Page 160 of A Trial of Two Worlds
My heart was racing as I hung in limbo, waiting for her reply. I had never been so bold with anyone, so open and willing to allow my walls to crumble. But somehow, it was different with her.
“I’m not sure you can handlemydarkness,” she whispered. “No one can.”
“Try me,” I said, closing the distance between us.
Through the bond, I felt a vortex of conflicting emotions ranging from fear to hope, longing, and isolation, and finally, a deep sense of yearning that teetered on the side of desire. I ran my fingers along the delicate curve of her chin, half expecting her to bite me in retaliation for touching her without permission.
Zola stilled against my touch. Those gorgeous eyes filled with shadows clenched shut as she reached to grasp my arm.
“You seem like an honorable male… I don’t want to break you, Shaw,” Zola whispered. “I can stand the world seeing me as a monster created by the wilt, but the idea of you, of my mate—”
I silenced her fears as my lips crashed into hers, lifting her off her feet and pressing her backside against a nearby tree. I didn’t know what came over me, but somehow, I knew she needed this. I needed this.
My cock throbbed, begging to be released and fill my mate until the worries of her world vanished. Gods above, I longed to claim this female and make her forget everyone that came before me because there would be none after.
Zola wrapped her legs around my waist, interlocking her ankles as she kissed me with a ferocity I was all too eager to match. The taste of her on my tongue drove me wild. Her soft lips parted, and I dove in without hesitation.
I moaned into her mouth, gripping her perfect ass in my hands as I settled between her thighs, her nails raking against my back. Zola’s moans of pleasure drove me into a high I never wanted to leave.
“Shaw,” Zola whimpered as I ground between her thighs. “Shaw, wait.”
I forced myself to pull back, allowing Zola to find her footing as I pressed my brow against hers. Our breaths were ragged as I fought to regain control over my panther’s influence to take her against the bark of this gods-damned tree. A deep growl resonated in my chest. The drive to bite Zola’s neck and claim her as my mate was fogging my mind.
“When you’re ready to trust me,” I rasped, stroking the wisps of black markings on her delicious neck, “you will share the story of these scars with me, and I’ll tell you mine.”
Zola reached for my right hand, bringing it to the light as she traced her fingers over the scars that damaged more than just my skin.
“I’m not asking you to accept the bond.” I sucked in a breath, holding it captive before releasing it. “I’m asking you to give us a chance.”
My female gazed at me like she was seeing the true depths of my soul, those dark eyes finding and accepting the truth I was laying at her feet.
“Very well,” she breathed, sending my heart soaring.
I ravaged her mouth once more, needing to taste her like I needed air.
“They’re back!”
“Hurry!”
“Come see them!”
Lost in our kiss, I almost missed the familiar surge of power and the knock against my subconscious. Reluctantly, I pushed away from Zola.
Skylar and Daxton had returned.
I gazed at the female in my arms with a renewed sense of life. I didn’t want to leave our secluded hideaway, but duty demanded we both return.
I bent one final time to kiss the nape of her neck. “I will lay my mark on your flesh, my little shadow. But before I do, I want you begging me to do it.” I pulled back, my voice becoming more animal than the male standing before her. “Because once I do, there’s no turning back. You’ll be mine, forever.”
Zola smirked, causing my gods-damned balls to ache. “Confident for someone so young.”
“Oh, I may be young, little shadow, but trust me, I’m far from inexperienced.”
“We’ll see,” she answered with a smirk as she faded into the shadows cast by the overhanging canopy. “Try to keep up,” Zola mocked from behind, reaching into the pocket along her thigh and holding the alpha’s dagger out to me. “You’ll need to give this back to Skylar. It’s a pity I have to return it, though.” She sighed, clicking her teeth as her eyes darted along the steel of the weapon.
I strode toward her, holding out my hand to accept the dagger. “Thanks for keeping it safe.”
“My pleasure.”
