Page 35 of Alpha Marked

"It's the stupid mating bond, only, trust me," she lied.

He bent in until his mouth brushed hers. "Is it?"

Her breathing hitched as he ran his tongue over the seam of her lips.

"I taste you, Little Wolf. Your words may deny me, but the rest of you can't lie. Your wolf is telling you the same thing mine is telling me. We belong together. The chemistry between fated mates is too sacred for anything to cover it up. And once we are mated, nothing will keep us apart."

Without warning, he slammed his lips onto hers, and for a split second, River's body exploded, and even her wolf howled for him to take her. But as his tongue claimed her mouth, she turned her head away, breaking the kiss.

He groaned, and she turned back to him defiantly.

He traced one hand up her thigh and under her dress, grabbing her hip.

She bit her cheek until blood welled on her tongue.

"I will not take you today, River Whitetail, though it is both my right and my overwhelming desire. But I tell you now, before long, you will be my mate, and you will beg me to take you."

"They will chew you up and spit you out, River."

She smiled. "And I assure you, Prince Ares Wolvenguard, I will not."

A cocky smirk crossed his lips, and his eyes faded back to their mesmerizing bluish-green.

"We shall see, my beloved. We shall see."

CHAPTERSIX

It took Ares every ounce of control he possessed to keep by River's side without having his hands running over every creamy section of her body or wanting to throw a sheet over her, so no one saw the perfect skin made for him.

Only the sight of the faded white scar on the side of her throat held him back. Who dared do that to her? Ares would find out and kill him, slowly and painfully, possibly over several weeks. He practically saw his fierce little Omega stabbing at the rogue Lycan with a small potato peeler. Damn, he loved her feistiness.

She'd said she'd rejected the other male, and Ares believed her. She didn't smell like another male. Even if it had been years, his odor would have lingered on her to some degree if she hadn't rejected him.

When they left Andrea's office, Ares insisted on always keeping a hand on her. At first, she seemed annoyed, but gradually, he'd found her relaxing into him over the next hour. She'd touched him twice, though he was sure she didn't realize she did it. It didn't matter. It was only a matter of time before those things became deliberate between them. And if he kept calm and patient, those little touches would become instinct to her.

Twice, he had to hold back a growl when another male kissed her hand and smiled at her. But both times, she shot him a fiery glare, which could make the strongest wolves whimper like a pup and beg forgiveness. He had no idea how she did it. He'd never been cowed by anyone before. Not his parents, and especially not a female. But she wasn't any female. She was his Omega. His other half. His missing piece.

After an hour, a wolf entered looking for her, and River talked to him quietly. He'd glanced at Ares for several seconds before whispering something to her and kissing her hair. He hugged her and exited as Ares lumbered forward and took her arm.

"Who's that?" he demanded.

She pried his grasp from her arm before smiling at the other patrons.

"Firstly, I am not a naughty toddler. Do not grab me. Secondly, that is Bianca's father."

The man jumped into an old car and drove off.

He flexed his fingers and prayed her arm wouldn't bruise. "I… apologize for grabbing you." He inclined his head to her, and she nodded. "What did he want?"

"None of your business."

Ares growled and went to touch her again, but she slid out of his reach with practiced ease.Interesting.

River procured two flutes of champagne from a waiter and shoved them at him with a bright smile which didn't meet her eyes. "Keep your hands busy somewhere other than my body, please."

"What did he want?" he asked again, trying to calm his voice.

She turned and strode into the gallery without another word.