Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44411 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44411 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
Leah tried to snuggle closer to him, burrowing. It would be a lot easier if she weren’t wearing this dress, but for now, all he could do was tuck his arm around her and rock her.
He was mesmerized by her face, though, and he kept touching her, stroking her skin. His touch seemed to calm her. Her furrowed brow relaxed as he ran his thumb over it.
For a while, she seemed to rest again, almost asleep. Then she began squirming and whimpering before she finally opened her eyes. For a moment, she stared at him, not blinking, and then her eyes widened further as she jerked her thumb out of her mouth and scrambled to sit more upright.
Elias braced her hips with both hands so she wouldn’t fall on the floor. “Hey,” he said softly.
Her body went rigid. She looked at him and licked her pretty lips. “How long have I been asleep?” she whispered.
“A while. I didn’t want to disturb you. I let you sleep.”
“Holding me?”
“Yes.” Elias smiled, hoping if he remained calm, she wouldn’t panic. “I couldn’t bring myself to put you down.”
Her cheeks turned pink. Was she embarrassed? She looked around the room. “Where are we?”
Yeah, about that… He was aware that females from the valley were unfamiliar with the deeply submissive expectations they encountered when they first arrived. Explaining things would be tricky. “This room will be your space. A place you can go to relax and unwind.”
She drew in a breath and scrambled to get off his lap.
He didn’t want her to feel forced, so he lifted her by the hips and stood her on her feet, not letting go for a moment, afraid she might not be steady on her feet yet.
She grabbed his arms and pushed back, stumbling a few steps before catching herself.
Elias flinched. He almost lurched forward to keep her from falling on her bottom, but any sudden movement would probably aggravate her further. He controlled his urge, grateful that she didn’t fall.
He hated the disconnect he felt now that he wasn’t touching her. Like a part of him was missing. But he needed to give her space and time to process.
“This is a nursery, Elias. For a baby.”
“It’s customary for Alpha Protectors to provide their mates with a nursery, Little one.” He kept his voice gentle. This would be a battle.
Her gaze landed on the empty bottle on the small table. She pointed at it. “Did I drink that?”
“Yes, Little one. You were thirsty, and I bet you didn’t eat much this morning before the ceremony.”
She shuddered as she wrapped her arms around herself and took several more steps backward.
“I’m not a baby. I’m a grown woman.”
“I’m aware you’re a woman, Leah. Very aware. Submitting to me and letting me take care of you will not diminish you in any way. We cherish our mates, Little one. And the way we show that is by caring for them.”
She shook her head and stepped back farther. “This is beyond taking care of someone. Taking care of me would be opening a door, pulling out a chair, bringing me tea when I don’t feel well.”
“I’ll do those things, too.”
She swallowed and met his gaze. “I need to use the bathroom. Please tell me I’m allowed to pee in a toilet.”
He chuckled. “Of course you are.” He rose and headed for the door, where he turned around and held out a hand. “Come. I’ll show you where our bedroom is and the attached master bathroom.”
Chapter Eight
Leah stared at Elias’s hand for long seconds.
She had to give him credit for patience and persistence. He didn’t pull his hand back. He was filling the doorway, so it wasn’t as though she could sneak past him or duck under his arm.
It would be rude to snub him, but on the other hand, she needed to assert herself. If she didn’t, she was liable to get trampled by him.
Her heart was beating so fast as they stood there, not moving, waiting each other out. She had to pee, though, probably because he’d fed her a bottle. Holy moly. How had she slept through that?
“Take my hand, Little one.”
She wasn’t sure how she felt about him calling her Little one, but it wasn’t as though she could argue the fact. She was incredibly small next to him. That made it feel even stranger that he intended to baby her.
She glanced toward the obvious changing table and shuddered. There were stacks of diapers on the shelf beneath it. He had acted like he would grant her permission to use an actual bathroom. Would he change his mind and put a diaper on her if she acted bratty?
Touching him would increase her awareness of…everything. She couldn’t avoid it forever, though, and the magnetic pull was strong, so she finally set her hand in his.