Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 38003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 190(@200wpm)___ 152(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 190(@200wpm)___ 152(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
“Fine. When no one could see you, hear you, or even report you to your own father. Every single chance we were alone, you were mean and hurtful. You pulled my freaking hair, Klaus.”
“Because you always wear your hair up. That can’t be comfortable.”
“What?”
“You have … pretty hair. I wasn’t actually trying to pull your hair that day. I was attempting to … pull the thing that kept it up.” He shrugged.
“You like my hair?”
“Yes.”
“Oh.”
He rubbed his palms down the sides of his pants.
You’ve got to connect with her.
Be open with her.
“I like a whole lot of other things about you as well.”
“I don’t believe that.”
“I like your smile,” he said. “It makes your eyes sparkle. I also happen to love that shade of green in your eyes.”
“This is the wolf talking.”
“I don’t care what is talking or not. This is how I feel. I also happen to love your ass.”
“My ass?”
“Yes.”
“My fat ass?”
Klaus took a deep breath. “Can we just agree that I am the biggest asshole in the world? I said a lot of things that were stupid and fucked up, and I regret it so damn much.”
She shrugged. “We can.”
He sighed and moved to sit beside her. The need to touch her was so strong.
Her hand rested on her knee. Throwing caution to the wind with the risk of rejection, he grabbed her hand, locking their fingers together.
Poppy didn’t pull away. She didn’t scream at him or tell him to fuck off.
This was good. In fact, she held his hand right back.
“I … I know I’ve got a lot of shit to make up for. I can’t just say sorry. I see that now. I hurt you. I was a dick.”
“You were.”
“I’m not going to be a dick to you anymore. I promise. I’m not going to call you horrible names. The truth is, Poppy, I … I’m attracted to you. I think I was attracted to you all this time.”
“Is that what you’re going to go for?”
“Yeah, because it is closest to the truth. I like you. You … you, I don’t know. You never seemed to like me.”
“Klaus, I didn’t know you.”
“Now you know me. We can find out what makes each other tick,” he said. “I’m willing to take this slowly. As slow as you need me to go.”
He wanted to kiss her. To hold her.
Poppy took a deep breath. “I guess we should take this slowly. There are a lot of people who would be pissed if we didn’t.”
“Yeah.”
“What… Do you think we should tell our parents?” Poppy asked.
“Hell no,” Klaus said. “If we tell them that we’re an actual mated couple, it won’t be easy for us. They will expect us to be different. You know, mated.”
“Oh, right.”
“My mom will put you through training, and I don’t think you want that, do you?”
“Not yet. This is so new and we’re both … we’re…”
“I get it,” Klaus said.
He wasn’t going to push it. A part of him wanted to. He wanted Poppy to belong to him, and any opportunity he had to make her his, he’d take. Rushing her into something she didn’t want was going to be a nightmare.
“So, we have to have some ground rules then,” Poppy said. “For us both to follow.”
“I can follow rules.”
“Do you have any suggestions?” Poppy asked.
“You’re not to be alone with Greg while he’s here.”
“Klaus, come on. You know I can’t do that. He’s staying at my house.”
“Yeah, and I think they’ve done that on purpose. They’re hoping you and he will…” He couldn’t finish it. Not without wanting to go and kill Greg for being anywhere near his mate.
“Okay, fine. I … get it. How about I agree that I don’t get close to him, and that I find reasons to never be alone with him?” Poppy asked.
“That’s good. I’ll help with that. I’ll hang out with him.”
“Fine.”
“We won’t tell our parents that we’re actually … mated,” Klaus said.
“Are you sure?” Poppy asked.
“Not until we’re ready. I know we’ll get shit when we do, but I want you to be happy and to be ready for when that happens.”
She squeezed his hand and rubbed her thumb across his hand. “Thank you.”
“I don’t want you to do anything you’re not comfortable with. Even when it comes to mating with me.” He meant that. “But, I … we have to spend time together. I want to be able to touch you without you getting angry. Not inappropriately, but like this. I also want to be able to kiss you.”
He expected her to argue, and he had several reasons for his request.
“Fine,” Poppy said.
“Fine? You’re not going to argue?” he asked.
“Why would I argue?”
“I suggested that I get to touch you and kiss you.”
“I happened to like that kiss, Klaus, and I would like you to touch me.” She glanced at him and turned away almost immediately. “Shut up. Don’t say anything.”