Page 48 of Unbreakable Bond
Chapter 19
Rafe breathedin deeply and closed his eyes, relishing the scent of his mate all around him. All over him. That sweet, spicy scent that was pure Zoey. Only it was even better than that now. It was his scent and Zoey’s mixed together. Their scent, the scent of a mated couple, covered them both and hung thick in the air around them. He couldn’t get enough ofit.
He was… happy. Content. He couldn’t remember a time he’d ever felt so…right.
He pulled Zoey closer and she sleepily cuddled against his chest. They’d fallen back into bed together and he wasn’t sure how much time had passed. Minutes. Hours. Days. He could spend eternity in this bed with his little mate but he knew that he couldn’t , that they’d be interrupted again, sooner rather than later, which was why he couldn’tsleep.
The full moon was coming. It was inching closer and closer the longer he laid here and did nothing. No, not nothing, he hugged Zoey closer and sniffed her hair. It calmed his wolf, who had been pacing beneath the surface of his skin for hours. He wasn’t doing nothing. He was holding his mate. Comforting them both. Trying to mark her as thoroughly and deeply as possible so that when the wolf finally broke free he wouldn’t ravageher.
“Rafe?” Zoey’s voice was soft and sleepy as she nuzzled hischest.
“Shh, sleepbaby.”
“I… can’t.” Zoey groaned slightly and shifted, “You’re holding me tootight.”
He instantly loosened his hold, hating the idea of hurting her. He’d only been trying to protect her and he’d hurt her instead. What would happen if he couldn’t protect her? Maybe he hadn’t been build for it but he had totry.
He let go of her completely, “God, Zo, I’m sorryI…”
“It’s okay.” She kissed his chest lightly, “Hey. Hey. It’s okay. Look atme.”
He glanced down when she nudged at his chin and he met those beautiful green eyes of hers. There wasn’t pain there. He hadn’t actually hurt her. But there was confusion and more than a little bit of worry. He smoothed her hair back and tried to smile when she cuddled into thetouch.
“What’swrong?”
“It’snothing.”
“It’s not nothing.” She sighed, “Rafe, talk tome.”
He’d learned her well enough to know that she wasn’t going to let this go. She’d always been a stubborn one. He weighed the pros and cons, not wanting to fight with her, and finally did the only thing he could. He told her thetruth.
“I never thought I’d havethis.”
Zoey’s head tilted slightly, “Havewhat?”
“A home. A mate. You.” Rafe twisted a lock of her hair around his finger, “I never thought I’d find you but, here you are and I’m… scared.” He swallowed past the lump in his throat, “I hate that word. I hate admitting it but you’re my mate and you need to know what’s going on in my head. I’m scared, Zo. I’m scared that I’m going to lose you because I’ve done nothing to deserveyou.”
“Oh, Rafe…” Zoey’s eyes softened, “Honey, no. You don’t have to be scared of that. I’m not goinganywhere.”
“You can’t knowthat.”
“Michael isn’t taking me away and I’mnot…”
“That’s not what Imean.”
Zoey sat up, watching him through eyes that saw deep inside him, “Rafe… we talked about this. You’re not going to hurt me. Your wolf isn’t going to hurt me. I have my own wolf now and she’ll defend herself if she has to but we both trust you. You’re our mate and we’re yours. It’s going to beokay.”
Rafe cupped her cheeks and pulled her close, taking her mouth in a soft, sweet kiss. Zoey returned it just the same. She melted into him and he pulled her onto his lap. He threaded his fingers into her hair and slicked his tongue into her mouth. He kept kissing her until he was certain that neither of them had any air left and she knew just how crazy he was abouther.
She was amazing. Incredible. And she was his. His mate. His forever. To honor and cherish and most of all, toprotect.
He wouldn’t fail her. Not her. Not now and notever.
“You’re too good for me.” He gasped against her lips as he held herclose.
“No. I’m perfect for you. That’s why I’m your mate.” Zoey smiled softly, pressing sweet kisses along hisjaw.
“You read mymind.”
