Page 31 of Shielded By My Mate

She pauses at the front door. “You love that, don’t you?”

“What?”

“Carrying me around.”

“Of course. I have my mate in my arms and her scent all over me. What could be better?”

She raises an eyebrow. “Not hurting your back?”

I shake my head. “Angel, you’re light as a feather. I could carry you for the rest of our days and feel no discomfort, only happiness.”

“You’re kind of perfect, you know that?” she whispers, leaning into my chest.

“You’re perfect,” I murmur, dipping my head to press my lips against hers.

Mira moans, and my control snaps. In an instant, I’ve got her pinned against the door, caging her in with my arms and body as I maul her.

My mouth slants over hers, my teeth nipping at her bottom lip until she gasps, opening for me. I waste no time in thrusting my tongue past her lips to tangle with hers.

Her fingers curl into my shirt, dragging me closer when there’s nowhere left for me to go. A growl rumbles deep in my chest, and she shivers against me, the sweet scent of her desire wrapping around my senses.

My bear surges forward, greedy for our mate, but I hold him back. Barely.

I kiss her deeper, savoring the soft stroke of her tongue against mine. Every breathless sound she makes feeds the fire burning beneath my skin. My hands find her waist, spanning her soft curves before sliding around to pull her flush against me.

She fits against my body like she was made for me.

“Ansel,” she sighs into my mouth.

Hearing my name on her lips nearly brings me to my knees.

I trail kisses along her jaw, then down the graceful curve of her throat. Her head falls back against the door, giving me better access, and satisfaction rolls through me. I brush my lips over the mark at the base of her neck, feeling her pulse race beneath my mouth.

“Mine,” I growl.

“Yours,” she breathes, burying her fingers in my hair.

My control frays another dangerous inch. I graze the mark with my teeth, and Mira gasps, arching into me. The movement presses every lush inch of her against my body, and for one wild moment, I forget where we’re supposed to be going. I forget the trail, the clearing, and the ring tucked securely in my pocket.

There’s only my mate in my arms and the way she kisses me when I lift my head to claim her mouth again.

This kiss is slower but no less consuming. I pour everything I can’t seem to say into it—every possessive instinct, every impossible hope, every promise of the life I want to build with her. Mira softens against me, trusting me to hold her, and my heart tightens painfully.

I love this woman.

I love her strength and her softness. Her laugh. Her stubbornness. The way she looks at me as if I’m something precious when she’s the greatest gift I’ll ever receive.

She brushes her thumb along my cheek and pulls away, her gray eyes meeting mine. “What was that for?”

“Do I need a reason to kiss my mate?”

Her lips curve into a teasing smile. “Apparently not.”

“Good.”

I steal one last kiss because I can, swallowing her laughter until it turns into another soft moan.

We break apart, both of us breathing hard, and I force myself to take a step back. We need to go before I throw her over my shoulder and carry her back to bed.