I wasn’t prepared when the sun smacked me in the face the next morning. I saw the beautiful girl next to me and I wanted the sun to get the hell out of here. I wanted the night back. More specifically, I wanted last night back.

I had my first taste of my mate and I was hooked. Like a damn schoolboy, I had dreamed about her even when she was naked on my pillow.

Gillian rolled toward me with a sleepy smile. “Good morning.”

“Hi.” I ran my hand over her curves. “How is your arm?” I looked at it. There was definitely some swelling closer to her shoulder.

“I didn’t notice it last night.” She blushed. “But it hurts like hell now.”

“I bet. Want me to get the ice pack for you?” I offered, but her hands were on me before I could even throw the sheets back.

“No,” she purred. “You have something much better than ice.” Her fingers wrapped around my cock.

“Fuck, love. You need ice for that arm this morning.”

She shook her head. “No. I need this.”

I grinned. My perfect mate had no idea how perfect she was.

I climbed on top of her. I pushed the head of my dick to her pussy.

We both sighed as we reveled in how it felt to touch this way. She was slick with want. Dripping wet for my cock. She tilted her hips forward, rubbing against me. She started to grind harder.

“This is dangerous, love,” I warned.

She nodded. “I know, but for a few minutes it feels so good, doesn’t it?”

I closed my eyes. I couldn’t take steps backward with my mate. She had no idea what she was doing. She was tempting the beast within me. He couldn’t be reasoned with like a man. He wanted to claim her in this bed.

“You think I can pull out?” I eyed her.

“Will you?” She breathed heavily. Her tits hardened. “Please,” she begged. “It feels too good to stop.”

I shook my head. Part of me still had the ability to reason. If I buried myself inside her now, there was no way I was putting a condom on in five minutes.

I leaned to kiss her throat and her neck. “You know I want to fuck you like this.”

She nodded. “I want it so much. And I shouldn’t. I know I shouldn’t. But I want it more. I want you more.”

I closed my eyes. That was our bond talking. It was already starting to affect her and she had no way to explain it. The guilt settled in my chest along with the pride that had formed from how willing she was to accept what my bear had already given her. Everything inside me was jumbled. Honor mixed with primal hunger. Respect warring with animal want. It was a vicious battle in my heart.

Her eyes lifted. They sparkled in the morning sun. “Don’t stop, now.” She smiled. “I know you’ll pull out when it’s time.”

She had more faith in me than I did.

I pushed inside her, letting her hot velvety walls wrap my cock like it had been coated in a sleeve of lava.

“Oh fuck.” I knew then her faith had been ill-placed.

My bear had one mission—prime his mate for cubs.

I thrust in and out of her. She cried out my name as I grunted, hilting myself inside her.

“Liam.” She panted. Her eyes closed with my name on her lips.

I pushed her knees wide, driving myself home. I felt the tight spiral at the base of my spine. It was like a bullseye I had to hit. I pumped in and out.

“I’m not going to stop,” I told her.

“Don’t,” she begged. “Oh God, don’t. Fill me. Please,” she moaned.

Her hands wrapped to my waist. I felt her nails dig into my ass and I lost the last hold on reality. My bear took over as I fucked her, spilling my seed in her womb. It felt fucking incredible. I’d never experienced a moment of pure carnal bliss like I did emptying my release one thrust at a time. My cock twitched and vibrated until every last drop was inside her.

Gillian shivered and a big smile spread across her face. “Oh that was good. Too good.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “You are more than I ever expected Gillian Sparks.”

She bit her lip. “I think I’m ready to apologize.”

I lowered myself, grazing her tits with my chest. I wasn’t ready to move my dick yet. It liked being inside her way too much to end the moment.

“Apologize?” I questioned.

She traced my jawline with her index finger. “I blamed you yesterday for my accident.” She paused. “But it could have been much worse if you weren’t there. I’m starting to think it was one of those happy accidents.” She wrinkled her nose in an adorable way.

“Happy accident because you landed in my arms and in my bed?” I chuckled.

“Something like that. But really. I’m sorry if I was a bitch yesterday. I was angry about my arm. Angry that the shoot had to be postponed. And angry that we missed Lance’s perfect sunset scene.”

Shit. The bear bond was working faster than I anticipated. I was in awe of the transformation.

“Apology accepted.” I brushed the hair from her shoulder and planted a kiss on her skin. “I’m glad you plowed into me.”

“Me too.” She sighed. “It was nice meeting you, Prince Liam.”

I cocked my head to the side. “Nice meeting me?”

She nodded. “Yeah. This was amazing. But I have to get to work.” She tried to wiggle out from underneath me.

Shit. I was wrong. The bond wasn’t working in overdrive.

“I thought we established you couldn’t work today. You’re hurt. You need to rest that arm. I’m going to find the icepack for you.”

“I am going to work. I have a fight scene today. And if we can get it right, we will re-shoot what we fucked up yesterday.”

I stared at her. “You heard what Dr. Fines said. You have to stay off your arm. You are absolutely not doing any of your stunts today. No fight scenes. Nothing.”

She scooted backward on the bed, pulling the sheet to her chest. I was pissed she covered her luscious tits.

“That’s not your decision. I’m here to work.” She folded her arms in defiance.

My eyes narrowed. “Not today.”

“What? Are you going to lock me up in a palace tower somewhere?”

“I wouldn’t test that theory.” I hopped from the bed. “I’ll do what I have to do.”

“Liam, I was kidding. Tell me you are too.”

I exhaled. “I won’t lock you up.” But it wasn’t the worst idea out there if it meant she wouldn’t get hurt. I couldn’t just hand her over to the crew that had let her get hurt in the first place.

“How do you expect to continue to work with that kind of bruise? You’re going to get hurt again.” I pointed to her arm.

“There is a makeup team. They can work magic. No one will ever see it. I’m going to be careful with it.”

I stood in front of her. “I can’t let you do this, Gillian.”

“It’s not up to you,” she huffed. “We met yesterday. Last night and this morning were amazing, but the longer you keep talking like a caveman, the quicker I’m likely to forget just how fun they were.”

I closed my eyes. We were both mad as hell. Both stubborn. Both used to getting what we wanted.

“Then I’m going with you to the set.”

Her jaw dropped.

I smirked. “And there’s nothing you can do about that. You’re in my country. My city. And you’re going to have to play by my rules.”