He snorted as ugly jealously crept into his gut but let her continue.
“He moved in right away, then he changed. Lost his job, and I had to support him.” Her expression darkened. “When I complained, he was always reminding me how I couldn’t do any better than him and how no one would ever love me because of my scars. When I cried because I was so hurt, he would tell me he didn’t say those things or say they were just a joke. He also cut me off from my friends, saying that they were all jealous of me whenever they tried to tell me he was controlling. It took me catching him in bed with someone else to finally get the courage to leave him.”
“I’m glad you did,” he huffed. “He was a terrible person, a predator of the worst kind.” His fingers curled into his palms. “He saw you as vulnerable, your self-confidence barely holding together and knew he could take advantage of that. I’m sorry he did that to you, but I’m not sorry he drove you out here so we could finally meet.”
“Why do you keep saying stuff like that?” she cried.
“Stuff like what? That I’m glad I finally found you?”
“Like that!” She gritted her teeth. “Sweet, amazingly kind things that make me … make me want to …”
“Make you want to what?”
“Make me want to hope,” she choked out. “Hope that I could possibly hang on to you and keep you.”
“What?” Genuine shock made his jaw drop. “Baby, you are keeping me. And I’m keeping you.” Unable to help himself, he trapped her in his arms. “Temperance, look at me. Please.” Slowly, she lifted her head to meet his gaze. “You said you liked me too, right?”
She nodded.
“Do you feel this … connection to me? Anytime you see me, even from a distance, something in you just can’t look away, and you want to be near me? Or when we’re far apart—like last night—you just can’t sit still, and all you can think about is me.”
Her eyes went wide with wonder, though she didn’t say anything. She didn’t have to. Hope soared in his chest. “I know this is going to sound crazy … but Temperance, you’re my mate.” He hadn’t planned on telling her this way, but it seemed like the right time. “My soulmate. Us shifters, we have this one person that we’re supposed to be with and while our human selves may not see it right away, our animals always do. Hell, my lion must have known even before I crashed into the kitchen, because I kept coming back just for your cooking.”
“I don’t understand, Gabriel,” she began. “We’re soulmates?”
“Search inside yourself, Temperance. You know it’s true.”
As her lashes lowered, a sense of dread crept into his stomach. Temperance was human. She had no animal to tell her this. What if she couldn’t understand? Or what if she rejected him anyway?
Seconds ticked by, and finally clear, light hazel orbs looked up at him. “Somehow, I always knew. Whenever I was baking, I would always think if you would like this kind of ingredient or that … and when you came in, I would always watch you through the window in the kitchen. I would feel so happy when you ate every single one of my pies. And it wasn’t just because you were good looking.” She smiled sheepishly. “Is that silly? Or—”
“Not at all,” he said. “You’re my mate, Temperance. And I’m yours.”
“Gabriel,” she sighed. “I was so afraid if you found out Tony was here …” She swallowed audibly. “That you’d think I asked him back. And that I wanted him here. But I didn’t. I don’t.”
“What? Oh no … baby.” He held her tighter. “I would never think that. I told you, you’re my mate. Nothing you could do or say could make me think otherwise.” As he lowered his head, his heart drummed against his ribcage.
She opened up to him eagerly, leaning back as their mouths touched. Pure joy burst through him as they kissed, his lips moving over hers in an ardent caress. A gasped escaped her mouth as he delved his tongue into her mouth, tasting her sweetness. His entire body vibrated with need, and he pulled away. “Temperance. Come home with me tonight.”
Her pupils were blown with desire. “Yes,” she said in a husky voice that made his cock immediately harden.
Somehow, they both found their way to his Jeep. The engine was still running, which made it easier to maneuver out of the parking lot and into the highway. It was a miracle they didn’t get into an accident as his mind was on Temperance and taking her—all of her, finally. He kept biting the inside of his lip as he drove home, as he pulled into his parking spot and then led the way up to his condo. As soon as the door closed behind them, he turned around and caged her in his arms. “Temperance … I want you so bad.”
“No more talking,” she urged, nipping at his lips. “Please, Gabriel.”
Damn, his mate had bite. Bending down, he swooped her into his arms, fearing that if he even kissed her he would take her against the door. No, their first time would be in his bed, and he would make sure she would never forget it.
He carried her all the way to his room, laying her down on the bed gently. “Temperance, will you let me see you? Please?”
“I’m scared, Gabriel,” she said in a small voice.
“There’s nothing to be scared of,” he said, pressing soft kisses down the right side of her face. “I promise.”
She sucked in a breath, and then he felt her nod. Joining her on the bed, he positioned her so she was leaning back on his headboard and he knelt between her knees.
Crawling
