“It’s great.” She glanced at the queen bed, two nightstands and a line of boxes piled up along a wall. “I wish it had a television but there are books.” She pointed. “See. Those are clearly marked as romances in that top box to the far left. I love them so I’ll have plenty to read.”

He inched closer. “This wasn’t how I thought it would be when we mated. It’s safer here with all of us under one roof though. I’ll get you a TV.”

She grinned and stepped into his arms. “I was teasing. With you in heat, I’m sure I’ll be far from bored. I don’t care where we are as long as we’re together. The place just needs a good cleaning.”

A soft growl rumbled from him. “I want you.”

She pressed her hand against the front of his jeans, caressing the hard length of his cock trapped inside them. Her breasts flattened against his chest. “I’m all yours.”

He brushed a kiss over her mouth. “I’ll never get tired of hearing you say that. It’s not real yet. I keep half expecting to wake up alone to discover none of this was real. It would kill me.”

“I’m real.” She reached up to dig her fingernails into his biceps. “Feel me.”

His arms tightened around her. He lifted her and carried her to the bed. They fell in a heap. Dust rose around them, causing both of them to sneeze. A snarl tore from Brand.

“Damn it! This isn’t romantic.”

Charma chuckled as she slid her fingers into his silky hair. “It doesn’t matter. We could be lost in the woods, starving, and it could be pouring rain. I’m happy that I have you.”

“I just want everything to be perfect.”

She gazed deep into his beautiful eyes. “It is. You’re here with me.”

He took possession of her mouth again as he shoved her clothing out of the way. She tore at his shirt, attempting to push it up his torso. She needed to feel his skin against hers. The urge to lick him, rake her nails down his back, and the ache between her thighs assured her she was ready to have his cock buried deep inside her.

He was her mate, her life, and every bit of happiness that she’d ever dreamed of having. They were together and nothing else mattered. She was going to enjoy every moment to make up for all the years they’d lost.

Brand rolled over and Charma sat up to straddle his lap. She hooked her fingers beneath her shirt and tore it up her body. His fingers snagged the cups of her bra and tugged to get her breasts free. She unfastened the back of it, wiggled her shoulders and he threw it to the floor. He massaged her taut nipples while she ground her ass down over his thighs, wishing they were naked and he was already inside her.

“You’re so beautiful. I missed you so much.”

Brand’s words were enough to make her tear up. “I love you. I died a little every day that we were apart.”

He rolled them again to pin her under him and stared deeply into her eyes. “If you ever take off again, I’ll track you down, hon. I swear I will. To the ends of the earth if that’s what it takes. I’ll never be without you again.”

She tore at his shirt, material ripped as she desperately sought hot skin. “Good. I’ll hold you to that promise but I’m not going anywhere. I’m right where I belong.”

A growl tore from his throat that promised he wouldn’t be gentle fucking her and her excitement level spiked higher. Memories of the past blurred with the present as they kissed. All those years had passed but the strong passion between them hadn’t faded. If anything, they’d both learned loss and the value of being together.

His mouth devoured hers as she met his tongue with her own. Charma ground her body against his, needing to feel him. A soft growl came from her throat and surprised them both. Brand responded by snarling. His hands became rougher, gripping her tightly and he pinned her under his big body when he rolled them to the center of the bed.

A cry of protest sounded when he tore his mouth away but he buried it against her throat to nip with his fangs. His hot lips kissed their way down to her breast to tease the taut nipple he scraped with his teeth. Her back arched off the mattress and her nails dug into his shoulders when he sucked hard.

“Fuck me.”

He released her breast and jerked his head up. His sexy eyes appeared more feral, the color nearly black now, and his breathing increased. “Strip.” He braced his arms, lifted and rolled off to give her room.

They both frantically wiggled out of their remaining clothes. Brand got naked first and flipped onto his back. His cock stood proudly, hard, and held her full attention. His fingers opened and spread on his chest to skim over his nipples, his flat belly, all the way to his hips.

“Come here, hon.”

She dropped on the bed to crawl up him with one of his legs between hers and paused when her face hovered over the thick shaft of his cock. Her tongue darted out to wet her lips and Brand’s gaze narrowed as his hands lifted to cup her face.

“I can’t look at you enough, touch you enough, and it still feels like a dream.”

“How about a wet one?”

She dropped her gaze to his lap and opened her mouth. The tip of her tongue swiped the crown of his shaft and swirled in a circle. His body jerked on the bed but he held still after that initial lack of control. A soft purr burst from her and her chest vibrated from the source.

Warmth seeped through her until her body felt as if it were on fire. It surprised her that she was reacting so intensely to Brand. He must have sensed how much she needed it because he was going to allow her to taste him this time.

He was sexy as hell and she wanted him but her level of need was off the charts of normal under the circumstances. It wasn’t her time to go into heat but there was no denying the symptoms. Her gums even ached a little as she wrapped her lips around him and sucked his cock deeper into her mouth.

“Fuck,” he growled.

Don’t grow fangs, she pleaded with her body. If he realizes, he’ll make me stop. The tingling along the top row of her teeth persisted as she coaxed her mate into a fever of passion. The taste of his pre-cum on her tongue only seemed to draw forth her more basic instincts until she tore away from him, fearful of causing him harm. She felt her eyes changing as her vision became brighter and more vivid.

“Oh God,” she panted. Her hand covered her mouth and the pain assured her that it wasn’t her imagination. The sharp points pressed against her palm as her fangs elongated. She stared into Brand’s dark eyes and knew he realized what was happening to her.