Page 11 of Lawful Mate
How very gentlemanly of him, she thought.
Then she suddenly bolted upright, making herself slightly dizzy in the process.
“Whoa, easy there!” he chided gently. “I don’t think you’re at a hundred percent just yet.”
She laid back down. “It’s Monday!”
He laughed, a low throaty sound she was becoming accustomed to. “That’s usually what comes after Sunday.”
“You have a trial tomorrow.”
He rolled them over and hovered above her, touching her face. God, she could get used to that. “I know,” he said. “I thought I’d prepare from here if you don’t mind. I don’t want to leave you alone.”
“I don’t mind at all.” Actually, she preferred it, especially given how weak she still felt. She’d never be able to make it into work today. “I’ll help you.”
He smiled warmly, planted a sweet kiss on her lips, then insisted on making her something to eat, despite her protests of not being hungry… not for food, anyway. She finally acquiesced to tea and toast. Breakfast in bed.
She managed a quick shower while he prepared breakfast. He seemed pleased when she ate some of his eggs. Maybe she was hungrier than she thought… for food.
When they were finished eating, he picked up the frame from the nightstand, a photo of her on her thirteenth birthday. She was smiling, sitting between her mom and grandmother on a picnic blanket next to her ancestral Silky Willow. The twinkling lights would be hung later when it was evening. It was still daylight in the photo. Her red curls shone brightly in the sunlight.
Theo ran his fingers through her currently tamed, platinum blonde locks. “Why did you color it?”
She shrugged. “I didn’t want to stick out at the firm even more with my crazy red hair.”
He chuckled at that. “Daphne has red hair.”
“Yeah, but it’s darker, she’s a shifter, and… I don’t really know.” Maybe she just needed a change, or perhaps it was armor she used to hide her true self. “Did Kim tell you the real reason I took the job at your firm?”
“She said it wasn’t her story to tell.” Theo held up the picture frame. “Were you ever going to tell me?”
“You were familiar to me.” It was time to come clean. “But I didn’t really recognize it was you I met seventeen years ago until Friday when you called me ‘oh powerful one.’ Then it just clicked.” She took the photo from him and held it between them. “That was my thirteenth birthday.” She told him about the blessings she received from her mother and grandmother, how she had dreamed about the willow tree and awoke to find herself being pulled to the corporeal one. “Then you just appeared.”
Theo took the photo from her and placed it back on the nightstand, then laid on his side so they were facing each other.
“I dreamed about a willow tree that night, too, then woke up to find myself standing there. Every year on the same night, for the past seventeen years, I dream of a redheaded angel smiling at me next to a willow tree.” Theo wiped a lone tear from her cheek.
“It is said some witches can tap into their power to glimpse their fate. I didn’t know I could do that. My powers are always stronger by my ancestral tree. Add to that the blessings I received, my dream and your dream…” She had tapped into something powerful indeed. “You called me your mate yesterday.”
“Because that’s what you are,” he said before he closed the distance and kissed her—really kissed her this time.
She couldn’t help the moan that escaped when his tongue met with hers. He rolled on top of her, never breaking their kiss. Ivy wrapped her legs around his hips, needing to be closer. He squeezed her thigh and slid his hand slowly up under her shirt to cup her breast. His touch felt so good. Grinding against his hard length elicited a low, throaty moan from him, then their hands were everywhere, roaming freely, exploring each other’s bodies.
He tasted so good—coffee and mint and his own unique flavor—and she wanted more.
“We should stop,” he said against her lips.
“What? Why?” What is this stopping business?
There went that low throaty chuckle again, laughing at her desperation to do anything but stop.
“You almost died last night.”
“And you make me feel alive.” Ivy kissed his lips. “More than I’ve felt in a very long time.” She kissed him again.
“Ivy,” he breathed.
“I’m good.” She really felt much better after showering and eating.
