Healing the Clan: Alaskan Tigers: Book Ten by Marissa Dobson Page A

mating match. She couldn’t say she was in love with him, but the feelings of love and desire were there. She wanted to be with him, and it wasn’t just the tigress within her that wanted that.
    “David…” His name came out like a whisper as she pushed her chair back with such force it toppled over. She made her way around the table and closed the remaining distance between them. His arms wrapped around her, and he drew her close until she was pressed up against his body. This had been the first truly intimate touch they’d shared since she arrived. Before now, it had been a little hand holding or a brush along the arm. This hug brought them closer than they had ever been before. “I need you.”
    “I know.” His lips pressed against the top of her head. “We have an hour before the clan has dinner, but after that, I’m not sure.”
    “What do you mean? Surely you’re not going to start the training tonight? Everyone’s exhausted. The training has been nonstop for days.”
    “I’ve called the clan together. I’ve got to address the situation with Styx. The rest of the announcements and business I had planned to deal with in the morning will also be dealt with tonight. There’s no reason to gather everyone back together in the morning as well. So…”
    “What are you waiting for? You said we had an hour. Let’s go.” She took his hand into hers and dragged him toward the door.
    “My eager tigress,” he teased, but kept pace with her.
    Eager was an understatement for what was going through her. Since finding out she was his mate, the desire level grew stronger with each passing hour. Today, though, it had begun to throb. Now she’d claim her mate and they could continue working to rebuild their clan. Her life was changing, and she was glad that she could be a part of everything that was happening here.
    The door clicked shut behind them, leaving them alone in their quarters, and nerves sank in. “I…I want you.”
    “I assumed that from the high speed dash up here.” He stalked toward her. “I want you naked.” His voice changed into more of a growl.
    She took hold of the hem of her shirt, slowly pulling it up until a small part of her stomach showed. “Just because we’re short on time doesn’t mean I’m just going to hop into bed with you. Maybe I should make you work for it.”
    He stepped in front of her and wrapped his arm around her waist, pressing her against his body and forced her against the wall. With her back pressed against the wall and his body flush with hers, he lowered his head to the curve of her neck. He nipped and licked along her skin, working his way toward her ear, gently purring. His body vibrated against hers, and his shaft pulsed against her thigh.
    She couldn’t stop herself from touching him. She reached out and caressed the arch of his hips, teasing along the curve and up his sides. Desire poured through her, and she wasn’t sure how long she could hold out before she begged him to take her.
    “Sweet, but there’s a hint of spice to your taste.” He sucked her earlobe into his mouth, his teeth grazing around her earring, his hand sliding down her body, following her curves.
    By the time he got to her hips, she was practically panting. She needed him, and she couldn’t hold it off any longer. “Naked, now.” She reached up for him, her fingers closing around the buttons of his jeans.
    “But I thought you weren’t planning to strip naked and hop into my bed?” he teased.
    She worked her way past his button and continued on the path to what she wanted. “Just get naked.”
    He pulled off his shirt, tossing it to the floor.
    She tugged down his zipper and slipped her hand inside the rough material. Her fingers wrapped around his shaft, tearing a growl from deep within him. “Take these off.” She slid his jeans down his hips.
    Instead of doing what she asked, his fingers twisted around the material of her shirt, pulling it up and over her head.
    Her beast