“Of course you will. And I’d be lying if I said I won’t make you crazy—I’m bad at compromising and I like having my own way. I’ll push every hot button you have. But you’ve got to admit, it will make things interesting.” His hand slid up to span her neck. “Tell me you don’t want this.” He flexed his grip on her throat. “Tell me I’m not what you want. Say it and mean it.” She couldn’t; he could see it in her eyes. “Then kiss me, Harley.” She didn’t, and he growled, “Fucking kiss me.”

The order made her spine snap straight. “If you want a kiss, you’d better get it yourself.”

With a growl, Jesse palmed her ass and pulled her flush against him, but he didn’t kiss her hard. He sipped and licked at her mouth, tasting and savoring her. She tasted of everything he’d wanted since he was fourteen. Tasted like sin. Tasted like his. She inhaled sharply as he slipped his hand under her T-shirt and possessively palmed her breast. Her scent warmed and ripened with need, making his whole body tighten.

“Your scent is like a fucking zap to my cock.” Jesse bit her lip hard. She didn’t jerk away like she had last night, and he growled in approval. “Give me your throat, Harley.” It was a demand that held a dare.

His dominant tone made her nipples tighten, but hell if she’d submit to that extent. She dug her fingers into his shoulders. “If that’s what you want from your female, you should go get yourself a submissive.”

“The only female I’m interested in claiming is you. Yes, that’s right, you’re about to get claimed.” One second, she was plastered against him and the next she’d somehow broke his hold and was five feet away. “Come here.”

“It’s one thing to fuck me. It’s another to claim me.”

“Yes, sweetheart, I’m well aware of that.”

She backed up as he prowled toward her. “If you leave a claiming mark, it’ll never fade.”

“I know.” He lunged, but she evaded him and continued to backpedal.

“That means if you decide this relationship isn’t working for you and then you choose another mate, she’s gonna be pretty damn pissed that you once officially claimed someone else. And my partner would be just as pissed to see that mark every day.”

He growled. “There will be no one else for me. Only you.” She bumped into the dining table, so he lunged again; he grabbed her, spun her, and trapped her against the wall, his front to her back. He bit her earlobe. “And there’ll be no one else for you. Only me.” She struggled against him, all elbows. He turned her to face him and slammed his body against hers, pinning her to the wall with her hands above her head. “There’s nowhere to go, Harley.”

She curled her upper lip. “The bite won’t mean anything if I don’t accept your claim.”

“You’ll accept it.” He rocked his hips, thrusting against her clit. She gasped. “Because you know you’re mine.” Defiance flared in her eyes. He tightened his grip on her wrists. “Tell me you’re not, Harley. Say those words. I dare you.” But she didn’t. “You can’t, can you?”

No, she couldn’t. He was offering her what she’d always wanted but had never dared to hope for. Her cat wanted him just as much. Being his mate wouldn’t be easy—in fact, it could very well test her sanity—but she knew it would be harder to walk away than it would be to take a chance. And, well, it was hard to hold out against him when he was crowding her this way, sending raw need coursing through her. Still . . . “If you fuck me over I will claw your face right off your skull.”

Jesse had no idea why he found it hot when she threatened him, but he decided not to question it. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.” He slammed his mouth down on hers, driving his tongue inside, feasting and consuming, and she gave as good as she got. He moved his mouth to her ear, rubbing his cheek against hers. “Open your jeans.” He released her wrists and she slowly did as he’d asked. “Very good.”

He thrust his hand into her panties and slid a finger between her folds, finding her deliciously wet. “This is what’s going to happen. I’m going to fuck you with my finger and make you come. You’re not going to move. You’re going to stay still and take what I give you.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Then you’d better give me something good.”

He collared her throat as he plunged his finger in and out of her, watching every flicker of emotion cross her face. She held still, though her thighs trembled. “Such a good girl,” he whispered against her mouth, driving a second finger inside. “I’ve dreamed about this pussy. Dreamed of it milking my cock. Is that what it wants, baby?” Her response was a moan. “You know what else I dreamed of? This gorgeous mouth. One day, I’ll fuck that too.”

She growled. Dominant females gave oral sex in their own time, so he could damn well wait until she was ready.

Bunching a hand in her hair, he snatched her head aside to expose her throat. “Anything I want. You’ll give me anything I want.” Ignoring the warning prick of her claws, he licked, kissed, sucked, and nipped at her neck—knowing how sensitive it was. Soon enough, she was like melted wax in his arms and her pussy was getting tighter around his fingers.

“That’s it, baby, come.” He upped the pace of his thrusts, ruthlessly hitting her G-spot. “Come, Harley.” With a throaty cry, she came all over his hand, her pussy quivering around his fingers. His cock throbbed, needing to be in her. Possessing her. Claiming her.