Page 60 of Rejected By a Wolf

He once admitted he never loved that woman.

Sophia grinned, optimism returning to her.

It looked like Antonio’s heart was still hers to win.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Antonio Payne

Antonio was paying extra attention to the way he ran the bar of soap along the length of Sophia’s arms. It was crucial that he got the details of this moment right, for he was desperate to show her that though he may be a werewolf, he could be gentle with her.

He wouldn’t end this night until he knew she was wholly satisfied. If all went as planned, she would accept that her future belonged to him and him alone. Then he wouldn’t have to worry about the possibility of her fleeing any longer.

Though, it took everything in his power to restrain himself. Resisting his unclaimed andnakedmate who sat between his legs was no easy feat. The soft curves of her flawless skin called to him, begging him to claim her.

But he wouldn’t claim her. Not tonight, at least. He promised her he wouldn’t and he didn’t intend to break that promise. But as he envisioned plunging his cock inside her tight, virgin sex, he began to shiver, cursing himself for making that promise.

Want her so badly.

When she twisted to look back at him, her ass grinding against his throbbing member, he bit back a groan. “You play a dangerous game when you move like that.”

“Oh.”She glanced down, knowing exactly what he was talking about. Yet she didn’t tense as he expected her to. In fact, her eyes were glossy and filled with yearning.

Fuck, he wasn’t going to last much longer.

“Why are you so worried that I might run off? What happened to you?”

“Why do you assume something happened to me?” In response to his question, she gave him a look that saidisn’t it obvious?He groaned, realizing he’d have to tell her. But when his eyes fell to her supple nipples he hissed out a curse. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could last.

“Hey, eyes up here. I still have questions.”

“I can see you’re no longer shy.” Admittedly, he had already noticed her earlier nerves were lessening.

“I don’t know why I was so nervous in the first place. It’s incredibly easy to relax around you.”

He knew her ability to relax around him had everything to do with how much she trusted him. Her current level of comfort spoke volumes. She trusted him, and that meant everything. “Is that so?” He couldn’t stop himself from smiling.

“Indisputably.” Her smile was warm. “But stop trying to evade the question. What happened to you? Whathurtyou?” Concern gleamed in her eyes.

She truly cared about him, didn’t she? With a look like that, who was he to deny her an answer? “Giselle, my uh…” Suddenly, referring to Giselle ashis matearound Sophia made him feel incredibly uncomfortable.

“Your mate.” The sadness in her voice wrecked him.

He wearily nodded. “She was terrified of me the moment she laid eyes on me, and she didn’t take the news of what she was to me very well. I might’ve told her too soon. Whatever the case, she fled. Shediedfleeing, Sophia.” And he was still wracked withguilt over it. He could never forgive himself for frightening her. She died because of what he was.

A monster.

“How could she have been so blind?”

“Blind?”

“Yes, blind. I can’t wrap my head around how someone could look into your eyes and be scared of you.”

He certainly could. “She might’ve seen a bit of my beast. Evenyouran from me when you saw my beast.” When she saw what he truly was inside.

“Yes, atfirst,” she admitted. “But then I decided locking lips with that beast sounded like amuchbetter idea.”

He stifled another groan at the memory, his member jerking against her. She looked down at it expectantly and he couldn’t recall a time when he had seen a sight as sexy as this one.