Page 20 of Claimed By the Panda
“It’s not—I didn’t mean—”
“Our son has been holding you against your will?” Guo’s jovial demeanor vanished, replaced by stern concern. “For four days?”
“No! Well, kind of, but I wanted to—”
“This is unacceptable!” Marissa said. “The mating bond should never be forced! It must be freely given, or it becomes toxic!”
Before I could explain that I was perfectly happy being “kidnapped” by their son, they were each grabbing one of my arms, hustling me down the path toward Jian’s cabin.
“We raised him better than this,” Guo muttered. “Keeping a human hostage. What was he thinking?”
“I’m really fine—” I tried again, but they weren’t listening, their parental outrage drowning out my protests.
We covered the quarter-mile to Jian’s cabin in record time. They burst through the door without knocking, dragging me along like evidence at a crime scene. I tried to protest and insist I hadn’t been kidnapped, but they were having none of it.
Jian stood in the kitchen, wearing nothing but low-hanging sweatpants. His hair was loose around his shoulders, damp and dark against his golden skin. If we were alone, I’d be on my knees, holding him in my mouth in an instant, but his meddling parents were in the way.
His expression shifted from surprise to confusion as he took in the tableau—his parents flanking me like guards escorting a prisoner.
“What’s going on?” he demanded, eyes locking with mine.
“You cannot keep him here against his will!” Marissa said.
“What? I’m not—”
“He says you kidnapped him,” Guo interrupted. “This is not how we raised you, son.”
Jian’s eyes widened, a flash of hurt crossing his face before his features settled into that carefully blank mask.
“I’m sorry,” I blurted. “I was joking. I didn’t mean—”
But Jian was already nodding, his jaw tight. “I wouldn’t call it kidnapping, but I’ve been selfish.” He looked directly at me. “You can go home, Cody. Whenever you want. I’ll drive you back to Reno today.”
The words hit me like a physical blow. Go home? Leave Jian? The thought made something primal and panicky claw at my throat.
Jian stood frozen by the kitchen counter, his expression carefully neutral except for the muscle ticking in his jaw—a tell I’d already learned meant he was fighting for control.
Four days together, and I could read his body like a favorite book. I knew how his eyes darkened just before he came, how his fingers flexed when he wanted to touch me but was holding back. Like now.
“How much would it hurt you if I left?” I asked.
Jian’s eyes flickered to mine, then away. He shrugged, trying for nonchalance but missing by a mile. “I’d handle it.”
“That’s not what I asked.” I moved closer, close enough to feel the heat radiating from his bare chest. “I asked how much it would hurt.”
His jaw clenched tighter. “What do you want me to say, Cody? That I’d fall apart? That I’d—” He cut himself off, running a hand through his damp hair. “It’s fine. I don’t own you. You can go whenever you want.”
I pressed my palm against his chest, feeling his heart thundering beneath my touch. “Tell me the truth.”
Something cracked in his expression. “Fine. A few hours? I’d be okay. A day? Uncomfortable. But nights...” He swallowed hard. “I don’t think I can sleep without you anymore.”
I couldn’t help it—I laughed. The sound burst from me, bright and unexpected, and Jian’s eyes widened in surprise.
“What’s so funny?”
“Am I your mate?” I asked. “Was this whole pretend game bullshit?”
Guo cleared his throat. “Of course, you’re his mate. You told us that on the first day.”
