Page 83 of Alpha Marked

"What's wrong?"

He turned. "Family stuff."

The words punched her in the gut. "Do you really want me to be your mate?"

He stopped and blinked. "How can you ask that?"

"I wonder because a mate is someone who is your equal. Your match. Someone you rely on and trust more than any other. And yet, it seems you aren't looking for a mate. You are looking for someone to keep your bed warm and do what you tell her."

His gaze narrowed. "You know that's not true."

"Do I? You've told me nothing about your business, your family, or what you know about the rogue looking for me. Am I gonna be like one of those mafia wives who is oblivious to what her husband does and instead is charged with running the household staff and changing diapers? Because I can tell you now, I'm about as domestic as a feral barn cat with rabies."

Ares burst out laughing, stopping River in her tracks. What the…? Was he laughing at her? "Stop it," she demanded.

Ares laughed harder.

"I said, stop it. Stop laughing at me."

But he didn't stop. He tried, she had to give him that.

River stomped forward and smacked his chest. "Knock it off."

She went to slap him again, but he caught her wrist, and his eyes grew serious.

He pulled her against him and raked his fingers through her hair. "Yes, I want you as my mate. I just didn't want to lay everything on you at once for fear you might bolt again. The shifter world is a tentative place, but the Lycan world is different. It's ruthless and cruel." He studied her face for a moment, and his shoulders sagged. "The Lycan looking for you is my older half-brother, Titan. He wants you in hopes of grabbing the throne for himself."

His half-brother? The Lycan who had bitten her was Ares' older half-brother.

"Is that why you want me?" she asked. "So, you can secure the throne?"

Ares sighed. "When are you going to stop saying such foolish things? If you don't know why I want you and what I feel for you, I guess I'll have to prove it to you, Little Wolf."

River fought for something to say but couldn't form words.

Without a noise, Ares hefted her onto the table and spread her legs. River's body shook as he undid his belt and slipped off his shoes and tie.

River's body thrummed, and her wolf panted with need.

Him. She wanted him. Needed him. She needed to feel Ares, her Alpha, inside her.

River's g-string grew slick, and her body heated when his hand softly stroked her through the fabric of her pants.

Without realizing it, River bucked against Ares' teasing hand as he bowed his head closer and sniffed her.

A growl escaped him, and she yanked his mouth to hers. Ares grabbed her neck and pressed his body against hers.

River's wolf whimpered.Mine. Mate. Alpha.

River couldn't think. All day, her body had craved him. The things he'd done to her the night before hadn't sated her. It had made her needier. She couldn't explain it. She'd never been overly sexual before, but with Ares, every second they were together, the more she and her wolf craved him, wanted him, needed him.

She ran her fingers down to his waist and pulled his shirt from his pants before unbuttoning it and pushing it off him.

He ran a rough thumb over one of her breasts, and she couldn't hold back the moan that escaped her. She wanted him. She wanted him right on the table. In their bed. On the floor by the fireplace in the front room. She wanted him naked and hard inside her.

"I missed you today," he said.

"You didn't call or text or anything."

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