Page 15 of The Goblin's Mine
“I told you it signifies when a male is mated, which is true. What I didn’t say is that we have no control over when it appears. This one showed up on my chest the instant I saw you.”
She gapes at me, looking positively stunned. “What…what are you saying?”
“I don’t know how it’s possible, butyouare my mate, Natalie. And I will be yours for the rest of my life. I will care for you, protect you, and make you mine.” I clear my throat. “If that’s what you want.”
“What if I want to go back home? Or date human men?”
I close my eyes, breathing through the actual pain her words cause. “Then that’s what you should do. I would never stop you.”
Her pretty eyes, which remind me so much of the gemstones we sometimes mine, go wide. “But that wouldn’t break the bond, would it? I’d still be your mate? So you’d just be here, alone, missing me.”
I shrug. “Yeah, pretty much.”
“And you’d be okay with that?”
I grip her hand. “Not for a second. I’d be tormented every day I was apart from you. Hell, I’ve been in torment since I first saw you. I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything. But I will never force you to stay with me. It has to be your choice.” My voice comes out ragged, but I can’t help it. It’s what she does to me.
Her eyes are shining with unshed tears. Is it possible she’s as affected by the mate bond as I am? Could shepossiblywant me as much as I want her?
“But what about the council? You’re protecting me because they decided to kill me, right? I can’t imagine me wanting to live here permanently would go over well.”
“Yes, that was their initial vote, but I haven’t revealed to anyone but you that we’re mates. If I tell them and show them the mark, they’ll change their stance. I have enough friends on the council to make sure of that.”
“And then…what? I’d just live here? What about my life on the surface? My family and friends? I know I can’t just go backand forth—the risk of people finding out about you and your kind would be too great.”
I nod. I’ve wondered about this too. “Yeah, it’s something we’d have to figure out. I can’t leave—my people need me here. I know I’m asking a lot, asking you to give up your life as we know it. But if we can think of reasonable compromises, I’m open to them. Anything that you want, that’s in my power to give? It’s yours.”
This time, one of the tears spills free and rolls down her cheek. “I can’t believe I’m your mate. I was so jealous of whoever had managed to claim your heart. I wanted to ask you so badly who it was, but I figured it was better that I didn’t know, because I might have clawed their eyes out. But now that I know you’re mine? I’m never letting you go.”
Her words send a rush of warmth through me, and before I realize what she’s doing, she has her arms around my neck and her lips pressed to mine.
That’s all it takes to unleash me.
We sink together on the bed. I lick the seam of her mouth, and when she opens, I invade her. Licking at her tongue, nibbling at her lip, devouring her until she moans. When I pull back, she shoots me a wicked grin and ducks her head, drawing her tongue across my mate mark, sending sizzling pleasure up and down my spine.
Fuck. Nothing has ever felt so good. I’ve never been so hard. I’ve never been so desperate.
“I need you,” I mumble. When we got here, I removed her boots and borrowed trousers so I could treat her wounds. But it’s not enough. I need everything off. I yank off her socks and then get to work on Sloane’s complicated top. With a laugh, Natalie sits up and helps me. I finally pull it away, revealing her in all her glory.
She’s long and tan and curvy, with toned muscles. Her thighs are thick and strong, her hips are round and inviting, and her tits are perfect. Two luscious handfuls with pretty pink nipples that are pointing straight at me.
I need to lick them.
So I do.
She writhes beneath me, making sexy little mewling sounds. Her taste is so sweet, and I can’t get enough. I need to lick her everywhere.
I drag my tongue down her sternum and to her stomach. I dip into her bellybutton, which makes her shiver, before moving to her thighs, licking and nipping at the insides of them.
She moans.
With a heated grin, I kiss her right between her legs, making her scream.
NATALIE
Oh,my god. I’ve never had sex before. I mean, I’m not a virgin, but nothing I’ve ever done has felt remotely like this. So I guess I’ve never hadgoodsex before.
Kill’s head is between my thighs, and he’s lapping at my center like he needs. It’s not neat and tidy; it’s hot, wet, and squelching. He’s humming and nudging his nose against me, all while he sucks my clit and curls two fingers inside me.