Page 26 of The Highseer's Mate

Oh my God, he can smell me? I'm mortified and I try to pull away but he holds me steady. This is all still so crazy. A week ago, I was still on Earth preparing to travel to Mars. I was studying up on the effects of solar winds on Mars’ atmosphere and what that means for solar radiation. Now I’m alone with a male of a species I hadn’t even fathomed existed, he’s naked, and thinks I’m his forever.

His fingers dig into my hips.

“It’s time to make our bond official. It’s time to mate.”

His amber eyes flash something dark and needy.

My breathing goes ragged as he crowds me. He’s right. My body does yearn for his. He’s a specimen. Strong. Gentle. Handsome for an alien with gray skin.

But kind.

With slanted eyes that look at me with so much emotion, it almost makes me want to cry.

“I don’t know—” I mumble as he pushes my hair out of the way, exposing my neck.

“You don’t carry my scent,” he grits. “Do you know how maddening it was having other males look upon you and not scent your mate?”

No. I have no idea how maddening that is.

“I could barely contain myself from pushing you up against the wall in the Luminary and claiming you beneath the skies,” Varek rasps. “You’re mine, Paige. And I need you to feel it.”

He leans in closer, dipping his head into the crook of my neck. His breath is hot and tickles my skin, sending chills up and down my legs. I lean in closer as he purrs into my ear. His scent grows stronger—misty and sexy. Primal and sweet all at the same time.

I squeeze my thighs together as an ache forms and I’ve never felt more empty. More needy.

“You feel that?” he asks.

I breathe deeply, intoxicated by him.

“You were made to take me, troublemaker. To take my seed.”

My mind goes blank as he kisses my neck, his hands rubbing down my back and squeezing me against him. His cock is firm and hot against my belly and it’s all I can think about.

I want him. I do. But it’s all so confusing. If I take this step with him, if I give in to this strange but intense desire, it feels too permanent. Like I’m accepting him. Accepting the mating bondfor real and not just living in a dream until everything goes back to normal. A part of me doesn’t want to acknowledge that I’m really at his mercy, stuck amongst his people.

I’m still looking for a chance to escape.

Aren’t I?

He nuzzles in closer, his lightly-furred skin dragging against mine and eliciting the most delicious sensation down my spine. I reach up and snake my arm around his neck, digging into the short black hair at the base of his neck. I can’t help the needy moan that slips from my lips when Varek finally lifts me up and carries me to the furs.

I’m on fire, nearly begging for him to pull off my leathers that suddenly feel too tight. To use those rough hands to touch every sensitive inch of my skin. He lays me down gently, covering my body with his and sliding between my already open legs.

I can’t help myself.

Maybe even my human body can sense this mate bond.

He wraps his hand around my neck and tilts, forcing me to look at him.

“Watch me. Watch me devour you,” he whispers, just a sliver away from my lips. I arch into him but he pulls away, delving his attention to my neck. He licks and kisses, sucking at my skin. My eyes flutter shut and I can’t help the way I’m flailing, my fingers dragging down his back, down the mane of fur along his spine. He shivers and drives his hips forward, the friction sparkling little stars behind my eyelids.

He’s driving me crazy and I’m still fully clothed.

“Varek,” I whine as he tugs at the hem of my leathers, sliding it up my hips until it bunches at my waist. The thin fabric isn’t doing anything to hide my hardened nipples. Like points, begging for attention.

“Mm,” he grunts as he looks down on me, his eyes darkening. His chest is lit up like a spotlight, thrumming with the pounding beat of my heart. “Say my name again, Paige. Call out to your mate.”

I can’t think straight as he slides his hand up beneath the tunic and drags a teasing finger across my nipple. I jump and groan under his touch and Varek only smirks.

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