Page 34 of His Mate

Rowan’s eyes darkened, and I saw a flicker of anger flash across his face, his jaw tightening.

“I’m sorry, Kendra,” he said quietly, and I could feel the rage simmering beneath his words, the way his hands clenched into fists as if he could somehow fight the past itself.

As if he could fight it for me.

I shook my head, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear.

“I don’t need your pity,” I whispered, more fiercely than I’d intended. “I’ve survived this long. I’m not broken.”

His eyes softened, and he reached out, cupping my chin, tilting my head up so I couldn’t look away.

“I know,” he murmured, and there was something in his voice, something raw and unfiltered, that made my heart skip a beat.

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my breathing steady, but his touch, the warmth of his skin against mine, sent sparks racing down my spine.

“Why do you care?” I demanded, hating how my voice trembled, how I couldn’t keep the vulnerability out of it with every syllable that fell off my lips.

“Because I want you,” he said simply, his thumb brushing over my bottom lip, and I felt the heat flare up between us, scorching and undeniable. “Because you’re mine now. I don’t care what it takes—I’ll protect you.”

His words should have scared me. They should have sent me running, should have made me want to pull away. But instead, I felt something shift inside me, and I realized that I wanted him too—that I’d wanted him since the moment he’d stepped into that room and met my gaze for the very first time.

I leaned in closer, my breath catching as his scent wrapped around me, warm and heady, making my pulse quicken.

“You don’t even know if I want to be yours,” I whispered, although the words sounded weak, hollow, even to my own ears.

His eyes flashed, and his hand tightened on my chin, pulling me closer until our lips were almost touching. “Then tell me to stop,” he growled, his voice low and rough, “and I will.”

I opened my mouth to tell him to let me go, to stop this madness before it went any further, but the words wouldn’t come.Instead, I found myself leaning into him, my hands curling into the fabric of his shirt, holding him close, as if I were afraid that he might disappear if I let go.

“I can’t,” I breathed, my heart racing, and I hated how much I meant it, hated how much I needed him. “I can’t tell you to stop.”

Rowan’s eyes flicked to my lips, and before I could even process what was happening, he closed the gap between us, his mouth capturing mine in a kiss that sent a shockwave through my entire body.

It was gentle at first, tentative, but then his grip tightened around me, his hand sliding to the back of my neck, pulling me closer, deepening the kiss. A soft sound escaped my throat, and I melted into him, my hands fisting in his shirt as every thought, every fear, every doubt was swept away in the heat of that moment.

He pulled back just enough to look at me, his forehead resting against mine, his breath mingling with mine in the cool air.

“My sweet mate,” he whispered, and I felt my heart stutter in my chest, my pulse pounding in my ears.

I couldn’t find the words to respond, couldn’t do anything but nod as he brushed his thumb over my cheek, his touch sending sparks skittering across my skin.

“Let me take care of you,” he murmured, his eyes locked onto mine, and I could only nod again, unable to tear my gaze away from him.

He pulled me to my feet, his hands steady and sure as he guided me toward the hot spring, steam rising off the surface and curling into the cool morning air. I shivered as the chill bit intomy skin, but Rowan was there, his hands on my arms, his touch grounding me, warming me.

“It’s okay,” he whispered, his breath hot against my ear. “I’ve got you.”

Gently, he began to undress me, his fingers grazing my skin with a reverence that made my heart ache, that made me feel like I was the most precious thing in the world. He slowly pulled the dress over my head and let it drop to the ground. His gaze roved over my naked body for a moment before he stepped back to undress himself.

As Rowan pulled off his shirt, I couldn’t help but stare, my breath catching at the sight of him in the shadowy light of the sun through the trees. His chest was broad and powerful, the hard lines of muscle rippling beneath his skin with every movement. Scars crisscrossed his torso, faint silver lines that stood out against the tanned skin.

His shoulders were wide, his biceps thick and strong, and as he moved, I could see the muscles of his abdomen flex and tighten. There was something raw and primal about him, something that made my pulse quicken and my throat go dry. He was beautiful in a way that was dangerous, the kind of beauty that promised protection and destruction all at once, and I found myself wanting to trace every scar, every ridge, just to prove that he was real.

I swallowed hard when he unbuttoned his pants and pushed them down his legs, revealing thighs as thick as tree trunks and a hard cock that was already fully erect.

My pussy clenched tight.

When he finally lifted me into his arms, I didn’t feel afraid.

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