Goal: A Mate (Bachelor Auction #2) by Selena Illyria Page B

they would hold even if she did use her werewolf strength to give her an advantage. Now for the woman… He went out and checked the window near the front door. A fire crackled in the hearth and the place felt cozy. He could picture them spending Christmases here surrounded by family and friends. Maybe they’d have a few kids.
    Pain shot through Brandon’s heart. It wasn’t meant to be. Their transition from friends to lovers had been quick, but it felt so natural. They’d danced around their attraction to each other for years. Tonight, when the moment came, he knew it would go beyond all the fantasies he’d concocted over the years. He would use this time with her as part of his fantasies well into the future. There was no one else for him.
    Reenie’s car pulled up, and Kelly scrambled out, saying something to Reenie before she shut the door and headed toward the cabin. Brandon had the door open before she was even a foot away. A grin on her face, eyes sparkling, happiness rippled off her in waves, boosting Brandon’s mood. He caught her up in a hug, lifting her off her feet, and taking a quick, deep kiss. She tasted like rich, deep chocolate with a hint of sweet. Tart strawberries, cool mint, and French pressed coffee. Delicious. His tongue dipped into her mouth, getting a deeper taste. With reluctance, he pulled away when his head began to pound due to lack of air.
    She giggled, panting hard as he pulled his head away. “Hi to you too. Put me down. It’s freezing outside.”
    He placed her on her feet and ushered her inside. Patience warred with eagerness to show her what he’d done. She stripped out of her coat, hung it up on the hook bolted to the wall. Then she removed her cell phone and placed it on a side table next to the couch. Finally she went over to hold her hands up to the fire.
    “So, what did Reenie want?” Brandon came up behind her and slipped his arms around her waist. Just the press of her ass against his groin brought a moan to his lips. Fire laced his veins as need pooled in his cock, thickening the shaft until his jeans felt tight and uncomfortable. She pushed her hips back, bumping his growing erection.
    “She wanted me to meet with Madison Weston, the lioness who’s mated to Pierce. We found out why the cat shifters were after us. It seems they feel we were poaching on their unofficial turf.” She leaned back into him, allowing him to accept her weight.
    Brandon snorted. “Doesn’t sound like a good enough response.”
    “I can understand it.” She snuggled into him. “Think about if Pierce had gone to an out-of-towner to coach the local team instead of you. Wouldn’t you be pissed? Since you’ve made it a point to promote local talent to all the teams you were on?”
    Brandon let her argument sink in as his desire increased. The constant rock and rub of her hips against his didn’t help matters. “Yeah,” he gasped out. “I can imagine being pissed.”
    She laughed. “By that ridge I’m feeling, you can imagine more than that. Anyway, there’s a possibility we can nip things in the bud. Why’d you go see my father?”
    “What?”
    She turned in his arms. Her breasts pressed against his chest. She tilted her head back, exposing her neck to him. “Claim. Bite. Fuck. Mate , ” the wolf chanted in his head. He lowered his mouth to nuzzle along her carotid artery. His nose traced the vein as her mating heat and musk rose up. He wanted to find the source, to tear her clothes to ribbons and bury his face in her core until she came all over his chin. With a growl, he nipped his way along her throat.
    Kelly moaned and threaded her fingers through his hair, holding him close. He took his time, dragging his lips over her silken flesh until he reached the neckline of her sweater.
    “Damn it.” Frustrated over the barrier between himself and her, he grabbed the hem and lifted it up her torso, up her arms, and over her head, dropping it to the floor before going back to what he