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

idea?”
    “No.”
    “But—”
    “No buts, little mate.”
    His mate sighed and laid her head on his shoulder. “You have a bad habit of cutting me off.”
    “I only do it when I’m right.” Ben laughed. “Which is usually most of the time.” He turned Jacqi so he could see her face. “None of this is your fault. Your father knew we were after him. How could he not? We actually blew up the man’s house, so it was only a matter of time before he came after us here.
    “As far as you helping out, the best way you can help is by being in that safe room when the attack comes. If I know you’re anywhere close to the danger, then I won’t be able to concentrate. My focus would be on you and not on my job. It’s the fastest way to get myself or one of the guys killed. I can’t let that happen. Please tell me you understand,” Ben pleaded with his mate. He couldn’t stand her being angry with him or hurt, but making sure she was in that safe room was something he wasn’t budging on.
    Finally, Jacqi nodded, and Ben felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. “Thank you,” he said and kissed her. His mate moaned against his mouth when he slid his tongue against hers. The sound sent shivers down his spine and straight to his cock, which had been rock hard since the moment he’d pulled her onto his lap. It seemed he couldn’t get enough of Jacqi, and he had a feeling it would always be that way. Walking around with a constant hard-on was something he was willing to endure as long as he had his mate by his side.
    Grabbing Jacqi’s hips, he turned her so that she straddled his lap and pressed her down against the erection tenting his jeans. He moaned at the feel of her against him. Ben trailed kisses down her neck, and his mate craned her head back, giving him room. He grinned when he got close to his mating bite on her shoulder and paused. When he had explained the benefits of mating to her, Ben had purposely left out one detail. He wanted it to be a surprise when she found out. Now, he looked up at his mate. She had her head thrown back and her eyes closed with a look of bliss on her face. Keeping his eyes trained up at her, Ben leaned down and gently grazed his teeth across the mark.
    His mate’s reaction was instant as she yelled out. Her eyes shot wide open, and her knees clamped tightly around his waist. “What was that?” she asked, panting for breath.
    Ben grinned at her and rubbed his finger over the mark, drawing a whimper from her. “That’s my mating mark. The redness and swelling will go away, but the scar will never fade. When I bit you, it became an erogenous zone, but only in response to me. Any time I touch you here”—he rubbed the spot again to make his point—“it will be a turn-on for you. If any other male were to touch you there, you would feel uncomfortable, almost like you were sick to your stomach.”
    Jacqi moaned and pressed her shoulder harder against his finger. “I knew I mated you for a reason.”
    Ben laughed at his mate and tossed her to the bed. “I hope that’s not the only reason,” he said, hovering over her.
    Jacqi looked up at him through half-closed eyes and grinned wickedly. “At the moment, it’s the only reason I can think of.” She squealed and laughed when Ben dove on top of her.
    “That wasn’t nice, little mate,” he said then tsked. “I think you deserve to be punished for that. I wonder how many times I can make you come by just touching my mark.”
    Jacqi’s voice was husky when she spoke. “Do your worst.”
    Ben grinned. That was a challenge he wasn’t willing to pass up.

Chapter 12
     
    Jacqueline lay in bed next to Ben, wide-awake. The man had proven his point about her mating mark until she had lost count and finally passed out. She should have still been asleep, but her brain wouldn’t stop working. An idea was right on the edge of her mind, and the scientist in her wouldn’t let her go back to sleep until she explored the thought thoroughly.
    Giving up on getting back to sleep, she eased out of the bed, careful not to wake Ben, and slipped on her clothes. Jacqueline tiptoed out of the room and headed down to her lab in the basement. On the way, she heard sound coming from the kitchen and saw Tessa sitting at the table eating ice cream.
    “I didn’t wake you, did I?” Tessa asked as Jacqueline walked into the kitchen.
    “No. I couldn’t sleep.”
    “As much screaming as you did, I figured you would be out for