Loving the feel of her soft skin, Ryan slowly snaked his hands under her dress and up her inner thighs. “I’m not going to claim you until you’re positive in your mind that I’m your mate.” Otherwise, it would have no meaning. A claiming was a sacred thing, and he would never disrespect it or her that way. “But I am going to fuck you.”

Gripping his T-shirt, Makenna gasped as his thumbs slid just under her panties and idly stroked the outer edges of her folds. Her pussy clenched. She was already wet and he’d barely touched her. But then, Ryan never needed to touch her to reduce her body to a puddle of need. It always responded to him, had done so since the first moment they’d met.

Yet, as he’d pointed out, Makenna was nervous. She liked sex; she was no stranger to it. But this . . . it felt different. Maybe it was because she was used to one-night stands and short, shallow flings. It was different with Ryan because she respected him, admired him, and he appealed to her on a level no one else ever had. Not to mention that he thought she was his mate. “Ryan . . .”

“If you really want me to leave, all you have to do is tell me.” He sipped at her lips, lazily breezing his thumbs along her outer folds. “Tell me to go, Kenna.” But she didn’t, so he slid one thumb between her slick folds and pressed down on her clit. Gasping, she bucked her hips, seeking more, but he didn’t move. “Say it, and I will. Tell me to go.”

She should. She didn’t.

With a growl, Ryan took her mouth. Feasting and dominating, licking and biting. His body hurt. Ached. Demanded her. She gave as good as she got, fed him cock-torturing little moans and sucked on his tongue. Her taste and her scent tantalized his senses and ate at his control.

He peeled off her dress and groaned in appreciation when he saw she wasn’t wearing a bra. Her body was fucking beautiful—graceful and lithe with delicate curves, flawless ivory skin, and high, perfect breasts. He cupped and shaped them possessively as he closed his mouth around one nipple. The taste and texture of the taut little bud made his cock throb.

Fuck, he needed to be in her. He needed to be in his mate, possessing her the way he’d been imagining since the second he first saw her. Nothing else would feel right. Next time, he’d go slow, savor and gorge on every inch of her. Right now, he had to have her.

He snapped off her panties and thrust one finger inside her. And groaned. She was hot and tight and . . . “All mine.” He didn’t go easy on her; he fucked her hard with his finger. “You’re going to come for me, Kenna.” He added another finger, stretching her, readying her for him. “Then I’m going to fuck you so hard you scream for me.”

Makenna had never been a fan of foreplay; it was overrated, in her opinion. But, shit, Ryan was good with his hands. Every expert thrust of his fingers hit her G-spot just right, building the friction inside her. Needing to touch him, Makenna tore open his fly and fisted his cock. Just as she’d suspected from the glimpses of the bulge she’d often seen in his jeans, he was long and thick. She wanted him in her, filling her to the point of pain, wanted—

Teeth sank into the curve of her breast, and Makenna made a strangled moan as waves of pleasure shook her body. Her pussy clenched as Ryan withdrew his fingers, leaving her feeling painfully empty.

With a growl, Ryan cupped her ass and hoisted her up. “Wrap your legs around me,” he rumbled. “That’s it.” He angled her hips just right, holding her gaze. “You’re mine, Makenna. You can fight it all you want, but you belong to me.” He slammed into her. Fuck. Ryan groaned against her neck as her slick pussy tightened and rippled around him, so tight and hot it was almost too much, almost hurt. He was finally balls deep in his mate, exactly where he needed to be. He resisted the urge to pound into her. For all of two seconds.

Makenna held on tight as he savagely powered into her, feeling the bunch and flex of his muscles beneath her hands. Every thrust was hard, rough, possessive, and deep enough to hurt. That pain only heightened the pleasure. She’d known it would be like this. Known all his natural intensity would make him this ruthless and demanding. And she absolutely loved it.

Feeling his mouth clamp around her pulse, teeth grazing the skin, Makenna probably should have been nervous. But Ryan had said he wouldn’t claim her, and she trusted him to keep his word. Still, the way he possessed her body felt like he was claiming her in his own way—it was primitive, aggressive, and left her in no doubt of exactly what he considered her to be: his.

Ryan knew he was hurting her, and he would have dug for the strength to slow down if he hadn’t been sure that she liked the bite of pain. It was clear in her hoarse moans, the demanding prick of her claws, and the way her hot pussy pulsed and contracted around his cock. She was his match. Made purely for him. No one would make him think otherwise.

He sucked on her pounding pulse, making her pussy tighten around him and bathe his cock in a rush of cream. His wolf was urging him to bite her hard, to draw blood and claim her. It was tempting, so fucking tempting, but Ryan would never do it without her consent—even though the drive to claim was like a drumbeat in his chest. No, he wouldn’t claim her. But he’d sure as hell fucking mark her so she knew whom she belonged to.

Feeling her release start to creep up on her, Makenna clawed at his nape. “Ryan, I need—” She cut off as he shifted her hips slightly, so that he was now hitting her G-spot with every brutal, territorial thrust. “Fuck.”

Meeting her glazed eyes, Ryan reached between them and found her clit with his thumb. “Come for me.”