She swallowed. “My mother buttoned it.”
He stroked her cheeks with his thumbs. Her skin was so soft, and he loved how it pinkened as she realized she couldn’t get out of this ceremonial gown without help.
“I won’t rush you to consummate our mating, Amber. I’ll never rush you. You’re not expected to take me into your body today. You’ll know when you’re ready. But I would like it if you let me help you change. Can you do that?”
Her cheeks turned an even darker shade. She licked her full pretty lips. “Yes, Daddy,” she whispered.
He loved that she’d so readily accepted the endearment. Surely she could feel the bond growing. A part of her knew she would submit to him in many ways. It was innate. Plus she’d had a clue before arriving because apparently the next Little mate to join them had visions.
Isaac needed to call Jayce and bring him up to speed. The Alpha needed to know that his mate was watching him. It wasn’t her fault. The visions were probably scaring her to death in many ways, but nevertheless, Jayce needed a heads up. It could wait, though.
Isaac kissed his mate again, lingering on her lips, tasting her, enjoying how she leaned toward him and moaned into his mouth. No, he wouldn’t rush her, but it wouldn’t be necessary. His Little girl would be desperate for everything he had to offer her in no time.
When he broke the kiss, he grabbed her hips. “Turn around, Little one. On your knees so I can unfasten these buttons.”
She scrambled to face away from him, her breathing heavy as she pulled her long curls over one shoulder.
Isaac cupped her shoulders and kissed her neck, loving the way she trembled as goosebumps rose on her skin. “The bond between us is intense, isn’t it, Little mate?”
“Yes, Daddy.” Her words were breathy.
“It will grow with every passing hour. Fate doesn’t make mistakes. She chose us to be together for the rest of our lives, and She intends for us to build a connection neither of us can fathom.”
Amber looked over her shoulder. “I feel it, Daddy.”
He smiled. “I do, too. Let me warn you. If you touch me with your mark, our bond will grow. Same goes for my mark touching you. And when we line them up, fireworks will go off.”
“They already are going off, Daddy,” she said.
He stepped back and removed his suit jacket before tugging on his tie and pulling it off. Next he unbuttoned the first few buttons of his dress shirt. That was all he could do for now. Just enough to be more comfortable before he tackled the buttons leading down his mate’s back.
Isaac took his time. After all, he would only unveil his mate one time. He wanted to remember this moment. Every shiver that made her tremble as he pushed each button through the tiny hole. The way her breath hitched as his knuckles grazed the back of her neck. The soft whimpers that escaped her sweet lips as the dress loosened around her shoulders.
She was precious, and he was blessed beyond measure.
Isaac could scent her arousal. He knew it unnerved her. The sensations were something she’d never experienced and no one had explained. Even the most well-intentioned mothers in the valley could not describe what their daughters would feel when they were with their fated mates. They couldn’t put it into words because they themselves had never felt anything even close to this.
Fated mates—the marked—had much deeper bonds than other shifters. Their connection caused them to crave more, and even though they had never met, the need to consummate was instantaneous.
That didn’t mean they had to listen to the calling yet. Though Isaac knew his Little mate was aroused, that didn’t alleviate her fear or her nerves. She couldn’t understand why her tummy was in knots or why her pussy was leaking. Her breasts were probably heavy, her nipples hard and tingly. None of this would make sense to her.
“Daddy…” she whimpered as he reached the last button.
He slipped the pretty dress over her shoulders and bent to kiss the smooth skin that was revealed as the material fell down to her waist. She was still hidden under layers of shifts, but her biceps were bare now.
Isaac massaged the tender skin of her arms and shoulders, hoping to help her relax. “It’s okay, Little one,” he murmured against her ear. “What you’re feeling is normal.”
She shuddered and leaned back against his chest.
Isaac slid a hand up to cup her throat, stroking the tender skin with his fingertips. Her lips parted as she started panting. In this position, even though she still wore about three layers of shifts, he could see the rise and fall of her chest, the swell of her breasts, and the points of her little nipples.
He wanted to reveal them, and he would, in a minute. But there was no rush, and he was enjoying watching her succumb to these new feelings.
When she grew increasingly restless, Isaac tucked his hands under her arms, lifted her off the bed, and turned so that he could sit and stand her on the floor in front of him.
The dress fell to her feet.
He picked her up again and settled her on one of his knees so he could remove her sandals.
