Page 17 of Rejected By Blood (Mated in Silence 2)

His strawberry-blonde hair fell over his eyes a little and, before I knew it, I was brushing it away. He caught my hand in his and brought it down to his lips. My heart thrummed overtime, threatening to jump right out, busting through my ribs. My core tightened and pulsed at once, making me want him to push me against the nearest tree and make love to me right there in the forest.

“I came to check on you,” he said. “You’ve been gone for hours. I told myself I wasn’t going to be clingy but my wolf wouldn’t let it rest. But it turns out you’re fine and he was just being silly. Well, you’re more than fine, looks like to me.”

Oh, gods above, this one was a romantic just like Dean. Different, but just as swoony. A rush of heat filled my cheeks and meandered down my neck. He pulled my hand to his lips and pressed a kiss on my palm.

It might as well have been my thighs as much as it revved me up.

“Can I carry that for you?”

I shook my head and shifted, mentally demanding he shift with me so that I could talk to him. I had to tell someone what had just happened.

He stripped--and that made things even worse--before he shifted next to me and, for a minute, we simply reveled in the nearness. Our wolves play bit each othe,r and he nudged my muzzle with his own, a wolf’s kiss if there was such a thing.

Are you okay?Shane asked me through our bond that was strengthening minute by minute.

I saw some men in the woods. They were talking about that Callista person again. They were looking for someone. Said they were waiting for a girl to be in the forest alone--without her mates.

The fur on the back of Shane’s neck stood on end. He snarled, revealing some of his white, sharp teeth.They would die if they touched my mate. They would wish they had never been born.

While I appreciated the fierceness of his protection, it was unneeded. I could protect myself--always had.Do you think I’m this Callista person? I mean, who is that?

You sound just like I imagined you would. Shane lay on his belly and rested his head between his paws. What do you remember about your birth, mate? I am realizing now that I know very little about you. I want to change that, but your other mate is not happy with the situation.

I don’t remember much. Not a lot at all.I confessed. It was weird to admit that. I had no idea who I was before I came here. I didn’t even know if Jillian was my name or if he had given it to me.

And clearly there was a chance my name was Callista.

A snooty name if I’d ever heard one.

We need to fix that. I want both of you to be comfortable with being in our home together. We have to work this out.

He turned his sweet blue eyes to me. I want that very much, mate. I miss you at night. I yearn to be close to you.

He shifted back in place, and I followed. Electricity popped and crackled between us as we stood there, facing each other. He was built of pure muscle and as he stood there they rippled and flexed, letting me know they were there. Not being able to help myself, I reached out and touched his stomach, the valleys and hills there completely still as Shane sucked in a breath through his teeth.

“Mate, you don’t know what you do to me. Don’t touch me unless you mean it,” He whispered the words. He meant them, too. He was fully erect and didn’t even mind me looking at it. “I’m not ashamed that I crave my mate.”

No, he definitely wasn’t ashamed of that at all.

I moved my hand down to touch him there, but he stepped back. “Not today, mate. Not like this. When I take you, and I will, I want nothing but you and me on your mind.

I let my hand fall to my side.

“I changed my mind,” He said, chuckling. “Please, touch me. At least let me kiss you.”

Oh, gods, I was on fire for this man. He placed his hands on either side of my face and leaned in, smiling sweetly at me before covering my lips with his. The kiss began as a slow dance, but sooner rather than later our mouths opened together. He pressed me against the tree, and his proof of lust poked my belly. He kissed like I was the water and he was the fire. Like my mouth and my lips were the only things that could save him.

But as fast as it started, it was over. “I have to stop.” He pressed his forehead against mine. We were both heaving breaths, our eyes never looking away from each other. “If I don’t, you’ll be mated and marked right here against a tree. You deserve better than that. You deserve everything. Gods, you tempt me, Jillian.”

He tore himself away as though it pained him and put on his clothes. I did the same and, as I was picking up my basket, a bolt of guilt shot right through my torso. I’d just cheated on Dean--but then again I hadn’t.

Still, I hated this. Dean knew I had another mate, and yet I felt some kind of remorse for showing that second mate love.

“Let’s go back, Jillian.” He took my hand in his and kissed me chastely on the lips. “Yeah, I’m going to need more of that. You’re a really good kisser. I knew you would be.”

There had to be a look of shock on my face since I was stunned beyond belief.

Dean had never complained, but to hear it out loud...

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