Chapter 23

TWENTY-THREE

M ari kissed him again. Harder this time. She bit his lower lip playfully as a low moan emanated from her throat.

She felt his lips smile against hers as he pulled away.

"If that's your way of telling me to hurry up, I'm going to listen." His breath was warm on her face and smelled inviting, drawing her in closer.

She loved Arden so much. It was clear now that she wasn't constantly thinking of the threat of Victor. This wolf had a hold over her heart and body. He could completely destroy her even after their time together. Yet, unlike her ex, she knew Arden would never do that.

"Oh, you would definitely know if it was." She smiled as she pressed her lips against his again, pushing him deeper into the couch.

Arden said she was his mate, which means he was her mate too. She was ready to give herself to him in every way.

Arden's hand moved from her neck to her back, exploring her body slowly. His fingers paused at the hem of her tee.

She ran her hands up his thighs, encouraging him to make the move he wanted. Mari wasn't going to reject him. She'd never reject the only man she had ever loved.

He hardened at her gesture and took her top off. She had never been more alert to someone's touch.

His fingers grazed her back as he slowly brought her jeans down her hips. His cock hardened more beneath her hands as he touched her bare skin.

Mari felt the large bulge suffocating in his jeans. She wanted to free it. She gently rubbed him to encourage what was in store for him.

Arden ran his fingers back up her spine and expertly unhooked her bra.

"Beautiful," he said once the bra was off.

"You're quite the flatterer." She giggled.

Arden kissed her jaw then her neck. Mari rolled her head to the side to expose one of her most vulnerable spots to him, letting him nip her.

She undid his pants and slipped her hand in to feel him.

"You're on, big, sexy wolf." She purred the words into his ear, her voice low and dark.

She was proud of her body, and she loved how Arden also seemed to admire her natural assets.

He cupped her breasts in his hands. She wanted his mouth on them. To warm them from the night air and fill her with even more need than she already had for him.

It was addictive to be this turned on. Part of her couldn't wait to climax while the other part wanted the stimulation to last as long as it could.

Mari stroked his cock a little faster and Arden took the bait. She knew he couldn't just sit there and let her hand do everything when he had her supple breasts free and aching to be manipulated in more ways than just with his hands.

He put his face in between them. Mari leaned into him, her grip tightening slightly as she continued to stroke him.

Arden licked one nipple into his mouth and sucked hard at first, almost to the point of pain, but the pleasure was greater.

Mari moaned and her head rolled back. She kept her hand deep in his pants but the sensation caused her to pause for a moment.

"Ahh, yes."

He licked her nipple. He went back and forth from one nipple to the other as her moans encouraged him. Her hand moved faster and faster inside his pants.

She was conscious then of how wet her inner thighs were. All she wanted was to be naked against Arden's hard, hot body.

She'd had enough.

Mari lifted her hands out of his drawers and yanked his T-shirt over his head. She tossed it and took in his toned, muscular body.

Mari couldn't stop the sharp gasp that escaped her at the sight of his body. She'd come to love looking at his body. She wanted to trail her hands up and down his chest and worship every part of him.

She pressed her half-naked body against his and pushed him against the sofa.

His hands stroked her back as she let her fingers run over his flexed biceps and hips. Her breasts pressed hard against his pecs. Erect nipples rubbing against each other.

Arden spread her thighs wider. She forced herself off him, standing just to wiggle out of her jeans. His eyes glowed as he took in her bare body.

In any other case, she would have felt self-conscious, but not now. She felt empowered, wanted, desired. She felt her mate needing her. Right. Now.

He stood, kicked off his own jeans and boxers, then pulled Mari's naked body hard and close against his, pressing his fully erected cock hard against her as he kissed her hungrily.

Arden suddenly picked her up and carried her to the loveseat. He laid her on her back while his lips remained locked onto hers.

Mari dug her fingers into his muscular back as he positioned himself between her legs.

"If you want me to stop, just tell me" came his breathy tone, hot against her ear.

He was between her thighs wanting to push his way in. She didn't know how he was holding back. She had no control, not that she wanted any anyway.

She grabbed him in response and fixed him right in her entry. Mari pressed down on her heels and thrust her hips forward and up enough to shove him deep inside her.

"You feel so good."

He shoved himself even deeper, completely burying himself inside her.

"Oh, Arden," Mari moaned.

Arden slid out slowly, but not all the way. He thrust into her again, and Mari's back arched, and she bucked her hips against him. A wildness took over him then. He moved faster, harder. Every drive rougher.

Her fingers dug in even deeper as he began to speed up. Her moans became high-pitched and louder as his groans turned into growls.

It was all she could do to hang on to reality as she felt herself coming closer to climaxing against Arden's perfectly timed thrusts and position. He knew what he was doing, that was for sure. Or maybe it was the fact that he was her mate so the sensation was completely different.

Either way, this was the best she had ever had and her release was going to be explosive, that was evident enough with how her body was shaking.

She moaned, pressing herself harder onto him, trying to match his pace. She needed the added pressure. She had to come. Mari was almost breathless.

He yanked her up and licked the curve of her neck. The move pushed her down on him. "Come for me so I can come. I want to feel you," Arden groaned against her neck, his teeth embedding in her shoulder as he bit down on her and slammed into her at the same time.

That was the pressure she needed.

Mari screamed as she came instantly. Her body quivered and shook violently as she let go and felt herself flow all over everything. Her fingers still dug into Arden's back. He was still biting her, his teeth embedded on her shoulder. The pain mixed with pleasure and her body shook with the force of her release.

Right as she thought she was done, Arden growled. He pulsed inside her, filling her with his heat and causing another wave to wash over Mari's sensitive walls.

Her sex tightened around his length with every twitch she had left.

Once he was done, Arden licked her shoulder and kissed from her shoulder up to her neck and jaw.

"Did you just bite me?"

"You're my mate, Mari. We just made it official." He pulled back and their gazes met. "Is that okay?"

She grinned. "More than okay. It's perfect."

Arden leaned in and kissed her gentler than before.