First, he had to know. “Why didn’t you trust me enough to tell me sooner, Kate?”
Chapter Nine
He wanted to talk now? While she was poised over his erection? Kate almost laughed. She wiggled against him then gasped when the ridge of his cock slid along her clit, inciting a pulse of pleasure through her entire body.
Stephen held onto her hips, restraining her movement. “Please, Kate. Talk to me.”
The soft plea and genuine concern in his gaze was all it took. She couldn’t run any longer.
“Okay….” She sighed and distractedly caressed the soft trail of blond hair on his belly. “No one knows except you. Not even Jace or our parents. Well, I’m sure Gee knows, but only because he guessed.”
Stephen tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, the intimate gesture increasing the drum of her heart.
“When I figured out I couldn’t shift, I was terrified how the pack would respond. I’d seen how they treated a pack member who couldn’t shift when I was younger. So, I’m scared to death of what they might do when they find out. It’s safer for me to hide it from everyone.” She frowned. “That includes my family. And you. I didn’t want any of you to see me as a failure any more than I already saw myself.”
He grabbed her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “You’re not a failure. Never think that again. Got it?”
When she nodded, he laid his hand on her thigh and ran the tips of his fingers along her skin. “I understand why you’re frightened, Kate, but the pack isn’t under Magnum’s tyranny any longer. Drew made sure of that. You don’t have anything to fear. If you would’ve just trusted me enough to tell me, I could’ve helped you through everything. You have to know your family or I would never treat you differently. You know that, right?”
“Yes. Maybe. I don’t know.” She bit her lip. “I’m sorry. I guess I should’ve told you sooner.”
“Hell yes, you should’ve. There’s nothing you can say to me that will make me turn away from you.”
“But this morning….”
“This morning you ran away before you gave me a chance to explain. I could’ve spared you years of worry if you’d have just trusted me sooner.” He framed her face in his hands and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. “This is the reason you’ve never accepted my claim, isn’t it?”
“I can’t be the mate you want or deserve, Stephen.”
“Kate, if there’s one thing you can always count on, it’s the fact I’m damn lucky to have you as my mate. We may piss each other off from time to time, but I’ll never stop wanting you. What you and I have is forever. Whether you can shift or not doesn’t matter one damn bit.” He grabbed her hand, settling it over the steady thump of his heart. “I’ll always love you with everything I have in me, Sunshine. There’s no changing what I feel for you. My heart is yours. It always will be.”
Tears slipped from her eyes. Her heart swelled. How could she have ever doubted him? This beautiful man had stuck by her side for years, irritating her, making her laugh, pushing her limits, but always remained constant and sure, his love never wavering.
She cupped his strong jaw, his soft stubble tickling her palms. “Oh, Stephen, I love you so much. I have for years. I thought I wouldn’t be the right mate for you, but I don’t want to live without you any longer. I can’t.”
“Then you won’t. Trust me with your heart as I’ve trusted you with mine.” He leaned his forehead against hers while his luminous blue gaze seared her to her soul. “Mate with me, Sunshine. Claim me as your own.”
The words invoked a flare of possessive need in her. He was hers, damn it. Nothing would change that, and no one could take him from her. He was her rightful mate. No matter how much she’d fought the inevitable, their fate was destined, and she was tired of running from it.
She trailed her hands up his chest and over his broad shoulders to twine around his neck. Tugging his face toward hers, she slid her tongue along the seam of his mouth. When he parted his lips, she kissed him, pouring every bit of the longing and desire she’d held at bay for him over the years into the action.
Kate couldn’t stop the flood of emotion any more than she could prevent her hips from shifting against his lap. With a slight reposition, his thick erection slipped between the outer lips of her sex. Releasing his mouth, she tossed her head back and rocked against him, the sensual friction making her more aroused and wetter with each intimate slide.
Stephen cupped her breasts in the palms of his hands with a gentle squeeze. Lowering his head, he twirled his tongue around one nipple then drew it into his mouth, sucking and nipping at her sensitive flesh.