Alex liked control in his world. Liked to be in control of his world. The beginning of the imprinting process had swept that right out from under him. It left him off-balance; made him panic. But the deep sense of male satisfaction that flared in his belly massively overshadowed every other emotion.
His possessive instincts were on fucking fire—urging him to touch her, stay close to her, and strengthen their connection so that the bond could form. The drive to be near her was that strong, it had been hard to leave the bed. And now, as she stood in front of him, he could almost feel the metaphysical threads of imprinting stretched taut in the air between them.
Her tongue swiped over her lower lip. “Say again?”
“You heard me.”
She gave a fast shake of the head, as if trying to shake herself out of a stupor. “But … you left the bed.”
“To call my mother and let her know we’re gonna be late for work. I plan to officially claim you before we go anywhere. I didn’t want you to wake to the sound of me talking on the phone. I wanted you to wake to the feel of my tongue on your clit.”
Her breath caught. “Claim me?”
“I held back from you for a long time because I knew deep down to my bones that I’d never let it be temporary. I knew that if I made a move on you, I’d keep you. My kind aren’t so good at settling down or committing. But when we do, that’s it.” Alex squeezed the side of her neck again as he drank in the cautious hope etched into his mate’s face. His mate. Masculine satisfaction blazed through him. “Did I expect imprinting to happen so soon? No. Did it shock the hell out of me? Yes. But it’s not a bad surprise. I want this, Bree.”
“You’re sure this isn’t just a case of possessiveness muddying your thoughts? It has to be riding you hard right now.”
It wasn’t riding him, it was hammering at him to be near her; pumping him full of a bone-deep territorialism he hadn’t known it was possible to feel. But … “That possessiveness has always been there. It’s just a lot more intense now.”
“What about your beast?”
“All he wants is you. Which is good. It means me and him are on the same page. You want this, too, Bree. I know you do. Just accept it. Let it be.”
Bree let her eyes briefly drift closed. Oh yes, she wanted it. Wanted it more than she’d wanted anything in a long time. She didn’t fear it. Didn’t fear the depth of commitment she’d be making. She feared losing it, losing him. “You need to be sure, Alex.”
“I would not commit to something as serious as a mating if I was not one-hundred percent certain about it. This is it for me. You’re it for me. I’m not going anywhere.”
Bree swallowed. He no doubt meant to sound reassuring, but there was a steel in his voice that reminded her who and what she was dealing with. A dominant male wolverine. His kind were tenacious fuckers. They never backed down, never quit. They fought for what they wanted, and they fought to win.
What was it that Valentina had once said to Bree about him? “My Alex holds tight to what is important to him. He does not give up on things. He likes to have what he wants when he wants it, but he will be patient if it means he’ll eventually get what he seeks. And he will get it. Mark my words on that.”
Now, looking back, it almost seemed like Valentina was forewarning her.
Alex slipped his hand around to cup her nape and tugged her closer. “I want this, you want this. So let’s be done chewing on it, yeah? Let’s both commit to this here and now.”
She swallowed and then took a deep breath. “I’m all in if you are.”
The corner of his mouth hitched up just a little. “Oh, I’m definitely all in this, baby girl.” He kissed her. It was a soft, deep, drugging kiss that felt much like a vow. A kiss that was full of reassurance and promise. Nonetheless, taking her by surprise, need zipped up her spine and made her moan into his mouth.
Growling, he delved his fingers into her hair and slanted his head to take the kiss deeper. He consumed her mouth. Dazed her thoughts. Dragged her into a vortex of sensation. Made her blood heat and her body roar to life. God, she needed to fuck. There. Then. Rough.
He bit her lower lip hard. “Take off that fucking robe.”
She almost shivered as that soft growl played over her skin, making it prickle and tingle. Bree untied the robe and let it slip from her shoulders to puddle at her feet.
He drew in a breath through his nose, dragging his gaze down her body. “Perfect.” His mouth swooped down and claimed hers again. His tongue tangled and warred with her own, bold and sure and clever.
She splayed her hands on his solid back and dug her nails into all that hard muscle. She wanted to rake his flesh. Wanted to brand him as hers.
“Go on,” he growled. “Do it.” Alex snarled as the tips of her claws slashed his back, leaving a trail of fire and drawing blood; branding him so deep he knew they’d scar. His dick went impossibly thicker. His beast let out a growl of sheer male satisfaction.
Fuck, just knowing he was about to claim Bree as his mate … Alex had never been so hard in his goddamn life. Never needed anything as badly as he needed to make her his. But he wouldn’t rush this. He wanted it to be a morning they’d both remember.
Alex snapped his hand around her throat and put his lips to her ear. “I’m going to fuck you, Bree. I’m going to fuck you so hard. But first, I want your mouth wrapped around my cock.” She’d denied him it up until now purely to tease him. But he couldn’t wait any longer—not while the primitive urge to have her swallow his come beat at him. He needed it. His beast needed it. They both longed to mark her in every possible way.
Alex sat on the edge of the bed. “On your knees.” He didn’t fail to notice the way her nipples tightened at his order.
She slowly knelt between his spread thighs. As her eyes dropped to his long, thick shaft, they flared with pure feminine hunger. She fisted the base, her grip firm and tight.
“Good girl. Take me in your mouth.” He groaned as the wet heat of her mouth surrounded his cock. Using his grasp on her hair, he held her in place for a few seconds, just relishing the moment; loving the sight of her lips stretched around him. “Good. Now suck.”
And, God, did she suck. Alex watched, transfixed, as she absolutely owned his cock with that lethal mouth. She kept the suction gorgeously tight as she took him deeper and deeper. Deeper than any other woman ever had.
Bree didn’t suck him as if she was trying to race him toward an orgasm. She just settled in and worked him hard, confident and decisive and teasing. And, shit, every time she moaned, hummed, or purred he came closer to losing what little control he had left.
He’d had a lot of good blow jobs, but none had ever had him so close to coming so fast. It was the way she somehow combined carnal, innocent, dirty, and playful. Even as she expertly and hungrily licked and sucked, her glazed eyes occasionally met his and lit up with a shy, impish smile.
He loved that she was totally in the moment. Loved that she had her attention solely focused on him, cataloging his every response; learning and repeating what made him groan, curse, tug on her hair, or buck his hips.
The heady scent of her need laced the air and made his mouth water. He wanted her taste on his tongue. That delectable mix of sweet and spicy was a pleasure all on its own.