Mine for Eternity [Council Enforcers] (Siren Publishing Classic)

keep from shifting.
    “Mitch? What’s wrong?” Tessa climbed to her knees and laid her palm on his face.
    Her scent washed over him, bringing with it a sense of calm, and Mitch breathed deep. He hadn’t realized he had closed his eyes until he opened them and stared into Tessa’s concerned face. He could see the reflection of his eyes glowing in hers. Mitch knew she was seeing him in a partial shift, but she never took her hands off his face. He didn’t smell fear coming from her, and it gave him to courage to tell her. His mate was a strong woman. He just hoped she was strong enough to hear what he had to say.
    “Mitch, answer me. Is everything okay? You look like you’re in pain.”
    “I’m okay.” His voice had a growl to it proving how close his lion was to the surface. “I need to tell you something, and I need you to listen. Whatever you do, promise that you won’t run. My lion is too close to taking over, and I don’t think I can hold him back if I had to chase you.”
    Tessa didn’t even hesitate giving him an answer. “I promise I won’t go anywhere. You haven’t given me a reason to not trust you, so whatever you say can’t be that bad.”
    Mitch spoke before he could talk himself out of it. “There is no easy way to explain this, so I’m just going to come out and say it. You are my mate, Tessa.”
    “Like wolves? Not you guys but real ones? I mean not that you guys aren’t real or anything but…you know what I mean.”
    Mitch laughed at Tessa’s babbling. He could tell she was trying her best not to offend him. “Yeah, baby. Just like real wolves. All shifters believe that there is one person out there that fate has decided is perfect for them. We believe there is one person out there meant to complete us and end our loneliness.”
    Mitch paused and gauged Tessa’s reaction. She didn’t look like she was about to bolt. Instead, she looked truly interested in what he had to say, so he continued, “Like I told you before, we don’t get sick. We can’t catch human diseases, and we heal pretty much instantly. Because of that, we can live for a really long time. We aren’t immortal, but barring a horrific accident or someone killing us, we can live practically forever. Knowing there is someone out there specifically meant for us gives shifters something to look forward to rather than the burden of living forever alone.”
    “And you think I’m your mate?” Tessa whispered.
    “Yes. The day you showed up, I smelled your scent on Nico, and all I wanted to do was pull him under me and purr. He set off my protective instincts, and I didn’t know why until you came out of the bathroom screaming. When you bent down to pick him up, your scent hit me like a ton of bricks. I knew instantly you were my mate.”
    He watched as Tessa gulped. She still hadn’t taken her hand off his face, and she kept running her thumb up and down his jaw. He had a feeling she didn’t even realize she was doing it, and he was scared to move in case she stopped. Mitch became distracted when he saw her tiny, pink tongue glide across her bottom lip, leaving a trail of moisture behind. Without thinking, he leaned in and took the same path with his own tongue. Her sweet taste exploded in his mouth, causing him to growl and grab the back of her head. He fisted both hands in her hair, using it to position her where he wanted. His little mate gasped, and Mitch took full advantage by thrusting his tongue in her mouth. The kiss was brutal and wild. He surged his tongue in and out mimicking what he hoped he would soon be doing with his cock.
    Mitch traced every inch of her mouth leaving no surface unexplored. Only when the need to breathe became too much did he loosen his grip and pull back. Tessa’s eyes were glazed over, and she looked dazed as she panted for breath. He could feel the sense of pride coming from his lion for making their mate look that way as he settled and let Mitch have full control.
    “Tessa,” he said when he could use his voice again. “Mates are meant to be cherished. Let me love you. Let me show you how good I can make life for you and Nico. I know we just met, but say yes and I will make you the happiest woman in the world. You and Nico will never want for anything.”
    “I don’t know what to say, Mitch. I’m still not completely sure what being a mate means. This all seems too good to be true, but what if you get tired of me? You don’t even know me. How can you already say you