Page 115 of Alpha Ruined

She looks up at him, his brilliant blue eyes meeting hers. “I never knew you could be so gentle,” she admits. The corner of his lip quirks and his expression softens.

“I can gentle when the circumstances permit it,” he quips, and she chuckles.

“You’re unbelievable,” she sighs, wandering into the kitchen to move away from him. But he follows her, invading her space until her back is against the island and he’s only inches from her. She cranes her neck to look up at him, and her heart flips at the intensity in his eyes.

She should push him away.

But she doesn’t want to.

“Unbelievable. Impossible. Ridiculous. You can call me whatever you want,” he murmurs, his lips inches from hers. “Just don’t run away from me this time.”

She licks her lips, inhaling his deep scent.

“I had to,” she whispers. “I didn’t have a choice.”

He shakes his head. “There’s always a choice, sweetheart.”

Then he leans in and kisses her.

It’s a desperate, hungry kiss, and she doesn’t stifle her moans. He grips her waist and hoists her onto the marble island, and she spreads her legs to wrap them around his hips. He groans into her mouth and runs his fingers down her neck to her sensitive mating gland, gently rubbing circles around it.

The sensation goes directly to her clit. When she pulls away to breathe, he uses the opportunity to suck bruises into the delicate skin of her neck.

She moans, the sound echoing off the walls of their home.

“You smell sosweet,” he groans.

“Oh,” she gasps, her cunt throbbing. “More, please?—”

He pulls her sweater off her and lets it fall to the kitchen floor, her bare arms on display.

They both pause, panting heavily.

“You’re beautiful,” he promises, pressing his forehead to hers. He takes the hand that was gripping his shoulder and lifts it, pressing a kiss to her wrist, keeping his eyes locked on hers.

Then, he switches and does it to the other hand, tenderly pressing his lips to the marks on the opposite arm.

“I love you,” he whispers. “I’m in love with you, Breana.”

She shivers as their mating bond thrums. Love, belonging, and safety wash over her so thoroughly she forgets to breathe.

Cole kisses her chastely, and when he pulls away, she sighs.

“I want to be worthy of being your mate,” he says. “I know what I do will never truly be enough; but I want to come as close to it as I can.”

She gives him a small smile as his essence rushes through her veins.

“You don’t have to say it back,” he adds. He presses a kiss to her palm and intertwines their fingers. “I’ll say it enough for the both of us.”

Bree nods, tears filling her eyes. “If you love me, then there are a few more things to discuss,” she breathes. “Before I allow any of this to happen. To letushappen.”

The truth is, she was doomed the moment she walked into the house.

She could have insisted on driving back to her apartment, but once she was in the car with Cole, she knew she was halfway to forgiving him.

She’s not ashamed that he’s her mate, and she doesn’t want to refuse their bond.

But she needs answers.