Before I could make up my mind, Dean was in front of me, his body nearly brushing against mine.

I didn't move. I neither had the strength of will to pull back nor the courage to initiate a kiss that couldn't possibly end innocently. I couldn't even break eye contact with Dean; with our similar heights, his brown eyes now swirling with amber were right at the level of mine.

He put his hands on my hips tentatively. Giving me time to stop him.

I didn't.

He pulled me against him with a shaky exhale, as though he had been holding his breath in wait of getting pushed away.

I shivered in pleasure at the feel of his strong body against mine, of him nuzzling at my neck to take in my scent.

It was his lips at the crook of my neck that somewhat sobered me up. As much as I was drawn to him physically and emotionally attracted to him, I wasn't ready to be marked.

"Dean, we shouldn't..."

"Just one kiss..." But I could hear the doubt in his voice. He himself felt one kiss would not be enough.

"If I say yes... can you promise not to mark me?"

His fingers dug possessively into my hips, his control slipping just at the thought of his mating mark on me. It took him several seconds before he replied, "No." He sighed. "If I claim you, I might not be able to stop myself from biting down. My jaguar is riding me hard to do it, and I'm not even inside you yet."

I balled my hands into fists at my sides to stop myself from grabbing him and claiming him myself. When he said stuff like that, voice husky with need... No wonder my eyes had gone cat-like similarly to his, the desire bringing our animal halves to the forefront.

"Then... you should move away," I whispered. While remaining exactly where I was, in the circle of his arms.

I was so weak.

He stayed where he was, too. "I was thinking..." he whispered back.

"You can still think?"

I felt the smile on his lips as he pressed them against my earlobe. "Yes, but nothing remotely innocent... With the smell of you sweet arousal filling my lungs, I can't let you go. Not if I could give you what you need... without giving in to my jaguar's mating instinct."

I pulled back just enough to look into his eyes. "How?"

"You'll have to trust me."

I had trust in Dean. I wouldn't have come here if I didn't. But did I trust him enough, a dominant shifter whose territorial instincts were stronger than a submissive male's, to believe he would resist staking his claim while doing whatever he had in mind?

Again, he acted before I could make a decision. He took my hand and brought me with him when he sat on the sofa. He pulled me gently onto his lap, using no force whatsoever. He was giving me a way out.

When I didn't take it, he pulled me against him, my back to his front, and made sure my thighs rested over his. One arm encircled my waist before he spread his legs, doing the same to mine in the process. His fingers circled the button of my jeans. Waiting.

Now was my last chance to stop this madness. It was the rational thing to do.

But rational Samantha had already left the building.

I relaxed back into Dean's hold and rested my forehead against his cheek. "I trust you."

He groaned, as if I had pleased him immensely with those three words.

Then he unbuttoned my jeans.

"Don't worry, sweetie," Dean whispered in my ear, "I won't be taking any of your clothes off. But when I'm done, you'll be crying out my name in utter bliss."