A few days had passed with Zoya living with River. She insisted that she could go home, but River didn't budge. He didn't want his mate alone somewhere else in another house when it was perfectly efficient being together here. Despite, always being alone in his cabin, River was comfortable with Zoya and she wasn't messy either. Yet these past few days, he found it alluring when he saw her stuff in different places around his space. From the way her sweater was draped on the couch or her perfume on his dresser, he even found her lip-gloss near his car keys today.

Making his way across the field, he made his way back to his cabin after being at work with Gabriel. It was a long day and he hurried home to see her, and it was only six o'clock but it was dark as hell outside. His cabin now had golden lights glittering in the dark, which was Zoya's idea. She even hung a wreath on the door and put a Christmas tree up in the house near the window. He didn't have the heart to stop her once she got excited to decorate the cabin.

He opened the door and searched for her instinctively. She sat on the couch near the tree, with her laptop and a few papers scattered in front of her, but she was on her phone right now. The black ball of fur was crawled up on her feet, keeping them warm. The pup River was home after he got his last flu shot and Zoya brought him here with them.

When she heard the door open (courtesy of the bells hung from the wreath) she looked up and beamed at him.

"Hey, you're home," she said.

"I'm home," he found himself admitting when he strode close to her on his own. Nothing held him back, his feet just took him to her.

"Bone baked croissants and sent some over," she told him. "I put whipped cream on it, which was delicious, but some chocolate on top would taste good too. Oh no, I'm craving it now that I'm thinking about. You should freshen up and eat-"

River took the phone out of her hand and put it on the table. "I want you," he said and picked her off the couch. He kissed her mouth that still tasted of whipped cream and sugar and he took her to his bed. Fuck, this felt like home... she felt like home.

When he reached his room, he set her down and ran his hands along the silk of the black nightgown that she adorned. The silk was intense, it melted on her soft skin and he couldn't believe that he had this beautiful woman all to himself. He didn't deserve her, but he'd murder anyone else that ever comes near her.

He learned something about her these past few days, she really dressed lavishly no matter what time of day, unlike him who stuck to either a suit or his leather jacket and jeans. And more than ever, he was dreading his suit and needed it off right this second. His skin was of fire from her fragrance and he couldn't bear not being able to touch her or see her. He finally understood what Gabriel, Hunter and King went through every day. The three men always found it dreadful to leave their mates, and now River had joined that gang. Who was he kidding when he said that he'd be able to resist this bond? Zoya was all he could see or breathe. She was his. And he fucking loved that.

He leaned and laid his lips softly against the mark on her neck that he happily left this morning before reluctantly leaving for work. He ran his tongue on the mark tasting her honey sweet skin which spread through him like wildfire. That was when he reached behind her head and unclipped her heavy hair, it dropped around her in loose waves caressing her shoulders and aching for him to run his fingers through it. He would, but first he'd worship her body and steal a few kisses.

River kissed down her neck to her shoulder, his fingers hooking onto the straps of her nightgown. The sinful black cloth dropped pooling around her feet. He noticed then the garter belts holding the black lacy stockings covering her legs. He stared into her blue eyes, that were sparkling up at him like she had a secret. River lifted his head and saw his mate standing beautifully in lace stockings that covered her sexy legs, the garter belts hooked onto the edge of the lace and then to the belt around her hips, her beautiful breasts exposed under the cold air of the room. He swore that all the oxygen left his lungs when he saw her standing like that in front of him. She wasn't real. He couldn't believe that someone like her existed and all for him.

"Do you like it?" she asked with laughter on her lips.

River heard the tease in her voice. Zoya was playful, she had fun teasing him and she always did these past few days. He liked it and let her have her fun. But when she was grinning up at him like a coy wolf, his wolf and him were ready to play with her just as hard.

Zoya stepped back and sat on the edge of the bed, crossing her legs at the knee, she leaned her hands back and smiled innocently at him, like she had no idea what she was purposely doing right now, especially dressed like an unholy angel.

Blood boiled inside him, his body aroused and all control that he had was very close to breaking. He lost himself to the sight of her. The way she lured him and seduced him to walk into her fire and be consumed with her.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?" Zoya asked him. "If this is all it takes to make you speechless then you're going to be shocked with what else I have."

There was more, he thought and so did his wolf. Damn, Zoya had his attention with that. "You can forget about going to work all week," his voice a dark command.

She giggled at him and shifted back further on his side of the bed. She laid down on her stomach, her legs bent at the knee and held in the air swinging lightly. She rested her chin on her hand. "What should I do?" she jested with a cute pout. "I feel so bad for teasing you."

River raised a brow. "Do you want me fast or slow?" he dared.

Zoya's legs stopped swinging and her beautiful blue eyes darkened with a glaze of lust. Just like he wanted her to be. "Can both be an option?" she remarked.

He loosened his tie and let the black cloth fall to the floor with her nightgown.

Zoya got to her knees and came to him. She moved his hands and proceeded to unbutton his shirt for him. Her nimbly fingers worked on each button letting it fall loose. He watched her complete the task so dutifully before she pushed it off his shoulders and let the linen fall onto the ground. She leaned in and brushed her lips on his chest, her fingers trailing down his hard abdomen towards the belt around his trousers. His hard shaft hurting through his pants and ready to blow any second because of her. And she hadn't done anything to him yet, but the way her lips gently kissed down his chest over a few old scars, that alone undid him.

"I want you fast but I need to feel you slowly," she whispered near his ear, "can you give me that?"

River heated under her gaze. "Anything for you," he growled hotly.

Zoya smiled, a pretty smile that tugged on his heart.

River brought her off the bed back to her feet and turned her back to him. He collected the long length of her hair in his hands. Sectioning it off, he braided it and fastened the end with the hair band off the table next to him. Even her hair tie had a bow on it and teased him. He slightly tugged the braid, tipping her head back, and she glared up at his grin.

"Where'd you learn to braid hair?" she asked him.

The memory was as if it happened yesterday. He knew how to braid hair for Viola who was rowdy as a pup and she never stayed in one spot for long. She loved playing, especially with her brothers and her hair was kept long, so she needed help taming it. River didn't know how to do it at first, but after an elder from their pack showed him, he had figured it out. He had braided her hair many times since then. He remembered how Gabriel used to hold her down because she hated having her hair combed.

"Gabriel and I used to help Viola do her hair when she was a kid," he told her.

Zoya chuckled softly at the memory, like she was trying to picture it. "You all must have been such cute kids," she mumbled.

"We weren't kids for long," he said heavily.

She leaned back into him, melting into his touch, her soft curves against his hard edges. She was giving him comfort and maybe seeking it. River closed his eyes, breathing in her rich fragrance and letting it take control over him. He couldn't wrap his head around her and how she consumed him. He was losing all control with her and that never happened before. He was a man of control and his entire life was like that. Yet, here he was standing in front of Zoya, unable to breathe.

"On the bed," he whispered as his lips trailed across her exposed neck, "legs wide open, so I can see your beautiful body."

"Yes, sir," her tone slick with arousal and tease.

River bit back his grin when she crawled back onto the bed, she was a nymph with her dark braid over her shoulder and tempting him with her blue eyes and those sinful lips. She laid on her back, her eyes not leaving his. She then slowly spread her stocking covered legs, and since he stood at the foot of the bed, he saw everything. The hunger grew carnal inside him and his wolf surfaced close to the edge for seeing his mate.

Getting on the bed, he crawled on top of her, leaving a trail of soft kisses on her leg, then her knee, to her inner thigh and up her stomach. His lips felt as if he caressed silk and fire. As he inched up her stomach to her exposed breasts, he nibbled on the softness of them, taking his time with each one. She had her teeth clamped down on her bottom lip as she closed her eyes. He gave one last kiss on each breast before he ran his tongue on the hammering pulse on her neck, where her scent was the strongest and so was her reaction. He used his tongue and his teeth rhythmically, it made her squirm beneath him; he loved that, but he held her down not letting her seek relief when she rubbed her legs together. He fastened her legs wide apart with the strength of his thighs.

She writhed in protest, but he didn't budge.

"River," she breathed hotly.

River ran his hands along her body, which he had engraved into his soul. "Open your eyes, baby," he whispered as he laid a kiss on her lips.

Zoya's regal eyes gleamed a bright blue as she looked up at him. He saw light in those eyes, a purity that cleansed his blood and soul. He ran his finger along her jaw, a tremble running through her and it provoked him. He laid his lips against hers, his tongue tasting her sweet lips and then he waited until she opened her own mouth and let him inside her. He devoured her mouth, taking her brutally fast and letting her know that he was in control, but she could trust him with her heart and body. His hands gripped her luscious thighs hard and leaving his marks on her soft flesh.

She combed her fingers through his hair and held him, like she couldn't get enough of him either. Both of them lost themselves in each other, it was exhilarating that neither of them knew when to stop. But River never wanted this moment to stop. He always craved to be nestled close to her body.

Zoya's arousal fed his own and he was drunk off her. His last thread of control broke and he let her lips go, she was gasping for air. He trailed down her body, his mouth and hands all moving in the same direction with one goal. He was hungry to taste her, feel her and mark her. He ran his fingers on the band of her panties, the thin lace was black and sinfully covering her core from him. He ran his tongue across the lace over her hot core, she was watching him as he teased the hell out of her, but he couldn't help and love the feel of the silky lace on her most intimate place- that was all his. He possessed her.

River shifted the lace and ran his finger up her slippery core feeling the heat of her arousal. He looked up into her eyes and told her wordlessly that she was wet only for him.

"River," she moaned desperately.

River hooked his fingers onto the thin strap of her panties and peeled them off slowly, he tucked the lace into his pocket and then gave what his mate seeked desperately. His mouth latched onto her hot and throbbing core, she gasped from the contact. That didn't stop him, it only fed his darkness and he gave it to her harder. He pushed a finger into her dripping core, she was tight around him, but as his tongue worked on her clit he pushed in two more fingers opening her up for him. He knew when to go slow and went to speed up, but he didn't let her come just yet, because he adored the moment she would beg him to let her. He knew that for a woman like Zoya that it was hard to submit, but she did it with him.

He wanted her hot and desperate. Her body was aching and he knew that she was craving relief from the way her body responded to him. She didn't need to tell him when she was about to come because he could feel it. From the way her core tightened around his fingers or cock; or the way her back arched; even when her eyes closed tightly and she bit her bottom lip, it all told him that she was ready.

River ate out of her savagely loving her softness against his hard tongue. He continued his assault, she squirmed under him, he grabbed her wrists and pinned her arms down at her side as he deepened his tongue over her core. He held her down to his mercy and she dropped her gaze to his, the fire in her eyes fed his arousal. His shaft throbbed against his pants, it physically killed him. She tried to free her wrists, but he didn't let her, it was letting her know that she was all his to play with.

Her lustful moan fed his arousal. As his grip on her wrists tightened, he was relentless with his tongue on her clit. He knew she would come right now. And she did. The soft arch of her back, her body straining against his and he loved watching her come down from that high.

This was just the start though...

Letting her wrists go, that had gotten slightly red, he caressed them and soothed the skin. Her eyes fluttered open and she gently guided his head down to hers, she sweetly laid her lips to his and gave a slow but extremely sexy kiss to him. Her hands wandered over his flexed shoulders, his head spun from this slow sultry kiss and her torturous hands that began to explore the expansion of his strong back. She crossed her legs around his waist and ran her fingernails up his entire back sending electrifying pleasure to his hard shaft pulsing to be released.

River bit down on her bottom lip and licked it soothing the pain. "That was slow," his voice was thick and deep, "now I'm taking you fast. Get on your knees."

Zoya's eyes flashed as if a wolf dared to meet his challenge with just as much fire and vigour. As he sat back watching her, she turned onto her knees and lifted her butt into the air for him.

"Good girl," he said as he kissed the small of her back, running his hands over her butt down the back of her thighs.

He used his teeth possessively and marked each part of her soft skin. It was sudden, when she pushed her core right against the front of his shaft, urging him and teasing him. He saw the flicker of a smirk on her face, he gave her a smack on her ass and she threw him a surprised look.

"You don't want to test me, baby," he growled.

She did it again despite his warning.

That did it. River unzipped his pants and pulled out his throbbing shaft, not even wasting a second, he rammed into her core. He was hard and fast, making her use the headboard for support. He gripped her hips and held her up to receive him.

"Fuck, Zoya," his voice guttural.

She was scorching hot around his thick shaft, it was blinding him with heat. He ached for her and she did for him too. She was going to be sore tomorrow, but she'd remember him with every step she took and he fucking needed that. He wanted her to crave him and dream about what he would do to her body next.

As he rode her core, his release neared like a dangerous hurricane ready to destroy him and her.

"River," she moaned, her voice so sexy to his ears, that alone could make him come.

He didn't stop nor slow down. Her core tightened around him and the urge to mark her right before both of them released blanked his mind. He wrapped her braid around his hand and gently pulled her back, he wrapped his arm around her waist and held her right against him, as he pounded into her hard, his teeth latched onto the crook of her neck and he bit down hard. Both of them came powerfully.

River didn't let Zoya go, even though she was exhausted. She dropped her head back against his chest and tried to get her breath under control. He was still buried deep inside her, and he could feel the walls of her core convulsing and sensitive to his slightest movement.

River ran his hand up her stomach, feeling the delicate structure of her curves and caressing the creamy arch of her breast, letting the weight rest in his hand. She moaned when he rolled her hardened peak, he was careful because she was sensitive right now. He used his other hand and collared her throat holding her head near his mouth.

"You're dripping all over my cock," he whispered into her ear and bit down on her earlobe teasingly too.

She responded by tightening her core around his shaft and sending a jolt of arousal through his body, his cock hardening inside her again.

"I was going to let you rest," he said softly, his hand that collared her throat tightened. "But I guess you want to go again."

Zoya tilted her head to the side. "Kiss me and take what you want," she dared boldly.

Fuck, he loved this woman. River tilted her head to meet his eager lips and he buried deep inside her, riding the hell out of her. He let her throat go and grabbed her head, his fingers fisting into the top of her braid, and he deepened his kiss, taking her tongue into his mouth and sucking while his shaft was pulling in and out of her in a heated rhythm.

Zoya arched her hips into him, letting him deeper, she was meeting his each thrust with her own needs. She met his strength with her own. They rode out this release together, both of them raw by the end of it.