“Thank you,” I murmur. “I don’t know why my feet are so sore; it’s not like I walked hundreds of miles or anything.”
“Who knows? Could just be your body’s reaction to all you endured. How is it?” he asks, motioning to my plate. I’ve been steadily eating since I put the socks on, enjoying the slightly cheesy scrambled eggs and tender steak.
“Delicious,” I reply after swallowing what I just practically inhaled.
“I know the club doc said easy foods at first, but I figured you need the increased protein so your body fully heals. Don’t feel like you’ve got to eat it all now and if there’s something else you’d prefer, let me know. We’ve got a fully stocked kitchen.”
“This is fine, Knox. Please don’t go to all that trouble for me.” I find my plate taken out of my hands as he turns me, his hand cupping my jaw. Staring into his eyes, I feel a sense of familiarity that has my pulse racing.
“You’ll never be any trouble to me, Jayda. You’re my mate and it’s my job to protect you and take care of you,” he replies, leaning in and placing a soft kiss on my lips. The zap of electricity I feel at his gentle touch has me wondering how I’ll react when he really kisses me.
“I’m just used to taking care of things on my own,” I whisper. My homelife wasn’t the best and since leaving, I’ve done what I could to keep myself under the radar so that my former alpha can’t track me down. It means that I generally do ‘cash only’ jobs so there’s no paper trail.
“You don’t have to do that anymore,” he says. I hear the promise in his voice and let the last of my walls crumble. I’ve had to be strong for so long. “I’ve got you,” he murmurs, pulling me into his arms as I weep, the last few weeks pouring out of me. His hands run up and down my back as he holds me close, my tears running down his chest. “Go ahead and get it all out, Jayda.” I cry for so long, I end up falling asleep cocooned in his arms.
I wake a few hours later with him curled around me, the heat emanating from him making me feel safe and secure. His muscled arm is over my waist and I can feel his breath teasing the loose hairs at my neck. Feeling so safe and secure, I snuggle closer and feel the unmistakable hardening of his dick. My leopard perks up and starts purring, the slight rumble in my chest causing my boobs to jiggle underneath the T-shirt I have on.
Down girl, I chastise. We can’t be jumping him so soon after meeting him.
She huffs before saying, I don’t see why not. He’s our mate and we can tell he wants us.
“You might want to stop wiggling your ass against my cock,” his sleep-roughened voice says as his arm tightens around my waist. “Trying to do the right thing and not pounce on you and you’re making it challenging.”
A giggle escapes as I turn in his arms so we’re facing each other. “I’m sorry. Can I tell you something?” My voice is hesitant, unsure, and I wait for his response.
“You can tell me anything, sweetheart. Can I just say, you’re beautiful? Your eyes are unique and even though the circumstances sucked, your leopard is stunning.” I feel her preen at his words and mentally roll my eyes at her. She’s never acted this way and I don’t know if it’s because he’s our mate or she’s lost her mind.
“No one’s ever told me that before,” I reply. I’d been an oddity, something to laugh at growing up, which made me flee the pride I was in as soon as possible. I’m finishing up some college courses so I can build on the graphic design business I started, but I’ve done everything I could to stay below the radar.
“Well, they’re obviously blind. Now, what did you want to tell me?” His voice is still raspy from sleep, but I hear the steel behind his tone and realize why he’s the president of a motorcycle club.
“I thought you’d want to know some things about me is all.” My voice is quieter, more subdued and I wait to see what his response will be.
“I want to know everything, from the shampoo you like to how you sound when you come on my dick, Jayda.” Oh my.
My panties just melted, my leopard says, purring louder.
You don’t wear panties, you hussy!
Well, if I did, they would’ve melted. He sounds so sexy, doesn’t he?
I can’t with you right now! Once again she huffs and goes back to the corner of my mind, her tail twitching.
“Where did you go?” he asks, a frown on his face.
“My leopard decided she needed to speak up. Sometimes, she drives me crazy!”
His low chuckle makes my insides clench with a need that I’ve never experienced before. “Yeah, mine tends to be opinionated and bossy sometimes.”
“She’s sassy as hell,” I reply. His grin has me smiling back at him, happy that someone else’s animal is a bit...obnoxious.
“Okay, you’ve stalled long enough, Jayda. What did you want to tell me?”
“Well, um, I left my pride as soon as I turned eighteen and made my way here. I had money from my grandma, so I used that to get an apartment and start school. I enjoy designing things, so I’ve been taking courses in graphic design and have picked up some clients who are okay with paying me cash.”
“You don’t want them to find you?” he inquires when I stop talking so I can gather my thoughts some more.
“No, I don’t. Growing up was hell, Knox. I was picked on because of my eyes and how different my pelt was from everyone else’s. Life was miserable,
