Dark Fates (A Paranormal Anthology)(14)

He crushed his mouth to hers, desperate to have her taste. She gasped then pushed into him, wrapping her arms around his neck. She tasted of wine and Em, a delicate combination.

When he pulled back, his wolf was on edge, ready to claim. Noah, however, wasn’t quite ready. Not until they talked more.

“Will you be my mate, Em?”

She blinked up at him then kissed him softly. “This is all so new to me, Noah. I thought my chance at a mate was lost. I haven’t given any thought to what I would do if it ever came again.”

He let out a breath, his body going numb. She hadn’t said yes. Dear goddess, she hadn’t said yes.

“Don’t give me that look. Please, Noah.” Her eyes filled, and she kissed him again. “I want you. I want your body, your heart, your everything. I know I do, but I’m not sure if I’m ready to take that next step.” She smiled then let out a shaky breath. “That’s a big step. A crazy one without first letting it settle. Do you understand?”

He kissed her again then pulled back, holding his emotions in check. He wasn’t sure he completely understood, but he would try. “So you want to mate with me, just not right now?”

Her nose wrinkled, making her look even sexier for some reason. He was officially losing it.

“That makes me sound thoughtless, but I don’t know how else to say it. Everything is moving too fast for me right now. I can’t just jump into a forever after thinking for years that I would be alone. Years, Noah. Can’t we just take it one step at a time knowing we’re ending up in the same place? It doesn’t feel right to me at the moment to form a mating bond when my emotions are going haywire.”

He nodded, disappointed, but relieved nonetheless. She wanted a future, she just needed to stop and think about it first. Knowing her, she’d make a list, go over each step, then work her way to being ready. That was his Em, and honestly, he wouldn’t have her any other way.

“I get it. So we continue to date, court…be us. And when you’re ready to be my mate in truth, all you have to do is say the word.”

She cupped his face, her small smile breaking him again. “I’m sorry, Noah. I just need to understand it all. I…I never thought I’d have this.”

He turned his head and kissed her palm. “No need to be sorry. I’m only thinking of the good. As in you actually feel me as your mate to begin with. Goddess, you have no idea how hard it was to think that you didn’t think I was yours at all.”

“I’m sorry I put you through that. I have no idea why I couldn’t make sense of what was going on. I feel like an idiot.”

“You shouldn’t. It’s been a long time.” He gave her a wry smile, and she rolled her eyes.

“Calling me old, pup?”

Knowing better, he kissed her nose. “Experienced.”

She socked him in the shoulder then squealed as he rolled her so she straddled him, his hands on her hips.

“Watch who you punch,” he said, his voice strangled. This might not have been the best move considering his dick currently pressed against the warmth of her * through her jeans.

Damn it. He didn’t know if he was going to make it. He might have to go rub one off to take the edge off—showing her just how young he really was apparently.

She tilted her head, her eyes glowing gold, then rocked her hips. The friction of the movement about set him off, and he had to grind his teeth.

“Em, baby. Maybe you should get off me so I don’t embarrass myself.”

She lowered her body, her breasts pressing against his chest. Noah swallowed hard as she licked his lips.

“I want you, Noah. I want you so badly I can barely breathe. But if we’re waiting to complete the bond, then I suppose we should wait to have sex as well. Though right now all I can think about is your cock filling me up until I come hard.”

Noah groaned, his hips flexing. “We should stop now then.”

“Okay,” she said as she rocked her hips again, letting out a little gasp.

His grip tightened on her hips, and he thrust up against her clit, his cock throbbing. “You’re going to make me come in my jeans, Em. Is that what you want?”

Her head rolled as she nodded then she cupped her breasts, keeping her hips moving at a rhythm sure to get them both off. They were dry humping on each other like teenagers, but f*ck, Noah didn’t care. He wanted to see her face as she came, hear every catch in her breath.

“Look at me, baby. Look at me when you come.”

She opened her eyes, her gaze on his. He cupped her breast, tweaking the nipple, and she let out a gasp, her breath coming in pants. He kept his hips moving against her spread thighs, his dick aching close to bursting.

“Noah, please.”

He rolled her nipple through her blouse, and her lips parted, her body flushing as her eyes glowed gold. His balls tightened, and he groaned as he came in his jeans, his own eyes glowing as well.

When they caught their breath, he pulled Emeline to his chest, kissing her softly. “I can’t believe I just came in my jeans like a teenaged boy.” He winced and shifted his legs. “I need to go clean up.”

Emeline laughed then kissed his jaw. “I’m just going to say, even without touching skin to skin—best ever.”

He grinned, his chest puffing out like a rooster. “Oh really?”