By the time he pulled away, Catherine’s knees were shaking. He raised his index finger to trace along her jaw to her cheek and then her plush lips. She opened them on a soft moan. As if drawn in by the sound he leaned his head down and touched his lips softly to hers. An electric current like a static shock ignited upon his touch. He pulled back, just as startled as her.

“Fuck,” he groaned.

The next moment he was hauling her up on the counter. His large hands gripped her hips hard and tugged her flush against him. His lips slammed against hers and she cried out. Her arms wrapped around his neck, locking him in place against her. He bit her lower lip and she gasped, allowing his tongue to enter her mouth. Their tongues met and clashed, each fighting to outdo the other.

Her legs wrapped around his waist and she felt his rock hard erection press against her core. She flung her head back as she felt him pulsing against her. His lips made a path of open-mouthed kisses down her exposed throat until he found the point in which her neck meets her shoulder. He sucked on the sensitive skin there and she felt his teeth.

“Goddess,” she sighed as the pleasure he created there surged down to her center.

It was as if no one had ever touched her before. As if the nerve endings along her skin had been lying dormant until being awoken by his fingers and his lips. His lips found their way back to hers and he gripped her face with both hands as he drove her back with the force of his kiss.

“Graham?”

Catherine shrieked and pulled away at the foreign voice in the doorway. Her mate held his head back so she could hide herself against his chest. His breathing was hard and she noticed his knuckles clutch the counter and go white at the interruption.

“What?” he practically growled in a voice far too husky to be up to any good.

So, she thought to herself, my mate’s name is Graham. Of course she’d basically mauled his body without even knowing his name. Slut.

The mystery man in the doorway chuckled. “Sorry to interrupt. Jensen’s looking for you. We were supposed to leave fifteen minutes ago.”

Graham sighed. “Fine. I’ll be there in a minute.”

“I’ll wait,” the man said, causing Graham to growl.

Graham stepped away and turned to glare at the man, giving Catherine her first glimpse at him. The man was scrawny with blond hair and bright blue eyes. He wore a cheshire grin as those eyes glanced over her, still sitting on the counter. She fought to not stare because adorned across the right side of his face was an elaborate tribal tattoo. Even without the tattoo she would be able to tell this man was someone to stay far away from.

Graham stepped back in front of her, protecting her from the man’s leering gaze. He held out his hand and helped her down from the counter. His brown eyes locked onto hers and for a moment they stared at each other, not knowing what they should do next. Was he going to ask her to come with him? Should she ask?

“Damn, this is good,” the lingering man moaned.

“Watch your fucking tongue, Rogue,” the man spat, stepping up to tower over her. She gulped as his eyes turned black in anger and his fists clenched.

“Are you okay?” he asked, rubbing his thumb across her cheek, leaving a streak of warmth in its place. Catherine nodded.

“Graham!” a commanding voice called from down the hall.

Graham’s fists clenched in frustration and his jaw ticked. He sighed. “I have to go. I’ll come back and we’ll… talk,” he whispered.

“When?” she couldn’t help but ask as he pulled her bottom lip down with his thumb.

“Tonight,” he promised

Graham leaned down and pressed his lips to hers, sealing the promise. She leaned into him and he groaned before stepping away. His eyes went over her one more time before he sighed and strode out of the room with purpose. Catherine deflated, falling back on the table to fan her flaming face.