Page 15 of Until Forever Comes
Miguel smirked. “That’s adorable,” he said, dipping down and tugging my lower lip between both of his before nibbling his way across my jaw to my ear. “I know quite a bit about shifters, actually. For example, I know your kind are very territorial, and based on that noise you just made, I’m guessing you’re trying to stake a claim on me.”
Oh, there was no “trying” about it. “You’re mine,” I nearly shouted. “And you best realize it right soon.”
The grin left his face and he looked truly regretful when he cupped my cheek and responded. “I’m not a good bet, wolf. I tried to warn you before, tried to tell you to stay away.”
“That’s never going to happen,” I said adamantly. “I belong with you, and that’s all there is.”
“I’m a vampire,” he said, as if that explained anything.
“You’re my mate,” I replied, knowing that trumped everything. “My true mate.”
“Vampires don’t mate, Ethan. We don’t settle down and build dens and raise puppies. We’re not monogamous. We—”
“Oh, well, you surely are now,” I told him. “There’s going to be nobody but me for you from here on out.”
“And how do you plan to explain me to your pack?” He sounded frustrated. “Like I said, I know all about shifters. I know your kind looks down at everyone different. Humans are lesser beings, half-souls; that’s what you call them, right? They can’t shift into two forms so they’re not worthy. And bloodsuckers,” he scoffed. “We’re worse, aren’t we? Dirty, soulless, immoral.”
“I never said that,” I said hurriedly, feeling sickened by his hostile tone and harsh language.
“No, you didn’t. But do you deny that it’s true? Shifters live in packs, liveforthe pack, and you’re never going to bring me home to meet your mother. So how, exactly, do you plan on this going?”
He was right, of course, and it wounded me deeply, the fact that he’d never be accepted by my pack, the fact that I’d have to leave them in order to live by his side.
“I don’t deny it,” I whispered sadly. “But I hope that my mama will come into town to meet you.” I wiped the back of my hand across my eyes. “Either way, I’m staying with you. That’s where I belong. That’s where my loyalty lies now.”
“You’d choose me over your pack?” he asked skeptically. “You’d leave pack lands to live with me?”
It was the only choice I could make, the only choice I wanted to make. Like I’d said, Miguel was mine.
“Yes,” I answered simply, because, well, it was just as simple as that.
Chapter 8
“YOUbarely know me,” he said.
“I’ll get to know you better over time,” I countered.
He tried again. “I’m not a good man.”
“Well, if that’s true, I’ll teach you how to change. Because you can rest assured that I surelyama good man.”
Whatever other faults I had, and there were plenty, my mama’d always told me that my heart was pure. I had to believe it would be pure enough to cleanse my mate of whatever sins he believed made him unworthy of our mating.
“This isn’t a game.” His voice was getting louder.
“Who said I was playing?” I lowered my volume.
“You’re not hearing me, wolf,” he said.
“I hear you loud and clear,vampire.” I grinned when his eyebrows shot up. “But fate is fate. You’re mine just as much as I’m yours. Surely you feel it.”
He shook his head and furrowed his brow. “I don’t feel a thing.”
I didn’t pay his words or ornery expression any mind. He had to feel the bond. It was unmistakable, absolute. And I was fixin’ to say so when we heard muffled voices.
“We’re about to have some company.” Miguel scrambled for my clothes and shoved them at me. “You need to get dressed and get lost.”
I dropped the shirt he’d just handed me and folded my arms across my chest. “Try again,” I said, standing tall and proud in my naked glory. It was quite a feat, seeing as how I was neither tall nor, at that exact moment, firm. Though I was pretty sure a few more minutes with my mate could rectify that problem.
