CHAPTERFOUR
Mine.
Rhett’s breath hitched in his throat. Sara was more beautiful than even Barbara’s photo had led him to believe. How that was even possible was beyond him. Her dark curls bounced on her shoulders, and she looked delicious in the loose dress she wore. What he wouldn’t give for a peek at those beautiful curves of hers.
Her bright emerald eyes lit up when he smiled at her, and everything inside of him yearned to keep her smiling, too. She was beautiful. Absolutely stunning.
Her scent washed over him as they spoke, fogging his brain and drugging his senses. It took all of his willpower … and then some … not to pull her into his arms to see if her bright glossy lips tasted as good as they looked.
He wanted to kiss her more than he wanted his next damn breath. But he feared that one kiss would lead to a touch. A single touch would lead to him stripping her bare and sliding his tongue over every inch of her body.
Besides, that wasn’t how a proper gentleman behaved.
His wolf growled in protest. Wasn’t that exactly what the scenting ceremony was for? To cast aside proper behavior and to just feel for one night? To allow animalistic passion to lead you, rather than ignore it in lieu of human conventions?
Not yet, he told his wolf. At least let the ceremony officially begin.
He didn’t have to wait long.
A howling sounded, and the crowd … still all in human form … began moving to the clearing in the field, where the bonfire was being lit.
“Oh, is it time?” Sara asked, her eyes showing both curiosity and excitement.
“It is,” Rhett replied, offering his arm for her to take so he could escort her.
She hesitated a moment … long enough that it almost plunged Rhett into despair that his mate wasn’t immediately touching him … but she finally placed her hand on his arm.
And his inner wolf howled in approval.
The touch of his mate was glorious.
He placed his free hand over hers as though securing it there. With all the other horny bastards who were here and unable to find a mate but still wanted to get laid, there was no way he was letting her out of his sight tonight.
Or ever, his wolf thought.
She has to have some say in it, Rhett thought to himself. But we’ll do all we can to make sure she chooses me.
He was certain that Sara wasn’t a shifter … he would have smelled her animal if she was … but he also had a feeling that she wasn’t simply human, either. What could she be? Not vampire … not unless she was one of the ones who ate grilled chicken and didn’t mind daylight … maybe a witch?
He wished he would have asked Barbara before the event. It would have made things a little less awkward.
“So, you’ve been to one of these before?” Sara asked.
“I have,” Rhett said.
He realized that while he knew what was happening, Sara had no idea, so he began explaining it to her.
“Mated couples stay to the back of the crowd, but those who are here hoping to find their mates tonight are at the front, circling the bonfire. This gives them all a chance to look each other over. Usually, a shifter knows from the moment they lay eyes on their mate that they’ve found them.”
“Everyone has been mingling tonight, though,” Sara mused. “Doesn’t that mean they may have already met?”
“Possibly, though I do know some of the younger ones like to avoid the pre-ceremony mingling just to add a level of surprise and anticipation.”
“Ah. I see,” Sara said as she eyed those nearest to the fire.
“The main couple that will lead off the ceremony has already met. They already know they’re mates, but tonight makes it official.”
Sara suddenly looked at him. “Don’t you need to get up front there to see if your mate is up there?”