She took another step towards him. "Then why are you backing up?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," he scoffed.

Her hand darted out and squeezed his side making him laugh out loud and convulse. Colton turned and ran for the bed, diving under the covers. She gave chase and jumped on the large lump his body created under the comforter. Colton's head popped out at the top laughing. Delighted she laughed along with him. "You are ticklish! That is so adorable."

He propped his head up on one hand. "We need to banish the word adorable from your vocabulary."

"You are though and sweet and kind. You're only the big, bad, wolf in your mind." He lifted the covers and she snuggled down close to him. The feel of their naked bodies, skin to skin was lighting fires everywhere they touched.

"I am a big bad wolf to everyone but my family." He dragged his chin back and forth over her the top of her head.

"Does the claiming part hurt?" she asked. She knew that it involved something other than sex, but she had no idea what it was.

She felt Colton shake his head. "No, it won't hurt. Our souls will entwine, just as our bodies will be, as we're making love. Then they'll split back apart and return to us, carrying a small piece of the other's soul so we'll reside within each other forever."

"Will it change me? Will I sprout fur at the full moon?" she joked.

"No, you disrespectful wench, you won't change," he chuckled. "You'll still be you, but you'll gain my longevity."

"I'll be able to watch Penny really grow up." Rheia felt a deep sense of contentment. She had been so afraid of leaving Penny when she needed her most.

"She'll be driving us crazy for decades to come."

"What about other children? I always wanted a large family," she admitted. She loved her parents growing up, but always wished she had brothers and sisters to play with.

Colton pulled back, his face glowing with happiness. "I want as many children as you can have safely. I was an only child, which is how I ended up hanging out with Aiden so much. I was always jealous that he had so many brothers."

"So you won't mind having girls?" she teased, reminding him of the earlier conversation.

Colton shook his head. "I'm sure Broderick will be able to make as many plastic bubbles as we need."

"We're not putting our kids in bubbles," she laughed.

"Meryn said she ovulates every month, is that the same for you?" he asked, his voice huskier.

She looked up and saw that his eyes had shifted from their normal brilliant green to canine yellow. She nodded slowly.

"Could you become pregnant tonight?" He ran his hands over her lower stomach, caressing her reverently.

Rheia counted back the number of days since her last period and then nodded. "It might be close, but I'm fertile."

Colton growled and before she could blink, he was leaning over her, settling between her legs. She could already feel the throbbing in her clit. She arched her back to grind her body against his.

"I can feel how wet you already are." Colton moved down and took one nipple between his teeth. Lightly he bit down as his hand moved between her legs. The combination of the sharp pain and pleasure had her throwing her head back.

"I don't have to hold back tonight," he whispered.

"Oh God, please, Colton. I need you so badly." Her throat was already starting to get dry from panting to catch her breath.

"I'm going to fill you with my seed and make you mine forever." She felt the head of his cock slowly begin to stretch her. He was well endowed and knew exactly what to do to bring her the most pleasure. She thrashed her head from side to side as he gradually filled her completely.

He kept up his languid pace until she thought she would lose her mind. Each small thrust was deliberate, sliding his engorged head over that elusive spot deep inside her.

"I love you, Rheia, I'll love you until the day I pass from this world. Even as my body turns to dust, I will wait at the very veil of existence for you to join me, because heaven would be incomplete without you." He buried his face in her neck and her arms came up to hold him tight. Slowly he made love to her, showing her with his body exactly what he felt for her. She was changed forever by his words. He was not only making love to her body, but also to her soul.

"I love you so much, Colton. You're my rock. You don't try to do things for me with your strength, you add yours to my own. Together, we're more than when we're apart. You gave me the space to make my own decisions and you accepted Penny without question. I couldn't have asked for a better partner or father for my children." She buried both hands in his hair and held him to her, afraid to let go.

Colton pulled up and watched her face as he glided in and out of her body. The slow pace made his eyes on her the single most erotic experience of her life. There was no hiding, yet no need to hide. She let her walls come down completely and wasn't afraid to let him see the real her.

He must have seen the surrender in her eyes, because he started to snap his hips at a more frenzied pace, finally giving her what she was aching for. When he slammed inside her as deep as he could go, her orgasm detonated low inside her spreading out through her body. Before she could catch her breath, he was above her. Striking quickly he sunk his teeth deep into her shoulder. Just when she thought she couldn't take any more pleasure she felt as if she was lifting from her body. Without sight or sound she floated, moving instinctively towards the warmth just in front of her. When her soul merged with Colton's for a split second she was able to see deep into his heart and what she saw there left her breathless. He was beautiful; his complete selflessness made his soul shine like a beacon and she was drawn to it, seeking warmth and shelter. Together they swirled and then slowly broke apart. When she drifted back down into her body she carried a piece of him with her she knew she would never be lonely again.