Page 131 of Played By Design

His labored breathing says otherwise. “Pain level.”

“Don’t ruin this.”

“That’s not a number.”

His forehead drops between my shoulder blades. “Six.”

I knew it. “I should take a suppressant, and you need a pill for the pain. Let’s move to the bedroom.”

“Just give it another minute.” He nuzzles the Mark. “Wanna make sure it sets.”

Where he bit throbs, a dull, persistent ache that feels as if it’s branded into my bones. Which it is, because Kain is my mate.

Obviously.

Romance path unlocked.

22

Iwake to Kain’s cock nudging my ass and his hand kneading my hip under the blankets.

My skin is fever-hot, the sheets damp underneath me. Pheromones saturate the bedroom, and my nape throbs where Kain’s teeth broke skin earlier.

I shift, and my ass aches. Sore. Swollen. My inner thighs stick together.

“Shh,” Kain murmurs, rough with sleepy desire.

His hand moves from my hip to my chest, fingers splayed, and he pulls me back into him, his cock a hot line along the curve of my ass.

Slick gathers at my entrance, and my dick hardens, the head catching on the sheets. A needy noise escapes my throat before I can stop it.

“Kain.” I try to twist out of his grip, but his arm tightens around me. “Your ribs. We can’t do it again.”

His hand slides up to cup my jaw, fingers threading into my hair, and he draws my head around so he can see me in the dim light filtering around the edges of his blackout curtains.

“I’m fine, my sweet Omega,” he says, each syllable stroking my senses.

I struggle past the allure of my Alpha and narrow my eyes. “That’s what you said in the bathroom, and you almost passed out.”

Kain’s mouth curls. “Worth it to claim you.”

“No.” My hand finds his hip and pushes. “Not with you hurt. You need to rest, not fuck. I’ll take another suppressant.”

“Later.” His hand tightens in my hair to keep me from escaping. Lips brush mine in a soft, slow kiss, sleep lingering on his tongue. “Just let me slip inside you, Bunny. I won’t move.”

His thumb strokes the hinge of my jaw. “Or does my mate not want me?”

The word punches through my chest and settles there, heavy and warm and impossible to refuse. “Mate.”

Kain’s tongue traces my bottom lip. “That’s right.”

“Promise you won’t move.” I hold his gaze. “Your ribs can’t take another round.”

“I promise I’ll stay still.” His tone turns solemn. “Just let me be inside you.”

I search for the lie and find none, so I roll onto my stomach, wincing as my sensitive dick grinds over the mattress, and shove a pillow under my hips.

Kain shifts behind me, and the bed dips. One hand strokes down my spine, and his fingers trace the curve of my ass before he spreads me open.