Page 2 of Seducing His Mate

He whispered her name and it sounded sinfully erotic falling from his lips. Her nipples hardened with the timbre of his voice, and she ached at the indecent images formulating in her mind. At one time, she dreamed of their meeting, but the harsh pain of reality crushed that vision. There was a heart buried beneath the hard chest where her hand rested, but it wasn’t meant for her, and she wouldn’t waste time trying to capture it.

Trent King seduced women for sport. He was not capable of being a mate, nor was he capable of love. How many women had he callously used in his lifetime? The number must be great, and she wouldn’t be the next. Reluctantly, she pulled away from his arms and braced one hand against his warm, hard chest. Her gaze lifted to his. He searched her face as if in question, and she almost lost her nerve. “You don’t know who I am, do you?”

“Should I?”

Disappointment filled her soul because he just confirmed what she already knew. She would spend her life alone. “My family was tied to yours at one time. We left the area when my father became ill. I’ve returned to reclaim our restaurant in Kingston. In exchange, I release you from our betrothal.”

Chapter 3

The music faded, leaving Trent in a haze of confusion. Did he hear her right? Of course, he did. Bear shifters possessed superior hearing. His face tilted. “This is a joke? Right? You’re one of those women answering my mother’s fucking ad.”

Red splotches covered her cheeks, neck, and chest. “No, I’m not, you arrogant asshole. You don’t listen very well, do you?”

Trent jerked upright. Women didn’t speak to him in that tone. “Did you follow me here?”

“Yes, I did, to give you this.”

In a state of surprise, Trent could only watch her bend over, yank the leg of her pants up to a creamy knee, and jerk a folded, manila envelope from her ankle boot. She met his glare with a glow in the depths of her own eyes, before smacking him in the chest with the envelope. With one hand, he grabbed it. “What’s this?”

People formed a circle around them, but he didn’t care and neither did the she-bear currently taunting him, and she was a shifter. Everything about her screamed bear and mate. The corners of his mouth twitched.Damn, she was adorable. He could lick her from her toes to the top of her head. Honeysuckle mixed with anger and undeniable attraction filled his nostrils, causing him to inhale deeply. His bear went nuts, clawing and growling just under his skin. He had to have her. She belonged with him. Possessiveness rose swift and dangerous for this woman before him.

With her hands on her hips, she stood her ground in front of him and the audience surrounding them. “Sign the papers, Mr. King, and you’ll never have to speak to me again. I just want my parent’s restaurant.”

“But you’re my mate.” Shock replaced anger when the words tumbled from his own mouth. The bear inside practically roared with joy, but the man on the outside was suddenly pissed. “You can’t deny your mate.”

One dainty foot tapped the tiles. “I can and I am. I don’t want you.”

“Yes, you do. I can smell it.”

Jenna gestured to several women listening intently to their heated exchange. “You smell them. Sign the papers and go home with one.”

Trent bent at the waist to accommodate his mate’s height. “No.”

Her jaw dropped, but her eyes lit complete gold with vexation and disbelief. “No?” She stepped close enough that her nose bumped his as her teeth snapped together. “And why not? Give me one good reason.”

Overcome with need and desire, Trent did the unthinkable. He grabbed her around the waist, leaned her over one arm, and pressed his mouth to hers. He chuckled when her lips firmed, but that didn’t stop him from licking the tight seam. When Jenna gasped, he took full advantage, exploring the heaven of her mouth and coaxing her tongue until she returned the kiss. There was no stopping the desire between them. One arm wrapped around his neck and slim fingers threaded into his hair as the kiss deepened. Cheers and hollers erupted from the crowd, but the kiss didn’t end until he chose to reluctantly end it.

Her eyes narrowed to thin slits, but heat laced their golden depths. Trent pecked her lips once more but hovered above her pouty, swollen mouth, enjoying the moment, and daring her to deny it. “That kiss is why I won’t sign anything. Plus, my attorney needs to look at whatever is in this envelope. Let’s discuss it over dinner tomorrow night.”

“No.” Jenna whispered the word, while staring at his mouth and licking her lips.

“Come by my office tomorrow evening.”

Her gaze locked with his. “Fine. I’ll be there at six. In and out.”

A smile spread at her evocative words, and he couldn’t help but tease his sassy mate…and she was his mate. He just claimed her, or maybe she claimed him? He didn’t really care at the present. All he could think about was devouring every inch of her body and bringing her to orgasm repeatedly. Would she taste as sweet as she smelled? “In and out? I like the sound of that.”

Jenna huffed then rolled her eyes to the ceiling. “Are you always such an asshole?”

Trent’s grin only widened. “Why, yes, I am.”

As soon as he set her upright, she backed away. Wariness replaced the desire in her eyes before she turned on one heel and charged toward the nearest exit.

Trent laughed to himself while watching his mate run. Pheromones laced the air, her taste filled his mouth, and his cock remained rock hard. “Damn,” he muttered to himself, adjusted his pants, then put out a mental call to his brothers.Emergency meeting at seven in the morning.

Four groggy voices quickly replied.Everything okay?

Trent’s eyes dropped to the envelope. Everything is perfect. See you tomorrow.

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