Goal: A Mate (Bachelor Auction #2) by Selena Illyria Page A

The overhead street lamps bathed only half of him in a waxy golden light. His bright blue eyes seemed to glow with an intensity she couldn’t read. He wore a simple pea coat; the parted sections revealed his blue plaid shirt and jeans. Scuffed-up motorcycle boots finished off the casual outfit. Dark-brown scruff covered the bottom half of his face.
    She lifted her hand, wanting to feel the rough texture against her fingertips. Kelly swallowed and took a step toward him.
    He raised a thick brow but said nothing.
    “Brandon?” Her voice shook as she said his name. Something about the way he stood, the silence and stillness, made her nervous.
    The wolf flashed in his eyes, a spark of copper, before melting away to color of midnight skies.
    She licked her lips. “Bran?” A tremble of fear caused her stomach muscles to flutter. She’d seen that expression on his face during a face-off on the ice, but he’d never turned that look on her.
    “You gonna come with me quietly, or do I have to make you?” He crossed his arms over his chest, one finger tapped against his bicep.
    She narrowed her eyes until she watched him through a veil of dark lashes. “What the fuck are you talking about?” Despite her words, a damning thrill zipped along her spine. This had to be the moment she had been waiting for. He was here to see what would happen between them before she gave into the needs her pack and let Alberto claim her.
    “You’re my mate. Mine .” His voice had become deeper, rougher, and sexier. “I’m not gonna let some fucknuts try and claim what belongs to me. Yet I know that I don’t have what it takes to be alpha, and I don’t want either of us to be exiled from the pack. So the only thing I can give you is myself. For whatever time we have before fate takes you away from me.”
    She ruminated over his declaration. This really was the only time they could be together. He didn’t want to be alpha, and neither of them wanted to let the pack down. This merger would increase their size but offer them much-needed income. She couldn’t put it off much longer. But neither could she put off her date with Brandon.
    “Fine. Come and get me.” Kelly didn’t do anything as dramatic as drop her purse and get into a fighting stance; she just waited to see what he would do.
    Brandon shrugged and walked forward until he was in front of her, mere inches away. He bent down and pressed his lips to hers. One of his hands cupped the back of her head. His fingers delved into her tresses, destroying her bun until it fell loose to her shoulders. She reached up and clutched the sides of his jacket, pulling him closer as his mouth moved over hers. His tongue traced the line of her closed lips before she allowed him entrance. He teased her with each glide and stroke. She could taste the coolness of mint and a hint of lemon as well as something richer, darker. The kiss was so much better than she’d dreamed.
    Kelly pressed her body against his, feeling the hard planes of the muscles hidden by fabric, feeling the heat that poured from him into her, driving away the cold. He sucked, scraped, and nibbled at her bottom lip, turning it hot and sensitive with his actions. Brandon grabbed a handful of hair and held her head still as he drank of her lips. She forgot all sense of time and place as she leaned into him until there wasn’t any space between them. The ridge of his erection pressed against her thigh, letting her know he was just as affected as she was. He pulled back, huffs of air drifting up in front of his face like clouds, obscuring him for a few seconds. His lips were parted, reddened by his efforts.
    He released her hair and stepped back. Then he crouched down and scooped her up without effort. She didn’t protest. Instead, she clung on, not caring that she was leaving her car behind. All fight had gone out of her. It didn’t mean the wolf had decided to bow to its mate’s desires. Not yet, anyway. First it wanted to get a