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He doesn't wait off and play it cool. Nope, his lips are on mine in a heartbeat. It actually makes me chuckle how quickly he leans in for a kiss. It doesn't come across as desperate, though. I like how into me he is, it is flattering.

Since we've been talking, he hasn't once looked at a single other woman. His focus has been solely on me, that's rare from a guy in my experience. Usually, they subtly scan the crowd. A low cut top is usually very tempting, too. But his eyes haven't strayed once.

Despite his confidence and occasional cocky joke, Ryker doesn't give me fuckboy vibes. He seems better than that somehow. My F-boy radar might be off, but he seems to genuinely be interested in me.

And the kiss? The kiss confirms everything that I was thinking. I knew that he would be a good kisser and I knew it would feel right kissing him, I didn't realise just how right it would feel.

I hold onto his shirt and pull him closer so that I can kiss him harder. I feel him smile against my lips before returning the enthusiasm. When his tongue sweeps over my bottom lip, I open up without hesitation. Tasting him sends my desire up a notch. I want him more than I've wanted anyone.

We pull back and I choose to be bold. I'm surprisingly sober and I blame that on the good conversation, the fresh night air and the endless snacks the girls have provided me with tonight.

"Do you want to come back to my place?"

I can't believe the words have left my lips, but it's too late, they're out there. Ryker looks as surprised as I am with myself. He seems taken aback with the question, but not in a negative way. It's almost like he can't believe his luck.

"Really? Are you sure?" He asks with raised eyebrows.

I shrug. "Yeah, I'm having a good time, I don't want it to end yet."

His eyes soften and he pulls me in for a hug. I'm a little startled, but I hug him back. His body is hard but warm and he smells so damn good. I rest my head on his shoulder.

"I'm not sure that's a good idea though, Rhea. We just met, I don't want you to think I'm after anything other than your company..."

It's a novel role-reversal for me. Since when do I have to be the one to beg whilst the guy plays sensible?

I pull back. "I promise I won't think that. I'm not going to think any less of you for agreeing," I tell him with a laugh. "As long as you don't think less of me for asking."

His smile is affectionate and genuine. "I could never think badly of you, Rhea. You're incredible."

Oh, my God, I need to snap this man up quickly.

"So? Yes or no, Ryker?"

He grins. "I'd love to go back to yours."

The cab isn't a silent ride. We continue talking, leaving the poor driver to listen to our flirting. I give them a generous tip as compensation.

As I let us into my flat, I send up a mental prayer of thanks for remembering to clean up before I left for work this morning. The place is clean and tidy when we enter and Ryker seems impressed.

"This is a really nice place," he comments when I give him a quick tour.

I decide to be bold again. I turn my back to Ryker and look at him over my shoulder. "Can you unzip me, please?"

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I swallow hard and wipe my clammy hands on my jeans before agreeing. I walk up to her and grasp the small metal zip. I slowly pull it down and the opened fabric falls open, revealing her smooth skin to me. I don't even realise that I've moved until I feel her warmth under my fingertip. I'm trailing my finger down her spine without realising it.

Rhea shudders and gives me a coy look, clearly liking the attention. She shrugs her shoulders and the fabric falls to her waist. She hooks her fingers around it and shimmies it down the rest of her body. She bends over to pull it down her legs, giving me the most incredible view of her ass. She's wearing a thong. I'm instantly hard.

I drag my hand down my face and quickly turn away. I need to retain some semblance of control tonight. I can't take things too far. I can't mark her, like I want to. I have to remember that she is human and I need to ease her into this.

I jump when her hand rests on my shoulder. I slowly turn and find my mate in nothing but her underwear, looking up at me with big fuck-me eyes. I can't stop myself, I kiss her.

Her body trembles under my hands. She's shorter than me and I feel as though I am looming over her with the way I take control of our kiss. She walks us backwards, clearly with a destination in mind. Without having to open my eyes, I know that we are in her bedroom. The smell of her scent is stronger in this room.

She breaks the kiss and looks up at me with heated eyes. She looks so desirable in this moment, all riled up and turned on. This is dangerous territory for me, I know I need to stop myself.

"We should stop," I whisper when she kisses down my neck.

She freezes and pulls back. I hate seeing the hurt from rejection in her eyes. "Why? Do you not want to? Oh, God, this is embarrassing. You can go if you want!"

I rush to reassure her. "No, no it's not that, at all. As much as I want to do this, Rhea, we shouldn't. I can't...control myself around you."

She looks relieved as I explain myself. A seductive smile spreads across her lips. "I don't want you to control yourself."

Fuck.

I clench my hands into fists at my sides. She's not making this easy for me. Her delicate fingers start unbuttoning my shirt. She watches for my reaction the whole time, making sure that I'm comfortable with what she is doing. She pushes the shirt back and then gently drags her nails down my chest. I lose it.

I grab her and push her back onto the bed. I hover over her and kiss down her beautiful body. I give her breasts some attention and discard her bra on the way. I kiss lower and lower until I'm between her legs; exactly where I want to be.

I bring her legs together to take her underwear off but then spread them wide to give me as much access as possible. I peck kisses along her inner thighs, getting higher until I can blow my hot breath on her pussy.

Her shudder is everything. I press my lips against her clit and kiss it softly. I hear her breathing change as I dart out my tongue and taste her. I moan against her sensitive flesh, she tastes so fucking good. I push my tongue inside her and she moans back, raising her hips off the bed.

I lick every part of her and lap up everything she gives me. I can read her body easily and it doesn't take much to have her cumming again and again. I sit up and let her recover, but she has other plans. Her hand dives into my boxers and squeezes my cock. I try to tell myself that I shouldn't let this go any further, but I don't fight her when she strips me naked.

She takes my cock into her mouth and I forget every promise I made myself. All control goes out the window as I lay back and let her take me to fucking heaven with her mouth. She pulls away and I instantly miss her touch. My eyes widen as I watch her straddle my lap.

Rhea lines herself up with my cock and starts to sink down. I grab her hips to stop her and she gives me a panicked look.

"I don't think this is a good idea," I choke the words out. "I can't control myself."

She smiles and pushes my hands away. "I don't care."

She doesn't know what she's saying. She doesn't know what I'm talking about. She doesn't know what she's getting herself in for.

Rhea impales herself on me and I'm winded. I fall back against the bed and take a shaky breath. I'm joined to my mate and it feels so much better than I could have imagined. She rides me slowly at first, getting faster and faster. I help her by lifting her hips and moving my own to meet her movements.

Our orgasms come quick and fast. I can feel my gums throbbing and I try to hold myself back, I really do. I know I'm done for when she falls forward onto my chest. Her neck is right next to me, exposed and tempting me. I grab the back of her neck, hold her even closer and bite her neck. It's like I'm possessed, I can't stop myself.

She moans loudly as our souls merge, as we become one completely in all senses of the word. I retract my teeth and rest my head on the pillow. Rhea looks at me, her eyes are like saucers, wide with shock. She stares at my irises and I know that they are glowing, giving away my supernatural existence.

"What-" she stutters out the word. "What are you?"

Guilt fills me instantly.

What have I done?

I marked my own mate without her permission. This was meant to be a beautiful moment that we both chose together. I've ruined it. I've forced this on her.

Terrified that she will resent me, but unable to lie to her, I tell her everything. I tell her what I am, who I am, my family and my background. I was a little...economical with the truth earlier when I told her that I own a country club. I'm an Alpha of a pack, that's a similar thing, right?

I explain what mates are, what she means to me, what my mark now means for her. All this time, my cock is softening inside her. It's unfortunate that we didn't move positions before I started explaining.

She cries. Tears roll down her cheeks and drip onto my chest.

"I'm so sorry," I tell her and my voice breaks. My own eyes start burning with tears. "I can't believe I've fucked up like this. I tried to hold back, I'm sorry. I should have given you the choice. I can't apologise enough."

"It's not that," she tearfully explains. When she looks at me, her eyes show how much hurt she is feeling. "I can't have kids."

I blink and try to process her confession. "What?"

"I can't have kids, I'm infertile," she weeps. "I get it if you don't want me, I can't give you a family of your own, I'm broken-"

I place my fingers over her lips to stop her from putting herself down. Sure, it's a shock and yes, I want kids someday, but I want her more.

"It's okay," I reply softly. "I want you, however you come, I'll accept anything. You're my mate, Rhea. Kids or not, I want to be with you."

She blinks back tears and her bottom lip trembles. "Really?"

I kiss those trembling lips. "Yes. I want you."

She throws her arms around my neck and holds me tight. I wrap my arms around her as she cries with happiness into my chest.

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