Hell, they were, weren’t they? She was my fated mate. Of course, sex with her would be beyond perfect. That she would want it as wild and sweaty and heart pounding as I did.
“Natalie,” I rasped, already at the edge of my rope. Hell, I’d been needy and fucking frantic since the moment I caught her scent on the breeze on Monday night. Now? I was downright desperate. “Fuck, Natalie.”
I had the presence of mind to rub her clit with my thumb, and she cried out, squeezing my cock so tight I nearly came right there. She yanked me down with claws in my skin, like she was as greedy for me as I was for her. As if she were the shifter, and her inner wolf was coming out.
Impossible, but she was definitely a wildcat.
I wanted to kiss the hell out of her, but I kept my jaw locked and lips closed to keep my fangs from making any unwanted appearances. Instead, I buried my face in her neck, breathing in her delectable scent as I pounded into her. The bed shook, slamming against the log wall.
Natalie’s cries filled the small cabin, the current of every sound running like tremors through my body, speaking to my cells, awakening parts of me I never knew existed.
I became someone new.
Natalie’s mate.
Her pleasure was my sole focus. I would die if I didn’t come with her. At least I’d given her pleasure twice already. Now, we’d both get off, but she’d come first. This time and always.
“Rand,” she panted, her silken voice penetrating every sense. “Rand…”
“What is it, beautiful? You need to come?” I didn’t know how I even managed to speak, my brain was so addled with lust. The scent of fucking filled my nostrils. Sweaty, slippery fucking.
“Oh God,” she moaned. “Please.”
“Fuck, yeah.” The tether on my control snapped when she begged. I shoved into her deeper, harder. I couldn’t help but be rough. Time stood still, or maybe it rushed forward. I wasn’t sure—the room definitely spun.
Natalie clenched around me, coming in perfect timing because my balls couldn’t wait a second longer.
Thank fuck.
I came with a roar that echoed off the walls, slamming home and staying there while I filled the condom with a lifetime’s worth of lust.
She panted against the side of my head. I could feel her heart racing where our chests pressed together, slick with sweat.
Gradually, the room stopped spinning. My consciousness returned and sweet, sweet gratitude filled my chest.
Mate.
I had a mate.
A beautiful, spirited, human mate.
A wonderful, talented, gorgeous creature who lay panting beneath—
Oh shit!
“Am I crushing you?” I scrambled back, regretfully pulling out as I retreated.
“No,” she murmured, tugging me back. “I liked it.”
I buried my nose against her neck again. “I like you,” I said. I really wanted to say, “I love you” because that’s exactly what I felt, but I knew enough about humans to not jump the gun on that.
“I like you, too,” she mumbled. She sounded sleepy, like the sex had wiped her out.
I didn’t want to separate our bodies, even for a moment, but it was my job to take care of my mate. “I’ll be right back, Red.” I crawled out of bed and disposed of the condom then brought Natalie a glass of water and a washcloth to clean up.
But it was too late. My sweet mate had already fallen asleep, like a gorgeous goddess in repose, meant to be worshipped.
I tucked her under the covers and slid in beside her, looping an arm around her waist and drawing her smaller form against mine. Her back was to my chest, and we were like two spoons in a fucking drawer. I smiled at my ridiculous thought then kissed her head. “Good night, perfect mate,” I murmured.
The words tasted as sweet on my lips as they sounded to my ears.
Mate.
I had one now.
In my bed, exactly where she belonged.
I just needed to claim her, and my life would be complete.
Claim her and get her happily settled in her house. Hell—and redirect her bed and breakfast plan to keep the pack safe.
Should be fairly easy.
I hoped.
11
NATALIE
I rolled over and smiled, snuggling into the soft blanket and warm guy. Rand had his arm thrown over my waist, his hand cupping my breast.
He kissed the tip of my ear. “Morning, darlin’.”
“Mmm,” I said, too content to say more. The room was bright through my eyelids, so I had to assume we’d slept in. After the late night at the bar, I was ready to stay in bed longer.
And if it was with a hot guy…
“I’ve been thinking,” he said.
“How long have you been awake?” I asked, my voice raspy with sleep.
“A while. Did you know you snore?”
I elbowed him lightly. “I do not.”
“Fine, you whiffle.”
I pursed my lips, but I didn’t argue.
“We can head back to your place and pack your things.”
I wiggled my hips and felt him hard and insistent at my lower back.
“Why would we do that?”
“It’ll be quicker and easier to do the rewire if the power’s turned off. Besides, I plan on having you in my bed every night from now on so—”
My eyes popped open. I was fully awake now. “From now on?”
He gave my breast a gentle squeeze. “Hell, yes.”
Wait… what? That wasn’t even possible for him. I was human. He had a pack that forbade mixed mating.
This wasn’t the one night kind of talk. I rolled over, our faces about a foot apart.
“Hey there,” he said again, brushing my hair back from my face. “You want to come on my dick or my mouth this morning?”
I blinked. I was instantly hot at the prospect of either of those options. But he was moving forward too fast. “Back up a sec. What do you mean from now on?” I asked.
His dark brow went up, and I watched as his eyes roved over my face and down to my chest. When I realized my breasts were exposed, I tugged up the sheet.
“From now on as in every day. Every night.”
“Yes, I got that. But this isn’t an everyday kind of thing.”
“Yeah, it is.”
“No, it’s not.” I pushed up to sitting, trying to pull the sheet with me. “Rand, this… thing, I know it’s just an itch.”
He looked me over. “Fuck, you’re gorgeous in my bed. And this?” he swirled his finger in a circle. “It’s definitely an itch. An itch I can’t stop scratching.” Reaching beneath the covers, I could tell he was gripping his dick, pumping it.
I climbed from the bed, found my bra and put it on as I talked. “Get a flea collar then. This is not happening.”
He pushed up onto his hand. “It’s already happened, Red. You don’t want to stay here, that’s fine. We can do the work around you.”
Frustrated, I pushed the strap onto my shoulder. This wasn’t supposed to happen. He was supposed to maybe make me some coffee then kiss me at my car, then I’d drive away. Maybe, maybe, we’d fuck again if we got that itch but nothing more. It annoyed me that he was pretending we could be something more when I already knew for a fact it wasn’t possible.