Page 21 of The Alpha King's Mate

My eyes snapped open—his had returned to their usual dark brown, but a smile played along his lips. I couldn’t be certain if he was joking or not.

He snagged my wrist and tugged me towards the loveseat. He sat and pulled me onto his thigh until my feet dangled between his legs. I was about to protest when a deep purr began to vibrate through his chest.

I stared at the tray. The scent of food registered, and I began to salivate.

He knows our weakness, Zira murmured.Mm. I can smell the meat.

He leaned over, and I grabbed his shoulder to steady myself while he removed the foil from the plates.

The savage didn’t even use cutlery.

He began to feed me by hand.

There was no napkin, so when the juices from the succulent meat dripped down my chin, he gripped my nape and licked my chin and lips clean. I sat frozen on his lap. He pushed something else into my mouth.

I chewed.

Zira’s low growl merged with his purring.

Maybe being his mate wouldn’t be so bad, she murmured.Ask him for seconds.

“What’s her name?” he murmured when her growl died down.

“Zira.”

His hand paused before he placed the seasoned strip of beef in my mouth. My tongue brushed his finger, and his entire body stiffened.

“Is it fair to deny Zira her happiness with Malakh? He is besotted by you both.”

Guilt hit hard.

An image of two wolves frolicking through the wild made my breath catch in my throat.

“What kind of a mother would she be?”

Zira pressed against my chest. She didn’t need to answer. I felt her yearning.

This manipulative bastard was good.

“We won’t need anyone to relieve us once we’re bonded to you and Zira. I’m almost thirty-two years old. A strong and healthy male. My life revolves around my pack’s wellbeing. Men and women have sex before they find their mate.”

“How many of them keep entire lists for that sole purpose?”

“I have a busy schedule—”

I snorted.

“—and a healthy appetite,” he finished, his eyes dropping to my breasts.

There were no nip slips. I’d buttoned his shirt up to my neck.

The man literally had two metal studs on his cock like a decorative showpiece.

“Three days,” he murmured. A threat wrapped in velvet.

I should have jumped off his lap on principle.

But I stayed for the honeyed yoghurt he uncovered.