chapter 19

The pleasure was almost too intense and she couldn’t stand it.

He devoured her pussy, driving her toward a second orgasm that she didn’t think she was capable of having, but he did it, pushing her over the edge. Before she had even finished, he moved up the bed, settling between her spread thighs.

“Tell me if you want me to stop,” he said.

“You’re crazy if you think I want you to stop. I want to feel you inside me, stretching me, making me yours again.” She screamed as he pushed in the wide tip and slammed to the hilt in one quick, hard thrust. Taking his cock was immeasurably more satisfying than his mouth. Bethany wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing his rough jawline and neck. She couldn’t get enough of him, his scent, and everything Caleb.

She tried to match each of his strokes with her hips, becoming attuned to this man, her mate. It was still odd for her to think of him as her mate.

Mine.

That was what Caleb was. He belonged to her, just as she did him.

She let out a squeal as he moved their bodies, rolling himself into a sitting position so she could straddle his waist.

“What are you doing?”

“I want to feel all of you. Ride me, beautiful. Let me watch.” He ran his hand down to her hips and guided her up and down his thick length.

He groaned, the sound arousing her more. She didn’t want to stop. He gripped the flesh of her ass as he helped her. She took him deep inside her, savoring the fullness.

“Do you have any idea how good you feel? How tight your pussy is? I want to make you pregnant, Bethany.” He leaned forward and licked her tits, sucking each nipple into his mouth.

She cried out as he bit down. The pain sent a shockwave through her body, but he soothed out the bite with his tongue as he licked across her heated flesh. Her heart raced, her entire body ready to go off again at any moment.

She whimpered as she felt that familiar tightening in her core.

Caleb growled again, and this time, he slammed up to meet her thrust for thrust.

She watched him as he used her body, the intensity and strain on his handsome face. When he came, she felt every pulse as he sent wave upon wave of his cum into her body.

She showered him with kisses, unable to get enough of her man.

The heat slowed in her body, but a gentle hum of need was still there.

Would it ever be gone?

“I didn’t mean to do that,” he said. “What?”

“Make love to you again. I was going to be a nice guy. Run you a bath. My plans went into the gutter when I saw you standing there naked.”

She giggled. “You were going to take care of me?”

“Always.” He ran his hands down her back, an affectionate touch.

Her mind felt clear and whole. She painted a trail down his chest with her finger. “So, you’re a wolf?”

“Yes.”

“And I’m your mate?” He winked. “Yes.”

“Does this mean we can get married?”

He touched the bite he’d given her. “This means we’re already married. It’s a lifelong commitment.”

“But I’m not a wolf. I think I’d like to hear you say the traditional vows.”

He frowned.

“Oh, come on, please,” she said.

He laughed. “You want me to propose?”

“If we’re already married, what difference would it make? You said you wanted to get me pregnant, and I could be carrying our baby now.”

Again, he growled.

“I love it when you do that.”

“I love you, Bethany, so fucking much.”

This made her gasp. He didn’t give her a chance to think about what he said. He loved her? Was it too soon? No. Could she trust her own feelings?

“Marry me, Bethany,” he said. “I couldn’t give you the courtship I wanted. I can at least do this right.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll make sure my guys get everything ready for us to have a wedding. Would you be happy to have one at the house?”

“Yes, of course.” Did she love this man? Yes. Was her mind playing tricks on her?

Caleb kissed her hard. “Let me go and run a bath for you.” He turned them onto their sides and she went willingly. He pulled out of her. “I’ll always take care of you.”

After being alone all of her life, his words were like sweet music. She wanted to believe in them. It was exhausting only counting on herself since she was young. However, life had taught her to always be careful, and she couldn’t help but worry. What if they were moving too fast? Was she the wrong mate?

No one ever stayed with her. Even when she was born, her parents hadn’t wanted her around. No one in the foster system had cared about her. She’d always been overlooked or handed back. There was always someone better than her.

Sitting up, she crossed her legs, feeling all the old insecurities swamp her. She remembered feelings of hope as a girl only to be completely shoved into despair and loneliness from the constant rejection. Tears pricked her eyes.

Caleb wasn’t like that. She had to forget the past and look to the future.

How do you know? What do you know? He’s a wolf.

Caleb came back to the bedroom with a smile, but he stopped when he looked at her.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Nothing, just a little tired.” The lie rolled off her tongue and she hated it.

She’d rather go through the heat, the intense need than feel this. She was breaking her own rules of keeping strong and she was annoyed with herself for doing it.

Caleb sat on the edge of the bed, taking her hand. “You know, I can tell you’re lying.”

“It’s nothing.”

“Bethany, you’re my mate. I can’t make you happy unless you tell me what it is that makes you upset.”

She stared down at where he held her. Even this felt good to her. “It’s just … I’m so happy.”

It was crazy to be scared of being genuinely happy.

It seemed too good to be true, and she was terrified it would be ripped away from her.

“You look and smell like you’ve been crying.” “You can smell tears?” she asked.

“Yes. You’re sad. I don’t want my mate to feel anything but happiness.”

She didn’t want to sound so insecure to him. This was more than she could have ever hoped for.

“Just … don’t break my heart, please.”

He smirked. “Is that all? You never have to worry about that.” He let go of her hand and scooped her up in his arms.

“I know there’s more going on here and one day, I hope you’ll be able to trust me with your heart. I’ll never break it, I promise.”

She wanted to believe him.