I never will.
The low sound that left me was purely animal. As I continued to lick and probe at her asshole, rimmed the fuck out of her, I reached around her belly, felt the heat of her pussy, and touched her clit.
“Come for me,” I ordered.
Her back arched and she thrust her ass back against my face as she did just that, as I rubbed her clit back and forth, forcing that orgasm from her until she was wailing her completion. When she sagged forward, now flush with the mattress, her climaxing wringing the energy from her, only then did I pull back.
Her scent covered my mouth, my cock now big and thick again, hard and ready for more claiming. I cupped her pussy and added pressure, her body sliding up the bed slightly. I stared into her now wide eyes, her lips parted, her breath coming from her in soft pants. I could see—smell—her acceptance of this, of us.
Leaning in, I wanted her to know the truth, to know exactly what this was, who she belonged to.
“Mine.”
Chapter Seven
Zakari
One month later
I knew why she’d wanted to go out tonight, knew what she was going to tell me. I smelled her nervousness, the fact she was trying to act like she wasn’t anxious.
And even though I was a happy fucker right now, I played it cool.
I opened the door for Bethany and instantly wrapped my arm around her waist, pulling her in close to my body. We headed toward the front of the restaurant, my bear on alert, the possessive fucker looking for any male who even glanced her way. There were a couple younger guys off to the side smoking cigarettes, and as I inhaled deeply and scented to the fact they were wolf shifters, I wrestled with my possessiveness.
Mine, my bear said deep within me.
I moved so she was now on the other side, farthest away from the group of men. Although I knew they wouldn’t try anything, not if they were smart, not if they scented I was a grizzly shifter. They wouldn’t da
re to fuck with a mated bear. If I could, I’d keep her locked up in my room and feed her from my hand every day.
But my female wanted me to wine and dine her, and she called the shots, so whatever she wanted she got. And tonight, that was dinner at her favorite Italian restaurant in town.
For the last month, I’d hardly let her out of my sight, and it wasn’t just because she was all but living with me now. I said “all but” because we hadn’t officially sat down and talked about it, or more so I hadn’t told her I couldn’t let her leave. But I knew she loved being there, and hell if I didn’t love having her there.
Although she still worked at the bar, I grudgingly tried to get her to quit. I only wanted her to work if that’s what she really wanted, and not because she thought she needed to. I could take care of her. I wanted to.
Her grandmother, on the other hand … she could bring the fear of God into me with just a scathing look, and I’d only met the woman once. That had been enough.
Although Bethany had brought in someone to care for her grandmother full-time, she still visited her a few times a week. I think she did it more because she felt an obligation, or maybe even guilt, than wanting to please her grandmother. Because, truth was, the woman was miserable and brought everyone down with her.
I held the door open for her and kept my hand on the small of her back as she entered. I looked over at the guys smoking their cigarettes, one of them looking in my direction. I narrowed my eyes and growled low, the sound traveling through the night air. He straightened and turned from me, the warning clear, his submission evident.
Good. I’d hate to have to put him in his place in front of all his buddies. But, to let him know Bethany was mine, I’d do anything.
Once we were seated at a table, I stared at her, unable to take my focus off of my mate. She was by far the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen, and every day my feelings for her grew, the connection, the mating pull, stronger than ever.
“Can I start you off with a bottle of wine?” the waiter asked and produced the wine list. Before he could hand it to Bethany, I cleared my throat and shook my head.
“No wine, thanks,” I said gruffly and smiled, and although I wasn’t a grinning man, not for pleasantries at least, it probably came out more as a snarl. “Give us a minute.” I knew Bethany was about to give me an earful with my being brisk right then.
The waiter nodded once before turning and leaving. I turned my attention back to Bethany and saw she looked annoyed. She lifted an eyebrow, and I couldn’t help but chuckle at the fire inside of my mate. God, I loved her.
“What was that about?”
I took her hand and brought it to my lips, kissing her knuckles as I stared into her eyes. “I love you,” I said against her flesh and she rolled her eyes. But through her annoyance with me, I saw a slight smirk on her lips.
“I love you too.” A moment of silence passed and then she leaned back in the chair and looked annoyed. “You know already, don’t you?”