Page 97 of Challenged Mate
Asher kissed me deeply… thoroughly. His lips and tongue stroked every inch of my mouth, spiking the desire growing within both of us.
I never wanted it to stop.
I barely hid my whimper when Asher pulled his head back and asked in a husky, desire-laden voice, “What about you, Blair? Knowing everything, do you still want to mate me?”
Worry seeped into his expression. He knew all the marks against him. So did I.
Asher’s deception still hurt. Our lack of communication led to unnecessary heartache, and it all could have been avoided.
He and I had problems to work out. It would take time. But, eventually, I knew we would work past them.
We were fated mates, designed for one another by the Mother.
From almost the moment we met, I trusted Asher. More than I’d ever trusted anyone.
I trustedus, and I trusted the future laid out before us.
So, I pulled free from his grip and tangled both of my hands in his hair. Rising on my tip toes, I brought my mouth in line with his.
He sucked in a breath, and it thrilled me to know the effect I had on him. On mymate.
Right before our lips touched, I murmured his own words back to him, “Do you even have to ask?”
Thirty
A deep,satisfied growl vibrated through Asher’s chest. His hands traveled to my waist, then he picked me up as if I weighed nothing. My legs wrapped around his hips, and I pushed my chest into his, desperate for there to be no space between us as our mouths continued to move against one another.
Asher’s fingers kneaded into my butt as he held me. Every touch, every swipe of his tongue, sent delectable heat through my core. My desire had been unlocked the night he crashed into my apartment, but now it flew free. It coiled around us, tightening as it pulled us together, determined to never let us be free of each other.
“Well, it’s about damn time.”
Asher and I broke apart. So, too, had the silencing barrier around us.
Our chests heaved with heavy breaths. Asher managed to huff, “Not now, Axel.”
I kept my gaze on my mate, admiring the planes of his face up close. He was truly the most attractive male I’d ever seen. And he was allmine.
Axel cleared his throat, but he stood his ground at the opening of the alley. “Trust me, Ash. The last thing I want to do is interrupt this…moment.But we need to discuss your strategy for this evening. We only have a few hours to prepare.”
Axel’s words doused my desire like a bucket of water over a campfire.
I unwound my legs from Asher, much to his dislike. He grumbled and banded his arms around my back, holding me to his chest, not letting my feet touch the ground.
“Don’t go.”
I chuckled at his petulant expression. “I’m not going anywhere. But Axel’s right. You need to prepare for Stanley’s challenge.” Because if Stanley wins, you and I are doomed before we even have the chance to begin.
Begrudgingly, Asher lowered my feet to the ground, but he didn’t release me until he pressed one more scorching kiss against my lips. He pulled back. I blinked up at him, dazed. He smirked.
Once again, Axel cleared his throat. “Actually, Blair. There is somewhere else you need to be.”
Brows raised, I looked at my mate’s brother. “Where?”
“Your apartment.” He glanced at Asher, then back to me. “Kayla has a surprise waiting for you.”
Imagining it had something to do with the mating ceremony, I waved a dismissive hand. “I’m sure it can wait. I want to hear how Asher plans to handle Stanley’s challenge.” For too long, I felt like my life was out of my control. This challenge was the same. The least I could do was be in the know about what was to come.
“Actually,” Asher spoke up. “It can’t wait.”
