Page 17 of Broken Mate

“What?” he asked.

“I felt my wolf!”

He blinked, and asked again, “What?”

“I got this weird heat up and down my spine and then she bumped her head against my mind!”

Ledger joined her on the bed. “That’s amazing!”

She grabbed his hand. “I think it was the sex.”

“The sex?”

She nodded. “I think we should have more of it.”

“More sex? Well, I’m not going to say no.”

“Do you think it’s the mating bond?”

“It’s possible. I didn’t experience that with Jericho.”

“He’s not your mate.”

“True. It was years before he felt his wolf again.”

She gasped. “You were going to keep at this with me for years?”

“Of course. You’re my mate. We haven’t known each other long, and our feelings right now are settling into place, but they will grow deeper as we go through life together.” He rolled his fingers over her cheek. “My priority willalwaysbe you. Even if this journey does takes years.”

Her breathing sped up. “I’ve never … ah … done anything.”

Heat flared in his eyes. “Do you want to do something?”

“Yes,” she breathed. “I just never felt like I should do something with someone who wasn’t my mate.”

He leaned forward and brushed his nose against her cheek. “I, um, I’m sorry I’m not a virgin.”

She tilted her head. “I figured.”

“It would’ve been fine if you weren’t either.”

“Do you really mean that?”

He sighed. “Yes. And no. I would’ve been jealous as hell, but I don’t believe in a double standard. So, it’s okay for you to be jealous, if you wish.”

“The thought of you with another female is like nails on a chalkboard, but truthfully I’m glad one of us knows what to do.”

He chuckled. “There won’t be anyone else. Just you, my beautiful mate, for the rest of our lives.”

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. Hesitantly, she reached for the edge of her t-shirt, debating if she should take it off. Nerves threatened to get the best of her. Perhaps she should just peel it off with a quick tug and get over her timidity. She’d never had a man look at her like she was a tasty treat he wanted to devour. With her heart pounding, and before she changed her mind, she did exactly that, bringing it over her head without looking at him. The cool air made her nipples pebble. He used a finger to lift her head.

“You don’t need to be shy.”

“I can’t help it.”

He rubbed his knuckles down her cheek gently, the slight caress sending a jolt of excitement licking over her skin. The atmosphere between them crackled with electricity, and he slid his hand across the back of her neck to bring her close.

Their lips met. Soft at first, a tantalizing taste that slowly increased in intensity. Her mouth opened on a gasp and he instantly took advantage. He plunged his tongue into her mouth, brushing against her own in an intoxicating caress. She lifted her hands to place on his shoulders, and any shyness she held instantly disappeared as she melted into the kiss.

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