Page 2 of Mate Forsaken

“I’m okay now,” she said.

“Yeah? You ready?”

“Yes.”

He pulled out and then surged upward, bumping against a spot deep inside her that caused pleasure to tingle through every cell in her body. She dug her fingernails into his shoulders.

“God, you’re beautiful.”

He started slow. Shallow thrusts gradually turned deeper. Harder. They stared into each other’s eyes. Two souls that had been separate, now combined into one.

“I don’t want this to end,” he groaned. “I need you to come, baby. My beautiful mate.”

“I don’t think I can.”

He rubbed her clit with each surge of his hips, and surprisingly, need crashed through her. He pounded into her, going deep. Fast thrusts that caused her breasts to bounce. His pleasure spurred hers on as they raced toward a crescendo. He came with a hoarse cry, dragging her with him as they fell into an abyss she never wanted to come back from.

He ran his fingers lazily over her bare back as the sweat on their bodies cooled. Then he rose, and without saying anything, headed into the bathroom. She frowned at his odd behavior. The sound of the shower had her rising on her elbowsto stare at him as he walked back into the bedroom to grab his tuxedo.

He started to dress.

“Wait,” she said, frowning. “You … you’restillgoing through with this?”

“I have to,” Miles said with a sigh. “This marriage will bring peace. Prosperity. An end to the senseless killing.”

“Yeah, you don’t have to sell me on the ‘make love, not war’ speech.”

“I’m going to be Alpha, Circe. It’s not what I want, but pack comes first.” He shook his head. “Listen, this marriage doesn’t mean we can’t be together.”

Surely, she heard wrong. “What?”

He sat on the edge of the bed. “I’ve thought about this. My only obligation to her is that I get her pregnant and she bears me a son. I may have to marry her, but you’re still my everything.”

Circe shook her head, unable to comprehend that he was going to mark another woman. That he would belong to someone else.

“She’s not your moon-fated mate, Miles.”

“I know.”

“If you know, then how can you ask this of me? You’re asking me to watch you with another woman. Tobethe other woman. And, how can she bear you a son if you’re not true mates?”

“It’s difficult, but it can happen. Even if it doesn’t, then I can acknowledge any children you and I have as my heirs.” He looked down at his clasped hands. “I love you, Circe. I don’t want to lose you. I can move you into a house near us so I can spend time with you.”

The thought horrified her. “You want me to be your side piece to fuck?”

“No,” Miles snapped, his brow furrowing. “You make itsound tawdry.”

“Because itistawdry!” Circe shook her head. “If you marry her, Miles, I can’t be your plaything.”

He took hold of her arms. “Please, Circe. I don’t have a choice. If Zade was still alive this would be his responsibility, but he’s not, so it falls to me. You know this marriage is just politics. You know I don’t love her.”

Circe didn’t bother trying to make him see how illogical he sounded. He was going to marry and reproduce with another woman, but expected her to sit on the sidelines and wait for scraps of his time and affection. There were names for women like that and all of them were insulting.

“Why can’t your cousin marry her?” she asked, blinking back angry tears.

“BecauseI’mthe alpha heir, not Grady.” He ran his hand through his hair. “Eventually, when I ascend as Alpha, I can be with you full time. So, please, Circe. Please agree and be with me. I can’t live without you by my side.”

But she wasn’t by his side. Not really. What he asked was so selfish it astonished her that he saw nothing wrong with this plan. He couldn’t even see that he was breaking her heart. Instead of arguing, however, she nodded, giving him the affirmation he wanted. He beamed, leaning over to kiss her. She closed her eyes, savoring the moment, because she could never watch him get married to someone else. Watch him kiss her, love her. Exchange vows with her. Place his bite on her neck during the ceremony. It infuriated her that he’d ask her to be the homewrecker.

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