Page 12 of Savoring Her Snake

I swallow harshly. “I think we need to have a conversation.”

“We will have many conversations,” he says softly.

“Heath—”

“Juliana,” he rumbles, gliding his knuckles down my cheek. “Will you allow me to take care of your brother before we have a discussion?” He drops his hand. “I promise, after, I will answer your questions.”

“Okay,” I whisper. My body is electrified by his simple touch and promise to care for me. I don’t remember the last time someone offered to do anything for me. My mind is at war with my emotions, but my gut tells me to trust.

I must remain guarded. My hopes have been dashed too many times to believe his dedication is real.

Chapter Four

Heath

Mytattoosthrobtothe beat of her heart. I watch across the room as Juliana speaks to the doctor. Hunter stands beside me, his arms crossed.

“She’s the one,” Hunter says quietly.

“Yes.” I’m attempting to control every urge I possess that’s telling me to take her in every way a mate can. She is human, and I’m grateful to the dick, Stanly, for telling her about our world. Even though she’s aware, that doesn’t mean she will fall into my arms, accepting everything I am destined to do to her.

“Do you have a plan?” Hunter asks.

“What?”

“I’m assuming you don’t want her out of your sight. That might be a problem,” he points out like an asshole.

“I’m working on it.” I can’t force her to live with me. She has a life and work. I didn’t expect the universe to give me a human mate. I didn’t think I would have one at all.

“Lie,” Hunter says, and I glare at him. “Make something up for tonight. You will be crawling the walls if she goes home.”

“What do you suggest? She isn’t naïve. She doesn’t have an animal inside her demanding to take her mate.” If I didn’t think Hunter was trying to help, I’d kill him. He may call me his boss, but he is a powerful jaguar shifter. We are friends, yet he works for me and defers to me for orders.

“Use her brother,” he says. “She has a soft spot for him.”

“I would like to stay on her good side,” I say dryly, but I toy with the idea. I swore if I ever found my mate, I would do anything to keep her. Lying isn’t beneath me. I have to have her by my side tonight. My snake is slithering against my skin, demanding to be released. He doesn’t want to hurt her; he wants to show off. His emotions are mine, yet different. His logic is simple. He senses his mate and wants to mark her, turn her, and be with her forever. The human side wants the same, but I understand the complexity of a human.

“Are you going to tell her she’s your mate?” he asks.

“She’ll run in the other direction if I say that tonight.”

Juliana nods at the doctor, and we step forward when she leaves the room.

“He’ll be fine,” she says. I heard every word but didn't want to point it out. “He can leave. They wrapped his ribs, but they can’t do anything else.” She touches Levi’s shoulder. “We can go after I sign some papers and arrange payment,” she whispers.

“Shit, Sis,” Levi groans. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s taken care of,” I say, and they look at me.

“What?” Jules asks.

“We can go.” I take a step toward Juliana, and she holds up her hand.

“I don’t understand,” she says.

“He’s my fighter. He got hurt in my place. I take care of it.” I would never pay a hospital bill for someone who voluntarily got into the ring.

“That’s—” She drops her hand and allows me to move to her side. “I always pay my bills.”

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