Her eyes softened. “That won’t happen again,” she said. Then she smirked. “Besides, how many more ways could you possibly mark me? You were quite thorough.” She trailed off, rolling her lips in as her amusement quickly turned to regret at the look he gave her.

“You should know by now, I have no limits when it comes to you, Veralie. I’ll fill every hole on your body and bite every inch of skin, and it still wouldn’t be enough.”

Her eyes widened in horror, and he chuckled again, slowly running his hand across her shoulder and down her side, his nostrils flaring as he took in her scent.

“Mm, you always smell delicious,” he murmured, caressing his fingers over her hip and continuing down until they met up with her clit. “But you smell even better when you smell like me.”

She groaned, flinging a leg over his and curling farther into him to give him better access. Her breath stuttered when he added pressure and began to circle the swollen bud, their combined releases dripping out of her to coat his thigh.

“I’m sorry, you know,” she said between pants. Gods, he’d never get over the sound of her pleasure. It was so fucking sweet.

He brushed his lips over her forehead, humming as he quickened his pace to what he knew she loved, reveling in his mate rolling against his hand. Even the unforgiving floor beneath him couldn’t take away from his contentment. “I forgive you, little star. I like these new ones better anyway.” It was true. They were deeper and would scar far better.

Her hips immediately froze, and she let out an irritated huff. “I’m not sorry I healed your mark, Jaren.”

His lips paused over her skin, and he inhaled sharply, lowering his hand to cup her entirely. If she thought she was going to heal these ones, they were going to have a long ass fucking night. He’d start over as many times as he needed to.

Likely sensing his spike of frustration, she pushed up onto her elbow and leaned over him, the silver in her eyes still swirling with the lust he’d been stroking back to life.

“I won’t apologize for how I felt. And expecting me to regret or second guess my emotions just because you didn’t agree with them would make you a shitty ass mate.”

She paused, taking a deep breath and placing her palm over his heart. “But I am sorry I hid it from you. That wasn’t fair. Especially when I knew what it meant to you.”

He stared at her for a long moment, thinking over her words. She was right. Gently pushing her off, he stood, trying to ignore how close her face was to his cock as he held out a hand and helped her to her feet.

He couldn’t fight his smile. She was a mess. Her hair was only partially dry, her curls were sticking out every which way, and there were bloody streaks covering her shoulders and breast. She had a pink hue to her cheeks, and already small, finger-sized bruises blossomed over her hips and thighs.