Page 39 of Cursed Love
She was not stupid. It was crazy, and if it had been Erika or one of her other friends, she would have given them a long lecture. She did not know Ryan long… or well for that matter. It was the strangest thing to feel this connected, nearly overnight.
“I vow I’ll make it up to you,” he whispered and kissed her forehead. Ryan wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her against his side. “Come on, there are things I need to tell you and Peter.”
Walking into the living room, they found Peter with a cookie sheet over his lap. Brandy burst into a fit of giggles at the sight, and Ryan murmured, “Big baby.”
“Don’tbig babyme. I don’t trust you two around these family jewels. One day, I’d like to have sex.”
“One day?” she asked, and her eyes rounded. She gasped. “You’re a virgin?”
Ryan chuckled from her side. “Werewolves can only have sex with their mates.”
“What?” she muttered, staring at the cookie sheet.
“Unless their mate’s been killed. But they would have had to have consummated their courtship first, or else no sex for life,” Ryan said, and she was pretty sure he drew pleasure from sharing this fact.
“You’re such a dick,” Peter grumbled.
“Wait… hold on for just one minute.” Brandy turned and stepped between the two men. “Youknewthis, and yet you went allMe Tarzan, you Janeon me?”
Peter chuckled from behind her until Brandy heard a thud and turned.
“Seriously,” Peter snapped as he rubbed his forehead. The cookie sheet sported a striking resemblance to the shape and size of his brow. “Assholes, all of you.”
Thud.
A growl ripped from Peter’s throat, and his eyes glowed a gold color. “Babycakes… did you know Ryan planned on walking away from you after realizing you were his mate? Or that the night with the tubar wasn’t the first time you’d seen each other? Or how about how he’s been in your café watching you work nearly every day since that night?” Peter asked with an animalistic voice.
Brandy turned and raised a brow at Ryan. “Oh, really?”
“Bastard,” Ryan muttered at Peter.
“I’d like to hear this first,honey,” Brandy said through clenched teeth. “We saw each other before the alley?” Not only had he known she was his mate from the very beginning, but he had planned on walking away? The jerk had had time to process this information but expected her to hop on board with a smile on her face.
Ryan sighed and placed his hand on her neck. Her lifeline pressed against his palm. “It’s true… I’d been walking by the café and saw you through the glass. Our eyes met, and something shifted. I was pissed and adamant I wouldn’t claim you. The night I followed your magic and killed the tubar only confirmed my suspicions. At least, I was pretty sure. I fought it at first, but I couldn’t seem to stay away from you. I slipped in unseen behind customers and watched you work. I made sure you were safe, especially after I realized you had no way to protect yourself without controlling your powers. The pull I felt to you only became stronger as the days passed.”
Brandy flipped through her memories until she recalled a man outside the café. Their eyes had locked for only a split second. She’d chalked up the strange encounter to being tired, pushing it to the far recesses of her mind.
“That’s creepy… but it kind of makes sense. You were always cold with me and then you weren’t,”she said.
“When you were in danger, I nearly lost my mind. I couldn’t deny it any longer,”he said.
“Ahemm… you two are being rude again,” Peter scolded with his normal voice.
“Is he always so needy?” Brandy teased without glancing at Peter.
“Yup, but he grows on you.” Ryan smiled.
“Are we good?”he asked.
“It’s a lot of information, and you haven’t been fair, you know,”she said.
“How so?”he asked.
“You’ve had time to process us while I haven’t. You can’t expect me to jump on board immediately,”she said.
Ryan dropped his eyes and nodded. “You’re right, and I’m sorry.”
Brandy gave him a small smile.“We’ll get there, but from here on out, I need the full truth. Stop omitting,”she said.
