Read Online A Mate's Wish (Ouachita Mountain Shifters 0.5) by P. Jameson - Free Book Online Page B

connection with her. “I have never been more sure of anything in my entire life.”
    She nodded, looking nervous. “I don’t… I don’t do casual sex. You should know that.”
    He touched his forehead to hers. “I don’t either. Not anymore.” She was it for him. For the rest of their lives. He’d never bed another woman.
    Renner led Bethany to his bed, kissing her down until he hovered over her. He tasted her skin as he worked his way down to her nipples. The pain in his side was screaming but he wanted this, needed this moment with her.
    He grazed one of the hard nubs with his teeth and she let out a delicious moan. He sucked it between his lips, wringing more frantic sounds from her. Her hands flew to his hair, pulling. As he made his way lower, closer to the prize, he nuzzled her belly, kissing and nipping while she squirmed with pleasure.
    When he was finally crouched between her legs, he sat back to look at her. She was breathtaking like this, splayed out on his sheets, slick with arousal and trembling with need.
    “Renner?”
    He met her eyes and the question there made his chest tight with regret. “You’re beautiful, Bethy.” He licked his lips. “Don’t ever doubt it.”
    He didn’t wait to hear her response. Instead, he put his mouth to her sweet spot, licking, sucking, savoring. Her hand in his hair pulled, but he wouldn’t be persuaded. He’d bring her to the top and push her over before claiming her.
    His tongue worked her out while he carefully thrust a finger inside. Her breathy moans urged him on, and when her thighs began to tremble, Renner increased his attention, using his thumb to rub circles over her swollen nub. She was close.
    “That’s right, sweet baby. You’re going to come apart for me, and then I’ll finish inside you.”
    Another lick and she exploded, crying his name.
    Rising up, he kissed away her moans. His wound ached like a mother, but his need for her was stronger. Claim . Mark . He needed to know she’d always be his. Needed that reassurance.
    “I’m going to mark you, Bethy. As my mate. Do you understand?”
    She tossed her head against the sheets still writhing beneath him.
    “It means you’ll belong to me. Always. Do you want that?”
    Her foggy gaze cleared with his words. “Is this a panther thing?”
    He nodded.
    She brought her hand to his face, tracing the furrow of his eyebrows. “I don’t know what I want. This is happening so fast.”
    Disappointment slammed him in the chest, but he couldn’t blame her. Everything she thought she knew about him had been upturned over the past few days. Now he had to make a choice. One that could alter their future. Cats didn’t ask before they marked. They just took what they wanted. It was one of the reasons the Ouachita clan lived by the code, because they realized what a violation it was to take away someone’s choice.
    He could mark her now. Lock in the mating. Keep his Bethy forever.
    Or…
    He could wait until she was ready. If she was ever ready. Make the mating mutual. And have a chance at convincing Magic to change the code.
    Fighting his animal’s urge was nearly unbearable. Sweat broke out on his brow. His legs trembled with the desire to plunge into her.
    He dipped his head to hers, tasting her lips to calm himself. Home . She was his home. How could he take any chance of damaging what they had?
    Renner pulled back to look into her eyes. “I won’t mark you today. I’ll wait until you’re sure. But Bethy, you are mine. I’m going to show you what that means. Are you ready?”
    Her teeth worried her bottom lip as she gave a tiny nod.
    Carefully, he guided his erection into her. She was so tight. The way her silken folds gripped him… Renner bit his tongue to keep from losing control.
    When he was all the way in, he found her eyes. “This okay?”
    “Yes,” she breathed.
    Reaching between them, he pressed on the tender spot at the top of her mound. At the same time, he pulled out and thrust