Page 81 of Protected By Her Mate

“You will.”

She turns, but stops as she reaches the hallway, her shoulders bowing as a sob overtakes her. Then she turns and rushes toward me, launching herself into my arms.

Surprised, I catch her and she wraps her arms around my shoulders and her legs around my waist. She drags my head down to her lips and sears me with a kiss.

If we have to give each other up, then I’m going to make this one last night memorable for both of us. She reaches between us, sliding her fingers past the barrier of my belt and into my jeans, wrapping her fingers around my cock.

I can’t resist, don’t want to resist. I don’t remind her that it’s our second ‘last night’ together, I don’t try to deny her. I want this as bad as she does and this time, it really is the last time. I can’t keep tempting our cursed fate by pursuing my mate.

“Don’t think about it,” she whispers against my mouth. “Just fuck me, Lennox, and make it good. This memory has to last a lifetime.”

I groan as I carry her into the bedroom and kick the door shut behind me. I hope to hell the bang of it doesn’t wake Luke.

Charlie clings to me like a vine as I drop her on the bed, coming down over top of her. Her hands are everywhere, caressing, squeezing, scraping, leaving a wake of pleasure wherever she touches me. Her kisses are deep and desperate, her tongue seeking mine.

I obey, giving her all of me, running my hands over her fiery skin, knowing I’ll never be able to quench my thirst for her.

My tongue tangles with hers and I grip her by the base of the throat, pinning her as I ravish her senses, filling her mouth with my tongue, tearing her camisole away first, then her shorts, and finally her tiny scrap of panties. When she’s bare to me, I sweep my fingers through her delicate folds, sinking them into her silken core.

She moans, her back arching into the bed. “Lennox!”

Hearing her cry my name drives me over the edge. I yank my jeans down my ass, pull my cock out and drive into her, pinning her to the bed.

A startled cry erupts from her throat and she sinks her nails into my shoulders.

Wanting to feel her flesh against mine, I tear my shirt off, grip her wrist and place her hand on my chest. “Feel me,” I demand, my voice a deep rumble.

Her eyes meet mine and together we move, united in this moment as we seek more than pleasure; we seek a permanent imprint.

I lift her off the bed, my cock still buried inside her. She grips my hips with her knees and holds me tight, frantically grinding against me, seeking her pleasure.

A tear glitters on her eyelashes and I press my lips to the corner of her eye, then trail them down her cheeks, catching the rest as they fall.

Her breaths quicken, coming closer together.

I increase the pace of my thrusts, gripping her hips as I drag her up and down my cock.

As she closes in on her orgasm, her head tips back and her mouth opens. Taking a fistful of her hair, I tip her head up until she’s looking at me, feeling what I’m feeling as I take my mate for the last time.

A sob erupts from her throat, then a keening cry as her orgasm takes hold. I follow her, gripping her by the waist, holding her still on top of me as I release my seed.

Her eyes gleam in the darkness of the room and I see the silvery trail of tears as they continue to fall.

“I’m sorry, Charlie. I wish things could be different.”

She wraps her arms around me and presses her face into my neck. “I love you, Lennox.”

I run my hand down her back, feeling the fragile silkiness of it, knowing I can’t touch her after this. “I love you, too.”

Chapter 31

Red Ball

CHARLIE

Lennox’s phone rings from the nightstand, waking both of us. I glance at the time as he answers. 5:45AM.

“Captain.” He puts his phone on speaker so I can hear.

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