Page 67 of Wolf Mate

Oh my God. He didn’t like what I’d done. Why had I tried to get him to bite me? I wanted to become invisible and never look him in the eye again. Had I suffocated him by shoving his face into my neck? Did he think I wanted to dominate him? I was certain an alpha wouldn’t like that. “I’m so sorry.” I closed my eyes, not wanting to see the disgust on his face.

He laughed huskily. “What the fuck for?”

My eyes flew open. “For smothering you.”

“Forwhat?” His head tilted and his forehead creased.

He wouldn’t make this easy for me. “I shoved your face in my neck, and you stopped.” My face was on fire. I wanted to die right here and now. Death would be better than having thisconversation and then seeing him every day after my heart was ripped from my chest.

A smile took over half his face, and he looked nothing like the broody man everyone saw. “First off, you weren’t smothering me, and even if you had been, I wouldn’t have fucking stopped. I liked it …a lot.”

“You did?” I asked, placing a hand on his chest. I didn’t want to stop touching him, which was hugely problematic. “Then whydidyou stop?”

His hand tightened on my waist as he leaned down, his nose brushing my neck where he’d kissed it. “Because I enjoyed it way too much. And you aren’t sober.”

My face flamed again but for a whole different reason. “If I was sober, I would’ve done the same thing.”

“Maybe.” He kissed the spot one more time and straightened. “But I’d rather confirm that for myself. You also had a bad experience tonight, and I want to make sure you’re thinking clearly.” He tucked a lock of my hair behind my ear. “In fairness, I shouldn’t have kissed you until tomorrow, but it’s so damn hard to control myself around you.”

I must have misunderstood him. “I doubt you’ll be kissing me tomorrow after we’ve both had some sleep and wake up refreshed.” That damn pain shot through my heart again. Kissing him had been foolish. He’d made it clear we would never be together, and it had been hard enough to stay away from him before we kissed. This would only make things unbearable.

“Oh, I’ll be kissing you. Trust me.” He pulled my body to his. “If you still want to in the morning, that is.” He cleared his throat and bit his lip, not looking like the confident man he usually was.

“But why?” Not even two weeks ago, he’d told me we would never, ever happen. “You said—”

His face fell. “I know what I said, but I’m tired of fighting this connection.” He shivered. “Seeing Slade trying to kiss you,I almost fucking lost it. And when you said no, I was able to breathe again … until that douchebag pressured you and kept doing it.”

Tingles spread throughout my body, making me feel as if I could fly. “But your father …” I hated to bring up all our issues, but the more time we spent together, the harder it would be if we didn’t face them.

“If you think I don’t know every obstacle we’ll have to face to be together, you’re wrong.” He pinched the bridge of his nose and took a step back. “That’s why I put distance between us so hard the past week and a half, but tonight, everything changed. In a way, I have Slade to thank for that because, Skylar, I wanna be with you.”

This had to be a dream. I’d wake up, and the cruel reality would crush me. But the way my heart pounded, I faced only one true choice. “I want to be with you too.” And I did, so desperately.

He exhaled in relief like he hadn’t expected that answer. “Here’s the thing, though. Until I can figure out how to handle this with my dad and the wolf shifters, I’d like to keep this a secret.”

A secret.

I liked the sound of that. If people knew Raffe and I were dating, they’d watch me closely. That was the last thing I needed. “Fine, but I have two stipulations. First, we’re exclusive, public or not. I don’t share.”

“Yeah?” He smirked, taking a step toward me again. “Good, I don’t either. As long as you agree to be exclusive with me, I accept your first term.”

“Agreed.” I nodded, my heart skipping a beat. That had been far easier than I’d expected.

He pulled me flush against his body and nipped my earlobe. He murmured, “Good. I’d hate to have to kill every damn man who thinks they have a chance with you.”

I took a shaky breath. What type of person was I to find his threat so damn sexy? I had to keep going before I forgot myself. “Second, you don’t get to be a dick to me anymore.”

“Sky—”

“I get that, if we’re secret, we can’t be super friendly, but no insults or public humiliations, including from Keith.” I lifted a brow. I needed to know he was in my corner even in public. Also, I was tired of my life being a living hell.

He took my hand in his and put it over his heart. He vowed, “I swear, and I’m sorry. I—”

“Don’t.” I didn’t want him to apologize. “That’s not the point. I understand the position you’re in, but if we’re in this, then respect has to be given … both ways.”

“That’s all I want to give you.”

I arched a brow. “All you want to give me is respect? What happened to all the promises of what you’ll do to me tomorrow when I’m sober?”

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