Page 110 of Mated
I lay my hand on his knee.
He shrugs like it’s no big deal, but there is a tension to him now. A pain.
“Tanner …”
He grips my hand, raises it to his mouth, and kisses my knuckles. “Marcus has been like a father to me for almost ten years. Ruin too. Am I saying I won’t ever try to reach out to my biological? No. But for now, I know he is alive and that’s good enough.”
We fall silent.
“I put in for medical leave.” The words slip out before I can stop them.
He glances over. “What?”
“This morning, I put in for medical leave from the station. So much has happened. I think … I think I need a few extra days. Just to get my head on right and figure out my next step.”
His jaw ripples. “Is that going to cause problems for work?”
“Maybe down the road.” I shrug. “But I can’t focus on calls. I can’t give the city the attention it needs with everything still weighing on me.”
“The attack?”
“That’s there. And eventually I will probably have to talk to someone about it.” His hand tightens around mine. “Knowing the rogue is dead helps.” My heart slams and I peer sideways at him. “But I also know that if he hadn’t attacked me, I wouldn’t have met you.”
“Nish—”
“I just got out of a really fucked up relationship, T. Chuck cheated. More than once.” I swallow. “But being around you …”
His features damn near soften. “I know.”
I look at him. “You do?”
“I have been raking my fucking brain for hours to figure out how I can be with you longer. If I can send the team back ahead of me and take a few extra days. If I should ask you to come over this weekend.”
My breath clogs my throat. “You have?”
He nods, his lips pulling. “My cat wants you as much as I do. And even with my scent spilling from your fucking pores, I want to mark you again. Already.”
That throb between my thighs grows. “I want you too.”
His teeth bare as he inhales sharply of my scent. He pulls off on the side of the deserted road and slams the Jeep into park and shuts it off. “Fuck, woman.”
I can only nod, body weeping and rippling for him.
He slides the seat all the way back and unzips his jeans. “Now.”
I climb over the console and straddle his lean waist. One massive hand rips the crotch of my shorts away and my body jerks. He slips a finger inside me and growls.
With surprisingly gentle movements, he rolls his hips up, seating himself deep inside me as spice fills the air.
My eyes flutter closed and my head falls back. He rocks me over him, using his tremendous strength to shift me back and forth.
Every damn glide is torture. His breathing grows ragged and I know the minute his barb drops because he jerks inside me. The beast inside me arches, and I follow suit, taking him deeper.
“Come to Lock Lake,” he grunts. “Please.”
My eyes fly wide. “What?”
He palms my face, his silver eyes unbearingly hot and so damn bright. “Come with me, Nisha. Just for a little while.” My heart pounds in the stillness. “I know it’s fucking sudden and insane. But I want to wake up with you in my fucking arms. I want to do this,” he rolls his hips and my body creams, “every fucking day.”
