Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 30663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 153(@200wpm)___ 123(@250wpm)___ 102(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 153(@200wpm)___ 123(@250wpm)___ 102(@300wpm)
“Did you have a good trip?” she asked.
“You’re my mate, Darcy.”
She pressed her lips together and looked at him. “I, er, I … do you want a drink?”
“You’re not denying it.”
She reached for the kettle but then stopped herself and turned toward him. Rubbing at her temple, she released a sigh. “I … ugh, I don’t know what to say, Joe.”
He put his hands on her countertop. “Tell me you feel it too?”
Darcy looked at him and she didn’t know what to do or say. What should she tell him?
The truth.
“Yes.” She hadn’t felt anything like this. Her heart raced, her nipples felt heavy, and her pussy was slick. Her wolf, which was quite happy to be calm and relaxed, wanted to go and rub herself all over Joe.
Joe went to round the counter but she held her hand out. “Stop.”
She moved away from him.
“What the fuck, Darcy?”
“I’m forty years old, Joe. I’m older than you. You’re the alpha’s son!” She couldn’t quite believe it. For as long as she could remember, she had wanted a mate, someone to call her own, and to be loved by another.
Not once had her dreams been given, and now, the man that was meant to be hers was fifteen years her junior. There was no way William Johnson would stand for it.
“I don’t give a flying fuck about that. I’m your mate, Darcy.”
“Maybe it is an error,” Darcy said. “You’re so young and you’ve just come back, and…”
“And what?” he asked.
“I don’t know. I’m kind of panicking right now. I don’t know if you can see that.”
“I can see that. Are you saying you’re rejecting me?” he asked.
She instantly recoiled at the dirty word. “No, I’m not rejecting you.”
He went to move closer to her, and she took another step, trying to keep a good distance between them.
She had no idea what her wolf was going to do. Darcy wasn’t used to feeling this unpredictable. She didn’t know how her body was going to react.
Staring at him, she felt her wolf wanting to get to him.
Mine.
Ours.
Mate.
Get him.
Keep him.
“Then what are you doing?” he asked.
“I don’t know, I’m trying not to panic. Does that answer your question?” she asked.
“You’re trying not to panic?”
“Yes. I … I honestly don’t have a clue what to do. You’re the alpha’s son and I know William and Callie are not going to be happy with this. They want the very best for their son.”
“And you don’t think you’re the very best?” he asked.
“No, I’m not. I’m … me. I’m Darcy Pine, the lonely wolf that no one wants.” She couldn’t help but wrap her arms around her body.
She knew the pack in their own way loved her, but none of them wanted to be with her. She bored people.
Darcy had heard the rumors of what the men had said about her. They found her quiet life boring, they also hated the fact she didn’t want to have sex with them.
“I’m not even saying that for pity or for anything other than the truth. It is the truth.” She took a deep breath and forced a smile to her lips.
“I’m in front of you right now and I’m telling you that I want you. I want all of you,” Joe said. “Don’t run. Please, let me get closer to you.”
“I don’t think this is a good idea.”
He took a step toward her, and against her better judgment she stayed perfectly still. She waited, bated breath, and tried not to panic.
Her wolf was happy with him getting closer, but she was trying not to panic. It was getting harder and harder.
Joe was within touching distance, and she couldn’t help but reach out and place her hand on his chest. She felt real fear and confusion.
“I’m here,” he said.
“I know you’re here.”
She took a deep breath.
Joe put his hand right on top of hers and the wolf inside her instantly calmed. “I don’t know what to do,” she said.
Joe reached for her other hand and locked their fingers together. She stared down at where they were joined and for several seconds, neither of them spoke. It could have been minutes, actually. The concept of time now was lost on her.
“How about we try something a little different?”
“Different?” she asked.
“Yeah, how about we try and keep this to ourselves?”
Darcy lifted her head and looked into his eyes. “A secret?”
“Yeah, like you and I are the only ones that know. No one ever truly knows who is mated until they confirm it and then there’s marriage and you know, mating to one another.”
“Marriage?” She was trying not to panic. “Don’t you think your dad is going to be angry?”
“No, I don’t.”
She had her doubts. “I’m older than you.”
“So?” he asked. “Guys go out with older women all the time. Girls go out with older guys. It’s a thing. You know. Even younger guys go out with older guys, and younger girls go out with older girls. Okay, I think I’m repeating myself.”