Free The Jaguar's Arranged Mate: A Paranormal Shifter Romance by Jade White

her despite her being pregnant by another.
    But her being pregnant meant he wouldn’t touch her, she knew that much about him. If they did wed, she wanted Beric to not just be her husband in name only. She wanted all of him.
    If he was willing to toss her aside as her father was…
    Enough pointless thoughts. Now wasn’t the time to be idle. Now was the time for action.
    Not caring that she lacked her father’s permission, Miera armed and readied herself for a scouting expedition.
    *
    Beric was dreaming. He knew he was, but he didn’t want to wake. Miera was standing before him in the middle of a field. Flowers adorned her hair, and there was a simple beauty to her, a pure innocence, that called to him. When she stopped twirling—she had been dancing to music only she could hear—and she noticed him, she gave him a wide smile that was anything but innocent.
    With long strides, he soon reached her side. He pulled her to him, desperately wanting to kiss her, but she was laughing and leading him into a dance. Soon, he was laughing too. He never felt so carefree before. He never felt so at peace before. It was a sin to feel this happy.
    Faster and faster they spun until their legs tangled and they fell to the ground. Breathless and still laughing, Beric pulled Miera on top of him. He brushed her red hair back. “You’re beautiful,” he said.
    “Is that the only reason why you want to marry me?” She pouted, her full lips tugging downward.
    Those lips, her eyes… He was growing very hard.
    “Or is this why?” She pressed down against his cock through his jeans.
    “I…” Yes, he wanted her. He wanted her body. She was one of the most beautiful were-jaguars he had ever seen. And she cared about her people. She was kind and good, and she made him laugh. What more could he want from his future wife?
    Was he forgetting something? He thought so, but he didn’t want to remember right now.
    “I do want you.” He groaned as she pressed herself against him again. “Do you want to wait until our wedding night or…”
    “I think I can be persuaded to have you now.”
    “Oh, really?” He grinned, cupping her cheek. “How can I persuade you?”
    “Hm…” She tapped a slender finger against her cheek. “Maybe it would help if you stopped talking so much.”
    “Mm.” He lifted his head off the grass to try and kiss her, but she turned her head to the side so his lips brushed against her cheek instead of her lips. “Playing hard to get, are you?”
    She giggled and jumped off of him, tearing across the clearing. “If you want me, you’ll have to come and get me.”
    He climbed to his feet and chased after her. She was fast, despite being barefoot. Her dress swirled around her legs.
    A dress. He had never seen her wear one. Again, he realized this was a dream, but he didn’t care. His desire for her felt so real, and his cock was straining against his zipper. He had to have her, dream or not.
    Damn her, though, she was too fast for him. Whenever he reached toward her, she slipped out of his grasp, always moving, not keeping still long enough for him to grab her.
    “I almost think you don’t want to get caught,” he grumbled, stopping and standing still.
    “Oh, you’re no fun. Don’t you know that the thrill is in the chase?” She twirled in a circle, her arms outstretched. “Besides, if you want something badly enough, you’ll do anything to have it, right?”
    He did want something badly enough. Correction. Someone badly enough. When she paused her twirling and blew him a kiss, his cock jumped.
    Suddenly, he was running so much faster than her, and he yanked her to his side. “I’m not letting you go,” he whispered in her ear.
    “Not until you have your way with me, I take it.” She grabbed the top of his shirt and ripped it in half.
    Damn, that was sexy.
    He picked her up. The skirt of her dress was long but flowy so she was able to wrap her legs around his waist. She tossed back her head,