Logan’s POV
I could hardly believe this was happening. Did this mean she was accepting us? Was she truly ready to let us claim her? My wolf was ecstatic, prowling in my mind with anticipation at the thought of making our mate completely ours. But I had to be the rational one, reminding him not to get ahead of himself. Hopeful as I was, I knew she might not be fully there yet. Whatever intimacy she was willing to give, I would cherish it.
The moment we opened the door and saw her standing there in that enticing little number she called sleepwear, I knew restraint would be a challenge. Every fiber of my being fought the urge to touch her, to claim her.
Then, as I tickled her, feeling her squirm beneath me, something inside me snapped. I had to taste her.
The kiss we shared was unlike anything I had ever experienced. Passion and connection burned between us, igniting something primal and uncontainable. I had kissed plenty of women before-more out of expectation than desire-but this? This was different. This was electric. Lia tasted like something forbidden and utterly addictive. I could kiss her forever and die a happy man. When she grabbed my ass and pulled me closer, I nearly lost control right then and there. Thank the Goddess for Liam’s interruption, which gave me a chance to rein myself in.
Truth be told, Liam and I had already been on edge before Lia even walked in. Earlier, we had another one of those erotic “out-of-body” experiences-just like the day Lia awoke from her fever. Once was unsettling enough, but twice? It was beginning to feel like more than coincidence. We had been deep in conversation about it right up until she appeared.
Something was happening. Something beyond our understanding. And I couldn’t shake the feeling that Lia was connected to it. After all, this all began after she entered our lives.
I wanted to ask her, but Liam wasn’t keen on the idea, worried she’d find it too disturbing. But, as always, the moment she walked through that door, every other thought faded into the background.
At least until my geek of a twin decided to monopolize her attention with talk of pack history and literature. My wolf and I bristled with jealousy as we watched them bond over something I couldn’t relate to. Irritated, I made a snarky comment, instantly regretting it when I saw her reaction. Luckily, Lia took it in stride, though Liam, ever the exasperated intellectual, rolled his eyes at me.
“Don’t look at me like that!” I snapped over our mind-link. “You know I don’t do that intellectual crap. We’re supposed to be spending time together.”
“Fine,” he huffed, steering Lia back toward the seating area. I was about to thank him for backing off-until he pulled her right into his lap. A growl rumbled through our bond.
“Did you skip the lesson on sharing in kindergarten?” I gritted out. He merely smirked in response.
“Let me show you how it works,” I linked back, pulling Lia’s legs over my lap in retaliation.
We debated which movie to watch, teasing Lia over her preference for films with violent themes. But throughout it all, my focus remained on the warmth of her body against mine, the feel of her silky pajama set beneath my fingertips. As soon as Liam dimmed the lights, my restraint shattered. My hand roamed over her thigh, reveling in the softness of her skin.
I pretended to watch the movie, but in truth, I was hyper-aware of Liam touching her, feeling his barely controlled desire through our twin bond. When I saw his hand wrapped around her throat, my emotions twisted. Part of me was thrilled-it meant she was beginning to accept the mate bond. But jealousy simmered beneath my skin. I wanted to be the one she entrusted with her vulnerability.
Shoving those thoughts aside, I focused on maintaining my own control, though my hand continued to explore her thighs. Her scent filled the air, her arousal thick and intoxicating. I could feel her emotions shifting, a mix of excitement and uncertainty flowing through our bond-despite the fact that we hadn’t even marked or mated yet. The ease with which I could read her was uncanny.
Before I could dwell on it, a piece of popcorn hit me square in the face. It took me a second to realize what had happened-this was her way of defusing the tension building between us. My baby girl wanted to keep things playful. And if that’s what she needed, I would give it to her.
We launched into a full-blown popcorn war, laughing and dodging kernels until Liam got involved. He tickled her, making her miss her shot, and the sound of her laughter was pure magic. My wolf bristled with possessiveness-I wanted to be the one to make her giggle like that.
Determined, I grabbed her leg and pulled her closer, tickling her myself. Her laughter filled the room, each peal more addictive than the last. When I moved to test if her feet were as ticklish as mine, she immediately kicked out, begging me to stop.
Fang whimpered in my head, distressed at the idea of upsetting our mate. Plus, her kicks packed a punch. I had to pin her down to avoid actual injury, effectively ending our tickle war.
We lay there, catching our breath, my gaze locked onto her heaving chest. The thin silk of her camisole did little to conceal the hardening peaks of her nipples, and the sight sent a fresh wave of heat through me. In a heartbeat, I flipped her beneath me, trailing my hand up her thigh.
The mate bond crackled between us, heightening every sensation. The urge to touch her, to claim her, was nearly unbearable. I grasped the hem of her shorts, a poor substitute for the feel of her skin, but it was all I could do to keep myself grounded.
Her scent enveloped me, her arousal mixing with mine. I couldn’t hold back any longer. Before I had fully decided to kiss her, my lips were already on hers.
The kiss started gently, savoring the warmth and softness of her mouth. But quickly, it became more-more urgent, more consuming. When she hesitated to open for me, my wolf growled, dominance taking over. I captured her bottom lip between my teeth, teasing her, demanding her submission.
And she gave it.
She didn’t just submit-she responded, her desire fueling my own. Her fingers threaded through my hair, alternating between gentle strokes and rough tugs, each movement driving me closer to madness. A groan rumbled deep in my chest as I pressed against her, letting her feel exactly how much she affected me.
Liam, ever in sync with me, slid his hands up to her chest, teasing her hardened peaks through the silk, earning a breathless moan from her lips. Her reactions only heightened my need, pushing us further, our passions feeding off each other.
Sensing where this was headed, Liam-perhaps in a moment of rare self-control-suggested we move to the bed. I held my breath, knowing this could be the moment Lia pulled back.
But then, she nodded.
Relief surged through me. There was no way I was giving her a chance to reconsider. In an instant, I scooped her into my arms and carried her across the room, tossing her onto the bed. Liam moved to the other side, both of us stripping down to our boxers.
We stood there, watching her as she openly admired us, her lust-filled gaze leaving no doubt about her desire. And when we saw the unmistakable evidence of her arousal, both of us dove onto the bed, ready to claim what was ours.