Page 76 of Crossed Fates
“Why?” I asked her, picking up the soap again to lather a few more suds into my palms for my legs. “Why are you so against having a mate?” I knew why I had never craved one, but we hadn’t discussed her reasoning before. Just that she didn’t want one.
Her lips tugged down. “It’s… it’s not that I’m against you…”
“That’s not what I asked,” I replied, bending to draw my hands along my calves and thighs. “I want to know why you don’t want a mate. Not me, just a mate.”
I stood to find her nibbling on her lip, her pensive gaze matching the thoughts in her mind. She ran her fingers through her hair, then shifted when she heard me thinking about the water.This telepathy stuff is really useful,I noted.
She snorted in response.
“Can you imagine what it’ll feel like when I make you come?” I asked conversationally. “I’ll be able tohearyour pleasure. Just thinking about it makes me so damn hard.” Her gaze dropped to my erection, her nostrils flaring.
“You’re trying to distract me.”
“I’m trying to point out that there are benefits to this arrangement, Mak,” I replied, turning to rinse the soap from my front. I could feel her eyes on my ass.
Like granite…Her muttered words had my lips twitching. But I didn’t interrupt her perusal by replying. Instead, I waited. Because I could hear her thinking through her reply to my question about mates. She wanted to explain it right, and I was more than willing to wait.
It wasn’t until I had the shampoo in my hand that she finally said, “It’s not that I’m anti-mating. I’m just… I’ve spent the last decade discovering my place in the world. And I’m not ready to give that up for a mate.”
Her words gave me pause, the shampoo bottle frozen in my palm. “You think your mate would make you choose between him and your job?”
“Wouldn’t you?” she asked, making it personal rather than theoretical. “You’re an alpha, Alaric. If you decide to take over this pack, I’m obligated to them just as much as you are.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to dismiss that statement, yet I couldn’t find a voice for my words. Because it felt wrong to say something like,It’s a moot point anyway. I’m not taking over.I wasn’t sure I believed that. And so I couldn’t claim it out loud.
“Listen to those instincts, son. They’ll guide you.”
My father’s statement replayed through my mind as Makayla blew out a breath.
“I’m not from here,” she blurted out, speaking her thoughts aloud rather than keeping them secluded to her head. “You weren’t even born with the mark, Alaric. Like this all has to be some sort of mistake. An eligible true mate in my world is born with the mark of their animal, regardless of their origin.”
“Is that why you asked me about birthmarks?”
“Yes.” She grabbed the shampoo from me and squirted a healthy amount into her hand. “Between the different worlds and your alpha status, I don’t know how this could work, Alaric.” She held out the bottle for me to take back from her. “I won’t give up who I am. I’ve worked too hard. I love what I do. And I refuse to be tied down.”
I considered that for a moment, then admired the view as she lathered the shampoo into her hair. Then I followed suit and switched positions with her when she mentally asked for the water. When she finished rinsing, I took over the showerhead again and did the same. Then I leaned against the wall while she started soaping up her gorgeous body.
“I became a slayer because I’ve always enjoyed adventure and the thrill of the chase,” I said. “It also placated my more aggressive instincts and gave me a purpose. I protect people because it’s a natural inclination.” My blood heated as a soapy droplet trailed over her stiff nipple, taunting the rosy peak and glistening in the low lighting of the bathroom.
I cleared my throat before returning my gaze to hers.
“At no point would I ever expect you to give up what you love for me, Makayla. I understand the desire to be a lone wolf more than most, and I would never expect you to just stop doing your job because we’re mates.” It felt important to say that to her because it was true. I’d never even considered tying her down.
Okay, no, that wasn’t true.
“I’ll admit I’ve fantasized about locking you in a cage to use to my heart’s content, but that’s purely to feed my sexual beast,” I said, aware she could probably hear it in my mind, so I might as well get that out there right now. “But part of the fun of that imagery is knowing you’d fight like a hellcat and make the sex so much hotter as a result.”
“I would kill you.” The serious quality in her tone just made me grin.
“And the battle would be erotic as fuck,” I drawled.
“Until you died.”
“Hmm,” I hummed, taking a step toward her. She didn’t move, which placed my hard dick right against her soapy belly. “Or you’d end up panting beneath me.”
“Only from the exertion of stabbing you.”
I chuckled, amused. Then I leaned in to draw my nose along her cheek, my lips going to her ear. “The pull between us is mutual, Mak.” I pressed my mouth to her thundering pulse, stirring a shiver from her. “It’s magnetic and electric and hot as hell. And while I might not have wanted a mate, I’m not going to belittle what exists between us, sweetheart. Last night was the best sex of my life, and I fully intend to repeat it.”
