She smirked up at him as he again changed their position to his advantage.  The confession that followed surprised her.  He had been silent when she had said something similar about wanting him before things fell into place, so she had almost expected him to keep it to himself.  It might have been the wolf talking, but somehow she knew it was more than that.  Her eyes fluttered closed when his mouth touched her shoulder.  Though she had just mimicked the action, she definitely felt it when his teeth dug into her skin, leaving his mark upon her.  It was not painful, instead it sent a heightened sensation of pleasure through her, because it meant there was no going back, they would be forever connected through there mate-bond.  A deep moan escaped her lips.  Despite their estrangement, her heart had still ached for reconciliation through the years.  Her hips continued to grind and move against his, meeting his thrusts with continued fervor.  When he said he was close, it sent a shiver down her spine.  She was lost in a haze of pure rapture when he spoke again, and it took her a moment to process the words as he said them.<br/><br/><i>Tell me... Tell me you love me...  </i>They were both so close to climax and the look in eyes, one of need and longing, told Roxie that this was more than just moaning between the sheets.  This was not going to be easy.  Despite how drenched in pleasure her mind was, it wandered through memories quickly.  To the times they had spent in this very bed, sleeping in each other's arms.  Their feelings had been innocent, but no less heart-felt, back then.  Though the relationship had never progressed past a strong friendship, she knew they both thought it someday would.  And now he was above her, making to love to her, exposing his vulnerabilities and begging her to soothe the wounds of the past with three small words.  Roxie lifted her head and pressed her lips to his.  At the same time, her legs wrapped around his waist and held him tightly to her as they continued to move together, a rhythm that only nature possessed.  The kiss was deep and reassuring, her tongue danced against his.  She wanted to hold him, but his hands still held her wrists in place.  "I--I love you.  I love you, Ben..."  She whispered against his mouth.<br/><br/>The words were enough to spur own reaction on.  Her head fell back against the pillow and her eyes pressed tightly shut as her orgasm finally hit her completely.  "Ben!"  She cried out as waves of bliss rocked through her being.  She had not expected it to be like this the first time, so utterly perfect and completely fulfilling, but it was.  The problems they would face in the future, both from the packs and from each other, did not matter in that moment.  All that mattered was him and the fact that the now had a real chance at being together.  A chance beyond instinct, a chance they had now chosen to take together.  As her orgasm rocked through her, she again cried out for him. "Ben...Ben please..."  She begged, thought she was not sure what she wanted.  Did she want him to say the words as well?  Yes.  Did she want him to spend himself within her?  Yes.  She wanted all of those things and so much more.