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MARIE

A lpha Reynolds’s words have unsettled my mate, but when I stretch up and place a gentle kiss on his cheek, he snaps out of it. Instantly, a broad grin erupts on his handsome face. When I attempt to move back, unsure how he feels about public displays of affection, he takes my face in his two hands to stop me from pulling away.

“That felt good.”

Leaning down, he wraps one hand around the back of my neck, and with the other, brushes his thumb along my jaw, then gently over my bottom lip, the appreciative rumbling in his chest gets louder.

“Marie, my mate,” he whispers reverently, our lips ghosting against each other as he speaks. “I’m never going to get tired of saying that.”

As he stares at me, his handsome features intense and his dark eyes filled with lust and desire, I melt. How did I get this lucky? It’s like someone created my ideal man, with his strong jaw and sharp cheekbones, and just dropped him in front of me.

Swallowing hard, trying to dampen the lust building within me, I wait, letting my eyes flutter closed. Finally done teasing me, Jonathan’s lips touch mine. At first, it’s tender, but when I part my lips and dart my tongue out to meet his, his hands move to my back, tugging me hard against his firm body as he intensifies our embrace.

I’m vaguely aware of a cheer going up around the ballroom, full of visiting alphas and lunas from all the packs in the region, as Jonathan swings me up into his arms and marches toward the exit.

“Poor Graham,” I hear someone whisper.

“Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.” Someone else sneers.

Ignoring the giggles from the crowd behind us, I loop my arms around my mate’s neck and kiss a path up the front of his throat, licking and nibbling his warm skin as I go. My fingers deftly open his collar and slide under the thin material so I can feel the warm skin of his chest, and I toss his bow tie somewhere behind me as I enjoy his muscled chest.

“Fuck,” he curses, stopping just outside the double doors and looking up and down the wide, elegant hallway. “Don’t do that, or we won’t make it to my room.”

Laughing, I torture him even more, thoroughly enjoying the chance to taste my mate and luxuriate in his scent. I scrape my nails along the back of his neck with one hand and make quick work of the buttons on his shirt with the other, growing more and more aroused with each extra inch of his chest that I expose.

My fingers itch to touch his tanned skin, hard flat pecs and the dusting of dark hair that runs down the centre of his torso. The heat radiating from him makes my insides twist and my panties damp. I want to lick him all over and roll around in his masculine scent.

Somehow, Jonathan manoeuvres us inside his enormous room without putting me down. Once the door is shut, he gently lowers me to my feet and steps back, looking sheepish despite the hunger in his eyes.

“How did I get so lucky?” he asks in wonder, and I grin back, feeling drunk with lust.

Shivering under his gaze, I stand still as his eyes drink their fill. I don’t miss how they snag on my tight nipples, visible beneath the delicate material of my dress.

Clenching his fists tightly at his sides, he remains fixed to the spot, his chest rising and falling with his ragged breaths. The air in the room is thick with our desire, and my core clenches tight, feeling empty and needy.

“We can take this slow. We don’t have to…” He flexes his fingers before balling them into fists again and looking to the ceiling as he struggles to remain in control.

It’s adorable, really, watching this big man battle with himself for control. Just the thought of completing the mating bond has robbed him of his voice. He’s overestimating his willpower, and mine, or underestimating the strength of our connection, if he thinks we can resist.

Or that I want to.

I appreciate the effort, but it’s unnecessary. I’m more than happy with who the fates have chosen for me. There is no doubt on my part.

“Look at me,” I demand, and Jonathan’s brown eyes find mine instantly. My heart skips a beat, and butterflies erupt in my belly. “I hate going slow. I hate overthinking things. I’m a woman of action. That’s one thing you’re going to learn fast.”

It’s so overwhelming, it makes me pause to catch my breath as I take another step away from him, allowing my hips to sway seductively as I move.

“Stay,” I command, giving him my best stern look while also curling my lips into a coy smile.

When he waits patiently, an amused smile on his face at my audacity, I know this is a good man. Nobody orders an alpha around, but he’s indulging me, enjoying the little power play. He’s used to being the boss in every situation. This can be his first taste of having to listen to someone else for a change.

And he deserves to be rewarded for his excellent behaviour.

“Good boy,” I whisper, and his eyebrows shoot to his hairline, his expression morphing from surprise, to amused, and then something heated as my words soak in.

“Godamnit, I should hate that but I don’t. I really, really don’t.”

With nothing more than two sweeps of my fingers along my shoulders, and a shimmy of my hips, my satin gown slides down my body to the floor, pooling around my feet. I stand before him in nothing more than a tiny thong and my heels.

“Do you like your prize?”

Jonathan swallows hard as he skims over every curve of my body with his scorching gaze.

“Fuck yes.”

Every muscle in his body is taut as he fights the demands of the wolf within. It makes me feel powerful and daring knowing I have such a hold over this handsome man.

I move forward, stepping out of the puddle of satin, and ease into his personal space. My nipples are inches from his chest, the heat radiating from him, pulling me closer to his body. I frown, pouting playfully up at him as I lean into him.

“You’re wearing far too many clothes for my liking.”

A strangled groan escapes him when I stretch up, smoothing my hands over his tense shoulders to slip the shirt completely off his back. My heavy breasts graze his chest, and he curses, finally giving in and cupping them, taking their weight in his palms as he massages and teases them, fascinated.

When my hands move to his belt, he clamps one big hand over mine, halting my progress.

“Marie…” he warns, voice thick and husky. Without saying it, he’s telling me there will be no going back if I touch him. He’s too close to the edge.

“Jonathan,” I mimic softly, giggling, which earns me a snarl.

His wolf is in no mood for jokes. He doesn’t think I’m taking his concern seriously. I am. But the problem is, it’s making me want him even more.

His belt jangles as I open it, purring in victory when I get the front of his pants undone. Sliding my hand inside and gripping his cock tightly through the thin material of his boxers, I moan appreciatively. He’s huge, thick, and long, and twitches against my palm in response to my touch.

“I appreciate that you’re willing to wait, but I’m not.”

“Are you sure?” he asks, voice gruff, as I slide my hand up and down his length, watching in awe when his eyes darken. “My wolf wants you. Right now. And it’s not going to be gentle.”

Licking my lips and biting my bottom lip in anticipation, I nod.

I’ve never been more sure of anything.

Before I know what’s going on, he lifts me, wrapping my legs around his waist. Two quick strides and he has me pressed against the wall, his face buried in my neck, as he drags his sharp teeth over the spot where he’ll mark me. It’s dominant, and oh so sexy.

Crying out at the tingles that race across my skin and the jolt of ecstasy that travels straight between my thighs, I arch into him.

He doesn’t give me any more time to think about it as he frees his thick cock and notches it against my drenched pussy.

“Look how wet you are. I can scent how much you want me, Marie. Tell me I can have you.”

Gripping the back of his neck, I rock my hips forward, trying to push down on his cock.

“Yes. I’m yours.”

I need him to be inside me. I crave it. It’s like a physical ache deep inside me that will only go away when he splits me in two with his throbbing cock.

“You’re mine. All fucking mine.”

Something about his possessive tone makes me feral, and I dig my nails hard into his skin, encouraging him to get a move on.

“Please,” I beg, desperate for him to fill me up.

“Your wish is my command. Always.” With one sure thrust, he buries himself to the hilt in my greedy pussy, and I gasp, overwhelmed by the sensation of fullness.

My core clenches around him, and he groans as he pulls back out, almost all the way, before slamming back inside.

“Fuck.” He groans, thumping his fist against the wall beside my head. “Fuck, how is it this good?”

His cock drags across every overly sensitive nerve ending inside me, and I whimper, biting my lips as I fight against the urge to just let go and come all around him. But he’s still holding back as he pushes in and out; his arms around my back are stiff, and his features tense.

“Take me, Alpha. I’m made for you. I won’t break.”

When I whisper against his ear and bite his earlobe hard, he snaps. Like a switch has flicked within his head, Jonathan relaxes, giving in to his desires as he sets a brutal pace. He buries himself into me, over and over, one arm holding me in place with a bruising grip, while the other braces him against the wall to stop my back from hitting it.

I cling to him for dear life, rocking my hips forward and grinding my clit against him on each thrust, panting as my insides tighten around him.

“Fuck, you’re so sexy.”

He slams his lips against mine, our tongues tangling as we pant and sweat.

I lick a line up the side of his throat, and he tenses, feeling my hot breath and the prick of my teeth against his skin. His wolf flashes in his eyes, encouraging me to do it. Holding onto his broad shoulders, I press tight to him, my nipples against his hard chest as I strike, biting down and sinking my teeth into his tender skin.

“Fuck!” With a roar, he comes, bucking his hips hard one last time against mine.

My climax races through me, waves of pleasure washing over me as I arch in his arms, muttering his name incoherently as aftershocks wrack my body. My body squeezes him tight, milking every jet of cum as his dick continues to pulse inside me, pulling mini orgasms from my overwrought body.

I feel like I’m floating on a cloud as tingles dance across my skin and his warmth caresses my insides.

With an excited squeal, I straighten in his arms and stare into his dark eyes, before crushing my lips to his.

“ Wow.”

It’s the most articulate thing I can manage to say, and Jonathan chuckles, gazing down at me while stroking the backs of his knuckles tenderly over my cheek. With such care, he moves away from the wall and carries me to the bed.

With a small shake of his head, he buries his nose into my neck and chuckles. “I can’t believe you called me a good boy.”

“Because you are, in fact, a very good boy. That was… wow .”

He chuckles again, his hand stroking my hair as if he can’t bear to not be touching me in some way.

“And you loved it. Don’t pretend you didn’t,” I tease.

He doesn’t go so far as to admit loving it, but I can sense it. My big bad alpha loves some praise, and if he keeps this up, I’m more than happy to give it to him.

After cleaning up, he tucks me up in his big arms, his chest pressed to my back. I’ve never felt so safe and so cherished. And utterly exhausted, but at least I’m not the only one.

Kissing my cheek one last time, I feel his body relax, and his breathing even out as sleep takes him. My alpha. My mate.

But my mind drifts to what is to come tomorrow.

Graham.

His dad is right, he won’t be happy. I had already decided not to see him again because of his volatile personality.

His father’s words ring in my ears. Watch your back .

Unfortunately, I think he’s right. Graham is going to cause trouble for us, but I won’t let him ruin what just happened. This is magical, and I’ll do whatever it takes to defend us.