He nuzzled my cheek, and I shifted, blinking and leaning back just to catch his eyes. They were smiling, his lips still firm and serious, and we met in a smooth clasp of lips and tongue. And oh, it could get better. Ronson's mouth was gentle against mine, but it created a taut cord that ran through me like a dense pulse. And suddenly, I understood what he meant by his question, because I was moving and it was wonderful. I rocked on Ronson's lap, and his cock caressed me, those fluttering, drumming sensations building.

Ronson's teeth nipped at my bottom lip as I gasped and continued to squirm, a little clumsy and uneven, trying to find new territory inside of myself for him to touch.

"That's it." Ronson kissed my cheek as I hiccuped for air. "Does that feel good, omega?"

"Yes, yes, yes," I chanted in answer, grateful to put a word to the broken cries in my throat. My hands mapped Ronson's shoulders and back, sliding over to grip his wings and use the leverage to strengthen my uncertain motions.

Ronson's hand squeezed my ass, slowing my frantic jerks, turning them into a steady, slow rise and fall that cut the edge of pleasured panic and settled me back in our embrace.

"There," he whispered, grazing his mouth over mine, groaning as a burst of warm, slippery heat rushed between us. "You're close now."

"Yes," I answered, nodding and feathering kisses over his jaw. His hand was steady between us, gentle and stirring.

I was close. And yet…

I shivered and pressed my chest closer to Ronson, my head tilting back to find his gaze. I wet my lips, and his eyes traced the movement.

"I want your weight," I said.

Ronson's lips curved, and he rewarded me with a kiss, turning us slowly while keeping our bodies joined. His wings swept back, a cool breeze rushing in, and then I was landing gently on the bed with Ronson surging above me. My thighs wrapped around his hips and the first drive of him inside of me, plunging deeply, so thick and commanding, made my eyes fall shut on a shout. He made my efforts at moving seem graceless by comparison, the elegant tide of him on top of me driving all thought from my head but need.

"Oh, alpha!"

Ronson rumbled on top of me, his shadow looming as I opened my eyes, his brow furrowing and glittering faintly with sweat. "I like when you tell me what you want, omega."

Then I had only one option.

"I want your mouth on mine," I whined.

Ronson growled and stole my breath, his body landing heavily on top of me, tongue stroking against mine as we moaned together. His hand pulled away from my clit, arms wrapping around my back, but it didn't matter—our bodies were grinding together.

"I want-I want to come with you inside of me," I said into the kiss.

"Yes," Ronson snarled. "Come, my sweet omega. Coat me in your gloss. Come, and I will give you my knot."

I didn't care about his knot. I didn't even really care all that much about my orgasm at that moment. Ronson was covering me, and the island was gone, and the worries were gone, and I was perfect in this moment. One hungry kiss melted into sweeter nuzzles, then built into starving bites and laving tongues. The warm pressure began to fizzle and spark, and I shouted into Ronson's mouth.

"I can feel you sucking me in. So greedy," Ronson hissed, glaring down at me, so ferocious it made me tremble. Or maybe that was the steady build tightening in my core, shaking me in its grip, rattling like a thief with an upturned purse, waiting for its prize to appear.

"Ronson!"

"Come, Mairwen," he growled, lifting up slightly, digging harder inside of me.

My hands scrambled over his shoulders, feet searching for purchase in the bed as I bucked against him, short snaps of sound cracking on my tongue with every thrust inside of me, little whines of refusal with the retreat.

"Fang's fire, look at you," Ronson breathed, his glare turning tender. "You're stunning."

I flushed, heat crackling through me like a whip snap, and a shimmering, startling warmth followed. I came with my eyes wide open, with a fractured shout, and with Ronson staring down at me in wonder. He didn't stop moving and his hand reached between us, petting me softly, drawing out the quaking pleasure, encouraging it in easing waves until I was limp and breathless, a careless giggle gusting out of me.

"Who needs a knot?" I mumbled, a dazed smile on my lips.

Ronson's eyes narrowed and he settled closer, the knot in question rubbing against me, reminding me of its immediate presence. "I'm flattered, but I think you may retract those words, omega." His nose rubbed against mine, and I slanted my mouth over his, taking what I wanted from the kiss—long licks and brief nibbles.

Ronson's form was crushing, securing me to the mattress, pressing me down in its thick comfort. I stretched beneath him and grinned as his lips parted and he groaned. "You're teasing me," he said, brow tangling.

Was I? I was! What a thought. I ought to have apologized, except I felt quite…relaxed. A little drunk, and altogether the best I'd felt in…ever?

"A little," I admitted, wrapping my arms around his back, stroking the tense muscles. "It's your fault for putting me in such a good mood. I wonder if I can do the same."

I bit my lip and focused on where we were joined, trying to match the same circular motion he'd created with his hips. Ronson released a low moan, and his hips jolted forward, his knot threatening me with the first sharp edge of pressure. It might have hurt, except my body was set firmly on feeling wonderful, so instead the bite just made me clench around his cock.

"Fuck! Mairwen, I⁠—"

Ronson's voice was ragged, fraying slightly into panic, and all at once, I recalled the power I'd felt that first night of having this man's pleasure in my hands. I wanted to claim that once more. I circled my limbs around Ronson and did my best to move beneath his weight, a slower and slightly less fluid motion, but one that did the trick in making him join me.

And oh, it was too delicious to have him inside of me, stroking neglected places that were now thoroughly awakened to what I'd been missing. I reveled in Ronson's groans, in his hands clutching my ass to hold me closer, but mostly I reveled in his scent, in the intoxicating taste of his kisses, in the heat of his skin pressing everywhere against my own.

He is mine, I marveled, and then amended, For now, he is mine.

If I had been given the choice, I would not have been brave enough to choose this man, this alpha.

He chose me.

A tear slid out from the corner of my eye, and I kissed my way to his jaw to keep Ronson from seeing any evidence. Not that he would notice, probably. His claws were starting to dig harshly into my ass, one hand sliding around to grasp and mold my breast against his palm.

"Mairwen, fuck. Mairwen."

I tightened the grip of my thighs around his hips, squeezing my eyes shut to keep more tears at bay. Ronson's hips were jerking hard, his knot digging at my entrance, begging for my body to make room, to grant him closer.

"I wanted—I wanted tonight to be…just for us," Ronson panted against my throat, tongue circling over my pulse and teeth biting briefly. "The rut⁠—"

"Let it come," I whispered, eager for the delirium, to see what else the alpha had in store for me, to lose myself in this whirlwind of physical discovery.

Ronson stilled, and for a moment there was only the cut of rough breaths from us both. Slowly and quietly, thunder grew, Ronson's purr, and I whined as he lifted himself away by a few inches. If he saw the sheen of tears on my face, he ignored it, ducking his head and settling his mouth gently over mine—a perfect, careful contrast to the rough press of his knot, now demanding instead of begging. I didn't know how to grant him access and the promise of pain stole my breath.