Even with everything that had happened, he still hadn't slept. He couldn't sleep. Raine had passed out once she'd laid her head on a pillow. He on the other hand watched her. Watched her breathing. Watched the bruises purpling across her throat. She was strong. Stronger than him.
"Kian. Stop starring at me. It's sort of creepy."
He cleared his throat. "Sorry. You sure you're okay?"
He watched her face contort as she pushed herself up and leaned against her headboard.
"Kian. I am as good as I can be."
Her voice was raspy and hard to hear, a constant reminder he hadn't protected her. He'd failed her.
"Raine. I. I am so sorry."
He squirmed under her own scrutiny.
"You came back. You didn't fail me. You came back."
Without being mated he didn't know exactly how she could hear him, but she seemed to be in sync with him. Even after he'd walked out. He should never have walked out.
Crawling over to her, he raised his hand. His fingers tracing the marks left behind. All he'd wanted was to keep her from this. To keep her from a fate like his mom. And here she was, no better.
"Kian. Stop. I can tell what you are thinking. It's written all over your face. This has nothing to do with your mom. Nothing to do with your dad. This is my fault. My life."
"Those guys won't ever come for you again." He ground his molars together as the memory of seeing them touching her, hurting her. She was his. She was meant for him. The cops had accepted his actions because he'd stated she was his mate and the other two shifters had intended to hurt her. Now he had to follow through or things could be dicey for him. That and the fact, in the midst of everything he couldn't live without her.
As he dragged in a long slow breath her scent filled him, instantly calming him. Instantly driving him crazy. Instantly making him grow hard.
"Kian. What are you thinking?" She reached out to him. He took her hand as he moved closer. He took his time, worried he’d shake the bed. He didn't want to hurt her.
"Seriously? I am not some china doll. Just come here."
He raised on his knees and sat next to her.
"Kian. Thank you."
He couldn't look away. The way she saw him wasn't the way he’d ever thought anyone would see him. The soft curves of her face and the sparkle in her eyes sucker punched him in the heart.
"Raine. If anything had happened to you, I would have died. I am sorry for making you leave. Sorry for ever thinking you weren't strong enough for me. In the end you've proven me wrong on every level."
She smiled. "You're such an ass, you know that?"
His eyes grew wide. He'd just said he was sorry. What the hell? Was he that bad at apologies?
"Kian. You just assume I am a woman and I can't possibly be strong enough to handle you? You’re more like a tiny cat that purrs whenever you scratch his tummy; pretty sure I can handle that."
He allowed a smile to cross his lips. "I don't think you mean tummy."
Her mouth dropped. "See? An ass. Ugh. I am trying to be serious and all you can think of is sex."
His cougar started to scream at him. There was no time like the present.
"Raine. Be mine. Agree to be mine. We can do whatever humans do, a huge wedding or whatever later. Right now though, we need you. I need you to keep me in check. I need you to control the animal within me, to control the anger. You make me a better person."
His cougar sat on its haunches, waiting for her response. He didn't realize that he too was kneeling over her on all fours.
"Kian. What does it mean to be your mate? What does it mean for me?"
He pushed back. What did it mean?
"It means that for as long as I live I will live to protect you. I would live for you. It means that your soul would be part of my soul."
She thought for a minute. "I've heard that human woman who mate with a shifter become that shifter, is that correct?"
He nodded. He feared she'd say no. He'd heard of stories where mates were denied and the shifter was driven insane. He didn't want that. He didn't want to live without her. He finally understood that.
"Okay."
She kneaded her hands in her lap, playing with a thread on her blanket. She looked away.
"Okay?"
"Okay," she repeated.
"Just okay?" he saw this going differently. Maybe more romantic, or maybe he just didn't think she was dumb enough to agree.
"Kian," she moved away from the headboard, kneeling to meet his face. She placed her hands on his cheeks and looked at him.
"Kian. I am in love with you. Regardless if I want to be or not, I am in love with you. I can't change that. I can't walk away from it. I don't want to ever feel like I felt yesterday when you told me to go away. You came back for me. I believe you will never leave again."
Before he could ruin anything more, his instinct was all that drove him as he pressed his lips to hers. At first he feared hurting her. He held her as if she'd shatter at the slightest touch, but she deepened the kiss and he answered. He thrust his tongue into her mouth, tasting her.
Pressing against her, he needed to possess her, be in her. He wanted to feel the warmth of her around his dick as her muscles contracted in pleasure using him for her own need.
He
