covered in a fine sheen of sweat, and her hair hung in damp waves around her shoulders. He thrust into her again. Faster.

"Garrett." She moaned his name and twisted her head to the side to expose her neck to him, the place where he"d put his mating mark when it was time, and her eyes sliding closed as pleasure rocked through her.

He nipped her neck with his teeth, then stroked his tongue over the same spot, nipping lightly. She shuddered and whimpered in approval and thrust her hips against him, rocking her body as his cock stroked into her over and over.

Her thighs began to shake.

"Come for me, baby," he whispered, his breath hot against her skin. "I want to feel you come around me."

Her breath hitched as his words sent a jolt over her body. She tightened around his cock and screamed as another orgasm rocked through her. Her nails dug into his arms and her body bucked against his. He thrust into her, over and over, prolonging her pleasure as his own built.

He couldn"t hold back any longer. The feel of her release triggered his own. He thrust hard and deep into her one last time as his cock erupted, spilling hot jets of semen inside her. He thrust into her over and over, chasing his own release, until his world narrowed to Maya, to the feel of her pussy wrapped around his cock as he spilled inside her, and the sounds of her pleasure as he did the same.

Her head dropped against him, her body twitching as it tried to reboot. He held her close until her shakes subsided, then collapsed against her, pinning her to the tree. He lowered them to ground and rolled until he he sat against the tree, Maya cradled in his arms.

"God, that was amazing."

He kissed her forehead. "Yes, it was."

They sat there together for a long time, wrapped up in each other, not talking. He didn"t want to say anything that would ruin this moment.

"We should go soon," he finally said into the silence.

"I know." She sighed. "We are both dead if we stay. If you stay."

"I"ll stay with you until I die."

"Garrett—"

"I know."

She stood, letting him slip out of him. It was all too soon, too much, and yet time was slipping through their fingers like water. He hoped they didn't run dry before they could figure out a solution to their troubles and their mating.