Page 25 of Love Bites

“You can’t be serious. You’re in your thirties, Brie. You’re a wolf. You might be submissive, but you have needs and heat just like the rest of the females in the Pack.”

She raised her chin, her eyes filling with tears. “Yes, but I’m not like the other girls.”

“What the hell do you mean by that?” Fuck. Tonight was not going right. He thought he was doing okay, but hell, it looked as though things fucked up before they could even start.

Her lower lip trembled, and he wanted to pull her into his arms and make everything better.

He didn’t.

“I saw you when I was seventeen, Gideon. You were in the den talking to Kade, and I just saw the back of you. I knew who you were to me from that day forward.”

He sucked in a breath. The ramifications of what she was saying hit him hard in the chest. “You’ve known all this time?”

She nodded, a single tear falling down her cheek. “Yes, and I didn’t do anything about it. I was damn sure to make sure you never saw me until I had no other choice.”

“Why?” His wolf slammed into him then whimpered, as if he was angry and hurt at the same time. He didn’t blame it; Gideon was feeling pretty much the same.

“You know why. Don’t think I did it because I enjoyed the pain of knowing you’d be with others, but I couldn’t because my wolf had already chosen. I was never going to be the right mate for you. You know that too, or you would have come for me as soon as you found out. Instead, we’re forced into this. So yes, I’m a virgin because I couldn’t find a wolf that my wolf would accept, even if only for a night.”

“I…I don’t know what to say, Brie.”

She shook her head. “Then don’t say anything. We need to complete the bond, and I don’t want to start this mating feeling like I did something wrong.”

He took a step toward her and cupped her face in both hands. “You didn’t, little wolf. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

She bit her lip and closed her eyes. “Please, can we just get this over with?”

He lowered his head, resting his forehead against hers. “I’m going to make this good for you. It might hurt, but I’ll do my best to make it worth it.”

“Okay,” she whispered.

Damn it. He felt like a heel. Not only were they mating under the wrong circumstances, now he was going to take her virginity. He’d deal with the fact she’d known about him all this time later. It would hurt the both of them if he worried about it now.

Instead, he pulled her closer and kissed her again. She stood frozen until he licked the seam of her lips. Slowly, she melted against him. He slid his hands down her arms and forced her to lower them, baring her breasts. Her body shook, and he stood back, admiring her curves.

He traced her breasts then her sides, before slowly taking off her panties. He sucked in a breath at the sight of the dark triangle of hair between her thighs. He could scent her and knew she was wet, ready for him, but he wanted this to be as good for her as possible. He also knew that she would feel vulnerable standing naked in front of him while he kept his clothes on. Next time, he’d take more control, be rougher, but not this time.

Instead, he stood back and stripped out of his clothes. She’d seen naked bodies before, of course. She couldn’t be a wolf on the hunt andnotsee them in passing, but he wanted to make sure he gave her enough time to study him. His wolf was on edge, forcing his body to shake, but he took control, knowing he had to…for her.

When her gaze rested on his cock, he took it in hand and stroked it, watching the way her eyes glowed gold.

Good.

He then took two steps toward her and slowly lowered her to the bed. He felt her tremble beneath him, so he kissed her softly, trying to soothe. He wasn’t any good at this soothing and caring shit. He was an Alpha who took and made it good for his partner because they took what he gave and reveled in it. This was different for him, but then again, all of this was new.

“Scoot up,” he whispered, and she made her way to the head of the bed.

He knelt between her legs, his hands on her knees. “I want to taste you, little wolf. Will you let me?”

She nodded, her breath coming in pants.

He slowly parted her legs, baring her for his gaze. He licked his lips then lowered himself so he could taste her. When he looked up at her, he saw her blush and knew she wasn’t comfortable.

“You know what I see, Brie?”

She shook her head.

“I see a woman who wants me. Wants me to taste her then fill her. That’s what I want too, little wolf.”

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