Opening the patio door, I step out into the warm midafternoon sun. I can hear the slosh of the water before I even lay eyes on him. Tipping my head back, I absorb the rays pounding down on me before I face him. My panther stirs in the back of my mind, and I contemplate letting her out for a run, but now is not the time.

I need to take care of business first. My feet carry me to the edge of the pool, where I have a clear view of the man who would be my mate. It definitely won’t be a chore to have to look at Domenico. The man is gorgeous.

His bulky form slices through the water smoothly, his bronze skin on display. Slickness gathers between my thighs as I watch his muscles move with every stroke through the water. I never pretended to be unaffected by him or even that I wasn’t attracted. Domenico is every woman’s wet dream, and if the situation were different, I would happily ride him like a pony.

“Rylee.”

The deep timbre of his voice invades my lust-addled brain. Looking down, I find him resting his elbows on the edge, his dark gaze glued to my face. Shaking myself out of my thoughts, I lean down.

“Do you need something?” he asks, a look of concern on his face.

I haven’t spoken to him since he left me alone in my new room. He doesn’t even join me for meals, although he said he would.

“No. But we do need to talk, Dom.”

“I thought we were done talking,” he says, pulling himself out of the water.

My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth at the sight of his bare chest, lightly dusted with dark hair. The damn V beside his hips leads into the green swim trunks that cling to his thick thighs. I stare at him far longer than I should allow.

“My eyes are up here,” Dom chuckles.

“I know,” I reply, giving him one last look over before returning my gaze to his face. “I need this mating,” I admit.

“And I need a mate that can stand me.” He runs a towel over his face and body before continuing. “Although, it seems you don’t find me completely disgusting.”

“Don’t be a prick, Dom,” I say, stepping into his space. “You’re hot as fuck, and you’re well aware of it. It’s not you. I didn’t want any man. I didn’t want a mate.”

A frown furrows his brow, his hands clenching at his side. “Do you care to explain that statement?”

I knew it was going to come down to this. Of course, he wouldn’t be happy with me giving the bare minimum. Domenico is the type of man who wants it all—my secrets, my worries, my heart, everything.

“There was a man before, my first mate…” My words are soft, the remembered pain thrumming through my veins once more. “He rejected me.”

“Jesus,” Dom curses. “Why? Why would he do such a thing?”

“I never bothered to ask.”

“He could have fucking killed you!”

Dom’s voice carries across the patio and into the garden. He paces away from me, visibly irate at my words. His breathing is harsh as he works through his anger before returning to me. Domenico grabs my face and slams his lips against mine, kissing me like he needs to make sure I’m real.

This is my first kiss, and although I am not exactly sure I know what to do, my body does. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I lift on my toes and press my chest against his. His body heat scorches me through my shirt.

The kiss is over too soon, and I want to stomp my foot like a child to show my displeasure. But Dom isn’t done. His fingers thread through my hair, and he tilts my head back, keeping me in place. His gaze scans my face before nodding.

“I want you, Rylee. God knows I do.” He grinds his erection against my stomach. “But I know you need time. You need to trust me before we can move forward with this.”

“Dom…” I groan his name.

“Let me finish.” He smiles softly. “Take some time and get to know me. Let me prove I can be a good mate for you, and then you can decide whether you really want to be my mate or not.”

“Are you sure?” I ask Dom softly.

“Time isn’t going to change how I feel about you,” he says calmly. “But it may change how you feel about me.”