Mated in Mist (Talon Pack #3)(49)

“If I were to tell them, then I’d risk the spirits coming after them…or risk Timothy.”

Her eyes widened. “Your uncle is still here? He didn’t cross the Veil?”

His uncle screamed in his ears even as some of the other spirits cried for what they’d lost in their lives. It was always a dull throb in the back of his mind, but since he’d spoken of it, it only got louder. What would he do if Leah could help him? Could he risk her? Or was that even a risk? He just didn’t know.

“He haunts me every hour. I don’t see him like I see the others, but I can hear him.”

“And he makes you feel like shit because he’s a f*cking *.” Leah pressed her lips together and inhaled through her nose. “Ryder. You do not have to do this alone.”

“I pushed you away because I couldn’t have you.”

“You wouldn’t,” she counted.

“Couldn’t. No. I couldn’t, Leah. A mating bond can force the other person to deal with the wolf’s gifts and powers. Not only would you have to deal with the excess bonds of a healing and growing Pack as the mate of the Heir, but you might also end up with my abilities.”

Leah stood, her hands fisting. “And you don’t think I can handle that? You didn’t give me a choice. How do you think that makes me feel? You say I’m strong and you let me protect your family with my magic, but you undercut all of that by saying you can’t mate with me.”

He stood and cupped her face, his wolf howling within. “I couldn’t see you die because of it. Don’t you understand? Every time I use a spirit, every time it slides through me, I weaken. I couldn’t let that happen to you. I don’t know what will happen when a bond forms. What if it gets worse? What if it kills you? I see death, little witch. What if death takes a new form with a mating bond? I’ve heard of gifts mutating before. I didn’t want to risk you.”

Leah let out a little growl. If he hadn’t been so sure the growl was because he’d hurt her, he’d have thought it was damn sexy.

“You don’t get to decide that, Ryder. But, but, I will forgive you. Only because life is hell and you had to live over a century burning in its flames. You didn’t know what to do with your gift, you weren’t trained. You didn’t know that as a water witch, I could help you maintain your control and find your peace. So I will forgive you. But you don’t get to keep secrets from me anymore. You can’t. When we decided to try to be together without the bond, I tried to understand. But now that I know why you pushed me away, I don’t know if I can be with you without the bond.”

He kissed her softly, his wolf scraping at him. “I want you, Leah. I want you in my life, in my bed. The goddess showed me what we could have, and I pushed it away because I didn’t understand. I didn’t know. Forgive me, Leah. Forgive me for risking everything because I thought I knew better.”

He was a dominant wolf and not good at groveling. He just prayed that what he’d done would be enough.

She kissed his jaw then ran her hands down his chest. “I’m your mate, Ryder. I’m not going away. With you I found out how to be the witch I needed to be. You made me safe, my wolf. You found me during the darkest part of my life and brought me to the light. Trust me and what the goddess gives us.”

“Be my mate, Leah. Be with me.” She nodded as he pressed his lips to hers, his wolf howling.

He didn’t know what would come next, what would happen once they mated, but he knew he couldn’t push her away any longer. The mating urge rode him hard, and frankly, he knew if he had to face a war with the humans and whatever battles happened with his Pack, he wanted Leah by his side…and in his heart.

She’d told him she could handle it, and he would have to trust the goddess. He’d never had that kind of faith before, but maybe, just maybe, it would work out.

Leah’s hand gripped him through his sweats and he groaned. “Get out of your head and get inside me, Ryder. I need you.”

He let out a deep chuckle then gripped her ass, grinding himself to her. “I can do that, little witch. I can fill you up and make you come so hard we’ll both be passed out, sated.”

“That’s a lot of talk, but not a lot of action.” She licked her lips then went to her knees. “Maybe I should show you just exactly what I’m talking about.” With that, she pulled him out of his sweats and pumped him hard.

He groaned, tangling his fingers in her hair. “Have I told you I love your mouth? You know exactly what to do with your tongue. I could f*ck your mouth all day.”

She hummed along his length and rolled his balls in her palm. He let his head fall back as he slowly worked in and out of her mouth. She savored him as if she couldn’t get enough. When his balls tightened, he pulled out then lifted her up into his arms.

“I wasn’t done,” she said on a laugh as he stripped her down to her skin.

“I don’t want to come in your mouth first. I want to fill up that beautiful pink cunt of yours and mate. Does that sound like a plan? You ready for my cock in your *, little witch?”

He smacked her ass as she went silent, as if she were thinking. When she moaned, he smacked it again, rubbing the sting as her legs melted underneath her, even in his arms. She kissed his chin and he lowered his face, taking her mouth. They kissed softly, slowing increasing the fervor as their passion ignited. Together, they laid on the carpet, the thickness soft and sensual against their skin.