Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36931 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36931 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
“Nice,” Killian said.
She chuckled. “Charlie likes to keep things neat and clean.”
“I can see that.”
“You’ve not met Charlie until tonight?” Leah asked.
“I’ve no reason to run into a bunch of bears.”
“Do you keep yourself locked away within your pack?”
“When you have come face to face with death, survived, and dealt in wars, you come to realize the value of sticking to your piece of land, and not leaving it.” Killian shrugged. “It changes you, and when you’ve got a pack to keep alive, safety becomes more important than proving oneself.”
“I know you have already proven yourself, Killian,” she said. “I’ve read many tales of your battles.”
And she had also gone to Lucinda and demanded she tell her everything there was to know about him. Yep, rejected by the very man, and still wanting to learn every single detail about him. She was a fucking pussy. At least when it came to him.
She wouldn’t allow anyone else to treat her this way. Just Killian. Her mate. A man she had a little obsession over. The whole coven knew of it. Even Mystic could tell she was.
“I did what I had to do for my pack.”
Leah stared into his eyes, as he looked right back at her. She didn’t know what was going on, but she offered him a smile.
“I, er, I’m going to go for a shower. I kind of stink a bit.”
She moved past him and she wanted to stop, reach out, to touch him, to just feel him, but she didn’t. She kept moving, heading into the shower. Closing the door, she pressed her hands on the edge of the counter and closed her eyes.
“What is troubling you?”
Leah gasped and turned around to find Lucinda there.
“Could you not do that?”
“I sense your upset, child.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m not a child. We need to set some boundaries for when you can just wander into my life like this. There will be a time when I’m being naughty, or dirty, with a man, and you can’t be here.”
Lucinda smiled. “I will respect your wishes when the time comes. Tell me what is wrong?”
Leah removed the clip from her hair and shrugged. “Nothing is wrong. I’m fine.”
“But?”
She nibbled her lip and tried to look everywhere and nowhere. “Being with him, okay, it’s hard.” She didn’t see a point in lying to her friend, her guide.
“I know.”
“I didn’t want to come on this super-secret mission in the first place, and now I…”
“You don’t want it to end?”
Leah shrugged. “When he’s not being a dick or trying to protect his pack, he’s amazing. He’d be a wonderful mate.” Lucinda took a step toward her. “You can’t comfort me, remember?”
“I know. Why not try to show him that you can be everything he needs? Killian has known a great deal of loss. He has spent his whole life searching for his mate.”
Leah snorted. “Yeah, and when she arrives, he rejects her. The jerk.” She leaned up against the sink. “He can’t hear us, right?”
“No, I’ve made sure of it. You love him?” Lucinda asked.
“How could I not?” Leah asked. “I don’t know if these feelings are real or something the fates have installed.”
“Mating is a feeling. You’re attracted to Killian, and there is nothing you can do about that, but love can take time. That is something that doesn’t always come naturally. Trust me, I’ve seen my fair share of mates struggle.”
“Any mates in the past reject the other?”
Lucinda wrinkled her nose.
“Yeah, I figured as much. You better go. I want to shower. You’re not here, but trust me, you’d complain so badly.”
Her friend chuckled. “It will be all right, Leah. You will see.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“I’m never wrong.”
Lucinda disappeared before Leah could dispute it. There were times the other woman was wrong, but she didn’t want to cause a problem. There was no point.
Stripping out of the clothes, Leah stepped beneath the shower, turning on the cold water. She loved the icy bite of the water as it hit her flesh. Tilting her head back, she closed her eyes, and her thoughts were focused on Killian. His rough hands—she wondered how they’d feel against her skin. The feel of his hard body against hers.
She had felt the touch of his lips, but now she wanted more. It was easier not knowing. Now she knew he was an amazing kisser, and his tongue felt so good. He would be awesome at everything else.
She washed her body, aware of the time she had already taken. Stupid Lucinda. Turning off the water, she climbed out, wrapping a towel around her body. She didn’t linger in the bathroom, and stepped out to find Killian sitting on the edge of the bed.
He glanced over at her and cleared his throat.
“It’s, er, it’s clear,” she said.
He got to his feet and brushed past her, entering the bathroom. He didn’t close the door and Leah didn’t have a clue what to do with herself.