Page 46 of The Wolf Lord's Mate

"Say the word, little mate," Nathaniel's voice was a rumble in my ear, "Say that you want this—that you want me, and I will pick you up and carry you to our bed, and I will show you how a Wolf cares for his mate. But I have to know that's what you want."

I couldn't breathe. He was too near and yet not near enough, and all I wanted was to feel his hands on my bare skin.

"You said that you already knew what I wanted," I whispered.

"Perhaps I just want to hear it," Nathaniel cupped my breast, and I gasped as he squeezed it lightly, "Perhaps I want to hear how much my little female wants me. How much she needs her mate," Nathaniel titled his head at me, "So tell me, little mate, what it is that you want? Do you want me to make you feel good? Do you want me to take all of that needless suffering away?"

"I want..." I hesitated, a tiny part of my mind still fighting back against my body and against him—his bond and his promises and the effect his touch had on me. That part of me didn't want to give in to him, and it was the part of my mind that had kept me wary and safe. But it was also the part of me that had kept me lonely and alone because it was safer that way. It wasn't happier though, and I had not been happy in some time, not until—

—Nathaniel.

Not until I fell into his arms in The Alleys, when he had given me that first bit of comfort in the form of a stable job. Then came shelter and regular meals and kind words and a subtle happiness, one that had come on so quietly that I had not even realized it was there.

I searched Nathaniel's pitch-dark gaze, his eyes roiling with barely controlled desire.

He wanted to consume me.

He wanted to own my body and my mind, and yet I knew that if I said no that he would not force me.

He might press me or tease me, might run off into the woods to blow off steam, but it would always be my decision in the end. My body and my submission were mine to give to him, and he would only take from me what I freely offered.

"I want," I began again, swallowing hard against the lump in my throat, "I want you to make me stop thinking, just for a little while."

"How?" Nathaniel spoke through gritted teeth, his grip tightening on my waist.

"You said that you could make me feel good?" I pressed my hand against Nathaniel's chest, feeling the swell of muscle under his shirt, "Then make me feel good, My Lord."

Nathaniel leaned in immediately, attacking my lips with a searing kiss. His grip around my waist tightened as his kiss turned dominating, weakening my knees until I was being held up only by his strong arms, his lips firm and insistent. His tongue swept across mine, his teeth nipping at my bottom lip.

The laces of my bodice flew apart under his quick fingers, and Nathaniel pulled my dress open, breaking the kiss only to trace his lips against my collarbone, bending down to trail hot kisses down towards my bared breasts.

I was gasping, searching for air after the intensity of his kiss, but it was stolen from my lungs with every press of his lips to my overheated skin.

"Nathaniel, we're outside." I managed to choke out, squeezing my eyes shut as Nathaniel traced his thumb over my hardened nipple.

"And?" Nathaniel rumbled, staring at my breasts with a reverent sort of awe.

"Someone could see us," I swallowed hard, "A hunter or a traveler, or I don't know, someone." I gasped as Nathaniel blew lightly on my nipple, the sensitive bud aching for him to put his mouth around it.

"It's just us and the birds out here, my love," Nathaniel squeezed my other breast firmly before lowering his mouth to the one he had been teasing, "You are mine, and mine alone."

Nathaniel's hot tongue stroked against the stiff peak of my breast, my back arching as pleasure flooded into my lower belly. My breasts felt like they were on fire, the skin sensitive and swollen with his touch, and as Nathaniel sucked on one nipple before switching to the other, electric pulses of pleasure shot through my core, as if my nipples had a direct line down to my clit.

I moaned as Nathaniel sucked hard on one nipple, lightly dragging his teeth over it in a delicious sensation that just rode the line between pleasure and pain. Nathaniel squeezed my breast once more before letting go, leaning up to press a bruising kiss against my lips.

"Being in your presence everyday has driven me mad with need, little mate," Nathaniel was practically panting as he spoke, the edges of his words husky with need, "Watching you, dreaming of you, catching your scent—it has made me absurdly, achingly, all-consumingly desirous. I am absolutely throbbing for you, angel. I can't find the words to articulate how deep my need is right now."

"Then show me." I said, and Nathaniel's eyes once more went black with desire.

With a growl, Nathaniel wrapped his arm fully around my waist, taking a step back from the wall and pulling me with him. I yelped, and the world titled sideways as Nathaniel tossed me over his shoulder.