“To call my mother and let her know we’re gonna be late for work. I plan to officially claim you before we go anywhere. I didn’t want you to wake to the sound of me talking on the phone. I wanted you to wake to the feel of my tongue on your clit.”
Her breath caught. “Claim me?”
“I held back from you for a long time because I knew deep down to my bones that I’d never let it be temporary. I knew that if I made a move on you, I’d keep you. My kind aren’t so good at settling down or committing. But when we do, that’s it.” Alex squeezed the side of her neck again as he drank in the cautious hope etched into his mate’s face. His mate. Masculine satisfaction blazed through him. “Did I expect imprinting to happen so soon? No. Did it shock the hell out of me? Yes. But it’s not a bad surprise. I want this, Bree.”
“You’re sure this isn’t just a case of possessiveness muddying your thoughts? It has to be riding you hard right now.”
It wasn’t riding him, it was hammering at him to be near her; pumping him full of a bone-deep territorialism he hadn’t known it was possible to feel. But … “That possessiveness has always been there. It’s just a lot more intense now.”
“What about your beast?”
“All he wants is you. Which is good. It means me and him are on the same page. You want this, too, Bree. I know you do. Just accept it. Let it be.”
Bree let her eyes briefly drift closed. Oh yes, she wanted it. Wanted it more than she’d wanted anything in a long time. She didn’t fear it. Didn’t fear the depth of commitment she’d be making. She feared losing it, losing him. “You need to be sure, Alex.”
“I would not commit to something as serious as a mating if I was not one-hundred percent certain about it. This is it for me. You’re it for me. I’m not going anywhere.”
Bree swallowed. He no doubt meant to sound reassuring, but there was a steel in his voice that reminded her who and what she was dealing with. A dominant male wolverine. His kind were tenacious fuckers. They never backed down, never quit. They fought for what they wanted, and they fought to win.
What was it that Valentina had once said to Bree about him? “My Alex holds tight to what is important to him. He does not give up on things. He likes to have what he wants when he wants it, but he will be patient if it means he’ll eventually get what he seeks. And he will get it. Mark my words on that.”
Now, looking back, it almost seemed like Valentina was forewarning her.
Alex slipped his hand around to cup her nape and tugged her closer. “I want this, you want this. So let’s be done chewing on it, yeah? Let’s both commit to this here and now.”
She swallowed and then took a deep breath. “I’m all in if you are.”
The corner of his mouth hitched up just a little. “Oh, I’m definitely all in this, baby girl.” He kissed her. It was a soft, deep, drugging kiss that felt much like a vow. A kiss that was full of reassurance and promise. Nonetheless, taking her by surprise, need zipped up her spine and made her moan into his mouth.
Growling, he delved his fingers into her hair and slanted his head to take the kiss deeper. He consumed her mouth. Dazed her thoughts. Dragged her into a vortex of sensation. Made her blood heat and her body roar to life. God, she needed to fuck. There. Then. Rough.
He bit her lower lip hard. “Take off that fucking robe.”
She almost shivered as that soft growl played over her skin, making it prickle and tingle. Bree untied the robe and let it slip from her shoulders to puddle at her feet.
He drew in a breath through his nose, dragging his gaze down her body. “Perfect.” His mouth swooped down and claimed hers again. His tongue tangled and warred with her own, bold and sure and clever.
She splayed her hands on his solid back and dug her nails into all that hard muscle. She wanted to rake his flesh. Wanted to brand him as hers.
“Go on,” he growled. “Do it.” Alex snarled as the tips of her claws slashed his back, leaving a trail of fire and drawing blood; branding him so deep he knew they’d scar. His dick went impossibly thicker. His beast let out a growl of sheer male satisfaction.
Fuck, just knowing he was about to claim Bree as his mate … Alex had never been so hard in his goddamn life. Never needed anything as badly as he needed to make her his. But he wouldn’t rush this. He wanted it to be a morning they’d both remember.