Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 47519 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 158(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47519 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 158(@300wpm)
“Sure.” Keith’s gaze was locked on him, and they were standing so close together that he could feel Keith’s breath whisper across his lips.
He wanted to kiss him and leaned forward to do that when one of Keith’s earlier comments slammed into Brian’s mind and he couldn’t shake it. “You implied that you’ve never been with anyone.”
“That’s right.” Keith nodded. “I’m counting on you to change that.” He grinned. “Don’t let me down.”
This man. “I won’t.” Brian raised his hands and cradled Keith’s cheeks. “But for now, I’m hoping for a kiss.” He dipped his face so closely to Keith’s that air could barely pass between them. “May I kiss you, mate?”
Eyes twinkling, Keith smiled even wider. “You may.”
Committing the moment to memory, Brian took his time. He slid his thumb over Keith’s bottom lip and looked into his twinkling brown eyes. “You really are stunning.”
“You’re beautiful and you smell delicious,” Keith whispered. “Give me a taste.”
“Gladly.” He kept bumbling over his words, but he’d get this right.
He pressed his lips to Keith’s, keeping the pressure light at first and slowly increasing it. They moved together instinctively, one tilting his head in one direction as the other went the opposite, lips parting and tugging, tongues tasting. He slid one hand behind Keith’s neck and the other around his back while Keith gripped his hip and shoulder, fingertips pressing into him. When he realized he was thrusting, he tore his mouth away from Keith’s and pressed it to the side of his neck.
“We have to stop while we still can,” Brian said breathlessly.
“I’d rather keep going.”
“That was the best kiss of my life, but I need to feed you,” Brian insisted.
“That was the only kiss of my life and I’m going to need you to never remind me of your past conquests.”
“Shit.” Brian winced. “Why do I keep saying the wrong things? I’m not usually like this.”
“It’s okay. You’re thirty-three years old and you’ve probably had a normal life, so I understand that you have a past, but I’m going to pretend nobody has ever touched you and you’re not going to pop my delusional bubble by comparing me to them.”
“There’s no comparison,” Brian said sincerely. He was still confused about having an Alpha as a mate, still distressed about Keith’s past, still concerned about his health, but there was one thing he knew with absolute certainty: This man was his and he’d protect him with everything he had. Nobody would hurt Keith ever again.
“Excellent. Let’s never speak of them.” Keith arched his eyebrows and looked at Brian meaningfully. “I’m an Alpha and I have the possessive temperament that goes with it. I’m sure you understand.”
“I do.” He had known this man less than a day and he was certain he’d eviscerate anyone who laid hands on him. “I’m proud to be the only person who will ever share pleasure with you,” he admitted. For the first time, he regretted his past. “I’m sorry I can’t give you that, but the others—”
“Seriously?” Keith said. “What did we just talk about? Is your condition pathological?”
“Damn it.” He squeezed his eyes shut, sighed, and opened them. “Maybe it is?”
“Thank goodness you’re pretty.” Keith took hold of his hand. “Come on. Show me to your food so I can check that box off your list and we can go back to the kissing.” He pulled Brian toward the bedroom door. “I need to rewrite the memories you definitely don’t have of absolutely no other people.”
Brian liked to believe he was one of the smartest people in any room, but every conversation he’d had with his mate left him feeling like he was running in slow motion during a sprint. “Wait,” he said when they reached the door and his brain finally caught up to the situation. “We’re not dressed.”
Keith stopped, turned around, and dragged his gaze from Brian’s face to his feet. “I know. That’s why I took your towel. I like this view.”
His cheeks heated. “I thought you said you took it to dry me off.”
Smirking, Keith said, “I did dry you off.”
He was definitely downloading on dial-up internet. “What?”
“Maybe you’re the one who needs to eat. Did you skip lunch?”
He nodded because he hadn’t eaten anything since that morning before he’d driven to Green Field. After that, he’d been too busy tending to the situation with his mate.
“Don’t worry.” Keith’s voice gentled. “I’m not horrible in the kitchen. I spent a lot of time there with Lorraine when I was a kid. I’ll make you something you’ll enjoy for dinner.” He turned back around and opened the bedroom door.
Brian followed along for a few steps and then remembered his earlier concern. “Wait,” he said again as he dug in his heels. “We’re naked.”
“We’ve gone over this, remember?” Keith turned to him and smoothed his fingers over Brian’s forehead. “Did you skip breakfast too?”