Page 68 of Twisted Tate

Dane and Whitney rise from the front row. Whitney’s smile is genuine as she crosses to pull me into a hug. She smells like expensive perfume, and I sink into her embrace for just a moment before she releases me.

“Welcome to the family, sweetheart.” She cups my face in her hands. “We’re so lucky to have you.”

Dane claps Tate on the shoulder. His expression is stern, but I catch the pride underneath. “I’m proud of you, son.”

“Thanks, Dad.” Tate grins at his dad’s words, but his eyes stay on me.

Whitney threads her arm through Dane’s. “We’ll see you both at the reception.”

They’re leaving because they know what comes next, and Dane Sinclair isn’t about to watch his son claim his wife. I’m grateful for that, at least. Whitney also drags her daughter, Sloane out with her.

Ivy appears at my side, Fox’s arm wrapped around her waist. She’s wearing a deep green dress that matches the Sinclair eyes, and she’s grinning at me.

“We can go if you want.” She keeps her voice low. “I know these brothers want to see what Tate has planned, but I can make them leave.”

I look at Fox. His expression is unreadable, but there’s no judgment there.

“You can stay.” The words comes out before I can second-guess them. “I want you to stay.”

Fox flashes me a mischievous grin. “Then I’m fucking staying.”

Thorne is teasing Tate about something, and Tate shoves his shoulder. Thorne agrees with Fox that he’s also going to stay.

The crowd shifts as those who don’t want to watch the claiming ceremony filter toward the exits. Most of the men stay, as they always do. The Ravens live for this shit. The men who founded the Ravens were fucked up, and that shit rings true today.

Tate turns to face me, and his green eyes are burning. “You ready, baby girl?”

My pulse races. “I thought you were going to tell me what to expect. You haven’t told me what you have planned.”

“I did.” His mouth curves into a sly grin. “I told you that you’re going to be the one doing the claiming tonight.”

I blink. “What? I don’t understand.”

“You heard me.” He steps closer, his hand coming up to grip my jaw. His thumb traces along my lower lip. “Every Raven ceremony in history has been about the husband claiming his wife. They make her prove that she belongs to him by spreading her open for everyone to see.”

I stop breathing for a second, and he notices. His grip tightens on my jaw.

“But you’ve spent your whole life being used by men who thought they owned you.” His voice drops low, meant only for me. “And believe me, baby girl, I do own you. But tonight, you are going to show them that you own me. I’m going to lie down, and you’re going to sit on my face, and everyone in this room is going to watch me fuck you with my tongue until you come.”

I stare at him. The words don’t compute, but they make my pussy wet.

“Tate, you can’t. They are expecting—”

“I don’t give a fuck what they expect.” He lowers his lips to my ear. “They want a claiming ceremony and we’re going to give them one. And I want every single person in this room to see that I’m completely claimed by my beautiful wife.”

Tears prick at my eyes. I blink them back.

“Someone’s going to say something.”

“I fucking dare them.” His smile turns sharp. “Come on, baby girl. Claim me.”

He releases my jaw and steps back. Then, while I watch in disbelief, Tate Sinclair lowers himself to the floor in front of every Raven in attendance. He lies flat on his back, hands folded behind his head, and looks up at me with those gorgeous green eyes that I fell completely in love with.

The crowd gasps as they watch what he’s doing.

“Well?” Tate’s voice carries through the hall. “What are you waiting for, Mrs. Sinclair? Come sit on your husband’s face.”

Fox makes a sound that might be a laugh. Thorne is staring with his mouth hanging open.