Astrid's Wish by A.J. Jarrett

himself up on his elbow. “And it tickles.”
    Klaus’s eyes were slightly opened as he stared at Astrid. His hair was mussed, and a grin pulled up at the corners of his lips. His mate was sexy as hell first thing in the morning. Even when all disheveled, Klaus still managed to pull off the look. Other men were probably Astrid’s Wish
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    jealous of Klaus’s handsomeness, and they should be. No man should be allowed to look that amazing.
    “Come up here and kiss me.” Klaus grabbed under his arms and pulled him up his body. He maneuvered Astrid like he weighed nothing. “There’s less hair to tickle you, angel.”
    Astrid was coming to love the nickname. Klaus considered him his angel. After being told for so long that he was shit, it was nice to have someone care so much for him. The love Astrid had for Klaus grew with every breath he took.
    As he leaned down to Klaus’s lips, Astrid paused in mid-descent.
    He caught a whiff of his mate’s musky scent. His eyes fell shut, and another sigh pushed past his lips as he breathed deep, warm skin and sex.
    He purred as Klaus ran his fingers up his neck, grabbing the long strands that fell loosely down his back. Klaus gently pulled Astrid into a kiss. Soft, full lips met his own, and it was heaven.
    Klaus swiped his tongue along the seam of Astrid’s lips. He parted his lips, and Klaus dove right in. The way his mate mastered his mouth set Astrid’s skin on fire. Klaus poked and prodded at his tongue, and he answered the call by dueling back.
    Astrid sucked Klaus’s tongue farther into his mouth, causing a moan to erupt from his chest. He wanted to taste every part of his mate and couldn’t hold back his need any longer. He wanted Klaus to make love to him.
    “Klaus, love me. Make me yours,” Astrid whimpered as he grabbed at Klaus’s hair, pulling him closer.
    Klaus reached for his hands, detaching his grip from his hair.
    “Angel, remember what we decided last night? We’re going to take things slow and see where it leads us. There is no rush to do anything.”
    “No, you decided that, not me.” Astrid yanked his hands from Klaus’s hold. Tears filled his eyes as embarrassment and shame swam 68 AJ
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    in his gut. Being rejected should have been an old song and dance for him, but it didn’t make Klaus’s rejection any easier.
    “Stop it,” Klaus growled as he rolled over on top of him, pinning him to the bed. “I’m not saying no. I’m just saying we should take things slow.”
    Tears fell like rain down his cheeks. He understood and respected his mate for wanting to wait, but what he needed to heal himself was Klaus. To have Klaus’s loving touch erase the memories of the years spent in Malcolm’s care. He needed good memories to replace the bad, to make him complete on the inside.
    “Stop saying that!” he cried out. Why couldn’t Klaus understand that he needed to feel his cock buried deep in his body? To fill him inside and out with his love, claiming him forever. He took a deep, calming breath. It was a form of meditation he’d learned years ago to help center himself and his thoughts. “I just wish you would make love to me like a good mate should.”
    Klaus’s eyes became hazy, as if he were in a daze. Very slowly, Klaus’s head lowered toward his, and then he suddenly stopped. He shook himself, as if trying to clear his thoughts.
    “Whoa, what was that?” Klaus’s brow knitted together in confusion.
    “What was what?” Astrid asked.
    “When you said you wished I would make love to you, I felt my mind go fuzzy. All I wanted to do was what you asked. I felt compelled to do as you wished, and your skin glowed slightly.”
    Klaus’s eyes widened. “Oh shit.”
    At the concern on Klaus’s face, Astrid started to get scared. What was going on?
    “Angel, say it again. Say you wish I would make love to you. I think your wish was trying to make me do it.”
    Astrid had no clue what game Klaus was playing at, but he said it