Page 18 of His Brazen Mate

Together, they navigated the throng of people, their eyes locked on O’Brien as he made his way towards a side room. Drake’s heart pounded in his chest, the thrill of the hunt mingling with the electric connection he felt with Megan.

They were getting closer to the truth, and with Megan by his side, Drake knew they had the strength to face whatever came next. Their bond, forged in the fires of danger and deception, would guide them through the darkness. And tonight, they would finally see the light.

The evening had been a whirlwind of mingling and subtle questioning, each interaction bringing them closer to uncovering the truth behind the bourbon smuggling operation. Megan stayed close to him; their partnership was an unspoken bond as they navigated the glittering crowd.

As the night wore on, a tip from a chatty guest led them to a secluded part of the mansion. Drake and Megan slipped away from the main event, following a corridor that grew increasingly narrow and dimly lit. At the end, they discovered a hidden door, slightly ajar. With a shared glance, they entered, finding themselves in a room filled with shelves of bourbon bottles.

Drake’s eyes narrowed as he scanned the labels, noticing subtle differences between the bottles. Megan stepped closer, her keen eyes catching the same inconsistencies. “Counterfeit,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

He nodded, feeling a mix of triumph and tension. They had found the heart of the operation. But before they could investigate further, the sound of approaching footsteps sent a jolt of urgency through them. Drake grabbed Megan’s hand, pulling her into a small niche behind the racks of bogus bourbon bottles.

Remembering her dislike of cramped spaces, he rumbled soothingly down the link. She looked up at him, her expression grateful. He had plans to help her to see small, enclosed spaces as good things, and his groin tightened at the thought. As they squeezed together, Drake’s heart pounded, not just from the danger but from Megan’s proximity. Her breath was warm against his neck, her scent intoxicating. The footsteps grew louder, and he could hear Michael O’Brien’s voice, commanding and irritated.

In the tense silence, their eyes met, and Drake felt a surge of emotion he couldn’t hold back. He leaned in, capturing her lips in a passionate kiss. Megan responded instantly, her hands gripping his shoulders as the kiss deepened. For a moment, the danger beyond their hiding spot was forgotten, replaced by the primal intensity of their connection.

The sound of Michael’s voice faded, and the tension in the air dissipated. Reluctantly, Drake pulled back, his forehead resting against hers. “We need to get out of here,” he murmured.

Megan nodded, her breathing uneven as she smiled. “Yeah, let’s go.”

They waited until the footsteps receded before slipping out of the closet and back into the main hall. The rest of the night passed in a blur, the things they had learned weighing heavily on their minds.

From the back seat of their elegant SUV limo, Drake watched her carefully. He realized that while she could maintain the façade she needed to work undercover, when she was with him, she let the mask slip. He knew there were still things she was keeping to herself, but he was pleased that as her drakaina began to take hold, she instinctively knew she could trust him.

“Drake…” she started.

Not wanting to hear any more of her doubts or denials, he leaned over and pressed his lips firmly against hers. They might have different backgrounds and different kinds of shifters, they were now bound together as mates, and nothing would change that bond.

Megan didn’t fight against him at all, giving in to his kiss; surely she had to be feeling everything he was. There was no fighting what they were. They were fated mates, and they were destined to be together.

When they arrived home, Drake swept her up in his arms, cradling her against his chest, and carried her up the stairs to their room. Once inside, they fumbled together—each seeking to render the other one naked, they crashed together as their lips molded together, a surge of electricity shooting through his veins. The taste of her, a subtle mix of sweetness and defiance, ignited a wildfire within him. He deepened the kiss, pouring every ounce of possessiveness and longing into it.

Megan's hands found their way to his chest, her fingers curling into tight fists. She was fighting against herself as much as she was him—and she was losing on both fronts. A soft moan escaped her lips, muffled by the intensity of their connection. With each passing second, the doubts and insecurities that had to be clouding her mind began to dissipate.

Pulling away, Drake breathed heavily, his forehead resting against hers. Their breaths mingled in the heated space between us. "You feel it too, don't you? The pull." His voice was husky with desire, tinged with the unspoken promise of pleasure that lay ahead.

She nodded; her eyes glazed over with a feral hunger. "I never knew it could be like this," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

A flicker of frustration washed over him as he silenced her protests. The mating bond demanded surrender—a surrender that she seemed hesitant to give. "This is who we are now. Neither of us can fight this bond. You are mine… and for what it’s worth, I am yours."

Megan's eyes searched his for any sign of doubt or deception. Finding none, she exhaled softly, releasing the tension in her body. "I want to believe you," she confessed, tracing circles on his chest with her fingertips.

Cradling her face in his hands, he looked deep into her eyes. "There is no other reason for the way we're feeling. I know you didn’t come here looking for a fated mate, and trust me, I had long ago given up the hope that I would have one of my own. But when I hold you in my arms. up close and personal, I know that this is right and as it was always meant to be."

Megan sucked in a sharp breath and nodded. Her eyes drifted to his lips and the connection was so strong. Drake slid a hand around the back of her neck and pulled her tighter against him, slamming his lips against hers.

Their movements were quick and sharp, moving as quickly as they could, the desire between them leading their charge.

Their bodies crashed together in a frenzy of need, a primal hunger that consumed them both. The heat of their passion fueled the flames that licked at their skin, igniting a fire that threatened to bring down any and all barriers in its path.

As their lips molded and melted against each other, a symphony of moans and sighs filled the air. There was an urgency in their movements, driven by a yearning so powerful it eclipsed all rational thought. Hands roamed, exploring every inch of exposed flesh, igniting sparks that sent shivers down their spines.

His fingers fisted her hair, tugging gently as he claimed her mouth with an unmatched fervor. There was something wild and primitive about his need for her. The taste of her lips, soft and pliant, fueled his desire and left him hungry for more. She reciprocated with equal fervency, her nails digging into his back as she pulled him closer.

They stumbled backward, trying to find balance amidst the chaos of the storm of passion and need that enveloped them. There was nothing but bare skin and the sweet scent of lust hanging heavy in the air.

A flicker of uncertainty flashed through her eyes before being replaced by a resolute determination. "Yes," she breathed against his mouth, her voice husky with desire. "I want this."

With those words, any remnants of doubt or hesitation vanished into thin air. Their bodies collided once more, fusing them together in a dance as old as time itself. Pleasure washed over them in waves. Drake lifted her up and placed her in their bed, following her down and covering her body with his own. He lined his hard cock up with the entrance to her core. She was soft and wet, begging for him to thrust up into her.

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