Page 11 of Beta's Virgin Bride

“That’s better.” I bent down, intent on kissing her lips. Her eyes widened. Her breath caught. Then she turned her head at the last moment, and I met the satiny smoothness of her cheek instead. I nuzzled her, working my way up to her ear where I gripped the lobe with my teeth, giving it a tug.

“Cyan.”

God, I loved the breathy way she called my name. I turned on the bed, placing her gently on her back and coming over her. I kissed my way to her neck, sucking at the curve there.

“This is crazy.”

“Crazy,” I agreed. The way she turned me inside out was crazy. The way she smelled so delicious was crazy. The way touching her, tasting her, made my heart beat a fast staccato was crazy.

“We have to stop.”

“No, we really don’t.” I needed her like air. Stop? Stopping was crazy, but I pulled back, meeting her gaze and seeing the uncertainty there. I lowered my head and shook it while blowing out a breath.

“Are you okay?” Her voice was small, and that gave me the impetus to push off and settle beside her on the bed. I lay on my side, chin propped on my palm as I gazed at her.

“What’s going on in that head of yours, Ivy?”

“I…” She took her bottom lip between her teeth as she sat up to face me. “This is overwhelming. I don’t do this.” She waved her hand back and forth between us.

“This?” I questioned.

“One-night stands or whatever this is.”

I lifted one brow, doing my best to hold back my growl. I’d already told her repeatedly she was my mate. Something in my gaze must have reminded her of my earlier words.

“You don’t just meet someone and decide they’re your mate.”

“Why?” I asked.

She opened her mouth and closed it. Opened it again and paused before shaking her head. “You just don’t.”

“Why?” I countered again. “Bastion saw a picture of Raina and knew she was it for him.” And yeah, I’d considered him crazy at the time, but I was onboard now. I had a completely different perspective since I’d met Ivy.

“Sharing your alpha’s insanity doesn’t make either of you sane,” she informed me. “We don’t know each other, Cyan. I don’t know anything about you except that you’re a member of the James Pack. I don’t know where you came from. How you came to be with Bastion. If you have any family. And what do you know about me? Other than you want me?”

“I know you’d do anything to help your friends. I saw that tonight with Raina Byrd. I know you’re grieving for the loss of another friend, Rowan Byrd, and I think tonight might have been the first time you’ve cried since you lost him.”

Her eyes flared at my words, enough of an acknowledgement for me to know I was right.

“I know you have a precocious little sister you love. I know you’ve probably been dealing with guys like Austin and his buddies most of your life because of something you have no control over. Your mother. Yes, I want you, but we both know it’s more than that. If you need a little more time to realize it, I’ll wait.”

“How…?”

I brushed a finger along her cheek, taking in her stunned expression. “Because I pay attention to what matters, and you matter. Do I know everything about you? No, but that’s okay. We have a lifetime. All I know is the moment I saw you, my heart recognized yours. Tell me you feel nothing. Tell me this is all in my head, and I’ll walk away.”

Her lush lips parted, but no words came out.

“I don’t know if I can do this,” she said again, and my temper had me gritting my teeth.

“I told you there’s more here than a one-night stand.” I was upset, and though I tried to hide it, I’m sure she heard the frustration in my voice.

“I know that,” she snapped, crossing her legs and glaring at me. “I meant mating. I’m not sure I’m cut out to be a mate.”

“Why?”

“Why do you keep asking that? Are you two?”

There was fire in her eyes now. It looked good on her. Better yet, it erased the sadness that had been there. I sat up, turning to ease my back against her headboard, and Ivy adjusted her position, so she sat facing me. I lifted an eyebrow at her. That question didn’t deserve an answer. She was stalling, and we both knew it.

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