Dominated(16)

She gasped. She locked her knees to keep from collapsing.

“Are you?” she asked breathlessly.

“Thinking of making love to you? Hell yes. I can’t imagine when I’ll not be.”

Her breasts grew tight. A soft purr escaped her lips.

That gentle sound that broke the sudden silence was followed by a full groan coming from Gabriel’s mouth. “You’re gonna kill me.” He leaned in closer, his lips inches from her own.

She wanted his mouth on hers so bad now, she no longer cared whether or not it was the right thing to do.

She licked her lips. Oh, please, dear God, just kiss me, will you?

His mouth descended. A gentle brush of his lips over hers. His eyes stayed locked to her gaze. And then he licked the seam between her lips and she opened her mouth for him. She wanted to taste him, needed to. His tongue slipped between her teeth and danced with her own before she even finished the thought.

She grasped his T-shirt with both hands where it stretched over his biceps and fisted the material with her fingers, desperate to hold on to him.

He angled his mouth farther to one side and delved deeper. His taste filled her senses and made her crave more of him.

Thank God he held her up, his body pressing hers into the island. As she lost herself in her first real kiss, she couldn’t concentrate on anything but the feel of his tongue and the way his lips managed to soften her.

Gabe broke the kiss off. No way could she have had the capacity to do so herself.

“I need you,” he whispered against her mouth as he set his forehead on hers. “I know this is fast and overwhelming for you, but my cock aches to be inside you.”

She couldn’t even see him properly. Her eyes were clouded over from the heat of the kiss and he invaded her space so thoroughly that she couldn’t focus on his face.

“Please say yes,” he continued. “I could spend the day pretending to woo you, but who are we kidding? I can smell your arousal. Hell, I can taste it on your lips. You want this as much as I do.”

It was true. She couldn’t deny him that truth. She was scared out of her mind on more levels than she could possibly voice, but the simple fact still remained—they were mates. She might as well let him claim her now and then deal with the details of their future afterward. At least some of her anxiety would be alleviated.

“Talk to me,” he asked. He stroked her cheek with his thumb again.

She finally opened her mouth to speak. “I’m scared.”

“I know. I would be shocked if you weren’t. And concerned. I’m humbled by the gift of your innocence. Trust me?”

She shouldn’t. She hadn’t known him long enough. But damnit if she didn’t anyway. Something about the way he held her so gently told her he would take every care in the world to see to her comfort.

His fingers trembled against her skin. She affected him as much as he did her.

“Let’s go upstairs.” He nodded to one side.

Here? In his parents’ house? She stiffened.

“Nobody’s home, baby. And they aren’t coming back. Hell, my parents are hosting this gathering. They couldn’t break free if they wanted to. And besides, they know I’m stalking you.” He chuckled low and deep. “They wouldn’t dare interrupt me today.”

And that was supposed to make her feel better? His parents knowing what they were doing in their house didn’t add to the warm fuzzies.

“Come.” He stepped back, took her hand, and led her to the steps at the back of the kitchen.

She followed. Let him tug her through the house. A trembling ball of nerves was the only way to describe her at that moment.





Chapter Four


Gabe held his breath all the way to his bedroom. He couldn’t wait to get his sweet mate out of town and have her all to himself. It couldn’t be helped right now. And it wasn’t as though it was unusual for mates to consummate their relationship just about anywhere. No one would think ill of them. It was normal.

The wolf instinct to claim was strong. It gave very little notice and allowed for only a small window of small talk before the natural instinct to mate took over. That window was wide open considering Gabe had met Kathleen yesterday. In wolf terms, that was a long courting period already.

When they reached his room and slipped inside, Gabriel shut the door behind him and leaned against it.

Kathleen spun around. “Are you going to lock that?” She pointed at the doorknob.

He grinned. “If it makes you feel better.” Hell, no one was going to come into the house, let alone the upstairs. They wouldn’t dare.

With a twist, the lock was turned. He released the knob to reach for her, but she avoided him, skipping back a step and turning toward the room. “You aren’t gonna just . . . are you?” Her voice trailed off.