Page 73 of Alpha Claimed

Her body quivered, and his wolf howled in delight.

More. Mate. Now.

Ares swirled his tongue over her collarbone, and her fingers dug deep into his shirt.

"Ares," she breathed.

"Beloved."

He kissed her skin, making her pant and pull him closer.

Ares wolf howled.Claim. Mate. My Omega.

He claimed her mouth with his, and she attacked him. Her lips and tongue were hot and needy on his as her breasts smashed against him, making him want to strip off his clothes and be skin-to-skin with her.

She mewled into his mouth, and her hands found his rear. Ares' fangs dropped into his mouth.

Bite her. Take her.

His wolf strained against his tether, and Ares stepped away before his restraints broke.

No!

She looked at him, confused. "What's wrong."

Ares sucked in several sharp breaths. "My wolf… wants you."

His nails lengthened, and she stepped toward him, but he held up his hand, and she stopped.

Back down, you idiot, or we'll lose her.

His wolf paced and snapped, but Ares forced him to submit, and his wolf laid down.

"Are you okay?"

He swallowed hard and then straightened. "Yeah. It's just… getting more difficult to hold him back."

Concern etched her features.

"I won't hurt you, River. And I won't take you without you choosing me."

She moved forward and cupped his cheek. "I know you won't, my Alpha. I trust you. I'm worried about you."

His chest squeezed at her words. "Don't worry, I'm tough."

She stepped to him and laced her fingers in his. "I don't want you to be tough. I want you to be happy. And I know all of this, on top of all you deal with, has to be pushing you and your wolf to the brink."

He stared down into her beautiful face. "No matter what happens, as long as you are by my side, I know I can get through anything."

"And I with you."

He'd never been good with words. Action was his domain. Even so, he wanted to tell her. To help her understand just what she meant to him. What he was prepared to do to have her as his mate.

"You tell me, Beloved. Tell me right now to mark you, and I'll forget all the plans I've made for the next six months just to stay in bed with you. You tell me to give up the throne and move back to New York, and I won't even pack. You say you want to live on a deserted island with no cell service, and I'll drop my phone in the fountain outside, and we'll be on a plane in twenty minutes. Anything you want, you say the word, and I'll give it to you. Nothing in my life has ever meant to me what you do." He held his breath, waiting, praying for her to say the words.

Instead, she shook her head. "I would never ask that of you."

"But you could, and I'd do it."