Bear Naked and Bite Marks by Jenika Snow Read Free Book Online Page A

from him was purely his
bear trying to come out once more.
    “ Mate ,
you’d do well to not say anything right now, especially when it’s clear I’m
barely holding on as it is.” He shook his head and looked down at the pavement.
The muscle under his whisker-covered cheek flexed, and she knew that she needed
to tread lightly here. Clearly this male was far more animal than human, and
clearly he wasn’t used to a female with her … aggressive personality. Melissa
wasn’t the type to just submit to a male, not unless she was willingly doing
that in the bedroom. This male was grappling for control with his beast right
now, and a part of her melted at the fact that he was trying. Trying was the
least Melissa could do, too.
    “You’re right.” A flicker of surprise
moved across his face, and she crossed her arms in annoyance. “You don’t have
to look so shocked. This is only the second time we are talking, and less than
an hour of knowing each other. It isn’t like you’re used to my sassiness.” The
corner of his mouth lifted, and this time it looked genuine, and if she was
being honest he looked damn good smiling.
    “Sorry. It’s just in that short amount
of time I’ve known you all you’ve given me is the tug and pull attitude.” She
lifted one shoulder, and uncrossed her arms so she could let them fall to her
sides.
    “Yeah, well spend a little more time
with me and you’ll come to realize that I have a whole lot of piss and vinegar
to give.” He started to chuckle, and the deep, rich sound was almost of
orgasmic quality. Her body wanted him like no other, and the pull of being
mates was so strong it was hard to resist at all, but she didn’t really want to
jump right into this. Maybe this went against the grain of who she had always
been, but she wanted to get to know him and not just jump in bed together.
Melissa wasn’t a stranger to having one-night stands, and in fact felt no shame
in it. She was an adult, a confident female, and she enjoyed sex. But this
wasn’t just a one night stand. This was a lifetime commitment.
    “Declan Faylon .”
He held out his hand, and she eyed it.
    “You want to shake my hand?” She was
teasing, but the heated look he gave her had her smile fading.
    “Shaking your hand seems like a far
safer thing than what I really want to do to you.” His voice grew lower and
gruffer, and the flash of chocolate brown irises told her he was still barely
holding on to his sanity. She took a step forward and reached out to slip her
hand in his much bigger one. Melissa had never considered her small by any means, short yes, but slim, hell no. But this male, her mate,
was so tall and muscular, that she felt, dare she say, petite in front of him.
Having to crane her head back just to look in his face had her heart racing,
and feeling the way he gently tightened his hold on her hand at the same time
he brushed his thumb back and forth along her flesh had her pussy clenching
almost painfully. His throat worked as he swallowed, and she knew he could
scent how wet she was, because she could smell how aroused he was. The
need to look down at his crotch, knowing he was hard and wanting to see just
how much he tented his pants ran high within her, but she wasn’t going to.
Melissa could practice self-control. She could, and she would, right?
    “Listen, I came here to see if you
wanted to have dinner with me tonight.” He rubbed the back of his neck, and
Melissa was struck by the fact he seemed nervous. That observation didn’t seem
to fit the aura that surrounded him. “Shit.” She looked at him curiously. “I’ve
never done this.” He gestured between the two of them.
    “Done what? Ask a female out to dinner?”
She smiled, teasing him, but at the hard, serious look on his face she sobered. “Seriously?” He was gorgeous with a body that looked
like it was made out of marble. Yes, she had just thought that, but it was the
truth.
    “Yeah, seriously. To be perfectly honest