Redson Read online

  She dodged his lips and grabbed his chin, staring into his eyes. “We need to. Hold that thought.”

  “Why?”

  “Are you really serious about wanting to mate with me?”

  Some of the glow faded from his eyes and he frowned.

  Shit. He didn’t look pleased that she’d brought it up. “Never mind.”

  “Yes, I’m serious. Why? Have you made a decision?”

  “Not exactly. I just wanted to discuss it more.”

  “Now?”

  “Yes.”

  He sighed and pulled back, sitting up on the bed. “Okay. What do you want to know?”

  “Are you absolutely certain I’m your mate?”

  “The more time I spend with you, the greater the draw. It’s tough not to bite you. The urge is there, and it’s not to just test it. Inside, I know. I feel it.”

  “I’m drawn to you, too.”

  “Say yes then. Be my mate.”

  “I’d have to give up my grandpa. I know it would be best for him since he can finally find a woman to share his life with, but a part of me feels as if I owe it to him to ask his permission first. He gave up his nest to save my life. He’s avoided other Vampires to keep me alive for the past thirty-six years. Does that make sense?”

  Red nodded. “You’re loyal. It’s an honorable trait. While we’re being honest, I worry that he’ll force me to kill him.”

  She was horrified. “Why would you even say that?”

  “You’re his nest, Emma. His granddaughter. He did give up everything for you. What is he willing to do to keep you? You’d hate me if I was left with no choice but to kill him in the course of defending myself.”

  “He’ll want me to be happy most of all. He’d never do that. You mean too much to me.”

  “Do I?”

  She stared into his eyes. “Yes. Do you want the truth?”

  “Always.”

  “I’m fighting it…but I’m falling in love with you. I think I am in love with you, Red. It happened so fast, but I don’t want to leave with my grandpa when he comes for me, because it means I won’t see you again.”

  Red growled and lunged, taking her down to the bed. His mouth was on hers in an instant. She gasped but kissed him back when his tongue delved into her mouth, meeting his passion. Her fingers slid into his hair as she spread her thighs, making room for him to get closer. She broke the kiss.

  “Don’t bite me,” she warned. “I really want to do the right thing by asking my grandpa first before we make this official.”

  “I remember. I’ll resist.” He groaned, going for her mouth again.

  Red stripped her as he kissed her. She loved him. That may as well be a yes to agreeing to be his mate. He just couldn’t bite her until she spoke with Malachi. He respected her need to get approval of their union from her family. Hell, he’d spoken to his uncle about making Emma his mate.

  He pinned her under him and trailed his mouth over her cheek to her throat. Her moans drove him insane and his dick hardened to the point of pain. He wanted inside her but he also didn’t want to rush things. He ran his hands over her body had him growling. She didn’t protest or seem afraid when he made such rough sounds.

  She was his mate. He inhaled her scent, knowing. He felt it down to his damn bones and through every beat of his heart. Mine.

  His fangs elongated, and he salivated, desperate to bite into her, to just get a small taste of her blood, but he resisted. There would be no turning back for him once he broke skin. Instinct would overpower him, forcing him to claim her. As much as he wanted that, he wanted her happy more. That meant waiting for the right time. It wasn’t now.

  He tore his mouth away to be less tempted to bite and got to his knees. He rolled her over, grabbed her hips, and helped her get on her hands and knees in front of him. Emma flipped her hair out of her face and peered at him over her shoulder. He glanced down at her luscious ass and growled again.

  She spread her legs apart and arched, teasing him. Worse, she rocked a tiny bit to mimic what it would look like if he were fucking her. The scent of her arousal filled his nose. She smelled unbelievable…hot and ready for him. Needy. His skin tingled and he had to pull in a sharp breath to keep fur from sprouting.

  “Don’t tempt me to partially shift, Emma.”

  She stilled, her eyes widening. “What does that mean?”

  “Half state. Human form with some fur. I don’t want to frighten you but you turn me on that much.” He attempted to joke, to lighten the mood and cool his lust down. “Don’t tempt the beast to come out to play.”

  He expected her to crawl away or maybe express fear, but she did neither.

  “Show me.”

  “What?” He couldn’t have heard her say that.

  “Show me, Red.”

  “I don’t want to scare you.”

  She smiled. “You don’t. Show me, please? I’m curious.”

  He hesitated but then allowed some fur to sprout along his arms, chest, and down his body. He gripped her hips with his hands as his claws slid out, gently, to avoid digging them into her skin. It was tough to prevent the bones in his face from changing but he managed. A snout would be bad. He didn’t think she would like that look at all.

  Red watched her as her gaze slid over him, again expecting her fear.

  Instead she smiled, shocking the hell out of him.

  “That’s kind of sexy.” She lifted a hand and reached back, running her fingers lightly over his arm and the back of his hand. “Not exactly bunny soft, but hot. I still want you.”

  “Fuck,” he snarled, inching closer to her and spreading his legs on the outside of hers to line them up right. She was much shorter. His dick was so hard and he didn’t need to let her go to press the tip against her wet sex.

  He slowly pushed forward, entering her.

  She moaned and looked away, dropping her head. “Your cock feels even hotter and thicker.”

  His mate wasn’t afraid of him. Pure joy and a rightness filled Red as he sank deeper into her wet, tight pussy. “Tell me you want it fast and hard.” He wasn’t sure he could give it to her any other way.

  “Yes!” she moaned.

  That was it. He gripped her hips a little tighter, still careful with his claws, and began to thrust deep and fast, taking her. Instinct rode him to bite but he refused to curl over her back and sink his fangs into her skin. Just the thought of sampling her blood, how warm and luscious it would taste, and making her drink his own, had Red almost coming.

  He slid a hand down, twisted his wrist, and used his knuckle to furiously rub her clit. Her pussy clamped tighter around him, her moans growing louder, and he held on to his control until she screamed out his name.

  He closed his eyes, threw back his head, and damn near howled when his seed began to shoot inside his mate.

  He wanted to get her pregnant. He wanted to seal their bond. He’d kill anyone who ever tried to take her away.

  “Mine!” he roared.

  When his mind cleared, he gently withdrew and rolled her onto her side. He followed her down, wrapping his still half-shifted body around hers. She snuggled back into him as he spooned her.

  “You feel so right in my arms, Emma.”

  “You’re home to me, Red. That’s what it feels like.” She ran her fingers over his arms and then twisted. He released her as she turned, facing him. She petted his chest, exploring him. He held her gaze when she looked into his eyes.

  “This doesn’t scare you?”

  “No. It’s a part of you. Is this as much as you shift?”

  “No.”

  “Can I see?”

  Would she be terrified? It chilled him to the bone, the thought of her rejecting him after she saw him fully shifted. “VampLycans don’t look like wild wolves.”

  “I’ve seen Werewolves before. Grandpa pointed some out to me one night.”

  “We don’t look like them, either. The Vampire blood makes us more humanoid, with less hair.”