She snorted lightly. “Too honest for my own good, at times.”
“I had that on the list I’m making,” Mark said. Her brows went up and he hurried to reassure her. “Not the too-honest bit, but the honest part. I like that you don’t avoid issues, Tessa. It’s a good way to be. Keeps things in the open, makes it easier for me to fix my mistakes when I blow it with you down the road.”
That managed to bring a smile to her face. “You sure you’re going to be the one to screw up? Seems so far I’m the one dropping bombs left, right and center in this relationship.”
“So you admit this is a relationship?”
She poked him in the chest and leaned in closer. “I’m sitting in your lap telling you my deepest, darkest secrets. You’d better believe this is more than casual, buddy. I like dating.”
“Is it dating when it’s with your mate?” He wasn’t going to let her forget where this was headed.
“Hmmm, whatever we want to call it is fine.”
Her hands floated down his chest, fingertips tickling his sensitive skin, making him ache. The distance between them disappeared and their mouths connected again. Slow, thorough kisses that made his limbs loosen and other parts tighten. He returned the favour, stroking her back. Her waist. Sneaking a hand up over her belly until he cupped one breast in his palm. Her nipple tightened, poking against the fabric of the T-shirt she wore.
The entire time she kissed him, exploring with her tongue, letting him nip at her lips. He broke away to press a line of kisses along her jaw until he could catch hold of her earlobe and suck it into his mouth.
Her full-body shiver was more than enough reward.
“Tessa. Let me…” If he was going to beg, what should he beg for? Small steps forward meant he wouldn’t get what he wanted, which was to drive her crazy until she’d had a half dozen orgasms before burying himself in her and marking her thoroughly.
She grabbed the bottom of the shirt she wore and stripped it away. Her naked breasts popped into view, and all thoughts of begging fled, swallowed by raging need.
Tessa bit back her laughter. She was turned on and eager to play, but the expression on Mark’s face right now? Sheer puppy-dog eyes. Although she’d be nice and refrain from making that comment out loud.
Wolves could be sensitive about such things.
She’d planned on acting a little coy, flirting and showing off. She’d forgotten one vital bit of information. She had been teasing him all day.
He caught hold of her hips and suddenly she was airborne, lifted over his lap and held so she looked down at him as he stared eye level with her breasts. Anticipation built as he remained stationary.
“You seem unsure what to do next.” Tessa smoothed her palms over his head.
His gaze lifted the short distance needed to make direct contact with hers. “I know what to do, but I’m savouring.”
“Like a steak?”
“No objections on my part to eating you all up.”
“You big, bad wolf—oooh!”
He’d obviously stopped savouring because warm lips wrapped around her nipple. Mark sucked, and tingling lines of pleasure radiated out to steal around her torso. A moment’s reprieve came as he switched sides, licking firmly, his tongue rasping over the delicate tip. His grip on her hips remained tight enough to direct her where he wanted, yet the tender caress of his thumbs added to the erotic torment.
One side, then the other. Tessa closed her eyes and did her own savouring. The tenderness in his touch remained, but the urgency was there as well. Increased breathing, heart rates rising. Without taking his lips from her skin, he adjusted their position and made contact with the edge of her panties.
She shivered at the sensation. He played along the seam, back and forth, brushing his knuckles over the center of her sex at the same moment he closed his teeth on her nipple.
Direct line hit, pleasure fast overtaking her. He’d barely begun touching the really good bits, and she was poised to go off. A little firmer now, his fingers slipped under the material and separated her folds.
Mark hummed in approval. “So wet. Let me make you feel good.”
She would have agreed, yet she couldn’t say anything. Just a long, low catlike purr she’d have been self-conscious of except he’d found her clit.
Embarrassed? Only by how quickly she was going to climax.
He petted her with his fingertips, keeping his attention focused on the sensitive spot. Intense pleasure rose faster, egged on when he returned to kissing her breasts. Tessa held her breath as the moment hit, the pulse of her core shooting all kinds of incredible chemicals throughout her body. She clutched his head to her chest and rocked with delight.
He supported her until she stopped shaking, his right hand caressing everywhere he could. Her hips, her back, up her rib cage with a delicate whisper. Tessa drew in a deep breath and smiled contentedly at him.