Page 9 of Stalking His Mate

“Oh, Fuck! Harder. HARDER! Yes!” It’s followed by a scream that echoes through the hallway. Amy’s entire body tenses and her scent flares, forcing me to grind my teeth to keep from throwing her up against the wall so I can rub up against her. I want my scent all over her.

“Was that…?” her voice comes out high pitched and breathy.

“One of the girls from the auction,” I answer her question as I fumble to unlock the door. “Let’s see if you can be louder than she is. Yeah?”

“What?” Her hands press flat to my back but before she can start screaming again, I’m through the door and kicking it shut behind me.

I don’t stop until I’ve crossed to the enormous bed that takes up nearly the entire room. Bending over, I toss her onto her back, where she lands with a bounce in the middle of the cream comforter.

Reaching behind me, I grab my t-shirt and pull it over my head. My cat is pacing in my mind. The urge to claim her riding me hard, especially with the way her gaze trails across my inked skin, it’s almost like a physical touch. I give her a flex, to keep her watching a little longer, before tossing my shirt to the side. Next, I toe off my shoes and climb up onto the mattress after her. One hand going to my belt as I prowl towards her. Fingers working deftly to loosen the leather before pulling it free.

“N-no. Stay back.” Amy’s eyes are wide and her bare foot slips when she tries to push herself backward. “Don’t come any closer. I—I’m not ready yet.”

I curl my fingers around her ankle and lick my lips just before I pull her towards me.

“But this is what you agreed to,” I purr.

Her eyes drop to my mouth, and I don’t miss the flick of her tongue across her bottom lip before she gives herself a little shake. “What if I changed my mind?”

My stomach drops. I don’t want to force her. I would never. But I need her, and finally having her like this…

“Did you, really?” I ask as I slide my hands up the sides of her legs to her hips where I ball the beaded fabric of her gown in my fists and pull her against me so that I’m straddling her legs. The scent of her need hasn’t diminished, and it’s giving my cat conflicting cues.

She props herself up on her elbows and her eyes dart to the side, avoiding looking at me.

“Amy,” I lean forward, forcing my way into her line of sight. “Do you want this?” Do you want me? Is what I really want to say, but I’m too much of a coward to ask. Too afraid that she might say no. That she will reject me.

Her eyes slide away again. Her heart is pounding, but there is very little fear in her scent. Mostly confusion and lust.

“I need to do this,” she finally says. “I agreed to.”

My cat is thrilled with her answer, but my heart is no longer into it.

“You don’t. You can walk out that door right now and I won’t stop you,” I promise her through gritted teeth.

“But—” her wide eyes find mine this time, “—the money.”

“Fuck the money. If that’s all you want, I’ll give it to you and more. Whatever you need.”

Brows that are more golden than red drop low over her eyes. “I don’t understand. Then why am I here?”

I lean back and run a hand through my hair, pushing it out of my face. “You’re here because it was the only way I could think to be with you. It was the only way you would give me a chance to talk to you,” I lean into her again. “It was the only way I knew that you’d let me help you.”

She blinks and her mouth falls open.

“Amy,” I start softly. “I get why you turned me down. I know that your life is complicated and the last thing I want to do is add more to that.”

“Oh, you do?” she scoffs as she sits up and folds her arms across her chest. “And you thought that getting me to auction myself as a sex slave would help me?”

“That’s not what this is,” I groan. “Damnit, I’m fucking this all up! You’re my mate, Amy! The other part of my soul. We’re not complete without the other.”

She blinks again and a single tear falls from her lashes when she slowly shakes her head and I want to roar with frustration.

8

AMY

“You’re my mate. The other part of my soul.”

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