The Professor's Mate Clause novel Chapter 71

CHAPTER SEVENTY ONE

FREYA’S POV

Three days.

Three days since the ritual went wrong. Three days of being restrained Three days of partial shifts I can’t control. Three days of Adrian refusing to mark me even though it’s the one thing that could fix this.

I’m going insane.

The silver burns constantly. My wolf thrashes inside me. Demanding freedom. Demanding her mate. Demanding everything I

can’t give her.

And Adrian. He’s here constantly. Watching me. Caring for me. Feeding me. Changing my bandages. But never touching me the

way I need. Never giving me what would end this torture.

It’s killing me. Killing us both.

Dr. Chen removed the restraints an hour ago. Said my wolf has stabilized enough that I won’t immediately attack anyone. But I’m still dangerous. Still unpredictable. Still caught between human and animal.

Adrian sits across the room. Far enough that I can’t reach him easily. Close enough that the bond hums between us. Torture of a

different kind.

“You should eat.” He gestures to the tray of food on the table. “You haven’t eaten anything solid in days.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Your body needs fuel. Needs strength to heal.”

“My body needs YOU.” The words burst out. Raw. Desperate. “It needs you to stop being so fucking noble and just mark me already. End this. Fix me. Make me yours.”

His jaw clenches. “We’ve been over this.”

“And your answer is still bullshit.” I stand. My legs shake but hold. “I’m in my right mind. I’m conscious. I’m telling you exactly what I want. What I NEED. And you keep refusing. Why? Why won’t you just do it?”

“Because you’re in pain. Because you’re desperate. Because once I mark you there’s no taking it back.” He stands too. “I want you to choose me when you’re whole. When you’re not dying. When it’s not a last resort.”

“I AM choosing you! I’ve been choosing you since the moment we met!” I move closer. He doesn’t back away. “The only reason I did that stupid ritual was FOR you. To be strong enough to stand beside you. To be worthy of being your mate.”

“You were already worthy. You didn’t need to prove anything.” His voice softens. “And you almost died because of it. Almost lost yourself completely. I won’t risk you again. Won’t take advantage when you’re vulnerable.”

“I’m not vulnerable. I’m furious.” I’m right in front of him now. Close–enough to feel his heat. Smell his scent. Want him so badly it physically hurts. “Furious that you won’t give us what we both want. What we both need. Furious that you’re choosing your principles over my life.”

“I’m choosing your autonomy over convenience.” His hand cups my face. Gentle. Loving. “When this is over. When your wolf stabilizes. When you’re yourself again. Ask me then. And I’ll mark you without hesitation. But not now. Not like this. ”

The bond slams into me like fire. Not wolf. Not beast. Just me… Freya….starved for him, terrified I’d never feel him again.

I fist his shirt, yank him down, and kiss him like I’m drowning. Teeth clashing, tongues sliding, a broken noise ripping out of my throat the second his mouth opens over mine.

He groans into me, arms crushing me so tight my ribs protest. Days of distance, of fear, of almost–goodbye pour into that kiss

I‘&tussy Wet. We’re both shaking.

+15 Bonus

He lifts me without breaking the kiss. My legs lock around his waist on instinct, ankles crossing, heels digging into his back like I can crawl inside his skin i Ljust hold hard enough. He stumbles the two steps to the bed and we fall together, his weight pinning me, grounding me, finally real.

“This is a terrible fucking idea,” he rasps against my lips, already dragging my shirt up.

“Then shut up and keep going,” I snarl, ripping his shirt over his head, nails raking down his back hard enough to leave marks.

We’re frantic. Hands everywhere. Mouths bruising. My bra is gone; I don’t even remember how. His mouth closes over my breast, hot and wet and perfect, teeth scraping my nipple until I sob his name. His hand shoves into my leggings, fingers sliding through me like I’m made of silk and sin.

“Jesus, Freya,” he chokes, voice wrecked. “You’re soaked. You’ve been this wet for me the whole time?”

“Every second you were gone,” I gasp, hips bucking shamelessly against his hand. “Please….”

Two fingers sink deep, curling, and my back bows so hard I nearly lift him with me. His thumb finds my clit like he never forgot the map to my body and I come instantly, violently, a strangled scream tearing out of me. My nails dig into his shoulders, clinging like he’s the only solid thing left in the world.

He doesn’t stop. Just crooks his fingers again, rubbing that spot inside until the pleasure flips into something almost

unbearable.

“Again,” he growls against my neck. “I need to feel you break for me again.‘

I do. Harder. Tears leaking from the corners of my eyes because it’s too much and not enough and I’m terrified this is all we’ll

ever have.

When I can breathe, he’s already sliding down my body, mouth leaving a trail of fire. My leggings and panties are gone; I didn’t feel him take them. He spreads my thighs wide, shoulders forcing them open, and then his mouth is on me hot, filthy, perfect.

I scream into the pillow. My hands fist in his hair, pulling, pushing, I don’t even know. He licks me like he’s trying to erase every second we were apart. Tongue fucking into me, then swirling over my clit until my legs shake uncontrollably. Two fingers slide back in and he sucks my clit hard and I come again, thighs clamping around his head, sobbing his name like a prayer.

He gentles me down with soft licks and kisses to my trembling thighs, then crawls back up, pressing apologies into every bruise and scar the ropes left on my skin. Like he can kiss the memory away.

I reach for his belt with shaking fingers. “Inside me. Now. I need”

He catches my wrists, pins them beside my head. His eyes are wild, pupils blown, jaw clenched so tight 1 fan hear his teeth grind. “Freya, stop.” His voice cracks. “If I get inside you right now I will bite you. I will mark you. I won’t be able to stop.”

“Then don’t stop!” The words rip out of me, raw and ugly and desperate. Tears spill hot down my temples. “I’m begging you, Adrian. I need all of you. I need to know you’re not going anywhere ever again.”

He makes this broken sound like I just stabbed him and drops his forehead to mine. His whole body is shaking with the effort of holding back.

“I promised you,” he whispers, voice shredded. “I promised I’d wait until you were safe. Until you could choose with a clear head. I’m not taking that from you. Not like this.”

I start crying harder, ugly, snotty sobs I can’t control. He rolls off me, drags me into his chest, and holds me while I fall apart. His erection is a steel bar against my hip, leaking, hurting him, but he doesn’t move to ease it. Just strokes my hair and lets me cry myself empty against his skin.

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