Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Just thinking about it filled me with heat. My hips swayed as I walked toward him, taking my time, soaking in his notice. Desire raged through the bonds and his eyes glimmered as he looked everywhere at once.
“Hey, baby,” I said, running my hand up his arm and over his shoulder.
His free arm fell around me, his hand low on my hip. The touch was possessive, and he leaned toward me in a silent display of his claim.
“You look beautiful, Jess,” he murmured, glancing his lips across mine. “You take my breath away.”
I placed my hand on the back of his neck and pulled him a little closer, deepening our kiss. I knew he’d appreciate the public display of affection. He liked affirming his claim for all to see.
“Do you want to stay for a drink?” I asked after I ended the kiss, still standing close.
His shook his head, leaning back just a bit so that he could look down at my chest. “I’d rather go somewhere private. I’m a man—it’s easy to give me a perfect date. Just get naked.”
I laughed and curled my fingers around the neck of his beer. Holding his gaze, I pulled it toward me slowly, running my tongue across the edge before wrapping my lips around the opening. My sip was slow and his eyes were hungry as he watched my mouth, no doubt wishing it was wrapped around something of his.
“We’ll have plenty of time for that,” I told him in a sultry voice, keeping the bottle. “Let’s get out of here. I have something to show you.”
His fingers dug into my hips as he pulled me closer. Our bodies connected, and I could feel his hardness through his jeans. His lips trailed along the side of my neck, and his teeth scraped across my shoulder. I shivered and clutched his shirt, closing my eyes and moaning softly.
Somewhere private suddenly sounded good. Very good. Except I wanted to keep him on edge all night. I wanted to tease him until he exploded and took me in a fit of passion. I had plans for it that I knew he’d like.
“Come on.” I handed back his beer.
He was slow to take it, keeping our bodies close, ignoring the guys he’d been talking to just a moment before. They were shifters, though. They wouldn’t be affronted.
“If it pleases m’lady,” he whispered, finally relenting and taking the beer. He drained it, slipping between the guys and placing it on the bar. “After you.”
I pulled his arm up and over my shoulder as we walked out, relishing in his heat and the delicious smell of his cologne. I could tell his focus was entirely on me, on staying close, and he barely noticed anyone we passed. That changed when we left the bar, turned the corner, and stepped into the parking lot. Suddenly he slowed.
“Okay, so I know you’re not totally a car guy like your brother,” I said. “But you’re a guy who likes to go fast, and this is one of the fastest cars out there. So I thought you might like to find a track or something and see how fast you can go. It also looks awesome. Please don’t kill yourself.”
“You bought this…for me?” he asked. “Jess…”
He stopped beside it, pulling his arm from around my shoulders and bending to look in the driver’s side window.
“That’s not all.” I smiled at him nervously before opening the door. It swung upward at a diagonal, insanely cool.
I picked up the little box I’d deposited on the driver’s seat before going into the bar. Turning, I opened it and revealed his next gift. The street light was too far away for good visibility, though.
“Hang on,” I said, bending and angling so the light from the car could illuminate the watch. “I know you’re definitely a watch guy. I had Sebastian help me with this one. It’s a unique piece crafted by a master for a charity auction. It’s one of a kind, a collector’s piece in its own right, but it means something more in the mage world. Sebastian said they’ll take one look at this watch and assume a female bought it for you. They’ll quickly realize that female was me. This watch will tell them I have unwavering faith in your ability to protect me and value you more highly than any of them.” I straightened, holding the watch for him. “It seems like a lot of symbolism for a single watch, I know, but Sebastian insists that’s how it will be perceived. And it’s all true, Austin. When I’m with you, I know I never have to fear for my safety. You’ve been watching my back since before I was magical. Each time I’ve grown in power, you’ve grown right along with me. You crush any sort of challenge I lob your way, and you do it gracefully. Gladly. You are the greatest alpha in the world, I truly believe that, and I’m honored and humbled that you’d pick me as your mate. I also know that you are the greatest man. We could have nothing, no magic, no money, no territory, and it would be enough just to have you in my life. Having you is enough to make me feel like the luckiest woman in the world.”