Page 20 of Dark Auctioned Mate

“I said, I need space.”

“I know.” He remained in the doorway. “But we need to talk about this.”

“There’s nothing to talk about.”

“There’s everything to talk about.” He slowly stepped into the kitchen. “You are right. I should not have intervened in that way. I was not trying to make you look weak. I was trying to protect you. But now I see it had the reverse effect.”

She didn’t respond, but he saw her shoulders relax slightly.

“I am not good at this, I must tell you,” he continued. “I am good at relationships, at sharing my space with someone, at knowing when to intervene and when to withdraw. I have lived most of my adult life by myself, and I am accustomed to solving my own problems on my own terms.”

“I am not a problem to be solved.”

“I know that.” He took another step. “But you are in heat, and I can smell it. My wolf is going absolutely crazy, and I am trying to do all I can to give you space and leave you to do things your own way.”

Alanis slowly turned around. “You knew I was in heat.”

“Of course I knew.” He chuckled darkly. “I could fucking smell you, and all I wanted was to—” he stopped himself.

“Wanted what?” She whispered softly.

“To make it better. To take away the pain. To—” He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. You made it clear you don’t want my help.”

“That’s not what I said.”

He arched his brow. “You told me to leave you alone.”

“I told you not to keep treating me like I am helpless.” She moved in his direction, and he smelt a whiff of her perfume—sweet, intoxicating, mixed with something that made his cock harden immediately. “There’s a difference.”

“Alanis, stop walking.”

“Why?”

“My control is hanging on a thin thread, and if you come any closer—”

“What if I don’t want you to hold on to your control?” She took another step, bridging the gap between them.

Rael’s chest heaved. “You’re in heat. You do not know what you are talking about, and you’re not thinking clearly.”

“My thoughts are as clear as the day.” She raised her hand to his chest. “I’m in pain, Rael. Don’t you want to help me? You wanted to come inside anyway yesterday, didn’t you?”

Rael’s restraint was non-existent at this point. “Alanis…”

“Help me,” she looked up at him with dilated eyes. “I need you.”

The last thread snapped. He grabbed her face, tilted her head, and kissed her.

It wasn’t gentle. It was desperate, hungry, and rough. She groaned into his mouth, fisting his shirt in her hands, pulling him even closer.

He backed her against the counter, his body pressing against hers, and she gasped into his mouth. The sound shot straight through him, making his wolf surge forward with possessive satisfaction.

“Ours. Finally. Ours.”

He broke off the kiss and murmured against her lips. “We are not having sex.”

“What?”

“I cannot have sex with you in this state.” He kissed her, this time more tenderly. “But I will do what I can for your pain.”