Mating Rights by Jaide Fox Read Free Book Online Page B

line with his future and the end of his days. To want happiness was
as unknown to him as a rainy day without an ache in his back and knee. Old men
only got peace when they died.
    “I didn’t think you
would. It’s natural. You’ll get the hang of it with enough practice. Young gel
like you should have plenty ah offers,” Jaxon said.
    “Wonderful,” she said
in a sarcastic tone he didn’t miss. “I’ve never even been kissed, and yet I am
supposed to find someone to…” She looked up at him with those big doe eyes that
made his groin squirm in uncomfortable ways. “You should show me how to kiss.
It is the least you could do.”
    Jaxon choked on his own
saliva. He coughed for several minutes before giving her an incredulous look.
“Why should I be the one to break you in?”
    She shrugged, but
something in her eyes made him believe she wasn’t so nonchalant about the
matter. “Why not? You dragged me into this.”
    “It’s our duty—”
    She dropped the last
clean bowl into the basket and stood to her full height before facing him. “I’m
not a child, if that’s what bothers you.”
    He scowled and looked
around the woods. The sky darkened. The back of his neck prickled as the wind
rustled the trees and leaves fluttered on the damp loam. They should be getting
back, not playing games.
    “Just a quick peck to
alleviate my fears?” she said, closing the distance between them. She put her hands
on his chest. He wondered if she could feel the sudden quickening of his pulse.
    His nostrils detected
the subtle sweet scent of pheromones rising from her skin. Mali was going into heat
and she didn’t even know it. That would explain her sudden interest in him. He
had a cock and he was available. Damned if he wanted to be the one to bring her
into it. He grabbed her wrists, intending to thrust her away and head back to
camp. She tipped her face up, cracking her eyes to heavy lidded slits. Her warm
brown skin looked heavenly, but her full parted lips glistened with the nectar
of her mouth as if she’d just licked them.
    Damn him straight to
hell…he wanted to see what she tasted like even if it killed him.
    Jaxon bent his head and
closed the distance to her mouth, knowing full well committing himself to a
kiss was lunatic folly.He could hear her breath
catch in her throat. He could feel the pulse in her wrists flutter beneath his
fingertips as he held her tight. As his lips touched hers, her eyes flew open,
startled that he’d given in.
    “Wait—”
    Jaxon cut off her
protestation, swallowing her words as he kissed her and stole her breath.She tried to jerk her hands free, but he wouldn’t
release her. Her fright or resistance—whatever it was—heightened his sudden
excitement. How long had it been since a woman had teased him with her body?
Since a woman had asked for his kiss?She didn’t
know what she wanted, the little fool.
    He nibbled her mouth, dragging
his teeth across her bottom lip. She shivered, and he dragged her hands down to
his sides, pulling her flush against his chest. Her small breasts poked him,
drawing attention to her tightening nipples.She
gasped into his mouth, struggling to pull her hands free.
    He released her as
suddenly as he’d grabbed her, breathing heavily as he broke free.
    Mali brought her hand
up as if she’d slap his face and just as fast dropped her hand. “You’re a
beast!” she snapped.
    She looked well kissed,
but not as thoroughly as he would have liked.
    “Don’t tempt a wolf
when he’s hungry, gel,” he ground out, barely recognizing his hoarse voice.
    “I should slap you. But
I asked for it.”
    “That you did,” he
said, nodding and watching her warily.
    She spit on the ground
and wiped her mouth off with the sleeve of her forearm.
    He couldn’t help the
guffaw at her expense. She looked outraged, which only amused him more. “Don’t
you go running off by yerself now.”
    “I’ll do as I please. I
know how to take care of myself,” Mali said.