Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44411 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44411 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
She longed for that moment more than her next breath, which she also needed. After blowing out the air in her lungs, she drew in more oxygen, more of her mate’s essence, more of what she wanted to envelop her completely.
Wolf shifters had heightened senses, chief among those was the sense of smell. They were inherently more sensitive to foods and odors. They knew things about each other that normal humans would never know. At least that’s what she’d heard. She’d never met a non-shifting human. None of them lived in her part of the world.
Another inhale.
Her body tingled. Strange things happened to her that were completely unexpected. A fluttering sensation in her stomach went beyond nerves. With each breath, her chest rose and her nipples rubbed against her shift. They felt sensitive. Her breasts felt heavy.
Leah’s thighs stiffened. Her knees were resting on the soft white pillow, but she wished she could pull them together. She wouldn’t dare move, but something was happening between her legs.
For the first time in her life, she felt lust. That was the only way to describe the way her private parts throbbed. Moisture built, leaking from her to soak her panties.
Mortified, she wondered if everyone could scent her growing need. Need for what? She wasn’t entirely sure. Sex she assumed. After all, she was aware that part of belonging to a mate was the desire to lie beneath him and accept him into her body.
She’d never expected to crave such contact, but apparently she’d underestimated a number of things. All the things.
Finally the door opened.
As her mate and his parents entered the room, Leah sucked in a breath and held it. How would she survive this ceremony? How would she be able to speak the words as required by tradition?
Her mate took his spot in front of her as his parents assumed their positions to each side of her.
Leah’s body shook as she focused on her mate’s shoes. Dress shoes. Black. Brand new. His suit pants were also black and pressed to perfection. His stance was wide. Maybe he felt the same dizziness she felt. In which case, he would need to part his legs to keep from swaying.
Or perhaps his size was what caused him to stand in such a way. She didn’t need to lift her gaze to know he was a large man. That was expected. She’d heard that Alpha Protectors were significantly larger than the shifters she knew in the valley. That would include her own father.
Her face was near his crotch, and she had to force herself to keep her gaze on his shoes. It was expected. How many times had the word “expected” entered her mind? A billion today alone.
As his father spoke, greeting her parents and thanking them for raising Leah and keeping her safe for this moment, she could focus on little else besides her breathing, the way his scent filled her lungs over and over, and the way her nipples seemed to grow harder as they rubbed against the front of her shift.
Leah had never been one to consider her sexuality, and she’d certainly never touched herself intimately. Until recently, she’d never felt the urge, but as this day had approached, she’d grown irrationally more aware of her body.
It was her mother who’d sat down with her about six months ago, explained in clinical detail what to expect from her body and her mate, and told her it would be in her best interest to avoid touching herself when thoughts of arousal entered her mind.
Leah had thought her mother was off her rocker at the time, but over the months, she’d grown to understand better what her mother had meant. It was as if Leah’s body had ripened in preparation for this moment.
She tried and failed to focus on the words being spoken, grateful this would be brief. She listened to the ceremonial words and nearly thanked her mate’s father out loud when the older man set a hand on her head, bracing her.
She learned her mate’s name was Elias and wondered if he had known her name before today. Probably. After all, Alpha Protectors were permitted some details about their mates from the time of their birth and throughout the twenty years until she came of age. Females were not granted that same courtesy. Another annoyingly barbaric detail.
Finally, Elias’s father removed his hand, and a new palm grounded her. Elias’s. Every molecule in her body reacted to his touch, coming more alive if that were possible.
His warmth and support spread through her all the way to her fingers and toes. Her heart raced. Her nipples tightened further. She trembled from the need growing between her legs.
Please tell me everyone cannot scent my body’s response to my mate.
Part of her was furious with her inability to control her reactions to this man. It was ridiculous and, yet, undeniable.