Page 71 of Purrfectly Trapped

“How come it’s healed already?”

“The same reason your shoulder is healed. We are Shifters,shona. We heal quickly. Our magic allows that. Do you like it?”

“It’s beautiful,” she said.

The tiny movements of her hand on his chest were creating a not so tiny reaction below his belly button, but he ignored his erection for now. She already knew his body worshipped her, but he needed her to understand his heart did too.

“You’re so beautiful, Gretchen. Everything I ever wanted, and I know you deserve better, but I can’t let you go,” he told her.

His voice sounded like he’d swallowed gravel, but his beast was pushing him hard. He was satisfied she was whole and unhurt, and fuck yeah, he was desperate to enjoy more carnal delights. But he needed to get this out first.

“Oh Reg---”

“Let me finish, my beautifulshona,” he started.

He watched her blush spread across her cheeks and down to her beautifully ripe breasts. Further still, his gaze dropped to the close crop curls that hid her from view.

“Fuck, you smell good,” he murmured, as the scent of her arousal reached his nostrils. Reg growled, shutting off the water and grabbing a pair of towels for them.

he wrapped the soft bath sheet around her body and lifted her up in his arms like the treasure she was. He wanted her more than anything, but first they needed to clear the air.

“Need you, Reg,” she said, and lifted her face to his lips.

He kissed her readily and pressed his forehead to hers. His dick throbbed painfully, but he held himself in check. There was nothing he desired more than to sink into his mate’s heat. Nothing except maybe sinking deep into her heart as well.

Reg could kiss her and forget all their problems for the moment, but they would still exist like a wall between them. No way, he outright refused to be separated from her in any way.

Something had sent her running from him earlier that afternoon. Something that Pamela had said or done. It should not have affected his mate so, but it did. So much so that she told him to stay away again. The pain was still fresh, and it hurt to even think about leaving her.

He needed to figure out what had happened. What the other Tiger had said to his feisty mate that made her doubt him. The only way to learn the truth, was to simply ask her. Sucking up his courage, Reg proceeded to do just that.

“Why did you tell me to stay away from you today, shona? What did I do wrong?” he asked with a sadness he couldn’t help creeping into his voice.

He sat down on the bed with her on his lap and watched her expression change from lustful to thoughtful. Tears welled in her eyes, and she bit her lip. He hated to see her look so upset, but then she straightened her shoulders and looked at him through her glassy baby blues.

“I suppose I owe you an explanation.”

“You don’t owe me anything, I just want to fix this. I need to make this right because I can’t be away from you another night. I need you with me here, now, always, You are my fated mate, Gretchen. You’re a part of my soul. How can I be expected to live without the other half of myself?”

“Why didn’t you say this before?”

“I am so sorry, shona. I should have,” he said. “I told you, I’m not good with words, but if you need them, I will try.”

Then he looked into her big eyes, cupping her face with his hands, brushing away her tears. He didn’t deserve her, but he would spend every fucking day trying to. He vowed to do anything he had to, to make sure she never cried again.

“I love you,shona. Since the day I saw you, I have loved you and only you. I will do anything, baby. Tell me what I need to do to make this right,” Reg said, his expression shocked as Gretchen gasped and began to sob openly.

“Gretchen? Shona!”

Before he could say anything else, his mate stood up, and he was about to follow her when she turned. Her eyes glowed before she moved, and admittedly, Reg wasn’t prepared for her to tackle him.

But she did, thank fuck, and they almost wound up on the floor. His quick reflexes saved them both, but before he could speak, she was kissing him.

Fuck, was she kissing him.! He groaned and moaned into her mouth, desperate for her. But before things could get out of control, she pulled back.

“Oh Reg, I was so confused. I didn’t understand what fated mates meant, and Pamela got in my head, talking about what players you Shifters are. Now I know why she feels that way, but I’m so sorry. I should have come to you first. I’d actually decided to call you when I went out for a run. I just wanted some air, but then I ran into them, and you know the rest,” she finished and wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him tightly to her.

“You could have been hurt,” he growled, and tried to sound angry, but his body was already reacting predictably to her nearness.

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