Kiss of Frost (The Dragon Stone Saga Book 1)(9)

I step backward, both of us shuffling until he's got me pressed against the wall. My chest rises and falls as my breathing picks up speed. "That depends. I don't like being called tiny."

"But you are tiny." Beck whispers the words against my forehead, his breath cool, as he bends so his face is at my level.

"No, you're just abnormally large," I huff.

"What if I wanted to call you…" Beck trails off as he drags a finger down my neck, his lips following the same line.

"Call me what?"

"Mine," he growls before he nips at my neck.

My head spins between his actions and the word mine. "I'm not yours. You don't even know me."

"Not yet, my little witch, but I will." He nibbles at my neck again and I can't help but crane my head to the side to give him better access. It's like he's put me under a spell of desire for him. I've never been this brazen with a man before.

"How do you know I want to know you?" I whisper the words against his cheek, my fingers digging into his muscled hips.

"Because you're my mate. I can feel you inside my chest. I don't know how I was lucky enough to find you so soon, but I will not let you out of my sight from now on." He bites down hard on my neck and I yelp, pushing him back.

"Hey! That hurt." I rub at the sore spot on my neck and try to wiggle free from him.

"Now you bear my mark and no one else can claim you." Beck smiles smugly and I want to reach up and wipe the smirk off his face. How can I go from desiring him one second to wanting to hit him the next? I feel like I'm giving myself whiplash.

"I'm not anybody's but my own, mister. So just slow your roll. You just woke up from being trapped for a while. I'm sure you're horny and all, but I'm not just going to jump into bed with you because you bit my neck and claim I'm your mate."

"But you are my mate." Beck reaches for me again, and I slap at his hands.

"I'm not so sure about that."

"You don't trust me?" Beck scowls.

"I don't know you," I retort. I've heard of mates between shifters, and of course, witches have life mates, but I never thought I'd have the chance at one. And a shifter and a witch, this wasn't going to go over well in the magical community.

"We can change that, mate." Beck reaches for the blanket wrapped around his hips and I spring forward, placing my hand over his.

"There is a child here. None of that. No flashing your bits!"

He growls and palms the back of my head, leaning down and inhaling a breath. "Mmm, you smell like cinnamon sugar. I want your taste on my tongue."

"Whoa there, ease up, buddy. You're not alone," Jem calls as she walks back into the room holding a stack of folded clothes between her hands.

Thank god.

"You two getting to know each other?" Jem raises a brow and I cringe. She must think I'm an idiot.

"Uh, kinda…" I step away from Beck just to put some space between us. He follows me, closing the distance between us again.

"She is my mate," Beck states and I wince.

Jem coughs up the sip of iced tea she just drank. "Come again?"

"She is my mate," Beck repeats matter-of-factly.

"Oh, boy." Jem blinks quickly, looking between the two of us.

"I think he's delusional from being kept inside the stone for so long." I can't deny that I feel some sort of pull toward Beck but I'm not going to let it distract me from what's at stake here—Kay and her family.

"I am not delusional. We are mates. And I will prove it to you." Beck grips my hip and my insides turn to mush, my knees weakening as his strong fingers rub up and down my side.

"None of that." I bat at his hands, but he ignores me.

"Uh, I don't think he's wrong, Ivy. There's something there." Jem nods.

"There is not," I reply breathily. Even I don't believe my words.

"Don't deny it, mate." Beck kisses the back of my head and my eyes flutter closed. "I will make it better soon."

"Make what better?" I ask without thinking.

"The ache. It will dull once we complete the mating ritual."

Mating ritual? I don't even ask about that. I just let the feeling of calm mixed with desire flow through my veins.

"Can that wait until we've finished looking for the rest of the gems and gotten Kay's family to safety?" Jem asks.

I shake my head, not wanting Beck to stop touching me, but he steps away and I whimper at the loss of his touch.

"It can wait, but not long. I've marked her." Beck shrugs.

"You did what now?" Jem shouts.

"Yeah, he bit my neck." I frown over my shoulder at him.

"I marked her so no one else could take her from me."

"That's barbaric!"

"It is our way." Beck shrugs again. "Where should I start looking for the rest of my siblings?" He walks to the couch and plops down, tossing the clothes Jem had handed him to the side. I watch as he moves, the way his muscles ripple and contract, and I want to trace each of them with my fingers and then my tongue.

"Beck, I need you to put some clothes on." I clear my throat, trying to breathe deeply and clear my head. I feel like I'm on a high-speed train with no brakes. I know I need to help Kay but all I can think about is Beck and getting my hands on him.