I arched up into him again. “Why are you torturing me then?” I was a little pissed that I sounded so breathy, but this was what Braxton did to me and we had barely touched yet. My need was greater than I’d ever felt with any other shifter.

What did this mean? A deep wish I’d held in my heart for a very long time – but had refused to ever seriously consider – flittered through me.

Could Braxton be my mate?

What were the odds that he’d been under my nose the entire time, with me too afraid to risk the friendship.

“I’m not torturing you,” he said, leaning in. My eyelids fluttered closed in anticipation of his lips on mine. “I’m prolonging the moment, I’m giving you a chance to run.” My eyes opened again. Braxton grinned lazily. “You always run.”

He had a point, but that urge was nowhere now. He must have read that in my expression, because his hesitation was replaced with a determination that I was all too familiar with. The moment for doubt was gone and it was time to see what was between us. If we both survived.

His lips hit mine, so full and soft that I sank into him. I’d kissed Braxton a million times before, but nothing like this. This was everything.

The kiss started slow, tantalizingly slow, as his tongue parted my lips and swept inside. He sucked my bottom lip into his mouth and I groaned deep from my throat, almost a purr. As the kiss deepened, so did the wild arc of want between us, and just like that … it was no longer slow.

I slammed myself into his body and he caught me with both hands beneath my ass, drawing me into his long length. I could feel his desire pressed against my thigh, resulting in harder, frenzied kisses.

I tore my lips free. “Braxton!” It was a growling warning, he’d better stop teasing and start pleasing or I was going to rip his face off.

He grinned right before he lifted me with one hand – how freaking strong was this guy – and suddenly I was back against the headboard. He settled between my legs, both hands sliding up to cup my breasts. I arched again, and in one smooth movement he tore my tank from my body. As the cool air hit my swollen and sensitive skin, I hissed, before moaning as hot hands replaced the material.

“This is the sexiest thing I have ever seen.” His voice was vibrating as he traced the dragon mark on my side. I realized he’d never seen the entire image, and right now it was dancing in red and black for him, shifting and moving in the dragon visage.

We clashed eyes. “You are the sexiest thing I have ever seen,” he said.