Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 43985 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 220(@200wpm)___ 176(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43985 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 220(@200wpm)___ 176(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
They scurried off, and I closed my eyes and breathed out slowly, trying to rein myself in.
“Everything okay?” Mikalina’s soft voice pierced through my red rage, and I exhaled once more, letting the fight leave me fully.
When I turned around, I was myself once again, gave her a smile that I was sure didn’t reach my eyes, but held out the tissue-wrapped scarf to divert her worry.
“For me?” Her eyes were wide as she took the gift. She unwrapped it then made a small, surprised sound. “It’s beautiful.” She ran her fingers over the embroidered detailing around the edging.
“It’s the same shade as your eyes.”
“It’s the same shade as my eyes.” She snapped her head up and gave a small laugh as we said the same thing. “Thank you for this. I’ve never gotten anything so beautiful before.”
I felt my brows lower. I didn’t like that. I wanted to lavish things on her, spoil her, give her so much attention she was drowning in it. “It’s nothing,” I played it off. She’d soon realize, once she was mine, she’d never want for anything ever again.
We stayed in the market a short while longer, then I led her back through the woods. The conversation was easy, with her soft laughter having my body tightening, hardening in all the ways a man did for a woman. Before she knew it, I’d led her back to Dobravina. She seemed startled and surprised, but I planned this all along, refusing to leave even a moment of time spent with her wasted.
“Thank you,” she said softly. “You’ve made this day… memorable.”
My heart raced, my canines tingling to make it even more memorable for the both of us.
“How strange we just met, yet I feel like I’ve known you forever.” The way she spoke was soft, absent, and as her eyes widened, I realized she hadn’t meant to say those words out loud.
“Will you have dinner with me tomorrow?” I asked before she could say anything, before she could try to shake this fated feeling she had within her.
My focus was on her lips, and I couldn’t help myself from feeling that gut-punch of arousal slam into me. There was no denying it or stopping it.
With the glow from the setting sun behind her, and her gorgeous face tipped up to look at me, the need to kiss her was so fucking strong. I curled my fingers into my palms and breathed out slowly, my nails turning into claws as I started to shift.
“Okay,” she said almost breathlessly, no hesitation in her voice, and fuck did that make me even harder.
And when she lowered her eyes to my lips, I realized I was growling, the animal breaking free slightly. But she either didn’t hear the low rumble, or she was too caught up in the moment, because she didn’t react.
“I find myself,” she murmured, still staring at my lips, and I lifted a hand and brushed away a strand of hair that blew gently across her cheek from the wind, “wanting to know more about you, to spend more time with you, Ren.” She closed her eyes, and her breath caught when my skin touched hers.
So receptive.
“And you will.”
She opened her eyes, and I saw the blue become brighter from her emotions… her arousal.
Yes, she would be mine. When the full moon hit, I was claiming my mate once and for all.
And I just hoped it didn’t have her running from me forever.
15
Mikalina
Ren picked me up just ten minutes ago, pulling up to the cottage in a sleek, dark, definitely luxury car. He’d been climbing out as soon as I stepped outside, and I could see a little bit of disappointment on his face as I hadn’t waited for him. I knew it was because he wanted to come to the door and help me to the car, like the old-world gentleman I felt he was.
But now as I sat in the passenger seat, looking at the smooth interior, the scent of leather filling my nose, I couldn’t help but feel very aware of him.
As in... embarrassingly aroused just by his presence.
The night was a bit chilly, and he turned the heater on, the warm gust of air moving across my knees. I didn’t know if I should dress up for dinner, even though we were going to his house, so I’d gone casual and kind of regretted that decision now.
I glanced over at him, the lights from the dashboard illuminating his masculinity, seeming to make him even more handsome, if that was possible. He wore dark slacks that encased his big, muscular thighs perfectly. He wore a light-gray cashmere sweater, and underneath that, I could see a white dress shirt, the color crisp as it peeked out from underneath the collar, the bottom hem, and at the cuffs of his sweater.