Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 83353 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83353 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Sam felt her cheeks getting hot and her pussy getting wet all over again. Damn—anyone would think she would be all worn out after last night, but apparently she was ready to go again! Maybe she could get R’orn to give her a tour of his ship and she could see if there really was a living area with a bed in the back of it.
“Well, I’d better get going,” she told the girl in the mirror. “Thank you for a wonderful night.”
Caroline Abernathy smiled at her and then faded from sight. She was the kind of spirit Sam liked best—a friendly, helpful one who just wanted to interact with the living world without hurting anyone. Not all spirits were so nice.
Humming happily to herself, Sam gathered her things and left the room. She practically skipped downstairs, keeping an eye out for her Kindred Protector. Would he be in the main dining area, having breakfast with the other guests? Sam hoped not—she wanted to speak to him privately. She was sure if they started talking about last night, she would blush so hard even her pale Goth makeup wouldn’t be able to hide it!
She found him at last, sitting on the front porch at a small table. The early morning light was shining through the colorful leaves and the air was crisp and fresh—it was a gorgeous Fall morning. There was a plump blueberry scone and a cup of steaming coffee in front of R’orn. But despite the beautiful day and the yummy breakfast, the look on his face was not happy.
Uh-oh… Some of Sam’s good mood leaked away, but she took the chair across from him anyway. He was probably upset, thinking he’d been used by the spirits last night. But the thing was, except in cases of complete possession, a spirit couldn’t make you do things you didn’t already want to do.
What had happened between them in the room with the spirits of Charlotte and Beau wasn’t on the Amityville Horror level—it was more like two friendly ghosts giving them a little nudge to do what they wanted to do in the first place. She just hoped she could explain that to him.
“Good morning,” she said, trying to keep things casual. “How did you sleep?”
“I didn’t,” R’orn growled. He had been staring into his coffee but now he looked up at her. “I can no longer be your Protector, Samantha.”
“What?” Sam looked at him, taken completely by surprise. “Is this because of last night? I mean, did we break the rules? You’re not allowed to uh, sleep with a woman you’re protecting?” she asked. “I mean, not that we actually slept together but…”
He shook his head.
“There is no such rule. Protectors and their charges often end up together.”
Sam felt bewildered.
“Well then, why? Did you not, uh, enjoy yourself last night? Because you certainly seemed to,” she added pointedly.
R’orn gave her a searing look from his molten gold eyes.
“Of course I enjoyed it. Last night was the best fucking night of my life! Which is why I have to leave and I can never see you again.”
“What?” Sam shook her head. “Now I’m really confused. None of what you just said makes sense. If you enjoyed what we did, why are you leaving?”
“Because I’m not the only one who enjoyed it,” R’orn growled. “My Beast did too. In fact, he’s marked you as our Fated Mate—the one female in all the universe the Goddess has set aside just for us.”
“I thought you didn’t believe in the Goddess!” Sam exclaimed.
“I don’t,” he said shortly. “But there’s no denying a Fated Mate.”
“Well, if I’m supposed to be your ‘Fated Mate’—” Sam began.
“Did you not hear what I said? My Beast has marked you!” R’orn’s voice was a low, frustrated growl. “He wants to Claim you—if I’m being honest, he’s wanted you from the first minute I met you.”
His words sounded like an admission—almost a confession, Sam thought.
“He has?” she asked, still not sure what to think.
“Yes, he fucking has!” R’orn raked a hand through his thick, brown hair. “The very first time I met you—when I took your hands to offer you my Oath of Protection—he woke inside me and said the first word he’d ever spoken to me. He said ‘MINE.’”
Sam felt a shiver run through her. To think that the wild and ravenous creature that lived inside R’orn wanted her—and had been wanting her all this time! It was strangely intriguing.
“So…he wanted me right from the start?” she asked.
R’orn nodded.
“Why do you think I’ve been acting like such an asshole? Trying to push you away? I knew it would mean trouble if we got too close.”
Sam glared at him.
“Wait…what? So you do believe in spirits after all? And you were just trying to wind me up?”
“After last night, I don’t know what I believe,” R’orn said sincerely. “But I do know that we went too far. My Beast wants you now—and he’ll do anything to have you. So I have to stay away from you for your own safety, Samantha. I’m fucking sorry.”