Page 11 of Alaric's Perfect Mate

She really did like how he called hersweetheart. Winking, she put the phone against her ear and said,“Did you get that?”

“About them being hungry or your mate wantingto eat you?”

Her mouth fell open, and for a moment shelost the ability to say anything as Gretchen laughed. “You’refired.”

“You can’t live without me. I’ll get itready. And a tray for your room, too. I’m going to block out yourschedule tomorrow. I’ll handle anything that comes up.”

“Thanks, babe. Their names are Slade, Galen,and Lia. I’ll have them meet you at the front desk.”

“You got it. Congratulations on finding yourmate. He’s a lucky male.”

Ending the call, she squeaked in surprise asAlaric grabbed the phone, lifted her into his arms, and climbedinto the SUV. He sat on the leather seat and settled her on hislap. She wrapped one arm around his neck as one of his big handssettled high on her thigh where the split in the dress revealed herskin.

His mouth—that she hadn’t been able to stopfantasizing about since he bit her neck earlier—found that sameplace. She closed her eyes and buried her fingers in his thick,short hair. Her whole body warmed and everything tingled, from hertoes to the top of her head, as he kissed and nibbled her neck. Hishand inched higher on her thigh, and she was perfectly fine withthat until the SUV rocked as his siblings got into it.

She stiffened, but he didn’t seem to care,and neither did his siblings.

“I just need to know the address for thehotel,” Slade said from the front seat.

Alaric lifted from her neck and stared ather. His hand slid between her thighs, and his thumb pressedagainst her satin panties. It took considerable effort to keep herknees together, but she managed.

Giving the address to Slade, she buried herface in Alaric’s neck as his thumb rubbed against her panties,moving the material over her clit. Someone turned on the radio, andshe felt a little less exposed in the vehicle with the loud musiccoming through the speakers. She opened her mouth and gaspedsoftly, her teeth scraping against his shoulder.

She couldn’t hear the purr, but she couldfeel it as his chest vibrated. He pressed more firmly against her,and she squeezed her knees together. Lifting her head, shewhispered in his ear, “Please don’t make me fall apart in front ofyour brothers and sister.”

His hand slid slowly out from under her gown.She wanted to kick herself for having him stop. It had felt sogood. Except she really didn’t want to scream Alaric’s name infront of his family, not to mention that she knew once she didcome, she’d be consumed with getting Alaric naked and returning thefavor.

Suddenly, it was all she could think about.Tugging on his collar, she kissed his shoulder. He slipped his handthrough her hair and fisted it gently, drawing her to face him.Even in the darkness she could see he was smiling. “It goes bothways, sweetheart. If I can’t touch you, then you can’t touchme.”

“I was kissing your shoulder. You wereexploring parts south. They’re totally different.”

“Even the simplest touch from you turns meon, so nothing you do is innocent.”

She kissed him. “I’ll be good.”

“Well for fuck’s sake, don’t do that,” hesaid, chuckling.

“Can you tell me what’s happening between us?I don’t really understand everything, and I want to.” She felt asif it were safer to discuss their connection than to keep tryingnot to turn each other on more. She had a feeling that once theyarrived at her suite, the clothes would come off and the time fortalking would be done. Not that she minded. In fact, she didn’tthink she’d had a better idea in years.

He exhaled and released his hold on her hair,resting his hand on her hip. “I know you’ve heard about thedreams.”

She nodded. “Did you really see me?”

“Not all of you,” he said, settling backagainst the seat. “The dreams were hazy at times, but we werehaving sex in them. It wasn’t like watching a video. It was just afeeling.” He traced her jaw with his fingers. “Your creamy skin,your pretty hair, your beautiful eyes—those are the things Iremembered when I woke. And a bone-deep need to find you.”

“What happens now?”

He growled softly. “You know what.”

“No, I mean after that. Are you going to biteme? Like the wolves do when they get mated? I’ve seen the matedcouples in the pack with marks on their necks.”

His fingers stroked down her neck, and sheshivered as he stopped at the place where her neck and shouldermet. “When our ancestors—the non-human sabers, that is—would mate,the male would mount the female from behind and sink his teeth intoher shoulder so she couldn’t get away from him. Our were-kind hascontinued with that tradition. When we mate tonight,” he broughther close so he could whisper in her ear, “I’m going to hold youtight, fuck you hard, and mark your pretty neck. I’m going to comeso deep inside you that I’ll mark you with my scent from the insideout.”

Goosebumps erupted on her skin, and sheclosed her eyes as images filled her mind. He was a big guy, andshe bet he was big all over. Hell, she’d grabbed his dick throughthe linen shorts he wore when he’d been only half-aroused, andshe’d been surprised at the feel of him. Big probably didn’t coverit.

The vehicle stopped, and the doors opened.The overhead lights illuminated the interior, and she squinteduntil her eyes adjusted to the brightness.

Lia, who had been sitting in the second row,pulled a lever to slide the seat forward. Aubrey climbed offAlaric’s lap and got out and he followed. After everyone hadgrabbed their things, she said, “There’s a private entrance for thefloor I live on. You can go in through the front door. My friend,Gretchen, is waiting for you at the front desk and will get yousettled. She’ll give you my room number so you can reachAlaric.”

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