Page 47 of Choosing the Rejected Mate

“You’re shaking,” I murmur.

“So are you.”She’s right.I am.

I sit up carefully, bringing us closer but still letting her keep the position above me.Her knees bracket my thighs.My hand stays on her waist.Hers rests against my chest.

“What do you want tonight, Holly?”

Her lips part.Her scent turns anxious at the edges, and I brace for her to pull back.To joke.To hide.She does none of those things.

“I want to go home,” she says.My heart sinks for half a second.Then she swallows and adds, “With you.”

Oh.My wolf lifts his head, and I go perfectly still.

Holly’s cheeks are pink, but she keeps her eyes on mine.“Not for claiming.Not yet.”

“Okay.”

“But I want...”She exhales, frustrated.“I hate words.”

“I’ve noticed you prefer threats.”

“They’re more efficient.”

“They are.”

She glares at me, but there’s no heat in it.Not that kind, anyway.

I cup her cheek with my free hand.“Tell me the inefficient way.”

Her eyes soften.“I want you,” she whispers.“Daniel.Not the bond.Not the wolf.Not because fate says I should.I want you.I’m scared, and I might panic, and I may threaten you with kitchenware tomorrow because feelings are disgusting, but I want you tonight.”

Every part of me burns.I lean in slowly, giving her room.“Then I’m yours tonight.”Her breath catches.“And tomorrow,” I add against her mouth.“And every day you decide you want me after that.”

She kisses me first, and it’s not soft.I’m grateful because I’m done with soft for a minute.

I pull her against me, finally letting my hands learn the shape of her without pretending I’m anything close to unaffected.She melts into my lap with a moan that shoots straight through me.My fingers spread over her back, her waist, the curve of her ass, and she gasps into my mouth when I grip her tighter.

“Still okay?”I ask.

She nips my lower lip.“If you ask me that every ten seconds, I’m going to bite you.”

“You already did.As a wolf.”

“I can do it as a woman too.”

I groan.“Don’t say things like that unless you want me to embarrass myself in this grass.”

Her laugh breaks against my mouth, and I decide, right there, that this is how I want her.Laughing.Wanting.Powerful enough to tease me while I shake apart under her hands.

We find our clothes by scent and moonlight, which should be simple, but Holly’s robe has somehow gotten caught in a bush.She yanks it free with a curse.

“The bush is slut-shaming me,” she mutters, and I bark out a laugh.

She points at me.“Don’t side with the bush.”

“I wouldn’t dare.”

I pull on my jeans with difficulty, mostly because my cock is extremely aware of the plan and very offended by denim.Holly notices.Her gaze drops, then flicks away quickly, cheeks blazing.