Through the fog of sleep, Ginger could make out the faint sounds of a phone vibrating, but as much as she tried, she couldn’t force her eyes to open. Whoever was calling would have to wait. She wasn’t ready to be up. She snuggled back into the warmth of the blankets and—

Shit! Her eyes sprang open as she realized the heat wasn’t coming from her blankets but from a man. Still deeply asleep, Liam lay stretched out on his back and, true to his word, he was naked as the day he was born.

She still couldn’t believe he’d climbed into bed next to her completely naked. It had taken things a step further than she had planned but damn, he was a fine looking man. They had started the night on their own sides of the bed and not touching, but sometime during the night, she gravitated toward him.

Shifters liked warmth when they slept and it wasn’t uncommon to find some sleeping together in a big pile. Such a sight always reminded her of a puppy pile, as they all cuddled together. The lack of someone to sleep with had her cuddling with a heating blanket instead. It wasn’t a good substitute but better than a cold, empty bed. Only this morning, she woke up to not just another shifter that had shared her bed, but the man who was to be her mate. A soft moan had her tipping her head up to get a better look at him, only to find him awake and watching her.

“Morning, beautiful.” With the arm he had wrapped around her, he pulled her tight against him. “I thought you’d steal the covers away and enjoy the view.”

“Maybe I was about to,” she teased and pulled the covers down, not quite revealing his manhood.

“Teasing won’t end well for you.”

“Really, lion.” She rubbed her body along his, drawing her fingers along the contours of his chest, working her way down toward his waist. “I think you might have that reversed. The woman holds the power and we tease you into the position we want you. If we let you think otherwise, it’s for your own benefit.”

“Is that so?” Without giving her time to answer, his arm tight around her, he rolled her onto her back so that he was arched over her. “Shall we see about that?”

“Liam…” His name came out on a whisper as she continued to explore his body. She didn’t want him to stop but was she ready? She wasn’t sure.

“Go with it.” He nuzzled the side of her neck, planting gentle kisses along the curve before working down her collarbone. “Stay in the moment and remember it’s me. No one else, just me and you.”

“I know it’s you.” She caressed along his sides, debating for a moment if she wanted to tell him everything or keep it to herself. “Last night, as you lay there beside me, your scent surrounded me. Instead of fearing the scent, as I did when I first met you, I noticed key differences. It’s not just a lion scent. There’s more to it. I can smell your tribe—Jase’s bear and Sin’s fox are the strongest but there are others who blend into it; even Garret’s wolf lingers within the mix. There are also hints of hickory, apples, and fall leaves. So I always know it’s you.” She cupped the side of his face, stroking her thumb along the stubble on his jaw.

“Good.” He tipped his head toward her hand and kissed her palm.

“I should have realized it before but I let my fear get the best of me. Never again.” Not waiting for him to make the first move, she arched up toward him and claimed his lips. He met her kiss with desire of his own.

As the kiss ended, he leaned back from her and watched her for a moment. “Are you sure about this?”

“Completely.” She grabbed a hold of his hips and drew him down toward her. “Now come here.”

He leaned into her, pressing his lips to hers, not allowing her a chance to deny him, and making her crave more of him. No longer would she allow the fact he was a lion to keep her from her mate. Destined mates were the perfect match for each other and she had to trust that destiny had led her to him for a reason.

With passion controlling her, she pressed into him as his fingers hooked the bottom of her tank top. “I let you sleep in the tank top and panties, even though I was naked, but now I want these gone.”

“I didn’t force you to get naked.”

“Maybe not, but you enjoyed every minute of it.” He tugged her shirt up to just below her breasts and gave her a cocky grin. “Don’t think I didn’t catch your glances in my direction.”

“I didn’t…” She could feel the blood rushing to her cheeks.

“Deny it if it makes you feel better but we both know the truth.” Slowly, he pulled the tank top up over her breasts and over her head. “Soon you will be my mate and can see me naked any time your heart desires.”

“You’re cocky, but I like it.”

“Good. Now lie back. I want to explore every inch of your body.” He kissed her neck, nibbling down her jawline to her shoulder.

As he moved lower, she wanted to protest because his body wasn’t pressed along hers and she couldn’t feel his shaft pressed along her inner thigh any longer. Since he’d finally made it to her breast, she complied, lying back and letting her fingers trail along his sides. He lowered his mouth to her nipple, his gaze locked on her. She moaned in ecstasy when his tongue flicked over one hardened tip. Pleasure exploded through her as his tongue teased along her sensitive nipples. After working both nipples into hardened peaks, he moved down, kissing along her stomach until he reached the top of her panties.

“Naked.” The one word came out like a growl as he teased with deft fingers along the seam of the material.

“You know how to fix that.” She arched up to allow him to pull her panties down.

In a blink of an eye, they were gone, leaving her as naked as he was, and the heat level within her rose with every caress. Her body craved his touch and it had been too long since she’d felt the gentle caress of a man, let alone another shifter. He pulled his mouth from hers and kissed a path down her neck. Sensations collided and threatened to overwhelm her when he teased her nipples. Pushing her gently back onto the bed, his bulky frame hovered above her and he stared down at her, desire burning in his eyes.

He caressed every inch of her body, sending moans of ecstasy from her lips. His touch was incredibly tender, as though trying to memorize every curve of her body with his hands and mouth. Heat soared through her blood, like a fire burning just below the skin, impatient and demanding.

He blazed a hot, wet trail of kisses across her belly and stroked her thighs with his fingertips. With every touch, she arched her hips, demanding more. She couldn’t get enough of him. Nudging her legs farther apart, he delved his fingers inside her and she met the thrusts. A demanding moan she barely recognized vibrated in her throat. The trail of wicked kisses tingled over her thighs. He moved his hand and replaced it with his mouth. Tiny nips and gentle licks flicked over her sweet spot, nearly driving her over the edge. She grabbed his hair, torn between pressing him closer and dragging him up. She wanted all of him.

“Liam!” She nearly screamed his name before gaining a little control over herself. “Please, I need you.” Even in the sexual haze, she realized what she’d said and those few words changed everything. Sex would complete their mating, forever uniting them as one. There was peace in knowing she would forever have someone by her side, and that he was hers. Mates.

“You don’t know how good it is to hear that.” He spread her legs farther, giving him the access he needed before filling her slowly, inch by inch. Halfway in, he slid out before thrusting back in, this time filling her completely with his manhood. Their animals sprang forward, mingling their magic together until the air was thick with it, and the hairs on their arms stood on end. Their animals didn’t snarl at each other, but caressed one another as their human sides brought them together.

His hips increased pace, driving the force of each pump. Every glide of his shaft inside her seemed to set off another cascade of heat. Their bodies rocked back and forth, tension stretching her tighter as she fought for the release she longed for. This was what she had been waiting for, what she needed.

“Liam!” She cried out his name as she found her release. She dug her nails into his back, pressing her body into his. He pumped into her a few more times before he shouted her name in ecstasy.

With his shaft still deep within her, he smiled down at her. “My mate.”

As her breath slowly returned to normal, she realized how much she liked the sound of that. She was his, just as he was hers. They were locked together for all eternity. Hopefully, they could manage to live with each other without killing one another.