Familiar warmth. Dare she call it love? That was the first thing Nova registered. Not the dull ache behind her eyes. Not the heavy drag in her limbs or the strange tension curled between her shoulder blades. Warmth. His warmth. Strong. Steady. Devoted. Arms wrapped securely around her middle, holding her close.
She lay on her side with her back pressed to his bare chest, their legs tangled together as if that was how they were meant to be. She stirred, blinking slowly through the haze.
She was in Jax's bed in his arms.
And… oh gods.
Heat flooded her face. She wasn't wearing the training undergarments he saw last time. No, this was the lacy black set she'd wear her regular clothes for no one to see.
A bra with sheer edges and delicate floral stitching. A matching thong that left… very little to the imagination.
Nova swallowed hard. He undressed me.
Before her panic could fully take root, his arms shifted — tightening around her like he knew she was awake and stressed.
Then came the sweetest kisses that made her soul burn for him.
Soft and unhurried. One pressed to the top of her head. Another on her ear.
"You are so beautiful," Jax whispered against her ear, voice low and raspy with sleep.
Nova's heart stuttered.
She couldn't even find her voice at first. Her head was still pounding. Her mouth dry. But she tightened her grip on him, not wanting this moment to fade.
"How are you feeling?" He whispered in her ear, followed by a kiss.
"Better," she whispered, "because I'm waking up to you."
He answered softly, something raw beneath his voice, as if he'd been waiting to hear it.
"Nova… I want to wake up to you every day."
She froze in shock. But something fluttered inside her, like a bird startled by sudden light.
"I want you to sleep here every night," he continued, brushing her hair back gently. "I don't want to rush you, Nova… but as my mate, this would be your quarters too."
Her breath caught.
The room was still. His words hung between them, warm and weighted.
Nova turned her face into his chest, shy despite herself.
Excitement bloomed in her ribs—bright and reckless. But woven through it was something heavier. That familiar doubt. The quiet voice that told her she wasn't enough. That she spoiled things just by touching them.
He felt like sunlight.She still felt like a shadow.
"You don't have to say anything," Jax murmured, as if he felt the shift in her. His fingers traced slowly up her spine. "Just stay. Rest. That's all I need right now."
Nova didn't trust herself to answer. Her emotions tangled too tightly for words. Instead, she moved closer, closing the small space between them, and kissed him.
The kiss was slow and warm at first, then deepened naturally as their bodies settled together.
She closed her eyes and breathed him in.
Jax's wolf stirred, and Nova felt it. It was as if his wolf reached for hers, and her wolf reached back, wanting him. The emotions bled into her own, sudden and unfamiliar.
Jax tensed still kissing her, but the unease was there.
She pulled back slightly, stroking his hair.
"Jax," she whispered, her voice barely audible, "am I causing you pain?"
He waited for a minute before responding. His voice strained, "I'm fighting the urge to mark you, Nova."
He wanted to continue kissing her as soon as possible. But he needed to get his wolf under control.
"I'm better now." He said after shutting his eyes and counting to ten. When he looked at her again, concern was written all over her face. He inhaled deeply, yearning for her familiar scent that grounded him. But, on her scent, he smelled her arousal.
He pulled back slightly, his grip on her waist loosening. "Nova," he said low through gritted teeth, "you're... scenting for me."
Nova's eyes widened in realization and her face burned. She had heard stories of werewolves scenting their mates, of the primal urge that came with it. Usually it was when they were in heat though. She had never thought she would experience it herself.
"I'm sorry." she whispered, "I don't know what's happening."
Jax's eyes softened at her words, and he covered her hand with his, pressing a kiss to her fingertips. He was thrilled she was aroused for him. That wasn't the problem. The issue was he couldn't control himself.
"I'm sorry, Nova," he said, his voice filled with sincerity. "I never meant to make you uncomfortable. But your scent... it's intoxicating. It's driving my wolf crazy."
Nova felt a shiver run down her spine at his words. She said, her voice barely a whisper, "Tell me what I can do to help."
Jax's hazel eyes darkened with desire, and he pulled her closer to him again wanting to comfort her. "Nova," he whispered, his voice filled with need, "you have no idea what you're doing to me."
His lips captured hers again in a passionate kiss. His hands roamed over her body, exploring every curve and dip before moving to her breasts, his thumbs brushing against her nipples.
Nova let out an involuntary moan into his mouth, her body was responding to him whether she meant to or not. Her hands were in his hair and she could feel the hardness of his body pressing against hers.
Jax's fingers found her clit, rubbing it gently at first, then with more pressure as he felt her body respond.
"Come for me again, baby. Just like last time." he whispered, his voice a low growl.
Nova gasped, her eyes fluttering closed as a wave of pleasure washed over her. Jax's hand gripped her chin, tilting her head up.
"Look at me," he commanded, his eyes were now gold. His wolf was talking but he wanted the same thing. She opened her eyes, meeting his intense gaze as he continued to finger her, his touch expert and confident.
"That's it." he murmured, his thumb circling her clit as his finger delved deeper.
Nova felt her orgasm building, her body tensing as she looked into Jax's eyes.
"Jax…" She gasped.
Her body shuddered as waves of pleasure pulsed through her. Jax held her chin, her gaze, his eyes never leaving hers as she rode out her orgasm. Her eyes flickered silver for a second at the peak.
And then Jax was gone. Darkness swallowed him as his wolf took control, his body still human, his will erased.
"Good girl," his wolf murmured through his mouth.
He kissed down her body, his lips leaving a trail of fire on her skin.
Unaware of what was happening, Nova tried to push him away, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Was he going to kiss her down there?
"Jax... wait." She whispered feeling shy and unsure. But he held her in place, his eyes gold.
"No. I want to taste you." He answered, ignoring her hesitation.
He kissed her inner thigh, his tongue darting out to lick her skin. Nova gasped. Her body tensed as Jax's tongue found her clit above her thong. He then pulled her throng to the side with his teeth, and aggressively licked.
She gasped.
He groaned, and sucked her pussy.
His finger started sliding inside her again and he brought her to the edge of another orgasm. Nova tried to look away, but Jax's hand on her chin held her in place again. "Look at me," he commanded, his gold eyes not leaving hers.
She met his gaze and started to cum immediately. This time more intense and harder. At the same moment, he sunk his teeth into the inside of her thigh.
Nova gasped, feeling the sting of his bite followed by intense pleasure from his venom.
Did he just mark her? She could feel something invisible snap between them, a primal connection that was both terrifying and exhilarating.
Her body was surging with pleasure for Jax to feel through the bond. He didn't release for a minute and she writhed.
When he finally released her. His eyes were still gold and his wolf was still in control. "You're mine, Nova."
"I love you Jax." Nova whispered. It slipped out of her mouth. Jax's wolf heard it and felt elated.
Everything went black and Nova went limp.
Unconscious. Again.
Jax's wolf retreated, letting Jax take back control. He immediately noticed he was in a different position than he was a moment ago and must have blacked out. His heart slammed.
And then he smelled it.
Her blood.
Jax looked down.
"Shit!" he screamed.
A bite mark. His mark. High on her inner thigh, where no one could see. His wolf had marked her.
Her silver blood was beginning to turn from silver to red, after being exposed to the air. His mark was glowing.
"No, no, no—"
He wanted her to want it, fully, to say yes before marking her. He wanted to wait until she was ready.
Not this.
Not like this.
A low growl sounded in the back of his mind, smug and self-satisfied.
Talon: You're welcome.
Jax's teeth clenched.
He stood, shoving himself away from the bed, from her, pacing once across the room like it would burn off the fury.
His hands trembled. Partly from guilt, but more from rage.
She trusted me," he hissed aloud. "And you."
His wolf Talon answered in his mind.
Talon: She's ours. She's inexperienced but her wolf begged for it.
Jax turned back to the bed, breath ragged.
Nova looked peaceful. Pale, but breathing evenly. Her hair splayed across the pillow. The bite still glowed.
He sank to the floor beside the bed, burying his face in his hands.
He hadn't meant for this. He would have waited forever if she asked. But now it was done.
She was his, officially. And there was no hiding it when she woke up.
And somewhere deep in his heart, he hoped that he was worthy of this feeling.
Of her.