Page 29 of Act of Command

“I’m close to taking offense,” he mocked.

“No way. No.”

“This is because I stood you up, isn’t it?” he asked, humor in his voice.

Mae stared up at him. “No way.”

He touched her lower lip. “Love, I’m going to get you out of here and then I’m going to prove to you that I’m right.”

Her mind raced with the implications and she gasped. “I sculpted you before I ever even saw you.”

“Because we’re mates,” he said softly.

“You’re saying my mother set me up on a blind date with a guy who just happened to be my mate?” she asked, lifting a brow but staying close to him. He felt too good to move away from.

Corbin groaned. “Trust me when I say, my mother will tell me she knew it all along and I’ll never hear the end of it.”

She couldn’t help but giggle. “Your mother is amazing, but I can picture her saying it.”

“That’s right, you’ve met her. I forgot she told me that,” he said. “I should apologize for her then. I’m sure she overstepped her bounds. It’s what she does.”

“She’s lovely,” said Mae. “She is always so encouraging of my art. I even sent her a piece and a picture of my current one. She’s great. But she is hoping for grandchildren.”

Corbin jerked her against him. His long, thick erection was pressed against her low stomach. “I very much want to give her them.”

Mae nearly bolted from his grasp.

He laughed. “Mae, I’m not going to tear your clothes off. I want to, but I won’t.”

She thought about him doing just that and found her body heating at the idea.

He sniffed the air. “I can smell your desire. If you want me to stay true to my word, please try to control your lust. One of us needs to, and ever since you came into my life, I’ve had no control whatsoever.”

She looked him over, her mouth watering.

He touched her chin, lifting her gaze to his handsome face. “Mae.”

“You look like a male model.”

He sighed.

She squinted and lifted his long hair. “Is it me or is there light pink on your tips?”

Groaning, he rubbed his forehead. “It’s not you.”

“My mate has pink tips?”

His gaze locked on her and she realized that she’d just acknowledged him as her mate. Gulping, she released his hair and tried to step away. He shook his head, invading her space, causing cream to flood the apex of her thighs. He yanked her to him and suddenly his mouth was on hers and she was powerless to stop him.

Not that she wanted to.

As she realized how much she was willing to hand herself over to the man with her, she found herself humming softly as their kiss continued. The more she hummed, the more intense the kiss became.

Chapter Eleven

Struggling to keep hold of his lion, Corbin broke the kiss with Mae, his entire body wanting to devour her. She bit at her lower lip, the softest of hums coming from her. She reached for him, her hum intensifying—the sound the single most beautiful thing he’d ever heard.

His lion roared deep inside him, wanting out. It wanted him to bite the woman, sink his teeth into her and forever mark her as his. Corbin wanted it too, but he wouldn’t do that. He wouldn’t just take her choices from her and thrust himself upon her in such a manner. He’d always been in control of every situation. Always able to hold it together no matter. This would be no different.

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