Page 89 of Moonlight and Mischief
“Not a problem.” He’s unruffled.
“Are you okay doing it alone?” I ask.
Jasper chuckles. “It’s fine. I want you to be happy, and I think I can handle things. I’ve got plenty of support. I mean, my brother was Beta for a few years before Hazel joined him.”
“You’re going to be amazing,” I say, completely confident that he will be the best Beta possible.
“And if you change your mind, or get sick of those kids, you have a right to be Beta. The option doesn’t go away because you decline right now.”
“Thank you.” I exhale, tension seeping away.
He stalks forward, closing the distance between us. I step away from the coffee table, toward our bedroom door.
“Marigold, where are you going?” he says, his voice dropping to a rasp that feels like velvet sliding across my ribs.
“Bed?” I ask.
“Come here.” His command sends a shiver down my spine. His scent fills my lungs as he reaches me, hands going to my waist.
“No thanks,” I say, sliding out of his grasp and pulling my shirt off in one fluid move. He reaches for me again and I shimmy out of range. My hands folddown my waistband, sucking in a breath at the cool air brushing my skin.
“You are really something.” He darts forward, catching me around the waist. His body hems me in against the kitchen counter.
“And you are wearing entirely too much clothing.” I giggle. To emphasize my point, I tug at his shirt, pleased when he allows me to strip it off. I stop when his shirt is over his biceps and elbows, blocking his face. He has to reach to pull it off the rest of the way.
I don’t miss the opportunity to flit away again, luring him into chasing. A predatory smile lights up his face as his eyes begin to glow. I feint left but go right. He’s quick on his feet and grabs my hips as I pass him. Hands moving to my waist, he backs me against our dining table.
“Still want to go to bed?” I ask in a breathy whisper.
He lifts me until I’m seated on the smooth wood. “I’m good right here.”
“I think you’ll need to clean the table after this,” I tease.
“I think you need to shut up and kiss me,” he quips back.
Leaning in, I tilt my head to kiss him, but instead nip his pouty bottom lip and lean back. “Make me,” I purr.
His eyes glitter at my challenge. With deliberate movements, he pushes me back against the table and drags my sweats off, tossing them across the wood floor.
“Jasper,” I gasp as he drags me forward until my ass almost tips off the tabletop.
Eyes glowing, he kneels. His hands lift my calf, fingers skimming over the floral tattoo that climbs the back of my leg. “I love this.” He sets my leg over his shoulder and I swallow thickly.
Words fall away as his breath warms my sensitive inner thighs.
At the first swipe of his tongue, my back arches and a moan rips out of my throat. A blush warms my skin, but from the way his fingers dig into my legs, it's obvious he loves hearing my reaction.
“My mate,” he says against my skin, his words claiming me all over again. It takes me a second to realize the overpowering possessiveness isn’t mine. Feeling his emotions sends a thrill through me again. The connection goes both ways. His tongue swirling over me sets off stars behind my eyelids, and he groans at the shared pleasure. He’s gentle but relentless, devouring me until I’m breathless and boneless.
“Come on, baby, I don’t want to break the table if I get up there too,” he says softly, lifting me easily. I sink into his arms, secure in the knowledge that he’ll never let me go.
He lays me back across our bed, not breaking our connection for a second. His mouth is soft against mine. This tenderness intoxicates me in a new way.
“You are so perfect. I’ve never seen anything as magnificent as you with a weapon in your hand destroying our enemies,” he says. Glowing aqua eyes pierce my soul.
“Don’t ever risk yourself like that again,” I say, “I can’t lose you.”
Jasper frowns. “If I have to, to keep you safe, I’ll do it all again.”
