Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 107670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
He knew he was taking a chance by laying it all out like this, because there was never any knowing how Harley would react to a situation. She was a passionate creature who had her own codes and a quirky outlook that both confused and fascinated him. But he’d take this chance, because living without her any longer wasn’t acceptable to him. “You know better than anyone that finding your true mate doesn’t always mean hearts and rainbows and a happily ever after.”
Harley couldn’t argue with that. Even her cat could concede that he had a point there. Hell, her parents’ mating was a total joke. Lily was lost and miserable, and Clive was in a damn cell.
Jesse brushed his thumb along the crook of her neck. “I remember leaving a mark right here.” He’d do it again soon. “I remember the taste of you. Remember the feel of your pussy hot and tight around my cock.”
He sucked her bottom lip into his mouth and gave it a sharp bite. She jerked away—maybe in surprise, maybe in withdrawal. Either way, Jesse didn’t like it. Instinctively, he dominantly snapped his hand around her throat. Her response was instantaneous; her pupils dilated, her nipples pebbled, and she sucked in a sharp breath. Fuck.
Harley gasped as his mouth took complete possession of hers, greedily feasting and dominating and burning away rational thought. His tongue licked into her mouth, bold and sure and taking everything. Memories slammed into her just as heat surged through her and melted every bit of resistance she had . . . and there hadn’t been much left to begin with.
Wanting more, Harley tried to deepen the kiss. His hand fisted in her hair and held her head in place, letting her know who was in charge right then. Too turned on to bristle, she went lax. He rewarded her by taking her mouth again, this time harder and deeper and hungrier. She could only cling to his shirt to anchor herself.
Then he bit her. Sank his teeth into the crook of her neck. And that snapped her out of her aroused daze. Both her and her cat bucked at the proprietary act. With a growl, Jesse dug his teeth in harder. Only when Harley stopped struggling did he release her. He licked over his mark and pulled back, savage possessiveness stamped all over his features. Her pussy clenched at the sight, throbbing with a vicious ache. “Bastard,” she hissed. “I didn’t say you could mark me.”
“I’m not a guy you can manage, Harley—you know it. Just like you know that neither you nor your cat would want me if you could control me.”
“You’re still a bastard.”
“Maybe.” Seeing her mouth swollen, her cheeks flushed, and her eyes glazed with need, it took extreme restraint for Jesse not to take that mouth again. He wanted more, but he needed her to be with him all the way. Right now, she was shocked and unsure—not to mention tired. She needed time to get used to the fact that everything had now changed for her.
Jesse swept his thumb along the black smudge beneath her eye. “You’re exhausted. Go to bed, Harley. We’ll talk more tomorrow. The bedroom’s upstairs—you can’t miss it, because it covers virtually the entire floor.”
Trying to steady her breathing, she asked, “Where will you be sleeping?”
“Next to you. But not yet.” Because there was a wolf outside who clearly wanted to speak with him. Jesse backed up, letting her hands fall away from his shirt. “Go on, I’ll be up soon.”
He watched her go, satisfaction welling up inside him despite the deathly glare she shot him. Three fucking years he’d waited, and here she was—albeit begrudgingly. With an inward smile, he slid open one of the rear patio doors and stepped outside, closing it behind him.
Nick looked up from the porch swing. “I figured you’d bring her to your lodge.”
“Did you?” His attempt at flippancy fell flat.
“Well, since you told me over the phone that if her presence couldn’t be accepted on our territory you’d be prepared to leave, yeah.” Nick pursed his lips. “I’ve never seen you even the slightest bit possessive of a female before. You’re pretty serious about her.”
“She’s mine.” It was that simple and that complicated.
“So you’re hoping to imprint on her?”
“Yes.” Shifters who weren’t true mates could still form the mating bond through imprinting—a process that mostly happened without any prompting from the couple. The bond was just as strong and vibrant as one between true mates.
“What about her true mate?”
“Fuck him.” If there was one thing that losing two people had taught Jesse, it was that life was too damn short to spend pondering and overthinking shit. He was someone who believed in going after what he wanted. For a long time, what he’d wanted most was Harley Vincent. Now he finally had her and he was damn well keeping her.