If this man was my fated mate, then…
No, I couldn’t let this happen. If I stayed in one place, Garth would find me. He’d kill whoever stood in his path. I wouldn’t let this stranger die because of me.
“I’m Titus Dempsey.” He held out his hand.
I considered his large palm for a few hundred beats of my heart before placing my hand in his. The heat from his skin was like the warming rays of the sun, but more, his touch did unexpected things to my body. My nipples hardened under the thickness of my wool-lined denim jacket. My core tightened with the craving for him to throw me to the ground and claim me with his massive cock.
“Don’t you have any clothes?” I asked to cover the sudden arousal infusing my body.
His lips almost formed a smile before he seemed to think better of it. “At home, I do. I left in my wolf form. I expected to return home as a wolf. Perhaps after we eat, we can shift and run there together?”
“I’m not shifting. Nor am I going to your house.”
“We’ll see.” He stroked his thumb over the rapid pound of the pulse in my wrist. “You’re mine. My house is where you belong.”
“Look, buddy, I’m no one’s.”
“Buddy?” He raised his eyebrows. “We will be more than buddies. Of that, I can assure you.”
“Screw this.” I tugged my hand, but his grip held tight. He drew me closer, as though he couldn’t stand for us to be apart any longer. The same emotions were trying to emerge from me.
“Yes, I will screw you too. Any way you want. Any time you want. And in ways you didn’t even realize you wanted.”
Desire barreled through my body. So overwhelming was my response to his words that I wanted to throw myself into his arms and have him show me exactly the things I didn’t even realize I wanted.
This time, his lips spread into a luscious grin. One full of the promise of seduction. Of pleasure beyond anything I’d had before or ever would again. No matter my denial, my body wanted this man. Titus. Such a potent name. Would he be powerful enough to protect me and himself against my past?
“I can scent your arousal.” He placed my hand on his chest over the tattoo etched into his skin of a tribal wolf. The tattoo signaled him to be an alpha.
An alpha was stronger than other wolves. Stronger than an alpha’s son. Perhaps I’d read him wrong. Maybe he could save me from Garth.
“Kara.” I swallowed before saying my last name because once he was aware of it, there was no way I’d be able to hide again. “Kara Kellet.”
His eyes didn’t flash with any recognition of my name. Nor of any understanding of who was looking for me.
“Kara.” He drew me closer. “Love, your name suits you.”
“Thank you,” I whispered.
The caress of his skin under my palm did wild things to my body.
“Kara. Mine.” He lowered his lips to mine.
I didn’t even think of objecting when I should have. I shouldn’t have leaned in closer, either. But I did. I shouldn’t have slid my hand up his chest and cupped the back of his head.But it felt so right. So pure. Instinctive.
His arms wrapped around my waist. He lured me closer still until our chests were touching and the raging evidence of how much he wanted me pressed between our bodies. Titus’s lips were firm and commanding against mine. They demanded I follow his lead. Claimed me as his like he said I was. With a sweep of his tongue, he possessed the inside of my mouth. I moaned into the depth of our kiss as my head swirled, and my heart raced in enjoyment. Every inch of my skin he wasn’t touching ached with the need to be caressed. To be marked as his.
I never wanted this moment to end.
I was free in Titus’s arms.
****
Titus
I broke the kiss before I spread her legs, feasted on the arousal I scented coming from her, and brought her to orgasm repeatedly. The hard rocks were not the place for my mate. One day, yes. But not today. She seemed like a fragile creature under the hard shell she portrayed. I saw her. All of her. And her needs.
I’d take care of those needs.