“I hate that you lived like that, sweetheart. Trust me when I say that no one here will treat you like that. If they do, they’ll answer to me.” The intent in his voice, which should scare the shit out of me, instead fills me with a warmth I’ve never experienced before. In fact, how I’ve reacted to him since he found and rescued me has me wondering if there’s more than meets the eye.
He’s our mate, dummy, my leopard states.
Don’t call me names! I remember that he said he was my mate, but didn’t really take him seriously, despite the feelings that are coursing through me. I mean, I know that mates exist; I saw the evidence in my old pride, after all. But to think that Knox could be mine is just preposterous.
Isn’t it?
404
Knox
I’m seething inside at the things Jayda has told me about her childhood. Even though I moved away to start my own life after I turned eighteen, the pride I came from cherished the cubs that were born. None were shunned or treated as less than because of any anomalies they might have had. Holding her, I try to soothe the woman who up until now, has apparently lived a hellish life. That stops for her and I plan to let her know that very thing. “Jayda?”
“Hmm?” She still sounds sleepy, but I feel like this is important.
“You know that with you being my mate, you’ll be involved in a lot of things here at the club, right? Somehow, we’ve already got a connection, a bond, even though we haven’t consummated our mating bond. I think that’s a good thing because it means that once we do, we’ll be stronger together.”
“When is that going to happen?” Her body is now tense and I internally groan at the fact that my words have upset her.
“When you’re ready, sweetheart,” I reply, kissing her forehead. Her sigh and the way she relaxes lets me know that my answer was the right one. Now if I can keep my dick in check, we’ll be just fine.
“Okay. I’m just nervous is all. I mean, my leopard knows you’re ours, but taking that next step makes it more real. Does that make sense?” she asks.
“It does. Forever’s a long time, but I don’t think it’ll be long enough for us, sweetheart.”
“You say the nicest things, Knox.” Her voice is husky and I presume it’s from what I just said, which is confirmed when she snuggles closer. “I like this, being in your arms,” she murmurs. Of course, her words go straight to my dick and I mentally groan when I feel myself hardening further. This may end up killing me, but I was serious; taking a mate is one of the most sacred things we can do because it’s for life.
I pull her closer and drop a kiss on her exposed neck. “Let’s get some more sleep, Jayda. We can talk some more tomorrow, okay?”
“Night, Knox.” Her voice is already fading into sleep and I feel her body relax against mine.
“Night, baby.”
The sunlight piercing the space where I didn’t fully close the blinds has me wincing. I usually don’t mind getting up early, but our late-night talk, coupled with the fact that I have her in my arms, makes me not want to move. “Morning,” she says.
“Morning,” I reply. She goes to wiggle away and I tighten my arm, not wanting to let her loose.
“Gotta pee so unless you want me to wet the bed, you might want to let me up,” she teases, looking over her shoulder.
“Got jokes this morning, huh?” I question, letting her go.
“This isn’t a joking matter,” she states, practically running to the bathroom. I hear the toilet flush, then the water turn on and off, before she comes back into the bedroom. She managed to brush her hair as well so instead of the waves and curls, it’s now laying much flatter. I immediately get an image in my head of her hair spread out on the pillows as I pound into her and feel my dick harden, a-fuckin’-gain! Not sure it ever really went down, though.
When she crawls back into bed, I pull her into my side. “Not sure I’m ready to get up and face the day yet,” I admit, my hand caressing her shoulder.
“Well, you’re the president so can’t you make an executive decision or something?” she questions, her hand coming to rest on my pecs.
“You’re right and I think you need another day or so in bed to recuperate. Since you’re my mate, I need to be here with you.” She grins at me as I pick up my phone and shoot off a text to my guys. Based on the responses that start pinging through, they think a lot more is happening. Jeez, they’re fucking brutal! Eggplant emojis, water droplets, tongues; I can’t with them right now!
“You okay?” she asks.
“My brothers are fucking assholes,” I mutter, tossing my phone onto the nightstand. Her giggles stop me; she sounds so carefree, I can’t stay mad at them. This draw, almost a compulsion, to be with her has gotten stronger and I know that despite wanting her to heal, we’re going to have to complete our bond sooner rather than later. Otherwise, my leopard will lose his shit and go feral.
She pulls me close to her and asks, “Think since we’re mates that you can actually kiss me?”
I look down at her, smiling, when it dawns on me. “Hell, we haven’t kissed yet, have we?”
“Nope.” She gives me a sassy look, one that has my insides going crazy. I can only presume it’s because she’s my mate since I’ve never felt like this before. I’m glad my brothers can’t read my mind because they’d be giving me
