Page 5

Gabriel POV

Summer is my Destined Mate.

My mind was whirling, rapidly answering questions that had been keeping me up at night for years. Right before the attack was the first time I'd seen Summer in my wolf form. That was when I became drawn to her. I'd heard that some Destined Mates became interested in their partner when they got their wolf. It was almost like the magic that made us shifters triggered the bond. Then, any intimate physical contact, like a kiss, solidified it.

When I was thirteen and my parents explained that they were Destined Mates, they told me that once the Mating bond was in place, a couple was irresistible to each other. Back then, I thought it was gross since the only Fated Mates I knew were them. But now as I stared into Summer's bright blue eyes, the same color as a robin's egg, her long, silky, black hair cascading over her shoulders, the swell of her breasts showcased by her little white tank top, and her pink delicate lips opening slightly in surprise, a strong sense of desire coursed through me that was so powerful it almost knocked me over.

I wanted her more than I wanted to take my next breath. No, “wanted” wasn't the right word. I needed Summer. It wasn't only physical desire that was pumping through my system. I needed to be around her if only to hear her lovely voice or listen to what was on her mind. I needed to do everything in my power to make her happy. And above all, I had to protect Summer. An anxiety unlike anything I'd ever known washed over me just at the thought of anything ever happening to her. Even though she was sitting right in front of me, a list of potential threats to her ran through my head, starting and ending with another Rogue wolf attack.

Was this the drawback of giving your heart and soul to someone? Knowing that one day, something horrible could happen to them, and there was nothing you could do about it?

Summer noticed my rigid posture and put her arms around my shoulders, one of her hands gently stroking the back of my head.

I allowed my eyes to close and leaned into her touch. My heart began to beat rapidly as I encircled my arms around her waist and pulled her closer.

She laid her forehead against my chest and continued to play with my hair.

“Are you…um, I don't know how to say what I'm experiencing. I don’t know how to ask if you’re feeling the same thing I am,” Summer muttered, keeping her head down, avoiding my eyes. “What if I'm wrong? I don't want to embarrass myself…”

I tilted her chin up until she was looking at me. I had to be honest with her. Now was the time to put all my cards on the table.

“Summer, we are Destined Mates.”

She quietly gasped, and I wanted to capture the sound and listen to it on repeat.

“The day at the stream,” I started, but stopped when she flinched. It killed me to bring up her attack, but it was the only way to make her understand. I rubbed her back, trying to bring her a little comfort. “That was the day when I realized the depth of my feelings for you. Seeing you there, sitting on that rock…it changed something inside of me. Of course, I’ve always thought you were beautiful. But before, you were my beautiful friend, Summer. Then, after that day, you were all I thought about. You were my everything.”

She bit her lip and glanced down.

“I, uh, I've liked you for a lot longer than that,” Summer admitted. “Honestly, I think my feelings for you started in first grade. Remember when, um, Axel…” She paused at his name, and her cheeks flushed.

An anger so deep that it seared my insides flowed through my bloodstream at just the mention of Axel. I meant what I had told Summer. I didn't care that he was my brother. He hurt and disrespected my Mate. How dare he?

Then, my mind played back what she said. She’d always been interested in me? A surge of happiness made my heart lift.

“Remember when he wouldn't talk in class that first day of school?” she continued.

I nodded, half of my mind still thinking about how to teach Axel a lesson for hurting Summer.

“Well, Mrs. Langston was getting frustrated with him for not speaking, and you calmly raised your hand and explained that he was a little shy,” Summer said. “Then, you asked her if it was alright if…he wrote down his answer on a piece of paper, and you spoke it aloud for him.”

“You spoke for him after that, too,” I pointed out.

“Right, but the point is that it was your idea. I thought it was sweet since it was just, uh, a nice thing to do, you know? After that, I liked you. Obviously, it started as a crush because we were seven. Over the years, as I watched you stand up for other kids getting picked on and being the class president and always protecting the people you loved…well, that crush developed into something that felt a whole lot like love.” She took a sudden breath, shocked by her own confession.

I cut her off by pressing my mouth against hers. Her lips were as soft and smooth as a flower petal. She moaned into my mouth, causing me to deepen the kiss.

Pleasure erupted inside of me. Summer tasted like the cherry chapstick I always saw her putting on, and she smelled like lemon.

She responded by grasping the back of my head and opening her mouth. Our chests were pressed together, and when I felt her nipples harden, the hard length in my sweatpants twitched.

Our tongues moved together, and when I gently bit her lip, she moaned. I tore my lips away from hers and stared at her in awe. She was the most gorgeous thing I'd ever seen. Her long, dark hair was tousled, her red lips were swollen from our kissing, and her blazing blue eyes were looking at me with such intensity that it took my breath away.

I leaned forward to murmur in her ear. “You taste so sweet.”

She whimpered.

The sound drove me wild, and in a second, my lips were back on hers.

I took my time, simply enjoying kissing her. When I needed to taste more of her, I traveled slowly down her neck, and dropped kisses along it as I nipped at her sensitive skin, wanting this moment to last forever.

“Oh, Gabriel, that feels amazing,” she whispered and leaned her head back, giving me better access to her throat.

As I stared down at her heaving chest and her slightly parted lips, an intense possessive emotion darted through me. I'd never experienced anything like it before.

“Are you mine, Summer?” I whispered in her ear, and she shivered in my arms.

“Yes,” she breathed out. “Yours..”

Her words sent a shock of electricity down to my stomach, and my dick hardened even more. I lowered my head and kissed the side of her neck, sucking and biting.

“Oh, Gabriel, don't stop.”

Summer lay back in my bed, and I climbed on top of her, my mouth never leaving her neck. My length was against the soft material of her skirt, and through the thin fabric, I could feel the heat of her warm center.

Her citrus scent filled my room, invading my senses and making my head spin. A fierce need to taste every inch of her body pulsed through me.

When I pulled away, there was a little red mark on her pale skin, and the sight of it made my mouth go dry.

“Did you leave a mark on me?” Summer whispered.

I nodded and stroked my thumb over the mark to show her.

“Good. I want to be marked by you,” she said with her eyes on mine.

My dick jerked and a fierce desire to mark her more permanently came over me.

Slow down.

It was our first night together, I didn't want to overwhelm her.

I stared down at Summer, marveling at my Mate's beauty.

Gently, I traced my hand down her cheek and then rubbed a thumb over her swollen lips. Her wide eyes framed with thick black lashes stared up at me with such trust that it nearly undid me.

I leaned down and gently kissed her cheek.

“You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, Summer. You're my sun. You brought light into my life.”

Her eyes glanced over at the painting I had purchased the day after her attack and hung above my bed. It reminded me of her, and I wanted it to be the first thing I saw when I woke up and the last thing I looked at before I went to sleep.

“What's your favorite color, Gabriel?”

Her question threw me for a loop, but I recovered quickly.

“Gold. And yours is green. You told me in eighth grade at lunch one day,” I answered. “I never forgot because I have green eyes.” I grinned.

Her pupils dilated, and she grasped the waistband of my sweatpants and drew me closer.

“Come here,” she said.

Our lips crashed together. This kiss was demanding, wild, and out of control. Soon, our breathing became labored and erratic. I couldn't get enough of this girl. With my mouth still on hers, I trailed my hand down to her breast and cupped her through the fabric of her tank top.

“Yes, Gabriel,” she moaned. “More.”

I grinned at the demanding tone in her voice. Kneading her left breast, I used my other hand to grip her hip, pressing our bodies against each other.

I brought my mouth to her ear, rolling her nipple between my thumb and index finger.

“Can I make you feel good?” I murmured, then nipped her ear playfully.

“Yes, Gabriel. Touch me. Please, make me feel good.”

I kissed my way down her neck, giving extra attention to the marks I left on her skin.

Summer sat up slightly and pulled her tank top off. Hot desire ran through me as I stared at her breasts. Flashing her a wicked grin, I took her right nipple into my mouth, flicking it with my tongue.

She shivered underneath me, her hands threaded through my hair, and she yelled my name.

I lifted my head and grinned.

“Although I love to hear my name on your lips, we have to be quiet. My parents are asleep,” I reminded her.

Her cheeks reddened.

I cupped her warm cheek and kissed the tip of her nose.

“Oh, right. Sorry.” She smiled self-consciously and giggled.

“Never apologize for screaming my name, baby,” I said and leaned forward to press a quick kiss to her lips. Then, I dragged her skirt off, revealing her long legs and blue panties.

“Gorgeous,” I muttered, then looked back up at her. “Can I finger your pretty pussy?”

This made her eyes widen and her hips buck.

“Yes, Gabriel. Please.”

I peeled off her underwear and swallowed when she was completely naked.

“Wow,” I murmured, taking in every single inch of her body.

With my eyes on hers, I slid one finger into her warm center and used my thumb to rub her hard bundle of nerves.

Her eyes fluttered closed, and her mouth opened in a silent moan. Summer’s cheeks were flushed, her dark hair spilled across my pillow, and her expression was one of blissful pleasure.

She scratched her nails down my back, and her lips trembled.

Slowly, I pumped my finger inside of her and reached up to play with one of her breasts. Just from the way her breathing increased, I could tell she was already close to coming apart.

“Do you think you can take a second finger?” I asked and began to rub her clit even faster.

“Yes,” she breathed out and leaned up slightly.

As I slid another finger inside of her, she reached down and palmed my dick through my sweatpants.

Her hot hand around my length made me let out a deep, low groan.

Joy and arousal shot through my body like a lightning bolt. I couldn’t believe that Summer was my Mate. I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that my dream girl was in my bed and that we were destined to be together.

“Summer !” I cried out.

She giggled and pressed a finger to her lips.

“I thought we were supposed to be quiet,” she mocked and pumped me.

“You have to warn a guy, baby.”

As I continued to pump my fingers into her soft, warm center, Summer swept forward to kiss my neck. There was a small amount of pressure and the sweet sensation of pleasure-filled pain.

Oh.

Realization dawned on me. Summer was paying me back for the small mark I had left on her neck.

When she was satisfied with her work, she pulled away and gave me a look that made me pause.

“I want you, Gabriel. I want you to make love to me.”

Her words were frenzied, and her blue eyes had a wild look to them.

The Mating bond pulsed between us, urging me to make love to my Mate.

I cupped her cheeks and brought her lips to mine. Summer and I kissed until we had to tear our mouths away to catch our breaths. Our hips bucked against each other. We’d probably have matching bruises tomorrow.

“You’re my Mate, Summer. You’re my sun.”

She smiled, but a look of apprehension crossed over her face.

“What is it, baby?” I asked, pausing and holding myself above her.

“I just wanted to know if this is your first time, too? Or is that a dumb question since I’m sure girls throw themselves at—“

I cut her off for a second time that night by pressing my lips to hers.

“Summer, this will be my first time. I was waiting for you.”

Our lips locked in a passionate kiss, my body and soul singing with the need to make Summer mine. I could feel our Mating bond thrumming between us, allowing us to forget what happened between Axel and her tonight and just focus on each other. Maybe we weren’t thinking clearly, but the bond connecting us was impossible to ignore. How could we not celebrate finding our one true love?

I lined myself up at her entrance, then paused, the happiness draining out of me as I remembered something.

“I…don’t have a condom,” I admitted. “Do you?”

Summer shook her head.

“I’m sure it’s fine,” she said. “Next time, we will make sure to use one. But I need you tonight, Gabriel.”

The bond pulsed even harder between us, and it was impossible to ignore the persistent need to make love to my Mate.

“Are you ready?” I asked.

“Yes.” She trailed her fingers up and down my back.

I shuddered under her soft touch.

Our gazes locked, and the gravity of this moment hit me.

I was about to make love to Summer. My dream girl. My Mate.

Gently, I pushed into her warm center, a quiet groan escaping me. Her blue eyes met mine as I slowly slid into her, inch by inch.

“Gabriel,” she whispered, her cheeks flushing red with pleasure.

“Summer.”

It was amazing the amount of weight our names could carry on each other's lips.

When I was almost fully inside of her, Summer flinched and I immediately stopped.

“Are you all right, baby?” I asked, searching her face for any signs of distress.

“Yes,” she assured me. “I need you to move, Gabriel. Please. Now.” There was an impatience in her tone that caused a pleasurable thrill to shoot down my spine.

I began to pump slowly in and out of her. Nothing had ever felt this good before. She was soft, wet, and warm. Summer was perfect. She was made for me.

“You feel…wonderful,” I breathed out and leaned down to press my lips against hers.

I kissed her deeply, our mouths opening, and my tongue darted out to move with hers.

Her taste was indescribable. It was the most addictive flavor in the world. I couldn’t get enough.

Summer's thighs began to shake below me, and her lower lip trembled.

Watching her experience pleasure was the sexiest thing I'd ever seen. Since we were connected by the bond, her pleasure was my own.

With my right thumb, I rubbed her clit and my left hand reached up to palm her breast. My warm hand cupped her soft skin, then pinched her hard nipple.

“Oh, Gabriel,” she whispered and scratched her nails down my back. “Don’t stop. I’m close already.”

“Me too, baby.”

We let out simultaneous moans.

Black dots scattered before my eyes, and I increased my speed, thrusting my hips faster, marveling at the feeling of her tight center.

“Summer, I’m going to…”

Before I could finish my sentence, she whispered my name, and her eyes went wide. Summer experienced her climax through her whole body. Her head was thrown back, her hands were grasping my blanket, and when I glanced behind me, her feet were pointed.

Beautiful.

Watching Summer come was the most alluring thing I’d ever seen.

As I gazed down at my Mate, her walls tightened around me, grasping my dick almost painfully. An orgasm ripped through me, a strangled, primal yell coming from deep within me.

“Summer,” I gasped out as I came inside of her.

We rode out our climaxes, never looking away from each other.

I collapsed on the bed next to her, trying to catch my breath, and coming down from my high. I reached for Summer’s hand and grasped it, still wanting to be connected in this small way.

We lay there for a long time, staring up at the ceiling. Our Mating bond was finally silent, and I could think straight again. The next time I looked at Summer, she was fast asleep. The sight of her resting peacefully in my bed made my throat tighten with emotion. Carefully, I cleaned us up and grabbed an extra blanket from my closet, sliding in beside her.

Still asleep, she rolled over and lay her head on my chest.

I tightened my arms around her and kissed the top of her head. Stroking her hair, I simply enjoyed being next to my Mate.

“I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you,” I whispered like a prayer and then closed my eyes, hoping that I could find a way to make my words truly possible.