Chapter 6

Knox carried his beautiful mate into her apartment. The elf barracks were similar to the ones the Guardians used, but instead of small gathering rooms, each floor had its own large multi-purpose room, which doubled as not only a game room and hangout spot, but a communal kitchen for those who didn't want to do their own cooking.

Her apartment was on the ground floor. There were a few floors above the ground floor and below. When he'd carried her across the threshold, he set her down and shut the door.

They were in a small foyer next to the eat-in kitchen. She flipped on the overhead light, and they hung up their coats and took off their shoes and outdoor gear.

"Are you hungry or thirsty?" she asked.

"I'm good, thanks."

She gave him a soft smile, her blue eyes sparkling. She let out a soft laugh. "I'm feeling really nervous, but I also feel like I shouldn't because we're mates."

He was feeling a bit of nerves himself, mostly because he wanted everything from this point forward to be spectacular so she didn't regret a moment of their lives together.

Taking her hand, he brought it to his lips and then gently pulled her close, settling his other hand on the small of her back. She fit perfectly against him and she smelled so amazing, like fresh from the oven sugar cookies.

"Let's not worry about anything tonight but getting to know each other. No expectations, no plans, just you and me, spending time together."

"Will you stay tonight? So we don't have to say goodbye when we just met?"

His leopard let out a purr. "I would love to. And I'd like to ask you to take tomorrow off if you can, so we can have more time together."

"You will too?" she asked, brow arched.

"Definitely."

"I need to call my dad, too, so he doesn't worry."

They both parted but stayed close enough to keep their fingers linked as they made their calls on the satellite phones provided by the security team. He spoke quickly to Maverick, who relayed the information to Chase.

"No problem," Maverick said. "We'll reach out to the other Guardians to get your shift covered, we might need to get an elf to fill in."

"Just the one day?" Chase asked.

"We'll see," Knox said.

"About the leap—" Maverick said.

"I'm not going to worry about that," Knox said, cutting him off. "And I expect things to stay between the three of us for now until I figure out my next step."

He hadn't wanted to worry about what it meant that his mate wasn't a shifter, he wanted to focus on getting to know her. The last thing he wanted was for her to worry about what it all meant for him, his leap, and his position as alpha.

"Of course," Maverick said.

"We've got your back," Chase said.

"Thanks, I'll let you know when I plan to return, but I think just the one day off is good for now. The holidays aren't that far away and then things settle down here."

He said goodbye and turned to look at Ivy, who had pink cheeks and was chewing her bottom lip.

"Yes, I know, Dad," she said. "I promise. No, I promise. Yes, I do. Seriously? You're embarrassing." She let out a little huff. "Fine." She looked at Knox and said, "My dad wants to meet us for dinner tomorrow night so he can threaten you in person."

Knox chuckled. "Threaten me, huh? Gotta love a protective dad. We can definitely meet him for dinner tomorrow."

She gave him a thousand-watt smile, making his leopard sit up with an interested purr. She finished her conversation with her dad and set the phone on the coffee table. "My brother Alder will be there. He's protective too." She looked thoughtful.

"Are all elves up here?" he asked.

"There are pockets of elves around the world. They live in what they call communes. A lot of elves call the North Pole home, though."

There was a moment where he wasn't sure what to say because, thanks to Maverick and Chase, he was now thinking about what he would do about having a mate who wasn't a shifter.

He didn't want to rush her or make her think he was only after one thing. Because while he very much wanted to hear what she sounded like when she fell apart in his arms, the last thing he wanted to do was make her feel like she wasn't worth the wait. She absolutely was.

As he wrestled internally with his leopard and what his next move should be, she touched his cheek with her soft, warm hand.

All thought fled save for one: kiss the girl.

She wasn't bold by any stretch. She would rather just walk away than confront someone or put herself out there too much, frankly. As a bona-fide people pleaser, she spent way too much time worrying about what other people thought of her.

But all she could think about once Knox had lifted her into his arms as if she weighed nothing and carried her all the way to her apartment was the searing heat that made her feel like she was going to combust.

Could a person combust from pent-up sexual need?

She wasn't sure, but it certainly felt like she could. She was flushed, her skin was prickling, and she wanted to snuggle up to Knox and see where the night took them.

He was staring at the floor, clearly deep in thought, so she laid her palm on his cheek. He lifted his head and his nostrils flared, his eyes changing to the most enchanting amber color.

"I'm not the sort of, uh," she cleared her throat. "I'm not the sort of girl who takes any random male to her place for the night. You're my mate, and I genuinely feel like I'm going to burst into flames if we don't kiss right now. And more." Her fingers curled, her nails digging a little into his skin. "More. Much more."

He let out a low, deep growl. "There are things I need to tell you."

She moved a little closer, inhaling his masculine scent. He smelled like snow and leather. "We're mates, right?"

"Yes."

She went onto her toes and slipped her hand to his shoulder. "Don't think I'm crazy, but I want to just go to bed and see what happens." She nuzzled under his chin and sank her teeth gently into his throat. He gripped her suddenly and lifted her up. She curled her legs around his waist and hooked her ankles together.

"Mine."

She bit a little harder, knowing she would leave a bruise. Then she kissed the mark as he carried her through the great room.

"You're mine too."

She felt herself being tipped backward, and then she was on her bed as he loomed over her. His eyes were dark amber and she could see the hint of his fangs as he lifted her top and pressed his lips to her belly. Her skin erupted in goose bumps.

"I'm not on birth control," she murmured, sifting his soft hair through her fingers. "I don't want to keep anything from you, but I also really want to feel you this first time."

He purred and licked a slow circle around her navel.

"I want that too. Whatever happens, tonight or any other night, will be perfect. You're mine and I'm yours, no matter what."

She was going to fall hard for this male.

How could she not? He was sexy and protective, and very sweet. She knew the longer they were together, the closer they'd grow.

A shiver wove through her.

"Knox."

"Yes, sweet elf?"

"Take my pants off."

He grinned sinfully and planted his fists on the bed by her hips. "So bossy, sweet mate?"

"I'm burning up."

"Can't have that." He straightened and shucked his shirt and pants before he swiftly divested her of her clothes. He gazed down at her, and there was a moment where she didn't think either of them were breathing.

They were just staring at each other, drinking their fill.

She could see the flush of heat across his lightly tanned skin, highlighting the thick muscles she'd felt under his shirt. He had a trim waist and that delicious cut of abs that led down to…oh my.

His cock was thick and long, and her toes actually curled at the thought of him plunging inside her.

She bit her bottom lip, her cheeks puffing as she exhaled sharply.

He gripped the backs of her knees and pulled her roughly toward him, and then he leaned over.

He kissed her like he could climb down inside her, like he'd been looking for something important and had finally found it in the kiss.

Their tongues danced and their hands roamed. She was so overcome by everything that she was trembling and dancing the edge of pleasure before he'd done more than sweep his fingers across her less-erogenous places.

Should she be turned on by the graze of his calloused hands on her stomach or her upper arm? Should she want to scream his name to the heavens when his palm laid across her collarbone?

Oh, but she was, and she wanted.

She wanted everything.

He kissed and licked his way to her breasts, and his fingers finally—finally!—found home between her legs, where the heart of her aching body needed only him to staunch it.

With the slowest and lightest of pressure, he circled the entrance to her body, making her hips buck and her legs shake. He smiled against her breast and then sucked on her nipple as he slipped one finger into her.

It wasn't enough and it was too much at the same time.

A second finger joined in, moving far too slowly.

But oh, how heavenly his mouth felt, sucking on her nipples and scraping them with his teeth. She tilted her hips and he growled against her flesh. Her stomach flipped and her skin felt like it was pinched in a vise.

She reached for him, but he snarled and grasped her hands, holding both over her head as he continued to finger her.

"If you touch me, this is going to be over way too fast. My cat wants to fuck you so bad, but I want you wet and dripping for me."

His voice was low and rough.

She whimpered in his hold.

"Keep your eyes on me, beautiful."

She gazed at him, mesmerized by the amber of his cat.

He added a third finger and moved them faster. She could hear how wet she was, and knew she was flying close to the edge.

His thumb pressed to her clit and she tensed, curling her toes and gasping out a moan.

He lowered his head and scraped his sharp fangs lightly against her skin.

Her body exploded and she cried out his name.

In a heartbeat he was in her, fucking her through her climax that had shattered her from the inside out. His face was in the crook of her neck, his lips on her skin.

She knew shifters marked their mates with their fangs during sex, and she suddenly wanted that. Now that he'd let go of her hands, she wrapped her arms around him and sank her fingernails into his back. Meeting his thrusts, she arched her hips as heat spread through her.

She whispered his name in between moans as they moved together like they'd fucked a hundred times before instead of this first glorious time.

He hit a spot in her that made her see stars and she dug her fingers into his skin and cried out. Heat spiraled and coiled in her.

Sharp pain hit her neck just as she crested the second plateau of pleasure and she dragged her nails down his back as she came, her voice cracking as she shouted his name.

He lifted his head and let out the call of his cat, a joyous sound of claiming that she instinctively knew meant they were bound together as mates.

It was the best feeling in the world.

She locked her ankles behind his back and smiled as he gazed down at her with a half-drunk, half-in-love look.

"Stay in me for a moment, I don't want this to end," she whispered, her voice rough from screaming her pleasure to the sky.

He nuzzled her throat. "Coming to Northernmost was the best idea I've ever had, sweet mate. You're mine forever now. Can you feel that we're connected?"

She heard his cat's purr and felt an answering hum from her magic.

Yes, they were connected. Marked mates that had found each other even though they'd been so very far apart.

Fate was amazing.

"I can feel it," she said, brushing his bottom lip with her thumb. She tilted her face to his for a kiss. "It's amazing."

"You're amazing. Every sexy inch of you."

She grinned. "Careful, compliments like that will get you another round."

He rolled to his back and carried her with him. "Sexy female. Don't threaten me with a good time."

She laughed as their lips met and the second round started. Slower this time but just as powerful and just as amazing. She couldn't wait to see what round three brought.