Theo wished he could be gentle and slow in his caresses but there was no time for that. They were two caged animals finally let loose to have the freedom they'd both endlessly craved. The entire world was Faith, he revolved around her, and if he didn't have her too he might die from the torture.
Her body arched against him in their primal mating dance and she reached up, destroying his shirt in one tug, much easier than he had done hers. Once again, he was reminded not to underestimate his mate--she was a tough woman.
They had both seen each other naked before but this was different; this was everything, this belonged to just the two of them. He pressed his mouth to hers and she moaned deep in her throat, the sound sending shivers all over his body. Faith's pleasure was his own.
The next step they took together would be the binding one. There would be no separating her from him--even if he felt it was for her own good--ever. Although he never would have believed it, the thought made Theo fill with happiness. He never wanted to be away from her and if somehow she went first he would follow immediately. For eternity, they could do this, even when they no longer lived on earth.
"I don't know what you're thinking about but if it's keeping you from me, stop thinking it."
That was his Faith, always reminding him what he should be doing and taking him out of his own head. Desperate to bury himself inside of her, he refused to act like a teenager and just push his way inside. This was his mate, the woman he'd be with forever. Some finesse was needed if only to assure her that he wasn't a total dolt.
"Faith, I want this to be perfect for you, I don't want to rush."
"We have forever, correct? Even after this life is over?"
He laughed; she'd practically taken his earlier thoughts and vocalized them. Sweat formed on his forehead. "Yes. That's the general idea."
"So give me what I want now and seduce me later. I'm as hot for you as you are for me. Maybe more."
He doubted that was even possible. Theo positioned himself to enter her and with one hard thrust pushed himself into Faith's willing core. She was hot and tight and so completely his.
Even though he'd done this before, it was a completely new experience to him. She claimed his soul as thoroughly as he claimed hers. Back and forth they moved in a rhythm together, Faith's head thrown back as she cried out his name over and over again. When he was certain he would die from the pleasure, he felt her climax around him, his own following only moments later.
As he looked up, he was shocked. A cord made only of air but feeling as thick as rope formed between them.
Can you see that Faith? It felt more intimate to speak to her telepathically now.
Not only can I see it, I can feel you coming inside of me. Small pieces of your soul are filling me up.
Digging deep, he could feel the same happening to him. His eyes widened. Dear heavens, how much of his soul was Faith going to get?
Chapter Eight
Faith watched, her eyes huge in awe, as piece after piece of Theo's soul moved into hers. Really, the parts of him she received didn't surprise her. Red for love and loyalty, she'd never have to doubt how he felt about her. How many women really ever felt as assured as she would from this day on about their partner's true feelings?
Next came honor and forgiveness. The second one did startle her. She had no idea Theo let go of slights or wrongs so completely but there it was. She couldn't help smiling, he really was turning out to be a better person than she was. What did he receive from her? She could hardly imagine except maybe it was a general distrust of new people and a need for vengeance.
Reaching up, she stroked a line of worry that formed on his forehead. What had put that there? She had no more thought the question when she was hit hard with what she could best describe as a sledgehammer through her soul. Both of her eyes shut in agony and she felt pinned to the ground.
"Damn it, no." She felt Theo tried to pull off of her but they were stuck, each where they were, until the ritual was over.
"What is it?" Her voice sounded hoarse.
"It's the demon. You're getting it too." Eyes flying open, she stared into his horrified gaze. "I'm putting a stop this, there has to be a way to make this cease."
She shook her head. "No." She grasped at his neck. "I want it."
"What?" Theo tried to wrench his body from hers.
"If you have it, I want it too."
"That's ridiculous."
Pointing one finger at him, she narrowed her eyes. "I think you've received enough pieces of me now to know you never call me ridiculous or anything like that." Glad when the small smile graced the edges of his mouth, she continued. "If I have it too then we can handle it together."
"We're talking about a demon coming into your body who will now have the power to call you to him and who may or may not be able to make you shift into its entity."
"If you can handle it Theo, I can, and besides nothing about any of this has been random. I'm your mate. I'm supposed to go through this with you. Either we'll both find a way out or we'll suffer together."
If she could have she would put her hands on her hips. She felt resolute and she'd be damned if he argued with her more. The pain receded and now she was actually pretty content again, although the argument had put a slight damper on the afterglow of their lovemaking.
The restraint on her muscles lessened and Theo pulled off of her. As he stood she was gifted with a spectacular view of his hard muscled body. Maybe she could convince him to come back down and see if they could have another go. He turned to walk to the window, his back to her. Placing both hands on the windowsill, he bowed his head and Faith had a feeling a second time was probably out of the question.
"What's wrong?"
Theo whirled around, his eyes intense. She dug deep in her soul to where her wolf had stored their connection and found her answers. He held himself responsible, always had, for whatever went wrong for the people he loved.
As children, if Michael got in trouble with their father, Theo felt it should have been him. When Kendrick had nearly destroyed the pack, Theo hadn't been able to get rid of the feeling that he should have somehow foreseen what was going to happen, and now with her--and he had never loved anyone as much as he loved her--he blamed himself for not realizing there was a chance she would now carry the demon too.
It was odd to know exactly what he thought without having to hear his verbal response. She rose from the bed and silently pressed herself against him, wrapping her arms around his waist. For a moment, she allowed herself to do nothing but linger in his scent.
Days removed from the woods and he still smelled like early springtime air. Her wolf paced inside of her, loving the scent, wanting to roll around in it. "I can't make this better for you, can I? No matter what I say, somewhere inside of you there will be this doubt--this inkling--that you should have done something better? I have no other word for it Theo, except to tell you to stop being such a control freak."
He snorted and she grinned. "So I guess you're saying the world doesn't revolve around me?"
She nodded. "That's it exactly."
"I accept that. What I don't accept is that something I did caused something bad to happen to you. I'd rather gouge out my liver."
Faith squinted. "Theo, that's disgusting."
A wave of dizziness overcame her senses and she nearly fell but Theo's arms kept her upright.
"Damn, how can this be happening?"
Attempting to see straight, she looked up at her mate. "What are you talking about?"