Page 23 of The Alpha King's Mate

Yet I couldn’t persuade my Luna Queen, chosen by the Moon Goddess, to go through with our mating ceremony.

I slipped out of my clothes—all of them—and snuck into my own bed. Our mate clung to the far edge. When I moved closer, I came up against a row of pillows blocking my path.

My life had become so jaded that I’d taken her innocence for granted. It didn’t stop me from removing the pillows. I slipped my hand beneath her shirt and sighed when my palm met soft, heated flesh. Silky. Smooth. I went a little higher.

We’re more than blessed, Malakh murmured.

I settled behind our mate, breathing her in until my cock rose between us. An involuntary response—but it would make our mating all the sweeter. I’d never had to hold back before. Aliana and Zira were unique in their past experiences.

I closed my eyes, grateful to be holding them in my arms. She couldn’t reject us. Neither Malakh nor I would survive the renunciation.

She can’t if her belly is full. She will need us, Malakh whispered. We’ll care for them all.

? ? ?

I woke to a shifting weight and the faint, panicked whisper of fabric against the sheets. I didn’t move. I kept my breathing slow and even, and let my eyes slit open a crack.

Her path of escape was blocked.

Aliana had made it halfway off the bed. One leg swung over the edge, her foot searching blindly for the floor. The other was still tangled in the sheets, and she was easing it free without jostling the mattress.

Like a fucking cat trying to escape a bath.

I let her get her foot planted on the floor. Let her ease her weight forward. She was good. Quiet. She had potential as a spy.

But she’d forgotten about the hand still resting on her stomach.

She went to slide the rest of the way off, and I curled my fingers, gently hooking the fabric of her shirt.

She froze. Mid-air. One foot on the floor, one knee on the bed, suspended like a deer in headlights.

I waited a beat. Let her sweat.

Then I drawled, low and rough from sleep,“And where do you think you’re going?”

She made a sound—something between a squeak and a guttural curse.

“Bathroom.”

“I’ll join you,” I said, lazily hauling her back.

“You are such a pervert,” she said, exasperated and annoyed enough to try to elbow my beautiful face.

“Just one kiss,” I murmured close to her ear.“Anywhere you want.”

She glanced back.

“Or I could just pee on your bed.”

“Can you sit on me while you do it?”

Her smirk vanished.

I kissed her cheek and let her go.

She pounced off the bed and darted to the bathroom. The door slammed, but I never stopped smiling. Or staring at the door.

This was how I wanted to wake up every morning.