It has to be done willingly. This mate bond—we both have to want it.
That was what he’d told her. And she could feel that it was true. This strange connection between them drew her to him—it had from the start. But it couldn’t force her to do anything.
It was all her own choice.
Not only a choice—but a chance. The first chance she’d ever had to be truly, completely happy.
And the new Chiara wasn’t going to let any further chances slip through her fingers.
“I love you,” she said, feeling the pull of desire low in her belly. “And I want you as my mate. Here. Now. Why not?”
She laughed softly. Why not? That was her new motto, and it hadn’t yet let her down.
No more waiting for chances that would never come. No more fear and exhaustion destroying all of her hopes to become more than just a tired, bored cog in the hellhole that was her former job.
This was real. For the first time in her life, she had something that was really real, that made every inch of her feel alive.
And she’d never let it go again.
He huffed a surprised laugh against her lips.
“Why not?” he repeated, his eyes a deep blue, dark with desire. Then he grinned, his eyes gleaming. “You’re absolutely right. I’m your mate, and you are mine. And there’s absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t be mated.”
She made an approving sound and slipped her hand beneath his shirt, slowly, appreciatively sliding it across the flexing muscles of his stomach. “I don’t see any evil dragons in the sky, and until that changes...”
“Until that changes, you’re all mine.” There was hunger in his words.
In answer, Chiara felt her own desire surge, her panties already wet as she moved against him. She trailed her hand higher up, his muscles hard like steel as they shifted beneath his skin. Then she gave his shirt a frustrated tug.
“Off,” she demanded, reaching out for her own shirt.
She couldn’t bear to part from him. Even drawing back for a few seconds just so that she could wriggle out of her jeans was almost too much when every inch of her skin craved the heat of his body pressed to hers.
Her nipples were tight with need, aching for a touch. When he at last pressed her back into the soft grass, gloriously naked, she gasped and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Mine. All mine,” she said, which made him laugh again.
“All yours,” he agreed as he ran his hands down her arms. Then, slowly, his fingers trailed back up, teasing her sides, then cupping her breasts.
He kissed her again, slow and unhurried despite the way she pressed against him—and despite how hard he was.
She gasped as his thumb teased one of her nipples. Everything inside her felt tight and hot, aching with need.
Then his mouth found one of her nipples.
His tongue caressed her gently as she moaned. She buried her hands in his hair, her head falling back into the soft pillow of wildflowers. Not far away, the ocean of clouds was gently rolling against the mountain, while above, the sun shone brightly.
But she had no eyes for the beauty surrounding her. All she could think of was the feeling of Jared’s body against her—and the sensation of his erection against her thigh.
And this time—this time she’d actually feel him.
At the thought, the need inside her burned even brighter, her body pulsing with it. She ran her hands over his broad shoulders again, appreciating the strength of his hard muscles, then gave him a little tug.
“Come on,” she breathed, “don’t make me wait...”
“Pushy.” He laughed softly, already just as breathless as she was. His eyes were gleaming, shining with an inner light, as bright as the sky above him.
He looked glorious, his hair tousled by her hands, a golden mane that surrounded his head like a halo.