Page 46 of Alien Prince's Fated Mate

Then he bent and his mouth found mine. The kiss started gentle, questioning, but need flooded through me - need for more, for everything. My fingers slid into his hair, pulling him closer as his arms banded around me.

A growl vibrated through his chest when I nipped at his lower lip. His hands spanned my ribs, lifting me against him as the kiss deepened. The beast’s hunger bled through, transforming hesitation into raw possession.

“Niam.” He breathed my name against my throat. “Tell me to stop.”

“No.” I wrapped my legs around his waist as he carried me to the sleeping pallet. “Don’t you dare stop.”

His laugh rumbled through me. “As my queen commands.”

When he laid me on the furs, moonlight painted silver across his skin. I reached for the laces of his shirt, but he caught my wrists.

“Let me look at you first.” His thumbs traced circles on my palms. “Let me memorize every detail.”

Heat bloomed under my skin at the hunger in his gaze. The Temple had taught that bodies were merely vessels, tools to be used and discarded. But Tharon’s eyes made me feel...precious. Cherished.

His fingers ghosted along my collarbone, down my arms. Learning me by touch. When they found the scars at my temples, his expression darkened.

“Every time I see these marks, I lose control.”

I turned my face into his palm. “That’s over now.”

“Because I’ll kill anyone who tries to harm you again.” The beast growled through his words.

“I know.” And I did know, with bone-deep certainty. This man would tear apart worlds to keep me safe.

My hands found the hem of his shirt, pushed it up to reveal the lean muscles beneath. He helped me strip it off, then caught my exploring fingers.

“Slow down, little mate.” He pressed a kiss to my palm. “We have all night.”

“I don’t want slow.” I hooked my leg around his hip, pulling him closer. “I want you.”

His control snapped. The kiss turned fierce, claiming, as his hands roamed my body. When I arched into his touch, his growl of satisfaction vibrated through me.

His voice caressed me with reverence: “My mate. My heart. Mine alone.”

“Yours.” The word fell from my lips like a vow. “Always yours.”

His mouth traced fire down my throat as his fingers worked at the laces of my shirt. Each newly revealed inch of skin drew fresh touches, making me writhe beneath him.

“Beautiful.” He nipped at my shoulder. “Perfect.”

When his hands found bare skin at my waist, I gasped his name. He lifted his head, pupils blown wide with desire.

“Tell me what you want.” His voice roughened with need. “Tell me how to please you.”

“I want...” Heat flooded my face. My years in the Temple never taught me how to handle this - wanting so much I ached with it. “Everything. I want everything with you.”

Understanding softened his expression. “Then let me show you.” His palm slid up my ribs. “Let me teach you all the ways I can make you feel good.”

The world outside the tent receded into insignificance as Tharon's touch ignited a different kind of storm within me. His kisses trailed down my neck, each one a brand that seared away the last vestiges of the Temple's control. My breath hitched as his mouth found the sensitive skin where my neck met my shoulder, his teeth grazing lightly, just enough to make me shudder with pleasure.

“Tharon,” I moaned, my fingers tangling in his hair, pulling him closer. His name was a plea, a prayer, a benediction.

He growled in response, the sound vibrating through me. His hands moved with confidence, stripping away my clothing piece by piece until I lay before him, bare and vulnerable. The cool air of the tent pebbled my flesh, but his gaze warmed me, awakening a deep, burning need.

Tharon’s large hands cupped my breasts, his thumbs brushing over my nipples, coaxing them into tight peaks. The sensation was exquisite, each stroke sending jolts of pleasure straight to my core. I writhed against him, desperate for more. He dipped his head, capturing one nipple in his mouth, andI couldn’t suppress the gasp that escaped my lips. The feel of his tongue, hot and wet, was almost too much. He sucked and teased, his fingers mirroring the movements of his mouth on my other breast, until I was a writhing mess of need.

“So responsive,” he murmured, his lips brushing me as he spoke, the vibration of his words sending a fresh wave of desire coursing through me. “I could spend eternity learning what makes you moan.”

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