Page 88 of Her Second-Hand Mate

The quick and frantic male was now gone. His kisses became maddeningly slow, exploratory, and tender. I couldn’t believe I used to think Dominic was unguarded in bed. Now, his eyesshone with obvious love for me, and every touch was almost reverent.

“I can’t believe you’re mine, gorgeous, soft, sweet, peach-tasting Penelope,” he murmured into my ear as he slowly thrust into me while I had my legs wrapped around his waist.

“I love you so much it hurts,” he said into my mouth later as he sat up with his back against the headboard and helped me ride him. “I never want to let you go again.”

“Say my name, mate, say you’re mine,” he said through gritted teeth as I fell apart in his arms again, and I did; God help me, but I told him.

This part was new. After he’d thoroughly exhausted me, Dominic put my head on his chest, one of his arms around me, and pulled my right thigh up over both of his.

“Do you have to be at work any time soon?” he asked as he played with my hair.

“Not really. I had planned to finish some work by noon and then get Gabriel from your mom’s, but it’s already 10:30, so that’s not going to happen,” I said, not annoyed about it at all.

“Good. I don’t want you to go.”

I felt a silly amount of pleasure at his words. I hugged his waist in response.

“I want to run something by you,” he said, and I waited. He didn’t say anything, so I shuffled beside him to put a hand on his chest and rest my chin on it. That way I could look at him, since it seemed important.

He hesitated some more before saying, “I was thinking. For your birthday, I want to have a mating ceremony with you.”

When I frowned, he continued, “One that we plan together. I realized that our first ceremony might not have been what you wanted. And I was too in my head to think about anyone else.”

I squeezed his waist again, and he rewarded me with a small smile.

“Like a new start?” I asked.

“Yeah, something like it. But also to celebrate our love and mating properly. Itisa gift, and I want to acknowledge that publicly.”

“You know I don’t care about that.”

“I know you don’t. I knowyoudon’t want to spend tons of money on a ceremony for others just because I’m an Alpha, and Ican afford it,” he said bitterly, and my heart hurt for him.

“Cassie?”

“Her mom.”

“Yikes.”

“Yeah. But what I’m trying to say is that I now, inexplicably, have this need to proclaim my love to the world. Don’t laugh at me,” he chided me playfully.

“Remind me, were you or were you not complaining about a certain friend of yours...” I laughed.

“Don’t remind me,” he groaned. “I invited him and his mate as well.”

I sat up.

“You already sent out invitations?”

“Yeah,” he admitted, and if he were anyone else, he would’ve blushed. “I originally wanted it to be a surprise. But then Ithought maybe you wouldn’t enjoy that, or you’d want to have more input, so I decided to tell you.”

“That’s sweet of you. I do want to be surprised – I want to see what you’ll come up with, so I won’t be making any suggestions.”

“Very well,” he grinned.

I narrowed my eyes at him, “Is that why Theresa is coming to stay with us?”

“Partly that, partly I wanted you to have a family member with you for a while after everything.”

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