Page 88 of The Alpha's Second Chance Mate

“Cole Garrett,” Avery said, shaking her head in disbelief. “When did you have time to set all this up? I’ve never been wined and dined like this before by any of the guys I’ve dated.”

I grinned, but my wolf snarled at the thought of any other man putting his hands on her. It was childish, I knew. She’d had years to date, and so had I, but the thought didn’t sit well with me.

We sat on the bed, sipping the champagne and nibbling the strawberries.

“Can I ask how you and this Perry guy met?” I asked.

Now that Avery had a couple glasses of wine and a glass of champagne in her system, she appeared more relaxed than she had earlier.

She downed the rest of her current glass and said, “At a journalism conference, actually. I was writing articles for a new magazine at the time. I didn’t really consider myself a journalist, but it was an all-expenses-paid thing that was local, so I went. Perry was a local news anchor. We met over drinks at the bar and sort of clicked, I guess.

“He wasn’t my usual type. He was handsome, sure, but not the way I liked. We got along, though, and he was nice. At least back then. I was sort of desperate for a long-term relationship, you know? I’d spent years dating, but couldn’t seem to find anyone to give my heart to.” She gave me a pointed look.

“Yeah. Again, sorry about that,” I said, shrugging helplessly. “I didn’t know this would happen.” I gave her an apologetic smile. “But deep down, I’m a littlehappy you didn’t move on. We wouldn’t be here right now, right?”

“This is true. Anyway, Perry and I dated for a while, then we moved in together and got engaged. I tried to love him as best I could, but I think I was always forcing it. Trying too hard to make it work, when anyone else would have seen it was a lost cause. I was never actually in love with him. I only played at being in love.” She barked a small laugh. “I remember when he proposed, I was trying to cry. I thought,People cry when they get engaged. Why am I not crying?

“Ashton despised Perry, though. That didn’t help things. Lots of tension between those two. It all came to a head when Ash broke Perry’s stupid cheating nose. I caught the guy balls-deep in our neighbor. God, Ashton saw it, too. It was awful.”

She rubbed her forehead, and more guilt poured through me. Inadvertent as it was, I’d caused that night. Without me leaving, she and Ashton never would have lived through it.

“I’m sorry again,” I said. “For being the reason you went through that.”

Avery set her champagne flute aside and looked me dead in the eyes. “Everything happens for a reason. Without all that, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.”

“You’re a pretty amazing woman today, so maybe that means it was worth it.”

“Amazing, am I?” Avery said coyly, leaning closer. “How about you show me how amazing you think I am?”

A low, insistent growl rumbled deep in my chest.

Avery chuckled softly. “Did I ever tell you how horny that sound makes me?”

I yanked her toward me, pulling her on top of me. Our lips met, and it was like we were trying to devour each other. The setting, the proximity, the alcohol—it all put us into a heedless frenzy. We ripped and tore at each other’s clothes as we continued to kiss, our tongues fighting, pressing against one another.

Pulling Avery’s dress over her head and tossing it aside, I looked up at her, hungry intention in my eyes. “Do you have any sentimental attachment to this bra?”

She frowned. “What? No? Huh?”

I hooked my fingers into the band in front, then yanked it apart, my shifter strength ripping it in two like it was nothing more than tissue paper.

Avery’s gorgeous breasts swung free, and she gasped.

“Holy shit,” she murmured. “That was hot.”

Bucking my hips, I rolled her over onto her back and took her nipple in my mouth, suckling at it while I kicked my pants off. Avery ran her hands through my hair, digging her fingers into my scalp. Once my legs were free, I lowered a hand to the warm, wet cleft between her legs. She moaned as I slid two fingers into her, and I smiled against her breast.

“You’re so wet,” I whispered, flicking my tongue across her nipple again.

“I want you,” she said, breathing out the words only a notch above a whisper.

I fucked her with my fingers, my palm gently smacking her clit with each thrust. Avery gritted her teeth and gyrated her hips, pressing herself toward my hand with each push.

I gasped as she curled her fingers around my cock and stroked me hard. Our eyes locked on each other, my fingers slipping in and out of her soaking wet pussy, her hand gliding up and down my throbbing shaft.

“Do you like that?” Avery asked, running her tongue across her lower lip.

All I could do was nod and thrust my fingers into her faster. Avery moved her hips quicker, riding my hand. I had to have her, nothing else would do. I ached to be inside her. Pulling my fingers free, I grabbed her hips and rolled her over.

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