Page 57 of Stripe Poker

He gave her a smile. "I'm entirely fine with that. It's a life I look forward to embracing."

Benton pulled himself up and walked back into the kitchen. He started dinner. She would help, but her shoulder ached, and she didn't think she should push herself.

Benton finished cooking, and they sat to eat at a small table. It was a simple chicken with salad, but it filled her.

"I set a meeting in the morning with the council," Benton said, wiping his mouth. "And Lilly will be here in the morning to take you to the house to go over everything you want to sell."

She nodded, looking forward to it. She was ready to see how much money she could get for everything. She was ready to make the changes the town desperately needed.

"How's your leg?" she asked, remembering Troy kept going for it.

"It's fine. It hurts a little. How's your shoulder?"

"It feels like someone ripped the shit out of it, but I'll be okay."

He gave her a smile as he rose from his chair. He pulled her out of her seat and into his arms. He walked them to the couch where he sat, pulling her onto his lap. He kissed her deeply, and she leaned into him.

She allowed herself to sink into the moment. She was with him, and they had won. They were the leaders of the community, and they could handle everything.

Benton ran his hands up her spine, sending a shiver down her back. Her tiger clawed at her, begging for him. She inhaled as his arms wrapped around her.

She moaned into him, and he held her closer to his chest. They both needed to clean up, and they definitely needed a shower. But she wanted him more. She needed him.

She ran her hands through his hair, and his tongue slid into her mouth. She moaned once more, shifting on his lap.

She felt his cock against her thigh, and she started to grind on him. She needed friction.

"Fuck." Benton growled into her ear, his hands pressing hard on her hips. "I have no control left tonight, Opal."

She looked deep into his eyes, understanding. "I don't either." She leaned in, sealing his lips with hers.

TWENTY-ONE

BENTON

Saying he wanted her was too weak. He needed her. Had to have her touch on his skin. He needed to smell her scent. He needed to know she was his. His tiger was desperate to claim her.

Now that they were alone and he could just look at her, he realized how close he came to being without his mate. He could have lost her.

He ran his hand over her hair, looking deep into her eyes. "Have I ever told you what I love about you so much?"

She shook her head, still straddling him, as she leaned back slightly. She tilted her head, looking intrigued.

He placed his hands on her hips, holding her there. "I love how caring you are. I love that you get a little frustrated when you lose at your phone games. I love that you look at people as worth your time before you think about anything else."

He watched her blush, but he wasn't done.

He pulled her closer. "I love that you always smell so fucking good, and half the time, I think you do it to get a rise out of me. I love that you're a hard-ass when you know things aren't going the way they should, and you fight for them."

He cupped her face and leaned his nose against hers. "And I love you. I love you with all my heart, and the thought of losing you tears me apart. I want us to live a peaceful life after all of this."

She curled her fingers around his and gave him a smile. "I love you too."

He kissed her, having no control left in him. He flipped her onto the couch, hovering over her. He slid his hands under her shirt, pulling it off.

Opal lay on the couch in her bra, and he watched a flush roll over her body. He took her in, staring at her shoulder and the mark there. She had already started to heal, but the bruise was there, and he knew she would be sore.

He kept seeing Reba pin her to the ground, remembering how his stomach flipped and her look of horror as she realized she could die.

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