He glanced at a photo of Blane. His brother would have a cow if he knew he’d brought their mate back to the ranch without him. They’d agreed to take things slowly, but, with her so near, he knew he couldn’t miss the opportunity to have her. Blane would just have to deal with it.
He watched her as she strode through the living room and into the cozy kitchen. Maybe now that their mate had arrived, they’d build a bigger, nicer house. He followed her, enjoying the way she reached out and touched one knickknack then another.
Leaving the kitchen, she strolled down the hallway that led to the den then on to the foyer and the staircase. She paused and studied a photograph of his fathers, mother, seven-year-old Blane, and himself.
“Who are these people?” She blinked. “Oh, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be rude. I’m just curious, so if you’d rather not say, I’ll understand.”
She was nosy, inquisitive. A trait he’d never found appealing, but he didn’t mind it in her. “That’s my family.”
“Your family?” She frowned, clearly trying to sort out the different roles for each adult.
If anyone else had asked, he wouldn’t have explained. “That’s our mom, me, and Blane.”
“Is your father one of the men?”
“Yep.” He walked past her. She wasn’t ready to understand the dynamics of a household where three werewolves mated one woman.
He had to wonder. Could a woman like her, one who was used to the finer things in life, one who had limos and lived in a city like Boston, learn to like it in a small Texas town? She was a big deal in her parents’ company and used to making large sums of money every day with just one word. What would she do in the middle of nowhere, Texas? She couldn’t even sit a horse right. How would she fit in on a working ranch?
For the first time in his life, Reese Rawlins was afraid. What if she didn’t want to stay? He’d heard of only one intended mate turning down her werewolves. The men had no choice but to let her leave. No werewolf ever forced his woman to stay. The connection, the invisible bond that drew them together, usually prevented the issue from being a problem. But it had happened, and the men had never gotten over it. What if Charlie turned them down?
Knowing she would follow, he led her into the bedroom. She stopped at the threshold. He could sense her nerves kick into gear like a rabbit the second before it scampered away from the approaching fox. If he didn’t do something soon, she’d run for safety without even understanding why she ran. Instinct alone would propel her away.
Whether it was fear that he’d never get another chance or simply the animal inside him clawing to get out, he’d never know. All he knew was that he had to have her.
He tugged on his shirt, pulling the buttons loose as he approached her. He stopped long enough to kick off his boots then started unbuttoning his jeans.
Her mouth fell open, and her eyes glazed over then lowered, giving her a half-lidded, seductive allure that was impossible to ignore. He groaned and yanked her to him.
“No,” she whispered.
He shook his head, determined to have his way today, tomorrow, and forever. “Don’t fight me.”
Her breathing quickened as she flattened her hands against his chest. “Reese, I don’t—”
He grabbed her by the hair and tugged, making her lay her head back. “Tell me you don’t want this. Tell me you haven’t thought about us together, in bed, with my arms wrapped around you, with my hand on your breast, and my mouth,”—he glanced down then back up— “everywhere. If you can, I’ll let you go.”
“I…” Her tongue peeked out from between her teeth. “I don’t…”
He released her hair, giving her silent permission to tell him no. “You don’t what? Tell me now, because once I get more than a taste of you, I’m not stopping until I have you screaming as you come. I want to see your face as your climax rips through you. I need to see your eyes on mine as I suck on your pussy. So tell me now or shut the hell up and let me have you.”
He waited, hoping his nerves didn’t show. If she told him to back off, he’d walk away with his tail between his legs and die like an old dog whose master no longer wanted him. If she told him to go away, he would go, but his gut would churn until he convinced her to open her legs to him.
Her chest rose and fell, the swell of her breasts driving him insane. Once he touched them, he’d know what heaven was like. If not, he’d stare hell straight in the face.
He gritted his teeth and waited for her to stomp on his heart. Whatever her decision, he’d obey it. But once she gave herself to him, she’d be his forever.