Twenty Three

So far theweekend has gone well. I knew it would. My parents are good people and my mom is just a big ball of happiness. I knew she would love Marley the moment she met her, and I was right.

It was a relief to see that Marley's nerves settled quickly and she relaxed into the flow of conversation.

But knowing my mom and how she doesn't have a filter, I feel bad for leaving my mate alone with her yesterday. Poor Marley. But if anyone could handle it, it's my girl.

They're inside now talking about shopping and maybe going to get mani/pedis, while I'm outside with dad. This seems to be our thing this weekend as well.

"So, how are things going?" my dad asks as we sit in the back by the pool drinking our beers.

"Good. Now. It took a while to get there." I sigh, turning to look at him. This is nice. Normally, it's me and mom having conversations like this. "I wasn't honest with her from the start about her being my mate and it was really bad timing when she found out, thanks to me and my big mouth."

"It's not easy, you know," he tells me. "Monsters, we expect this. We grow up learning that there's a high chance that a soul is out there, destined to be with us, and while it's not overly common, sometimes more than one soul. But if that person ends up being a human, it can be a whole different situation. Monsters may have been around since the beginning of time, but we only recently joined human society within the past one hundred years. Humans are not very knowledgeable regarding mates. So, the topic can often be overwhelming."

"I think our downfall from the start was just not being honest. I let my past cloud my mind and judgment. Add in some bullshit with her friends, and it was just a rough situation."

"But you"re good now?"

"After weeks of me stalking her and wearing her down to prove to her that I may be an idiot, but we're perfect for each other," I tell him, my lip twitching.

"Ah, you take after me. Good boy." He chuckles and his approval warms my chest. "About other…aspects of your relationship?" he asks, clearing his throat, things growing a little awkward. While I'm used to my mother"s bluntness toward sex, I've only had one conversation with my dad about sex before now.

"We've been making it work." I look away. "It's going to take some getting used to before we can do things without thinking carefully."

"Once you solidify the mate bond, her body will open up for you. You were made for each other."

"Okay." I nod, god this is so awkward.But thankfully, my girl steps outside and saves me.

"Hey." She smiles softly, looking toward me and my dad. "Everything okay?"

"Everything is perfect." My dad stands. "Is my stunning wife inside?"

"Yes." Marley laughs. "She said something about fixing the garden out front?"

"Ahh." My dad chuckles. "I better go help her. Be good, you two."

When my dad leaves, she looks at me. "Why do I have a feeling that"s some kind of code to give us time alone?"

I grin, shaking my head. "Knowing Mom, I'm going to say it is. What did you two get up to in there? I thought there was talk of getting your nails done?"

"We talked. And there was. We're going tomorrow to a salon she frequents." She smiles softly at me. "Can we go somewhere a little more…private? I wanna talk to you."

"Sure." She doesn't look upset or like she's about to hit me with some devastating news, so I don't panic as I take her hand and lead her into the pool house.

"This is nice," she says as she looks around the room. It's a pretty big space, filled with a pool table, some couches and a fridge. My friends and I would come here sometimes to hang out when we couldn't go to Sawyer's.

"Thanks."

"So," Marley says, turning to face me. "Here's the thing. The past few months have been nothing but a rollercoaster of emotions. I'm glad we're in a good place now, and that"s how I want it to stay."

"Oh, yeah?" I give her a grin.

"Yes." She nods. "I'm over this push and pull. I love you, Luci. You"re my mate and that is the greatest honor. I want to be with you, for good. This thing, me and you, it's a forever thing."

My smile slips as I stare at her in shock. "You really mean it? You love me. You want this, us?"

"More than anything else in the world," she whispers and my heart fucking explodes. "But, I also want to know why you haven't marked me yet?"

My eyes widen. "You know about that?"

She nods. "I've talked about it with your mom a bit, and done some online research."

"I… I didn't think you would want that, at least not anytime soon. With us just getting used to the whole mate thing, I didn't want to freak you out with something so permanent. You will be my mate until the day I die, but with you being human, if I never mark you, you don't have to worry about the strong feelings of pain that come with being without your mate. I didn't want to put that on you."

"Well. Now that I understand all of that and I know what I want, I think it's time for you to show me how much you love me by making me yours forever," she teases. "It's only fair with me getting this and everything." She pulls up her dress and stares at me.

My brows furrow as I lean in, getting a good look at the black tattoo I've never noticed before. "Is that a hoof?" I ask, my voice growing husky.

My girl. My Marley. She got a fucking tattoo for me. Holy shit. That"s the sexiest thing I've ever seen. Also, it shows just how obsessed I am with her since we've been naked together plenty of times now and I've never noticed she got a fucking tattoo for me.

Talk about being blinded by the pussy.

"Yes. I got it when I wasn't in the best mindset. Maybe a moment of insanity? Or maybe it was just my soul telling me we were meant to be. That you were mine and we were each other's forever. I want you, Lucius." Her eyes well with tears. "I want you for the rest of our lives. I want to marry you someday and have your little centaur babies. I want to fall asleep next to you every night and wake up with you every morning. I just want you. Only you. Mark me, Luci, please?"

My nostrils flare, my chest heaves and my cock aches. I've never felt so feral in my life as I do right now with the need to mark my mate, to make her mine.

Something inside me snaps and I pounce. Grabbing her by the thighs, I lift her up and slam her against the wall. She gasps in shock, looking at me with wide, excited eyes.

Holding her with one arm against the wall, I pull my shorts down, freeing my cock, dripping with need, and hiking her dress up.

"No panties, mate?" I growl.

"I was hoping our talk would end like this." She bites her bottom lip.

Not being able to wait another moment, I position my cock at her entrance and push inside quickly. Not far enough to hurt her, since we've done this dance enough, but enough that she still cries out.

"Fuuuck!"

I piston in and out of her, grunting as she tightens around me.

"Play with your pussy, baby."

She obeys immediately, sliding a hand between us and rubbing fast, hard circles on her clit.

"God, you're so damn sexy. I can't believe I get to have you forever," I tell her.

"Mark me, you asshole. I'm gonna cum," she pants.

With a growl, I burrow my face into her neck and bite down, sinking my teeth into her sensitive flesh.

A feeling like I've never had before overwhelms me. Stars burst behind my eyes, my body explodes in ecstasy and euphoria all at once as our souls twine together, making us one.

Without any warning, an orgasm takes over us both. I let out a groan against her neck, teeth still latched, as my cock jerks inside of her. I cum hard, so damn hard I think I'm going to pass out.

Marley screams my name, grinding her pussy against my dick as she shatters beneath me.

When we come down from the high, I remove my teeth and lick the bit of blood that forms.

"Holy shit," Marley whimpers. "That was, fucking hell, that was amazing." She giggles and I laugh too, putting my forehead to hers. "I love you so much, Luci."

I'll never get tired of hearing her say that. "I love you so much too, my little mate. My everything." And I'll never get tired of saying those same words to her.

We just stay there in each other"s arms, not saying anything as our breaths mingle together. "Marley."

"Yes?"

"We never tell my friends that I just came in like five seconds from just biting you."

She bursts into laughter. "Your friends? Never. Now, my friends on the other hand."

I growl and lower her to the ground. "You"re such a brat."

"I know." She grins up at me. "But I'm your brat."

Gripping her chin, I place a soft kiss on her lips, pure happiness pulsing through my veins as I look at my mate in her beautiful eyes. How did I get so fucking lucky? "I wouldn't have it any other way."