22. Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Two

Stephanie

I wait anxiously in the middle of the bed.

Naked.

On my knees.

With the cuffs I found in Quinn's closet lying over the log at the bottom of the bed.

We ate and everyone else talked. Breeane returned, and I enlisted Sally to get Quinn out of the house as everyone was leaving. She somehow talked Micah into telling him he needed to talk about something.

Micah winked at me behind Quinn's back on the way out the door.

Breeane and I rushed around the bedroom. We tore down all the mismatched blankets, twined lights around all the logs, and then used long, black, sheer curtains to cover them. We had ten minutes at the most, but we made it. She hugged me quickly and told me to get naked and call her after we were bonded.

I have barely caught my breath from the rush, the adrenaline, and excitement when I hear Quinn shut the front door. I stop fidgeting and wait .

"Mate," he says. I remain silent, biting my lip as his steps get closer. "Steph." He opens the bedroom door and stops abruptly.

His hand is still on the doorknob when I start talking. "Surprise. You said you wanted today to be special, so I wanted to do something for you." He doesn't move. "I love you," I say quickly. "I love how you allow me to be anything I need to be in the moment. I love your patience and how you make me feel safe. I haven't felt truly safe for a long time. I took a risk moving here and confronting my fears. I had no idea I would meet my mate and you would be everything I needed. I want to make a family with you. I get chills when I think about having your babies and what a great dad you will be. I want to lose myself in you every day for the rest of our time on this earth. I was stuck in this never-ending loop before coming here. A loop of fear, insecurities, and anger. I was angry at myself. Why couldn't I get past the things that happened to me? So, I decided to force myself to come back to this place. I swore I would never return when I left, but something was pushing me to.

"It fell into place, and I know it was right. If I hadn't made the decision, Breeane wouldn't have met her mates when she did, and I wouldn't have met you. She mentioned on the phone with me about a bear named Quinn. I didn't know you would be my mate. I have dreamed of a mate with all the qualities that you have. I have always believed things happen for a reason, but I lost sight of that when I was taken. I couldn't imagine there was a reason for that." I take a quick breath. "I meant what I said. I would do it all again if I knew you were waiting for me on the other side. I would happily live in that cage because I would know you would be the one who unlocked the door.

"I want to complete the bond. I want to mark you. I want to meet your bear and run together. I trust you, Quinn. I trust in our bond. In our mating. I trust that you will keep me safe, happy, and loved. I will never leave, ever," I swear, shaking my head jerkily. "Whatever happens in our life, I will come to you and tell you everything. I will always put you and our relationship first," I grind to a halt, my breath short. I lick my dry lips while I wait for his response.

"You love me?" he rasps.

"Yes." He steps in and shuts the door, locking it.

"You want my mark?" he asks, taking off his shirt.

"I do."

"You want my babies?" He steps out of his boots.

"Of course," I answer. He walks to the end of the bed, his fingertip touching the leather of the cuff.

"You want me to be your Daddy, forever?"

"Yes," I whisper.

"Do you want to marry me?" he asks, his hand moving to his pants.

"Yes."

"The bond is marriage to shifters. I don't need a silly piece of paper to tell me that I will love you, keep you safe, and build a family with you, but I want to be tied to you in every possible way." My heart thumps. "So, we will be doing that, too."

"Okay."

"I don't particularly like gatherings like the one we just had here. You know I am not the most sociable person, but I didn't hate it once you were with me. I think as long as you are by my side, I can survive anything. I was waiting for you. You are my other half."

"Quinn."

"What do you call me?"

"Daddy."

"What is your word?"

"Cage."

"I need to mark you," he growls, his bear showing himself.

"Yes. "

He strips off his pants, and once again, I glory in my mate. He is big everywhere.

"Give me your hands," he orders, holding his hand flat. I move them so fast they overshoot his waiting palm. His lips twitch. He separates my hands, steadying them before letting go, and picks up the cuffs. I can smell the brown leather, and I will always associate the smell with my mate. He unsnaps them, picking up one and the other, securing them to my writs. There is a chain attaching them, which he gathers in his fist. "Move back."

"Yes, Daddy," I reply and lay back, using my feet to push my body further up the bed. Quinn keeps his hand on the chain, using his other hand to crawl with me.

I settle on the pillow. "Leave them here," he says, pressing my hands above my head. He caresses down my arm as he moves away and sits between my legs. His thumbs glide back and forth over my knees. He watches his hand for a moment and then pushes my knees up and out. "If you are uncomfortable, say your word."

"I will." His light touches bring the heat out in full force. I've been trying to ignore it as much as possible, knowing it will consume me if I give in every time.

"You need to let go," he says, reading my mind. "Don't hold back your reactions. Don't hold back your emotions."

"Okay," I agree. He glides one finger through my pussy, and I shiver.

"I love that I caused this." He enters me slightly. "This pleases me." He takes his touch away.

"Daddy," I whimper.

"Do you want to give me pleasure?" he asks with a tilt of his head.

"Yes," I gasp.

"Then don't hide," he orders.

"What?" I shake my head in denial as he asks the question .

"You hide your desire." He presses on my clit and leans forward. "Do not hide from me," he says sternly.

I squirm. "Yes, Daddy."

"Anything you feel, you show me, tell me, in whatever fucking way you want." He sits back and caresses over and over. "Your reactions fuel mine." His palm covers me. "This is mine. I am the only one who can make it wet, so give me that satisfaction."

"I promise." I tilt my hips when he takes his hand away. "Daddy," I growl.

"Patience, Little Cub." He crawls over me and hovers over my breasts. "Now that I have given you permission to show those emotions, I get to decide when to make you explode." He smiles, and his enjoyment causes warmth to spread.

"Shit, you are so sexy." It isn't fair how handsome he is.

"Glad you think so," he says, the corners of his lips tipping up further.

"That's making it worse," I groan.

"Let Daddy make it all better," he drawls, dipping his head, his eyes still on me, and takes my nipple between his teeth. He bites gently and then sucks.

"Fuck," I groan, watching him play.

With every pull of his mouth and the scrape of his beard on my skin, my whole body heats from the inside out. He switches to my other breast, giving in the same treatment, and all I can do is ache. The vision of him holding himself above me, his arms flexing with his weight, his mouth sucking, will be a memory I will constantly remember. The only part of his body touching me is his mouth, but it feels like we are fused.

"I love these tits," he rasps, licking one nipple and then the other. "I wonder if I can make you come just from this?" He nibbles on the underside of them .

"Daddy," I moan, impatient.

He smirks. "Maybe another time." He moves backward slowly, leaving his tongue against my skin and traveling down the center of my body. "I love the taste of you," he whispers. Goosebumps cover me as he nips at my hip. I lift the opposite hip, hoping he will put me out of my misery and lick where I need him most. He presses his palm against it. "Stay still," he says gruffly. "Be a good Little Cub," he scolds.

I bite my lip and relax back to the bed. "Yes, Daddy," I concede, but it takes effort.

"Do you want fucked?" he asks, his breath warming my clit. So close, but not close enough.

"Please," I beg.

He chuckles. "You beg so well," he hums. "But you will wait until I decide it's time," I growl lightly, and he pulls back. "What was that?" He lifts an eyebrow.

"Yes, Daddy," I say through gritted teeth.

"I may have found the little brat inside my Little Cub." He doesn't sound very upset about it. "I like it." He grins.

"You do?"

"Sure. But it doesn't mean you get what you want any sooner." He licks my clit. "Are you going to be a good girl?"

"Yes, Daddy," I say quickly. Whatever I have to do to get what I want. I smile innocently.

"I will be thrilled to explore that side of you after my mark is on your body." He sucks my clit once. "And your mark is on me." Another suck.

"Okay," I replied faintly, excited at the prospect zapping over me.

"Good, Little Cub." He strokes over my swollen flesh. "Come as much as you want," he says before disappearing between my legs, his mouth covering me so fast and so completely I cry out.

I lose myself in his love, and I forget everything but the warmth of his tongue working me, bringing me to the edge over and over again. The lift of my hips is out of my control, wanting to have him as close as possible. His arm shoots out, landing across my stomach, pressing. His big hand squeezing my side only adds to my desire.

"Please, please, please," I chant weakly, the ball of need rising rapidly.

He continues to give me what I need, but it's never enough. I want more. I want every ounce of pleasure he can wring out of me. The chain on my cuffs rattles as I grip the pillow. I raise my hands, forgetting his order for a moment until he pauses, and I force them to be still. He resumes when it quiets. The pressure reaches its peak, and I can't help but come. My mouth opens with a silent scream as it washes over me fast, long, and deep. My head presses into the pillow hard, and my chest lifts. The sound of his mouth drinking it down is obscene, but I don't care. It goes on and on. He doesn't stop until I glide back down, my limbs heavily dropping.

I watch him sit back, wipe his mouth with his finger, and suck it into his mouth.

My pussy spasms.

"Good girl," he says. "Proud of my Little Cub."

My face heats. "Daddy, I need more." My bear is pushing at my skin. My eyes have brightened with her presence. I need to mark my mate, and she is ready.

"I know, baby." He crawls over me once again, dragging his face over my skin on the way, the roughness of his beard leaving his mark. "I will mark you in every way possible. With my beard, my cock, and my teeth," he growls.

"Yes," I hiss. He pushes my legs wider with his thighs, and his hand joins mine, his fingers twining. His other hand cups my throat.

"Are you ready?" he asks, his index finger flexing .

"Yes, Daddy." I push into his hand, showing him my willingness to take everything he is.

"Take Daddy then," he says and thrusts.

"Jesus," I cry. His hips are against mine, as deep as he can be, and I love it. I love his possession and his power. I love being at his mercy.

"Fuck yeah," he groans. "You feel so fucking good." He moves. Hard. Fast. Deep. "You are mine."

"Yours," I cry.

"Who do you belong to?" he snarls, his teeth showing.

"You. I belong to you, Daddy. I belong to Quinn."

"Yes…you…do," he says, grinding with every word. He squeezes my throat, and my walls contract around him. "Yes, Little Cub. Come again before I mark you," he encourages.

I don't need the prompt, and I come. "Daddy," I pant.

"Fuck." He snaps his hips; our skin slaps with the force of it.

"Please," I beg, my teeth descending.

"Are you ready to bond?" he asks. "Are you ready to be my mate, partner, and love?"

"Yes," I say harshly.

"Do you want my bite? My mark?"

"Please," I cry.

"You are mine," he says as he removes his hand from my neck, fisting it on the bed beside us. He dips his head, grazing his nose over my skin. "I belong to you. Everything I am is yours," he says roughly and then strikes. His teeth slide easily into my skin over my pounding pulse.

"Quinn," I gasp. The feeling is indescribable. My orgasm slides into another as I begin to feel his soul join mine, forever twined together.

"Ah…" he roars, pulling away, his head tipping back, my blood on his mouth. His hips continue to pound .

I take advantage of his bared neck and lunge toward it, sinking my teeth in at the base of his throat. I slip the chain over his head. My eyes close in ecstasy. His taste. His scent. His life. All of it flows into me, and I can feel everything. His pleasure. The room is silent. Power. The power of the gift the universe gave wraps us in magic, shutting out everything around us but the connection we now share.

I ease back, licking the bite once, and drop to the bed. My mate follows, his face close to his mark. We are frozen, his cock still held lovingly inside me, still hard even though he came.

I smile gently as I realize our hearts are beating in sync for just a moment when the bond finds its home within us, binding.

Quinn reaches for my wrists, blindly taking the cuffs off and throwing them to the bed. I gratefully use my free hands to cup his head, holding him to my neck. He sucks his mark, a deep rumbling coming from his chest. I rest my cheek on the top of his head.

I realize how much Quinn hides. His emotions are overwhelming. The intensity of his love, but also his burdens, flood me. We can control how much we share with our mates if it becomes too much. Quinn isn't thinking about shielding anything.

"I have been holding my breath," he says softly. He pushes back, his hands cupping the sides of my neck, tilting it to look at him. "I have been holding my breath since I was seventeen. Waiting for my mom to come back. Waiting for the anger and sadness to go away. For my dad to be happy again so I don't have to worry about him anymore. For a purpose. For the next kill. Waiting for the murderers to stop. For a home, I want to stay at. For my new friends to find out about my past. For their judgment. For their disgust." He strokes my cheek. "I have been holding my breath, hoping I could be lucky enough to have a mate someday. Hoping she won't leave. Hoping she would be able to accept the demons I have lived with since I was seventeen." He smiles sweetly. "When I met you, I could finally breathe," he growls. "I took my first breath since I was seventeen," he stresses, his eyes glossy. "I love you." A sob escapes me. "I fucking love Steph. I love my Little Cub. Every single part of you, I love. I promise to protect you. I will be your Daddy, friend, safe space, and family." He touches the tip of my quivering lip with his finger. "I will love you until my last breath." He kisses me lightly. "Do you believe me?"

I swallow harshly. "Yes, I believe you. I will always believe you." I throw myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck. "I love you, Daddy."

"I love you, Little Cub." He runs his hand down my hair. "Until my last breath," he whispers.