Page 43 of Crossed Fates

Bad fucking idea.

I knew I shouldn’t.

I knew what would happen if I did.

But my instincts had me swaying closer, my wolf growling in approval.

I couldn’t take my eyes off her lips. Shit, I couldn’t take my eyes off ofher. Those pert tits, rosy peaks, flat stomach, bare mound. Maybe I’d been wrong about fate, because damn if this woman wasn’t made for me. I cupped the swell of her hips and brought her flush against me before lowering my head and pressing my mouth to hers.

Really bad fucking idea.

Her body rubbed against mine, my cock kissing her pussy, her taut nipples scraping over my chest, and goddamn, she tasted so good. I deepened the kiss, pushing my tongue into her mouth and devouring her as if she were my last meal.

Makayla moaned, and my wolf roared to the surface, his impulse overpowering my self-control.

Bite.

Mark.

Claim.

I bit down on her lip—hard—and growled as her blood hit my tongue. My animaldemandedmore. But my mind rioted, reason struggling to fight my wolf’s possession and ground me once more.

I can’t.

I shouldn’t.

My muscles locked down.

My heart fucking stopped.

I was so hungry for her, starving for more than just a kiss. I needed to feel her body writhing beneath mine, to hear the sound of my name falling from her lips as she fell apart.

No,I told myself, pulling away, my need for control overriding my physical instincts.No.

“I shouldn’t have done that.” I forced the admission through my teeth and backed up several steps.

Makayla’s tongue darted out to clean her lips of the remaining droplets. “No, you shouldn’t have,” she agreed.

I didn’t have any words for her, so I nodded and waded out of the water, quickly shifting and taking off. It was a dick move, leaving her to find her own way home. But I needed some space before my wolf pushed me hard enough that I gave in and did more than kiss her.

It would’ve been so easy.

Palm her ass, lift her up, and slide right inside her tight, wet heat. She was my fated mate, the only woman I would ever desire again.Shit. Why shouldn’t I indulge?

Stupid question, and I knew the answer, but that didn’t stop me from considering it. Or fantasizing about it.

Letting Makayla leave wouldn’t be easy. Losing one’s fated mate could be devastating to a shifter. And the closer we grew to each other, the more difficult it would be. Even without our emotions involved, having sex would risk the plan.

Yeah, fucking is a very bad idea.

Except, with each step I took away from her, I wonderedwhyI couldn’t just keep her.

She wanted me.

I wanted her.

Why not just…mate?