Page 31 of The Wolf's Mate

Something changed between us over the last couple of days. A sort of understanding for each other’s pasts, and part of me is desperate to explore this growing tension. Even though I swore I wouldn’t fall into the bed of any eligible man showing me an ounce of kindness.

But this is Rip. This is different.

Rip’s lips press against the mark he placed on my neck. It’s mostly healed now, outlining where his teeth sank into my flesh, creating a scar. He brings his hand up to cup my breasts above my shirt, and I let out a breathy moan. “Is that what you want, Hettie? For me to fuck you? To finish my claim on you?”

“Fuck yes.”

He chuckles deeply. “Needy thing, aren’t you?”

He doesn’t know half of it.

I don’t want to fight this anymore. I don’t care to think of all the reasons this could be a stupid-ass decision; I just want to feel. “Rip, please?—”

His lips crash against mine in a claiming kiss, stealing the breath from my lungs. His hand reaches up to bracket my neck, pulling me closer. I give in to his demands, a strangled gasp leaving my lips.

His tongue pries my lips open, forcing his way inside. This kiss is different from our mating ceremony kiss. For one, there isn’t an audience—not counting Grass—which Rip uses to his advantage. His rough thumb runs over my nipple, and my body arches closer.

The need to have him closer is almost painful. Wetness pools between my thighs, and my clit throbs, begging to be touched.

It’s both too much and not enough.

My hands rest on his chest, feeling the hard muscles I want to trace with my tongue. Taste the saltiness of his skin and feel him tense underneath me.

Would he fuck me hard? Or take his time and draw out my orgasm?

Either way, I want to find out.

“Hettie,” Rip pants. His lips brush against mine. I whimper at the lost contact, and he presses another panty-melting kiss to my swollen lips.

My mind is a cloud of lust, need, and desperation. Talking is an effort, but I need him to stop holding back and ruin me. Fuck the aftermath; I need him now.

“Rip, please?—”

That’s all I manage to get out before there is a loud knock on the door, followed by a sweet feminine voice. “Hettie? Rip? You two in there? I’m coming in.”

Tallie bursts through the door, a wide smile on her face. Her eyes sweep the room until they land on us and widen. “Oh.”

Rip curses under his breath and pushes me behind him. My face flames red as I desperately try to get myself together. Was my whole boob out? What did she see? Fuck, how am I going to answer her questions that she’ll surely ask now about my relationship with her cousin when I can barely answer them for myself?

“Yesterday we planned on going to the nursery together, but if you two are busy…” Tallie breaks off with a laugh that she tries to hide with a cough.

“Give us a moment, Tallie. Hettie will be down in a minute,” Rip says, though he doesn’t sound happy about it.

“Of course. I’ll wait for our Luna downstairs.”

I wait until I hear the door shut behind her before peering around Rip to make sure the coast is clear. “Holy fuck.” Tallie is a splash of cold water, awakening me from my horny state. “I need to go.”

“Hettie—” Rip reaches out for me, but I sidestep his grip.

“Just give me a moment, and we can go.” I plaster a smile on, even as I feel Rip’s walls slowly rebuild. Disappointment mars his features, but he nods regardless.

Like the chicken shit I am, I hurry to the bathroom and shut the door, putting distance between us. I need to breathe. To think.

What the fuck am I doing?

Chapter 15

Rip

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