Meant to Be Yours: New Adult BBW College Romance (Derek and Jaike Book 2) Read Online Free

“It doesn’t work like that—”
    “It does. Now, stop arguing since Finlay’s back with what I’ve ordered.”
    Derek turned them both around to face Finlay, his arm around her waist preventing her from bolting once more when she saw what was inside the opened velvet box the attendant was carrying.
    “Derek!”
    It wasn’t a ring.
    It was something…more.
    For both of them, at least, it was something more.
    She brushed her fingers against the circle of metal lying on the bed of white velvet. It was cold to touch and black as midnight. “What’s it made of?”
    “Onyx.” He took it out of the box. “May I?”  
    The fierce light of possession burning in his stormy eyes made her swallow and nod. Oh God, how could she refuse him when he was looking at her like that? He was dying to own her – to call her his. And if she was honest, if she had been honest from the very start, she had been dying a little each day, too, not being able to belong to him.
    Derek’s heart hammered against his chest as he slowly lowered the choker, circling it around her throat. With one loud click, he had the silver clasp locked in place. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he gently turned her around so they could see her reflection on the gilded full-length mirror mounted on the wall.
    “Do you like it?”
    She nodded. “It’s…b-beautiful.” And it was. The kind of beautiful that called out to her soul, a melody that only he could hum and she could hear.
    Derek couldn’t stop gazing at Jaike’s reflection. His voice gravelly with desire, he demanded, “Do you know…God, do you know what this does to me, seeing you wear something that symbolizes you’re mine?”  
    His hand on her waist started to move up, caressing her back as it reached her nape, making her shiver, and then he was fisting her hair, the action making her mouth dry. The gesture was unbelievably primal, but somehow it felt heartbreakingly tender, too, and she didn’t resist when he used his hold on her hair to guide her head sideways. Her neck arched towards the right.
    Derek lowered his head, and she whimpered when he kissed the skin between the choker and her face. “Mine,” he whispered.
    He extended his other hand, and Jaike’s eyes widened as Finlay walked back to them, bearing another tray with a smaller jewelry box this time. She watched Derek flip it open, and her eyes started to tear up when she saw that inside it was a matching ring. The body made of silver like the clasp of her necklace, but with a piece of onyx embedded in the middle.
    Derek turned her around again, this time Jaike facing him. He placed the ring on her hand.
    Understanding his silent command, she took the ring and carefully slid it on his finger.
    Over her head, she heard him speak. “From here on, baby, I’m going to wear this with pride. I’ve always wanted to belong to you, and I have never been so damn happier when it came true.”  
    She started to speak, but he shook his head.
    He touched her throat, his fingers moving down to her choker. “But this one, we’ll put aside for now. Wear it when it’s the right time. I can wait. I want to wait for the day you’ll be proud to let everyone know that you’re mine.”
    Jaike couldn’t believe what she was hearing. He was a terribly impatient man, but here he was, offering her a reprieve of sorts. “Why?” Her voice shook as she looked at him with a mixture of fear and confusion. “Didn’t I already become yours when we—”
    “Last night?” He shook his head when she nodded. He touched her heart and felt it throb and slam against her chest. Good. He was affecting her a lot more strongly now. “You’re not mine where it counts, baby. And you know how I am.” He kissed her forehead, her nose, her lips, the side of her neck, and finally, he lifted his hand off so he could place a kiss on her heart. “I want everything of you.”
    His lips twisted. “So hurry, dammit, and start falling in love with