Forever Is Not Enough [Council Enforcers 2] (Siren Publishing Classic)

was on Ben. She wanted to run and throw herself into his arms like Nico had done, but she stood frozen in place, scanning him from head to toe, making sure he wasn’t hurt anywhere.
    “I did good. Didn’t I, Daddy?”
    “You did awesome, little man. Come on. Let’s go let your momma out. If I hold you out in front of me, she won’t hit me.” Nico giggled as Mitch carried him out of the basement on his shoulder.
    “He’s not serious, is he?” Jacqueline asked when she found her voice.
    Ben grinned. “Sadly, yes.”
    At the sound of his voice, she threw herself in his arms and wrapped her legs around his waist. Ben caught her just as she knew he would. “I was so worried about you. I had no idea what was going on.” She placed kisses along his jaw line and nipped his collarbone, causing him to groan.
    Ben’s hands slid inside the back of her jeans and begin to squeeze, just as she felt her back press against the wall. She gasped at the shock of the cold wall compared to the heat of his hands on her skin. The twin sensations had her thighs clenching as she ground her pussy against his stomach. When he pressed his lips against hers, she opened to him and moaned as his tongue caressed hers. They fought for dominance of the kiss until Jacqueline finally had to pull away, gasping for breath. She was desperate to let him know how she was feeling.
    “You scared me to death, Ben. Don’t ever do that to me again. I love you too much to lose you.” She felt the moment the words penetrated the sexual haze he was in. Ben’s whole body stiffened as he lifted his head and stared down at her with wide eyes.
    “Finally,” he breathed.
    It was Jacqueline’s turn to stiffen then for purely different reasons. “Finally? What’s that supposed to mean?” She was outraged and pressed against his chest to make him let her down, but the man didn’t budge.
    Ben laughed, angering her further. “Calm down, little mate. I just meant I have been waiting forever to hear you say those words to me.”
    She huffed. “It’s only been three weeks, and besides, it’s not like you said them to me.”
    “Little mate, I have loved you since the day I saved your life by tackling you down those stairs. I haven’t said it yet because I didn’t want to scare you off.”
    Jacqueline felt her eyes prickling as the tears gathered. She couldn’t remember ever hearing someone say those words to her. She used to imagine her mother saying them, but she’d been just too young to remember. Wrapping her arms back around Ben’s neck, she pulled him closer and whispered in his ear. “Make love to me, Ben. I want to be your mate.”
    Ben froze. “I’ve been waiting forever to hear you say that as well, but are you sure this is what you want? Once we mate there is no going back.”
    Jacqueline nodded. It was what she wanted.
    Ben moved away from the wall with her still in his arms and carried her back inside the safe room. He held on to her with one hand while he used the other to pull the door closed, not bothering to lock it. He carried Jacqueline over to the bed and lay her down on it. Her body shivered in anticipation from the look in Ben’s eyes as he lifted away from her and stared.
    “Claim me, Ben,” she told him. “Make me yours forever.”
    “Forever is not enough, little mate. You will be mine for eternity.”
    Before Jacqueline could respond to his declaration, Ben removed his shirt. The words stuck in her throat at the sight of the smooth, tan chest he revealed. His muscles bunched and flexed with each movement, making her mouth water and her tongue itch to trace each ridge and groove.
    Not wanting him to be the only one undressing, Jacqueline sat up and quickly pulled her T-shirt over her head as well. The bed dipped as she reached back to unhook her bra and looked up to see Ben straddling her lap with a knee on either side.
    His hands stilled hers. “Slowly, we have no reason to rush.”
    Jacqueline leaned her head against Ben’s chest and sucked in a deep breath. She didn’t want slow. She was feeling desperate and frantic at the moment. Her body was heating up at the thought of having him inside of her, and she felt as if she would combust if that didn’t happen in the next few seconds.
    Bringing her hands up, she ran them along his stomach and marveled at the feel of the smooth, hot skin. His muscles flexed as she trailed her hands lower toward the waistband of his jeans. When she reached the snap and released