“Mine.”Sorin’s voice hummed in her mind as his mouth left hers and traveled south.“You’re also mine.”
For now, they were of one accord. She would join her mate and fight at his side where she belonged. And he would show her how sorry he was for arguing with her.
“Exactly how should I show you that?” he asked as his tongue ran across her shoulder.
“I think what you’re doing is a good start.” Elle winked at him and then closed her eyes. “Carry on, mate,” she said in her haughtiest voice. “I will let you know when I think your apology is sufficient.”
Sorin chuckled against her, and his warm breath made her squirm. “I’m sure I’ll know when it isenough.”
* * *
“I’m not goingto cut it off, dammit!” Bethany stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at Drake. “Let me see it. Now.”
Drake didn’t move. Suddenly, Jen’s head appeared in the doorway. Drake couldn’t remember if he had been too distracted to close the door to their bedroom or if the obnoxious blonde had simply pushed it open without knocking.
“I am so loving the sound of this argument,” Jen quipped. “Can I watch?”
Before either Drake or Bethany could answer, a large arm wrapped around Jen’s waist, lifting her and placing her to the side. Decebel leaned in and grabbed the doorknob. “My apologies.” He looked from Bethany to Drake. “Sometimes she gets off her leash.”
Jen’s eyes went from normal human to glowing wolf in an instant. Her head snapped around to look at her mate. “Leash?” she all but snarled.
“By the way, Drake,” Decebel said, ignoring his irate mate, “when a female says, ‘Let me see it’ and ‘I won’t cut it off’ in the same sentence, it’s time to admit defeat and give her what she wants.”
The door closed to the sound of Jen’s voice. “Cut it off, Bethany! Then he and Dec can be twinsies. I’m about to cut off my mate’s—” The rest of the words were garbled, and Drake pictured Decebel’s hand over his female’s mouth.
Drake sighed and ran his hand down his face, feeling suddenly exhausted. When he looked up at his female from where he sat on their bed, she still stood with her hands on her hips. She hadn’t moved an inch.
“I’m waiting. Again.”
Drake’s lips turned up slightly. “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.” He probably shouldn’t push her buttons, but she looked so damn edible, glaring at him like a pissed-off kitten. And perhaps he should be a little worried that he used the description of edible and kitten in the same thought, considering he had a beast living within him. Maybe it was time to let his wolf go on a hunt.
Fingers appeared in front of his face as Bethany snapped at him. “Hello? Would you quit thinking about chasing bunnies? And by the way, kittens have sharp claws.”
He chuckled. Then, quick as a flash, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his lap. She let out a surprised yelp and slapped his chest. “Dammit, Drake. I’m mad at you.”
Nuzzling her neck and breathing deep, Drake let her scent fill his lungs and chase away the frustration that had filled him from the moment he had returned and found her glaring at him with a hairbrush in her hand. She hadn’t been brushing her hair.
“I know you’re mad.” He let his hand drop to the bottom of her skirt. Drake loved that she liked wearing such feminine clothes, especially dresses and skirts. He dragged it slowly upward until her thigh was bare and her markings showed. His wolf rumbled, and Drake let his fingers move up her skin. Goosebumps erupted on her lovely flesh. He continued until he reached the markings that began at her knee and ran to her hip. She complained about not being able to wear shorts because having her markings on display was a good way to get other males killed. But he could usually convince her that his undivided attention was a much better perk than wearing shorts. The markings were to his wolf like catnip to a hungry alley cat.
“What is with all the feline references? Have you got a fetish I don’t know about?”
He grinned up at her, momentarily taking his eyes off her thigh. “If I did, would you indulge me?”
She crossed her arms in front of her and pursed her lips. “How? By wearing a latex Catwoman costume. I don’t think so, buddy. The only thing I’ll be indulging you in is a nice warm blanket on the couch, where you’ll be sleeping for the foreseeable future. I’d hate for you to get cold at night.”
He smirked at her harsh words. The shiver that ran through her body caused by his hand on her leg dampened their sting. “You won’t make me sleep on the couch, Bethy,” he mumbled, his eyes focused once again on her markings. He licked his lips, his wolf salivating at the sight.
Bethany grabbed his face in her small hands and jerked his head, forcing him to look at her. “Show me your damn arm right now, andmaybeI’ll let you get a closer look at those marks you love so much.”
Show her your arm, stupid human, his wolf growled at him.If she denies us because you’re too stubborn to give her what she needs, I will not allow you to stay in control.Drake knew the beast wasn’t bluffing. His wolf was every bit as smitten with their mate as the human.
With a dramatic sigh, Drake held out his arm and let her pull up his sleeve. She ran her delicate fingers over his skin where the gash had been. Thanks to his rapid wolf healing, only a pink mark remained. “See? I’m fine.”
She snorted. “You’re acting like I’m the one being unreasonable. Wasn’t ityouwho came flying into the room demanding to see my arm? Or has that memory slipped your mind?”
Drake dropped his arm and resumed stroking her exposed thigh. “It’s a well-known fact that true-mated males are rarely rational.”
She laughed, and he wanted to roll around in the sound like a dog rolling in the cool dirt on a hot day, if such a thing was possible. Drake loved the sound of her voice.
