But my jaw clenches again when I remember her saying that she may want another. Her skin had flushed at the thought of being tied to me—only me—and while that makes irritation build inside me like a volcano, I’m willing to give her time to adjust to this.
But what I can’t live with is the thought of another man touching her, kissing her, and tasting what’s between her legs.
The beast snarls within me, and I mutter an agreement.
You’re right. She is ours.
She will never be anyone else’s, and now, I have to figure out how to make her see that.
I know that with enough time, she’ll give into the bond, but time is not something I have.
I sigh again. I can only hope that she’ll soon believe that we’re fated. I hold onto the knowledge that she’s here with me now and has never attempted to run or leave me despite saying that she doesn’t want me. That’s proof that she feels it.
She’s just being stubborn.
Of course I would choose a woman that’s tough as nails. I smirk and imagine being fated to a softer more pliant woman. Inside, the beast yawns in boredom.
You’re right. Our mate is perfect as she is. I wouldn’t have her any other way.
So I do my best to be content with lying beside her even though my shorts are tented like a tee-pee again. Brianna’s scent keeps drifting toward me, and her ass is only inches away. Her backside is round and firm. I keep imagining sliding my palms over those lush globes.
I growl. It’s going to be a very long night.
I prop both hands behind my head and try again to use the night sky as a distraction, but movement from Brianna has me pausing.
Her body shudders then stops. But in the next moment she shudders again. Alarmed, I lean up on my elbow with the intention of waking her but then I spot the goose bumps on her arms. Another quiver vibrates her body, and I realize what’s happening.
She’s shivering.
My mate’s cold.
Fucking hell. Of course, she’s cold. Cool air blows through the desert. It’s fallen to around sixty-five degrees, and she’s only wearing shorts and a thin T-shirt.
I lean over her with the intention of pulling her blanket around her.
But the second my body touches hers, she rolls into me.
I go completely still. She snuggles against my chest, naturally drawn to my warmth.
I breathe shallowly. My erection brushes her thigh because I’m facing her now, and if she wakes up with me nearly on top of her and with a hard-on rivaling the Washington Monument, I can only imagine the accusations that will fly.
Moving slowly, I ease away from her. I’ll have to pull my blanket out from under me and drape that across her. Perhaps trying to wrap her snuggly in her own blanket isn’t an option.
But the second I move away, Brianna follows. She whimpers quietly, and her hands find my stomach and then the hem of my shirt.
Before I know what’s happening, her arms are slipping under my T-shirt and she’s burrowing against me.
My breath sucks in. Her limbs feel like ice. I try to focus on that instead of how she feels molded against me. I take another shallow breath. Shit. This is going to be harder than I thought.
“Brianna,” I whisper. I don’t push her away because I know she’s cold, but I have to wake her. If I don’t and she wakes up with us like this, she’ll think I was trying something. “Brianna,” I say louder.
She lays her cheek against my chest, and her sweet breath puffs on my collarbone. She’s now pressed completely against me from head to toe. Every inch of her gorgeous body is touching mine. Her firm breasts rub against my pecs, her long legs entwine with my thighs, and her hair tickles my chin.
Fuck.
My cock is throbbing now and on the verge of erupting.
Nostrils flaring, I try not to inhale her scent, but of course I do. That musky scent tinges it again, and before I can take another breath, she’s rubbing herself on me.
“Collin,” she whispers.
I know she’s still sleeping. Night two with my mate is revealing that she’s an active sleeper, and holy hell, if this is what she’s like asleep I can only imagine what she’s like awake.
But I know now’s not the time to fantasize.
I place my hand on her arm and squeeze gently. “Brianna, wake up.”