Page 75 of Secrets and S'mores
“Okay,” she says. When I don’t react, she repeats, “Okay, I’ll be your mate.”
Her words don’t sink in. Did she just accept? Is this happening?
“Onyx, did I break you?” she asks, tilting her head and pursing her lips.
“Wow,” I say, “I thought I would have to beg for at least a week before you gave in.”
“Are we going to make this official?” she asks, a nervous edge to her voice.
“I want to mark you and you mark me. But it can wait until you’re ready,” I say, my hands brushing down her ribs and waist before moving to her hands. Clasping both of her hands in mine, I pull them above her head, like when we first kissed.
“No, I don’t want to wait. We should face this together, as mates in every way. And then my pack can’t question you or treat you like that again.”
“Like you’d let them get away with that,” I murmur, admiring the way she’s stretched out. Her back arches, her head tipping back against the door.
“Are you ready to become a Granite Ridge wolf?” she asks softly, as if that revelation would change my mind.
“I guess we will have dual citizenship, because it goes both ways, my little hummingbird.” My words are nonsense, but I can’t help but poke fun.
“Mmm, I like that idea. When I claim my position, I’ll need help from your pack to clean house and rebuild the pack’s structure. Make it healthy.”
“Jasper will be thrilled,” I say.
“Stop talking about my brother,” she teases. “Stop talking about everything. I need to make you my mate like I need air.”
“Yes, Alpha,” I say a split second before our lips crash together.
17 Smoking S’mores
Ember
There’s no more talking. Everything that needed to be said was said. Every worry I had laid out, and Onyx soothed all of them. He’s willing to give up his life for me. Together we will rebuild my pack until it’s a wonderful place to live. But thoughts of planning and strategy will have to wait, because Onyx is undressing me.
He tosses my shirt over his shoulder and reclaims my wrists in his left hand, keeping me upright against the cool wood of the bedroom door.
I struggle against his hold, wanting to touch him, but he grins and resumes kissing me. The world falls away as he coaxes my mouth open. The feel of his tongue against mine sends heat flooding my body,flowing from my fingertips to my toes and gathering low in my stomach.
This man makes kissing an artform. The slow brush of our lips, the way his teeth nip at my skin as he moves down my throat and lowers his mouth to my breasts. No amount of twisting deters him. His hand only tightens and pushes my wrists up, until I’m desperate, drawn out and panting.
His head comes back up, a wicked grin on his face. “I’m going to bite you,” he says, “Right here.” He gives a demonstration, fangs pressing into the crook of my neck hard enough to sting but not break the skin. This time, I’m confident I want it, and I let out a whimper at the sting.
“I want to claim you, too,” I say, my words breathy. I gasp as he bites a second time, this one harder, as if he is testing the limit. “Do it,” I say.
He lets out a low laugh. “Not yet. You didn’t think I’d go this easy on you?”
I’m not sure if I’m about to melt or burst into flames, but it’s becoming unbearable. As if sensing my impending implosion, he finally releases my wrists.
It’s all the urging I need. I launch myself at him and he grabs my waist, hoisting me up until I’m wrapped around him, my hands threading into his hair. Biting his bottom lip, I drag my nails along his scalp, earning a groan that makes my stomach flip.
He inches backward until we’re falling onto the bed, his arms banded tight around me. My hair splays around us, enclosing his face, nose to nose with mine.
“I love you,” I murmur.
“I’ve loved you for longer,” he responds with a smirk.
“It’s not a competition.”
“No, ‘cause I’d be winning.”
