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***Leah's POV***

"Christian." I whine out for my mate. I am sore. We may have pushed me past my limits. I don't even know what those limits are.

"I'm here, love." Christian rolls over, wrapping his arms around my waist. I capture his fingertips in my hand as I push our hands against my diaphragm.

"I'm happy that you are." I relish in the feeling of his lips pressing in between my shoulder blades.

"Did you need anything?" Christian attempts to pull up from my body. I tighten my hold on him. I shake my head adamantly. He is what I need. Just him.

"I really like this side of you, love. It's perfect. You're perfect." Christian continues lavishing my skin in affection. My whole body melts into each kiss. Every touch makes me feel one step closer to being his.

I turn in his hold, careful not to disconnect us in any way. My fingers find his hair. I tug on his strands while pressing his lips into my flesh. My legs intertwine with his as our bodies collide with new contact. Heat stirs in places that are too sore to be this desperate for his attention.

"Careful, love. I don't think that's a good idea." His erection says it's a perfectly fantastic idea. The saturation of love in his voice makes me leak between my thighs.

"Just go slow." I urge him to meet my desires as I press my center against his unclothed steel.

"Leah." His warning is a husky groan that lights me on fire. If the need had peaked, it has doubled. Everything inside of me wants to feel him brushing against my internal walls.

"Christian. Mate." I pant into his neck as he bites down on my shoulder.

A solid purr of devastating satisfaction penetrates the air. Christian pushes into me letting our hips meet in perfect harmony. My body aches as he fills my every space.

"Fuck." Christian moans loudly before flipping on top of me. His body shakes as he stays still to allow my body to accommodate his girth. The burn is a magnificent fire that consumes me. My body immediately saturates the spaces that aren't filled to the brim.

"You're so wet." Christian strokes slowly. My legs wrap around his hips. I meet his solid movements as my hips undulate beneath us.

"Christian. Oh, goddess." My eyes roll as the swollen, abused walls of my center pulse around his dick. I want more. I need it all.

"Leah. My love. You're amazing." Christian strokes faster, bringing a small amount of pain that is drenched in delicious arousal.

"Baby." My mouth falls open. My heart pounds erratically. I chase my high with mistimed thrusts up towards his body.

"Calm down. I can't control myself if you're so vigilant." Christian loses his control, pressing deeply into me. The pain causes me to scream out in immense pleasure. I want more.

"Harder, baby. Please." I beg as I try to make my insides feel so abused once more.

"Fuck it." Christian holds my head down as the bed squeaks under his forceful thrusts. My aching core demands more which he gives without pause.

The sheets scrape against my back. My body shakes under his weight. My head spins as I accept the powerful assault of his large cock impaling my body. Undeniable excitement comes from my mouth in loud moans of ecstasy.

"Baby. Cumming." I scream out my announcement. My body violently tremors. I release on repeat. Christian never stops pounding into me while I peak. The fall is so breathlessly shattering. Every inch of me turns to puddles beneath my mate.

"Shit." Christian arches his back. I feel his body tighten before he pulses inside of me. He fills me with his perfect climax as I contract my walls around him.

When his body quits seizing, Christian dips down to lick at the indentations of his mark upon my neck. Aftershocks wreak havoc on me. I cum once again from the amazing attention to the sensitive area where he claimed me. His lips claim my own as he swallows my desperate purrs of satisfaction.

"That's enough little one. You have to give your body time to heal." Christian stares at me with the sweetest eyes that are gleaming in adoration.

"Okay, baby." I whisper my agreement. He is probably right. My body is combating the idea of separating. My hormones demand that we keep pressing the boundaries of safety. I try with great strength to not allow myself to bring this to yet another session.

"You're very needy this morning. I think I love it." Christian chuckles into my mouth. My tongue licks his lips while he searches for whatever he wants inside of my mouth.

"I think I love you." I gasp when the words slip out. I didn't know I was going to say it. However, I don't regret it.

Christian stops immediately, looking down on me like I let out the world's largest secret. Somehow, it feels so definite that I don't see it as a secret at all. He's my mate. He's perfect. I love him.

"What?" Christian stares down on me. His expectant look demands explanation.

"I love you Christian. I absolutely love you." My words are concreted in my heart. There is no denying that he has made me love him. I am in love with my mate.

"Leah, I. Wow. Um." Christian looks stunned into silence. Well, he is stunned into convoluted words. He opens his mouth before shutting it. I can see him as he thinks through his response. It's adorable. I want him to to reciprocate but, I do not want him to say something that is not the truth.

"You do not have to say it back. I just want you to know that I am in love with you baby." I close my eyes as I press my head against his. Just loving him is enough. I do not desire more in this moment.

"You're crazy." Christian chuckles as he kisses my lips once again. I open my mouth to protest the notion. It is true. I'm slightly derailed in a lot of the common concepts of normalcy. He does not need to confirm that though.

"I love you, Leah. You are my beloved, my everything. I love you so very much. Do not question how deeply you are seeded inside of my soul. I am irrevocably in love with you." His words prove me to be a fucking liar. I did need to hear it. I want to always hear that confirmation.

Warmth surrounds me radiating through every fiber of my being. The absolute adulation in his tone is superior to any doubt I may once have entertained. His arms wrap around me, pinning me to his form once more.

I lay in silence, accepting the steps as they take us into our fated place. How I ever believed that I was unable to participate in this love is beyond me. In this moment, nothing feels more real or appropriate.

"I really can't begin to explain what this means to me." Christian lays kiss upon kiss on my flaming skin. His cool lips are like an inferno as they sizzle across my heated flesh.

"I never knew I wanted this. I couldn't fathom a scenario where I would desire this. Yet, now, I cannot imagine a time when this was not all I needed, wanted and dreamed of." My confession pales in comparison to how wildly the emotions are rapidly multiplying inside of my soul. It's overwhelming, breathtaking and all consuming.

"Leah, I promise you my beloved, I will never take advantage of you. I will not take you for granted. You are safe in my arms. My soul is yours. My heart belongs to you alone. You are my reason for ever existing. Please understand, from the moment I realized what you were, are, to me, I have been completely devoted to you. This will never change. For as long as you will stay beside me, I will prove myself worthy to be in your presence." Christian breathes trust into our relationship as I weigh the value of his words. I have never been one to accept words as a contract. Yet, with him, I am inclined to believe his every word.

"I believe you. In return, I promise to put my best effort into consistently growing with you. I will pour into us while confirming my feelings through actions and affections. Christian, you are my mate who I have fully accepted. Our souls are concretely tethered with no fear of recoil. When I say I love you, I am giving you my own word that I have chosen you and will continue to choose you always. Thank you for the patience it took for you to bring me to this point. The reality of our bond was supposed to be an instantaneous connection, love and approval. You did not receive that. However, you accepted that with grace. It is your actions that have manifested our love. Your diligence has set forth this path so that we can have this foundation. I love you." My heart squeezes with each commendation of his sacrifice. This supernatural being did not have to work so strenuously for our love. He would have been released of our tethering had I not begun to reciprocate. I would have been the one to perish had I chosen to severe our pairing.

"It is my extreme pleasure to be chosen by you Leah. Thank you." His simple acknowledgment is more than he could know. His appreciation for my love is something I couldn't have believed I needed. I lay in his arms knowing that we can move forward being yet another step closer to forever. The validity of our bond burns brightly like a singularly illuminated star in the darkest of skies.

The time comes when we must think of necessities that go beyond emotional bonds and physical touches. My belly grumbles as a result of the many activities that led us to our confessions. I reluctantly separate from my mate in order to relieve my bladder before we head down stares to satiate the growing hunger that seems to have a megaphone in my diaphragm.

Christian comes with me as I brush my teeth. His fingers take the brush from my hand. I stand in wonder as he gently untangles the knots that we have formed in my strands. I stare contentedly at him through the reflection of the mirror. He does not look inconvenienced as he separates the micro rats nests from my platinum locks.

"Come, my beloved." Christian beckons me to follow him as he leads us towards the staircase on the other side of our bedroom door.

We descend the stairs with me close on his heels. I can feel my breaths ricocheting off of his marble skin. The connection of our intertwined fingers sends small tingles up my arms, leaving cooling mounds of raised hairs over my flesh.

As we round the corner to the kitchen, a heavenly scent is finally registered by my nose. Coffee infiltrates my senses while warm vanilla and cinnamon send my salivating glands into overdrive. The fatigue turns into a famished state of hunger that causes me to rush into the eating area to find relief.

Josie sits perched on the countertop beside his beloved. Their idol chit chat drowns out our steps. The two of them are so lost in one another that they do not acknowledge our arrival. I take a moment to absorb the amazing connection abounding between the two as they create the mouthwatering meal that I anticipate devouring.

"Good morning." Christian sidles up beside Josie, giving the young vampire a quick kiss on the cheek. The act of affection bristles my fur. I quickly calm the onslaught of jealousy that is completely unnecessary.

"Oh, Christian. Leah. Nice of you to finally join us." Tony smirks as he turns to my direction with an indecent smile that reveals their vampire hearing has unveiled our morning delight.

"Don't go there, Tony. I am positive we do not want recollect the obscene noises that come from your room. Sometimes even before your door has had time to latch."

Josie's cheeks flame up. The blush rushes straight from his hairline to the hollow at the base of his neck. His tightened, ashen skin fills with color that compliments his pixie face with pure embarrassment.

"No, we shall not. Good morning." Tony throws Christian a look that says everything for hushing up as Tony plates our meals.

Grabbing our plates, Christian motions for me to sit. I do as I am silently instructed. If my beloved would like to drop the subject, I am more than happy to oblige. I prefer to consume the incredible french toast that is set in front of me.

"So, on to bigger news. Do you have any? I was just wondering if you two would like to go on a small run. Josie has not had ample time to stretch his limbs. I plan on rectifying that this morning."

Josie hops off the counter with a kiss to his Sire's lips. Tony smiles as he steals a few more from his little vampire. Josie soaks up the affection as if he is not completely drowned in Tony's love at any given moment.

"Sounds perfect. Love, would that interest you?" Christian asks me out loud as he silently assures me that it is okay to decline the offer.

"That sounds wonderful, baby. Any time after breakfast." I smile largely knowing that the whole audience has just been exposed to our 'big news', as Tony had requested.

"So adorable." Josie fans himself while little tears fill his very blue eyes. Tony smiles with the confirmation that the information from their eaves dropping has been confirmed.

"I love you." Christian kisses me sweetly as I return the words into his lips.

My heart does that pitter pattering as my tummy summersaults from our affection. One step closer feels like a giant leap. Everything finally feels as though it is in a really great place in my life. Let's keep it that way.