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She needed to run her fingers through his long blonde hair and rub her hands along that lean and toned body. She wanted to take a bite out of him.
She could not breathe, her entire essence vibrating with sensation. She couldn’t help but wonder if he was feeling just as much as she was at this moment.Was that even possible?She felt distantly that Violet had grabbed her wrist for support, but Opal was too far gone. Was she holding her breath?
“Opal Hayes, this is Benton O’Connell. He is your champion.”
Yes, he is… champion and mate …Her tiger purred. Opal could hear the smirk in Gerri’s voice. She knew. She knew the whole damn time.
“Pleasure,” Opal forced out, trying to be dignified.
He said nothing. His steely eyes were transfixed on her, his thoughts unreadable. She felt like he was undressing her with his smoldering eyes, or was that just what she wanted him to do? Opal couldn’t peel her eyes away, either, but she knew what was happening in her own head.
Or did she? Excitement, terror, attraction, desire, apprehension, shock … Opal stretched out her hand, and when their palms touched, a bolt of electricity shot straight through her. His slightly rough skin was like silk in her hand, and she could feel herself instantly get wet.
The bolt was on a one-way journey to her core, and she had to hold back a moan. She bit her tongue and attempted not to react to the explosion that just ran through her. Everything about this man was drawing her in, and she couldn’t control herself.
Is this what it means to find your fated mate?
She wanted him immediately. Needed him, even. She had already accepted this delicious man as her forever mate. She could only hope that he felt the same.
Visions of their bodies writhing against each other in the darkness, kisses stolen in the moonlight, midnight runs through the woods, and him claiming her with claws across her hip … she could see these visions reflected in the liquid silver of his eyes.
Opal was in deep water, and she didn’t know if she could swim. She was salivating at the very idea of kissing the lips in front of her. Would her kiss break that stone-set jaw? His musk of fresh-cut pine surrounded her like a fog, and she had to remember how to breathe.
There was no way that he was this enraptured with her. His face remained stoic, and his body had gone rigid. His features did not reflect any mutual feelings. Her heart shattered in her chest.He doesn't want me. She suddenly felt suffocated. She needed to get away from him.
Embarrassed by this instant arousal, insatiable desire, and just plain distraction, she pulled her hand back. Her body immediately regretted the motion, and it physically hurt. In addition to the pain, her tiger growled at her.
He is ours; we’re meant to be together!her tiger insisted.
Opal shook her head and realized she had shaken it in real life. He was unfazed as if he was made of stone.Have to get away…
“It’s lovely to meet you. If you’ll excuse me, I have to … Good luck,” Opal choked out, not caring if it was audible or intelligible. She was already moving away before she had finished talking.
Opal was practically running. She was halfway across the room before the other three moved. The fact that none of them were shocked by her sudden departure was a clear indication of what had just happened.
Gerri and Violet exchanged a look. Benton's line of sight remained trained on where Opal had just stood, only moving to follow her head bobbing across the crowd.
Opal was amazed that she had made it this far with the way her head was spinning. She reached a pillar, leaning on the far side of it to break the contact that was still pulling them together. She was weak from the overstimulation, and still, she wanted more. She never wanted to leave Benton’s side ever again. Was that crazy?
Go back! We want him,her tiger growled.
I can’t even think straight. I am running an event. I have obligations. I can’t run off with him, fated mate or not.
You could. There are plenty of other people here to run the show. We need him,it taunted.
We need him to win this poker tournament, which he can't do if we run off together. Please drop it.
Her tiger let out a low growl, submitting to the truth.
As if she wasn’t already wound up enough, the butterflies in her stomach were enough to make her sick.Get a hold of yourself. You have a job to do.She shook her head, trying to regain her composure.
She continued to make rounds, meeting with more donors as they arrived, making sure everyone knew where they were meant to be. She met a lot of other players, both human and shifter, being careful to avoid Gerri and Benton.
All the while, she couldn’t keep herself from thinking about where she was meant to be…with Benton O’Connell. Her heart swooned at the mention of him. She found herself looking around for him, hoping to happen upon him once more.
Get a hold of yourself, Opal. This is not professional.
Her tiger was growing impatient.But he’s our mate…
