Leaning forward, he watched her eyes close as she held her breath. He took a moment to memorize her face: waiting just a few seconds to take in the enormity of what was about to happen. He’d finally taste his mate’s lips. He couldn’t allow this to be like every other kiss, so he grasped her hips in his hands and lifted her to wrap her legs around his waist. When she gasped and he felt her heat against his belly he went in, lips blazing.
No joke, this was the best kiss of his entire life. He started by simply rubbing his closed lips along hers. Their breath mingling, her scent consumed him as he opened his lips and licked the seam of her softness. His hands held her firm to him as they devoured each other, each giving, and taking while reveling in the shared passion and off the chart arousal. There was no way he could let her go after that.
He pulled back, looking into her ever changing eyes and smiled. Not too bad for a first kiss. It had indeed confirmed she was his fated mate, his other half, the yin to his yang, the cream in his coffee. He was so involved in his thoughts he missed something she’d said. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”
Heavy lidded eyes gazed up at him. “Yeah…I’ve had better.”
It took him a second to register what she’d said and just as it was sinking in he felt a gentle hand on his cheek. “I was kidding. I don’t know how it’s possible, but you are mine.”
He felt his face lift into another smile, and with pure joy in his heart he announced, “I am yours and you are mine. I hate to sound so eager, but when can we mate. I mean…will you agree to mate with me?”
And that’s all it took for her to scent to change from joy to fear. “I, uh…maybe we should-“
He placed a finger over her mouth. “It’s okay, I’ve waited this long.”
Shitfuck. Of course he would want to mate, they were fated mates. Not knowing she absolutely hated the word ‘mate’. She’d been duped before into thinking she was a mate and she’d never been more wrong. Once again she didn’t trust her judgment and she didn’t think she ever would. It was a big point in his favor that he was a brother to their new and highly revered alpha.
“We should get back, there’s no telling what Carter’s been up to. I swear every time I leave him with the alpha’s he gets into something.”
Winking down at her he shot her a wicked grin and she ate up the attention like candy. “That sounds like my brother. He really enjoys kids. I’m surprised Delilah isn’t pregnant by now.”
“She told me Blake wanted to make sure it was safe, so they’re taking a few months to ‘practice’ making babies. She loves kids and she’ll be a great mom.”
She watched as his head fell forward as if in defeat. “Let’s go get Carter.”
Gripping his arm she turned him back towards her. “Where are we?”
His confusion showed before he answered, “What do you mean? We’re in the forest by alpha house.”
Taking in a fortifying breath she said, “I don’t mean where are we located. I mean…I don’t want to upset Carter. He just came back and I think he should be comfortable.”
His forehead got all wrinkled, so she continued. “I don’t think he should know we’re mates.”
Justin’s head fell back as he laughed loudly, and she couldn’t help but admire the long line of his throat and the bobbing of his Adam’s apple. She was feeling a bit insecure, like he was laughing at her, so she asked, “What the heck, Justin?”
Wiping tears of laughter out of his eyes, he gazed down at her. He noticed she was getting anxious now, trying to understand. “He’s friends with Trev?”
“Who?”
“Trevor, the little boy who he played with at the wedding. I’m telling you now; if they’re friends, then Carter probably knew this was coming a long time ago. Has Carter been talking about me lately?”
Dee pulled back from him and rubbed her forehead. “Well, yeah, he talks about you and Trevor all the time. He talks to you both every night, so I figured he just liked you both.”
Obviously he was picking up on her discomfort because he said, “We can play it by ear. I’ll stand back and let you take the lead.”
“Mama, lookit, alpha Blake gave me some new clothes cuz’-“
Blake coughed loudly to cut off the motor mouth that Carter had become over the last hour. He just wouldn’t stop talking so Blake stuffed him full of sweets. Of course it couldn’t be that easy because for some reason the kid just got worse. To top it off, he was covered in chocolate and cream. Not knowing how else to cover up the evidence, he furiously attempted to scrub the kid and his clothes. Wrong. The kid’s clothes ended up an absolute mess, so he stripped him and let him borrow some new clothes he’d gotten for Trevor’s next visit. Trevor was a few years older so the clothes hung loosely on his smaller frame.