Shit.
She was sort of adorable even though she was furious with him. “Well?” she snapped. “Speak. What the hell do mates have to do with us and why we like being together?”
Ha-ha. You stepped in it this time. You didn’t want to tell her, and now you have to. By accident. You wanted to tell her this whole time, and you didn’t because you’re an idiot.
“I’ll tell you all about it back at my place.”
Isa crossed her arms. “You’ll tell me now, or you can leave.”
He blew out a breath and walked her through the cabin and out the living room exit to the far side of the back deck as far from the door as possible. He paced the length of it while Isa stood by the lounge chairs, staring at him like… well, like a tiger about to pounce on her prey.
“You know I’m a shifter. That I can turn into a tiger at will. There’s more to it than just heightened senses, super strength, and the ability to heal really fast from otherwise deadly injuries. We know when we find our mates. Immediately. Our animal tells us. It’s a big pull too.”
“So you’re telling me that your tiger knew just like that that we’re soul mates?”
“Not quite, but yes. It’s not soul mates in the sense that humans understand it. It’s more like a soul-deep connection that can’t be denied.”
“You’re not telling me this right now, Valens. You’re not telling me that I don’t have a choice in this. I lived most of my life letting someone else make my decisions for me, and it will not happen again because you claim to be my soul mate. I get to choose who I spend my time and the rest of my life with.”
“Of course, you do. But if you would let me explain, I could tell you that you’ll be drawn to me in a way you can’t explain. You feel it already, Isa.” He closed the distance between them and cupped her cheeks in his hands. “You already feel it,” he repeated. “When I touch you. When we kiss. Those moments are amazing and pure. You never want them to end. You find yourself wanting to find reasons to see me. When we’re not together, you feel like a part of you is missing, reaching out into the world for me. I know. I know because I feel it.”
“It’s just lust,” she argued. “If we were to fuck,” she scoffed, pulling away from him, “then it would vanish."
He growled. “Lust? You think this thing between us is just about a quick fuck?” His cheeks burned from Isa’s words. “If you think that’s all that is between us, daredevil, then I fucking dare you to fuck me right here. Right now. Then if you feel nothing, I’ll leave you alone.”
She laughed dryly. “You think I’m that easy?”
“No. I know what’s between us.” He reached out and held her face as he lowered his head to capture her mouth in a kiss. He devoured her.
His tongue dipped into her mouth as he explored every inch of her. His hands traveled to her neck, down her shoulders, to her waist until he gripped her, holding her close to him. He pressed his erection into her before grabbing her ass. He kneaded her cheeks, all the while rubbing against her.
She tried to kill her moan, but he heard it loud and clear. The scent of her arousal was everywhere, even though they were standing outside. She wanted him that much.
“I hate you,” she whispered.
“I want you too, Isa.”
“Not what I said,” she growled.
“Yet your hands are on me. You haven’t pushed me away. You kissed me back, daredevil. You want this. I can smell it on you.”
“I never said I didn’t want you. I said I’m not gonna be your mate. I choose who I love. I don’t let some invisible force make decisions for me.”
Valens flicked open the button of her jeans and eased down her zipper. Isa stared at him, her nostrils flaring. She didn’t stop him. She reached out and cupped his hard cock through the material of his pants.
“You gonna do something or what?” she whispered.
With a low chuckle, he slipped his hand inside her jeans, his fingers reaching her core, then slid the material of her panties to the side, letting his fingers run along her moistened seam.
“You’re already soaked, daredevil. I’ve barely touched you, and I could take you right now.”
“You keep sayin’ that like it’s true, but I’m not basking in a post-orgasmic glow, so I doubt you’ll do anything.”
“Is that a dare?”
“Nope. It’s a fact.”
“You want an orgasm, love? You don’t have to beg me for it. You don’t have to dare me for it.” He gently nudged her down until she sat on the edge of the chair. It took him no time to pull her pants and underwear down to her knees when he knelt in front of her.
Isa grinned down at him. “I still don’t think you’re gonna go through with it.”
Valens gripped her knees, and without any warning, he spread her legs wide and dove in, tongue first. He took a long lick of her slit before twirling his tongue on her clit. She arched into his touch, her hands going to his hair.
“Fuck, Valens. I didn’t think you’d do it. Don’t stop,” she panted when he sucked the nub into his mouth. “Just like that. Right there.”
He chuckled and pulled back to kiss her thigh softly. “Isa,” he said, “if you want me to keep going, you’re gonna have to admit it’s not just lust between us.”
“I can finish myself off,” she argued, her hand traveling to her folds. The woman toyed with her clit, her eyes stuck to his. She moaned, letting her head fall back. “So good. So close.”
Not a chance was she going to win this round. He pushed her hand away and replaced her fingers with his tongue, lapping at her with everything he had. He pushed a finger into her entrance and quickly added another. Under his touch, Isa cried out to the night sky. She clamped his fingers hard, her pussy clenched as her orgasm neared.
Valens wanted to see her go over the edge. He wanted to watch as his mate came on his fingers, on his tongue. Isa shouted his name, arching off the seat to give even more of herself to him.
“Yes, yes, yes,” she chanted before her words were lost to her release. She bucked her hips against his face until she stopped trembling. “That wasn’t so bad,” she said, flopping back onto the lounge chair.
“If you think I’m done with you, you seriously underestimated our connection.” He pulled at his pants, unbuckling his belt and undoing the ties. As soon as they fell around his knees, he gripped his erection, pumping up and down, his eyes not leaving hers.
Isa giggled and shook her head. “What do you think is gonna happen right now?”
“I’m gonna fuck you so good, you won’t have a choice but to accept we’re destined to be together. You already know, Isa. You’re just too damn stubborn to accept the truth. I’m never gonna force you to do anything you don’t want to do. But I think you stop yourself from living the life you want because you forgot what you really want out of this life.”
“Yeah? And what’s that.”
“You want to be loved. And Isa? I’ll love you till the day I die. Starting right now. You want me. So make the choice. Make the decision your heart has already made. Stop letting your head and that insane death wish of yours control you.”