Page 23 of The Last Ultimatum: Part 1

I stopped and listened. She had stopped as well but was nearby, close enough to hear her breathing.

I grinned, but didn’t say a word as I stalked towards her, effectively cutting off her escape.

She ran right into me.

“Hello,” I said.

Excitement welled up inside me as she gasped and fell into my arms.

“Hi,” she squeaked.

“It’s you,” I said reverently.

With a growl, I leaned down and captured her mouth with mine.

My mate.

This was my mate.

I tested her response, savoring every second of our kiss.

When she made a soft purring sound, I took that as acceptance and deepened the kiss, swiping my tongue over her lips until they parted, giving me full access to explore my mate.

Our tongues danced in tune with one another.

She wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me impossibly closer as we got lost in the moment.

This was the greatest thing that had ever happened to me, and I wanted to memorize every second of it, and every inch of her.

I’d always said I wouldn’t fight this feeling when I found her and now that she was here in my arms all I wanted to do was claim her as mine and let the whole world know this is my mate.

I could feel myself growing hard and only briefly reconsidered my plans to take her right there in the open for anyone to walk by and see. Though, I knew once it was done, and we were bonded for life, that I would never regret it or care where it occurred.

Trailing kisses across her cheek, I nuzzled her ear. Loving the sound of her erratic breathing. I was doing that to her, and it made me feel powerful and heady. There was no doubt in my mind that she wanted this every bit as much as I did.

Breathing in her scent, I committed it to memory. It was the most delicious scent I’d ever encountered. And I knew I would never forget it for as long as I lived.

“Mine,” I whispered in her ear as I felt my teeth elongate, kissing my way down the slender column of her neck until I found the perfect place to mark her as mine forever.

My teeth grazed her skin, causing her to shiver.

I pulled back and then leaned in to make my mark, but as soon as my teeth touched her neck, she screamed and jumped back, pushing me away.

“No! You can’t.”

“What?” I asked, stunned.

“You cannot mark me.”

“But you’re my mate.”

“No. I can’t be.”

“But you are. I’m certain of it.”

“I’m promised to another. You shouldn’t have come after me. This can never happen.”

I shook my head in denial.

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