Page 14 of Love & Violence

“Oh, I’m Aryanna…” my voice fades as a memory hits. “We were in the car together earlier?”

“Yes, we were.” She stares at me, tension thick in the silence. “You’re a member of the Esposito family.”

“Yes.” I didn’t know what else to say. It wasn’t really a question.

“This whole situation is fucked up, and it could get us all killed,” Rylee states calmly.

My pulse spiked in fear. I knew the situation was bad, but I didn’t want to face how bad it was. It doesn’t help that Draven has left me alone with his sister, who may or may not hate me simply because of my last name.

“I don’t know what to say. Maybe you should talk to your brother.”

“I have,” Rylee says.

I study her expression, and I can’t find any emotion. “What did he say?”

“I said…” Draven cuts in from behind Rylee. “That nothing will stop me from having my mate.”

Draven walks around his sister and sits on the edge of the bed by my hip but still facing her. “And, sister, you might want to worry about your own mate. Don’t you think?”

My gaze went back and forth, and I felt like I was missing something, but I kept my mouth shut. Rylee glared at her brother before stomping away and leaving us alone again.

He turns back to me and rests an arm on the other side of my head, so he’s leaning over me.

“Hello, little mate.” His voice is low and husky.

I smile. “Hello.” This man is like a drug, making me forget all my worries.

“You forgot to give me a kiss,” Draven says.

I try to move forward, but my injury’s sharp, jagged feel makes me gasp and lay back down. Jesus, I’ve never felt such pain before, and it instantly brings tears to my eyes. I don’t want to show Draven any kind of weakness. I want him to know he has a strong mate, a fierce cougar that can keep up with his panther.

He scowls and sets one of his hands on my shoulder. “Stop doing that.”

“I forgot.” It was the truth.

When he is near, all I can think of is his cock deep inside me and his teeth marking my neck. It helps to keep my mind off the pain.

“Soon, Babe. I’ll be able to make you mine.”

Can he read my mind because that’s the second time he answered a question I asked myself in my mind?

“If you want my fucking to be sooner than later, we should shift to our cats because you’d heal quicker.”

I didn’t think it was a possibility. “When?”

“Later, I’m just waiting for a phone call that I can’t afford to miss. Right now, I want you to rest.” He bends forward again and presses his lips to mine for a chaste kiss.

I exhale at the feeling of burning desire that starts to build within me.

When he lifts his head, I ask, “It’s not always going to be this intense, will it?”

“Until we mate the first time, it will be uncomfortable for both of us. But, every time after, it will still be intense, but it won’t be this unpleasant.”

I nod as he leans over me again. It feels like a veil of ecstasy shrouds me, and Draven is all I can see, feel, and smell.

Someone clears their throat, and we jerk apart.

Draven turns and growls at Rat. The deep rough noise sounds vicious, but it still sends a jolt of need to my already achy clit, and I have to bite back my cries.