Page 20 of The Wolf's Mate

Hettie pays me little attention, saying, “Bold of you to assume I need assistance taking cock,” before downing the contents of the goblet.

I’m fucking speechless. Once again, Hettie surprises me, and I smirk. I hate the fact that she’s been on other guys’ cocks, even though I shouldn’t and have no reason to be, but her confidence is intoxicating.

Imelda is hiding—albeit badly—a smile as she accepts the goblet back from Hettie. The human turns to face me again. “Are you going to bite me now?” She sounds almost bored, and despite my best effort, I let out a growl.

The damn woman smirks.

I picture taking her over my leg and spanking her ass red for her bratty tongue. The thought goes straight to my cock, and I shift uncomfortably.

I don’t wait for Imelda to tell me it’s time to bite Hettie. I pull the woman close, a small gasp leaving those pouty pink lips. She’s breathing hard, clearly not as unaffected as she pretends to be. Her heady scent permeates the air, sending my wolf into a frenzy.

“Mine.” My words are more growl than anything. I zone in on her neck. The beautiful, unblemished neck. Hettie tilts her head to the side, offering me up perfect access. I trace a vein protruding in her neck, and she shudders. The sweet smell of her arousal floods my senses.

If I reach between her legs, I know I would find her soaked for me.

I bow my head, scenting her lust, fear, and desperation. It’s perfect. My tongue snakes out, needing the taste of her salty skin on it. She shudders in my grasp, and a low chuckle leaves my lips. “So eager.”

“Just fucking bite me, Rip—Oh!”

My fangs extend, and I bite her neck. She moans, a mixture of pain and pleasure. The sweet taste of her blood fills my mouth, and I growl. My wolf is too close to the surface, and I’m barely in charge of myself. I need to be gentler, need to pull away…but I don’t.

I feel the bond start to form. It’s not strong, and it won’t be unless we have sex. Which seems like a really fucking great thing to do right now. There’s no hiding my erection as it presses into Hettie’s stomach. She feels it too; I know she does.

It takes everything in my power to force myself away from her and step back. Hettie’s eyes are blown wide, and she bites her lip. She whimpers softly, which makes me unreasonably happy. She wants me. Maybe not forever, and maybe not for the entire night. But right now, at this moment, she wants me.

My mate.

And I want to devour her.

Chapter 10

Hettie

He’s close. So fucking close. His masculine scent envelops me. I need to pull away, but…I don’t. I’m trapped in his heated stare, and I don’t want whatever spell we’re under to break.

I don’t know what possesses me to pull Rip back down, crashing our lips together in a hungry battle for dominance. But the newly formed bond between us has me wanton. Tallie said the feeling is intense. I expected a bad case of lust, not…whatever the fuck this is.

Rip stiffens for a fraction of a second, and then he’s there, cupping my face and kissing me like I’m the only woman in his universe. Like if he broke apart from me, he wouldn’t ever have this opportunity again.

I feel everything. This must be the bond Tallie mentioned. I sense Rip’s desire for me. The lust and need he can’t control. But I also sense his fear. Fear for the safety of those he loves and fear for not being able to protect me properly.

A needy sound comes out of me that I’ll definitely regret later when my body isn’t on fire with need. I feel every inch of Rip’s body, and his hard cock presses against my stomach. My pussy screams in protest, wanting something we can’t have. At least not now. Maybe ever.

Because Rip might be my mate now—whatever that entails—but this isn’t a love match. This is a mutually beneficial pairing, and me and my horny vagina need to remember that. No matter how badly I want more than this breathtaking kiss. It’s the damn drink that’s making me lose my mind to lust. I don’t feel in control of my own body or brain. I feel him in my head. It’s…bizarre.

Once again, Rip is the one to break us apart. I try to hold back my disappointment, but it comes out in the form of a pout anyway. His face is pure smug male satisfaction, but then he quickly slips back into the mask he’s good at wearing. “It’s done,” he says.

Moments ago, I caught glimpses of Rip. The side he doesn’t show to the world. The emotions he fed me suddenly cease, and walls build up around him, not letting anything through. The bond feels…cold. Distant. Desolate.

I expect there to be more to the ceremony. A closing statement, maybe an acknowledgment from Rip, but none of those things happen. Rip nods once to his aunt and reaches for my hand. I try to back away, but he isn’t having it. He takes my hand and forces it on his arm, curling his hand over mine.

“I go from being your mate to becoming your prisoner in less than a minute,” I snarl, hoping he can see my reproachful glare.

The side of his mouth quirks up. “You can never make anything easy, can you, Hettie?”

“Where’s the fun in that?” I ask with fake sweetness.

“Careful, Dove. Bad girls get spanked.”

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