Page 21 of Beta's Virgin Bride

“I know you better than you think,” Bee countered. “It’s my blessing and my curse.”

There she went with those ambiguous statements again.

“You enjoy pleasure, but you’re not ruled by it. I pointed out two of the pack’s sexiest males, and I bet you still have no clue who they are…because you don’t see them. You only see Cyan.”

I quickly looked around, trying to place the men she’d mentioned earlier. Anthony and Donovan? But no matter how hard I tried, my gaze always pulled back to Cyan. Bee was right. I hadn’t noticed anyone else in the room other than in a cursory way.

“I also noted that every time one of the guys on the dance floor got a little too close to you, you moved away. Not exactly the actions of a woman on the prowl for another lover.”

I blinked with surprise. I hadn’t realized I’d done that, but now that she’d pointed it out… I had. I took a closer look at the other people in the bar, forcing my gaze away from Cyan. I immediately zoned in on the two men with him. Anthony and Donavan? Had to be. They were attractive, but neither held a candle to Cyan.

I looked back toward the dance floor and the men there and felt…nothing. No interest. Normally, I’d still be out there gyrating to the music amidst the crowd, ignoring the crush of male bodies around me, into me. That had all changed.

I glanced back at Cyan, enthralled as he threw back his head and laughed at something being said to him. I wasn’t interested in anyone else in the room. Only Cyan. Holy shit!

“Plus, I’m pretty sure there was jealousy in your voice when you thought I might be interested in Cyan for myself. Which I’m not,” Bee added when my gaze flipped back to her. She grinned at me. “Don’t panic, Ivy, but I’m pretty confident you and Cyan are mates. And I’m never wrong.”

Bee would take some getting used to, but I felt the truth of her words settle inside me. I wasn’t my mother. I. Wasn’t. My. Mother.

Cyan was mine. My gaze slid back to center on him.

Mate.

Chapter Nine

~ Cyan ~

“I wish a woman would look at me the way that one can’t keep her eyes off you,” Anthony murmured, and I turned to see Ivy staring my way.

My mate was a vision. She stole my breath from across the room. It took all I had to remain where I was and not cross the distance, toss her over my shoulder and make a quick exit just as I had the first time I’d seen her. All I’d thought about since we’d left her bed earlier was getting her back in it.

“You’ve had plenty of women undress you with their eyes,” Donovan pointed out to Anthony, but I noticed his gaze was glued to my Ivy, as well. A growl rumbled up from my chest, and both men laughed.

“She’s not just undressing him,” Anthony said. “She’s practically branding him.”

I smiled. I’d like that. Wearing her brand. I ran my fingers over the spot where she’d bitten me. I wanted to feel those sharp teeth on my skin right now. I wanted her. And for more than a few days. I wanted her for the rest of our lives. I needed her to want it, too.

I forced my gaze away from her. “As I was saying, keep your eyes out for trouble on the off chance we missed a few more assholes unhappy with us taking over the Rigton pack.”

“We’ve got this,” Donovan assured me. “Besides—”

“Heads up, Cyan,” Anthony called.

I snapped my head up in time to see Ivy heading my way. No, stalking my way. I pushed the chair back, standing just as she launched herself at me. I snagged her easily out of the air, groaning as she wrapped around me like the clinging vine I’d vowed she’d be. My hands cupped the lush curves of her ass as her arms tightened around my neck, her fingers sliding into my hair.

“Good to know dancing turns you on,” I murmured in her ear, slicking the lobe with my tongue before nipping it with my teeth.

“You turn me on,” she countered then tacked on another word. One that stopped my heart before sending it into a frantic beating. “Mate.”

I pulled back my head, meeting her gaze with questioning eyes.

“You’re mine, Cyan. All mine. Now, why don’t you go all caveman on me and cart me out of here so we can spend the rest of the night making love.”

I grinned. Couldn’t have stopped it for the world. “Say it again.”

She leaned in and caught my bottom lip with her teeth before licking over it. She nuzzled her way along my jaw to my ear before I could capture her mouth with mine. Then she whispered to me, “Mate.”

“I’m holding you to that,” I vowed.

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