Page 36 of Kiss My Sass

“Thor? It’s just, privacy was not something I was really afforded in the Pine Murder. I like that I have the choice here to be private or to share. I do love that we can communicate without words, dang, I am doing this all wrong. I’m sorry,” she said, shoulders sagging.

A long, tense moment passed while she waited for him to respond. It was impossible to gauge his reaction, and Nica was on tenterhooks.

“I hear you, angel, and I’m sorry. This is new for me too, but I’ll try to respect your boundaries, okay?”

“Okay,” she whispered. It was a win, for sure, but somehow, she felt like she’d lost something.

“Um, let’s skip the ride, okay? I’m kind of tired. How about we just go for a quick run through the woods right here?” Thor suggested, nodding towards the place that had become like a sanctuary to her.

She followed his gaze to the trail they normally took. Thor missed the look of disappointment that flashed across her face, and she quickly schooled her features to show nothing of her disappointment. By the time his gaze landed back on her, she’d already disguised it.

“Okay. Sounds good.”

He led the way into the woods and stepped back to give her some privacy to shuck her clothing. Usually, he helped her remove them, not like she needed it, but it was just something he did. Not today though, and she felt cold without his warm, large hands to heat her.

He was giving her space. Something she hadn’t asked for before, and she knew it was her fault. Nica’s heart squeezed inside her chest. She normally felt excited about changing into her animal with him, but the joy had been sucked out of the day by her thoughtless words.

She needed to focus on the positive. She was here, now, with her mate, and about to join him in her animal form. That he accepted her was amazing. In her limited experience, Shifters stayed with their own kind. But the Dire Wolves were different. They followed their hearts, and that was amazing.

Thor’s brindled Dire Wolf was the most gorgeous creature she’d ever seen, and when she was in Raven form, her eyesight was that much keener. He was all muscle and strength, his black eyes glittering with power. She’d never seen a more dominant and majestic animal.

Nica would fix the hurt she’d caused by asking for privacy. She would mend this minor rift because she wanted to. Yes, beingmatebondedwas new and kind of scary, but she was stronger than she had ever been. She was a better version of herself with him. Maybe if she explained she just needed time and care, it would be okay.

No maybe, it would be,she corrected herself.

By the time she hopped back to the lane in her feathers, croaking deep in her throat as she searched for her mate, he was already there, waiting for her in his Wolf’s gorgeous brindled fur. She cawed, letting him know she was going to take to the air, but the animal stepped forward, blocking her path and Nica stilled.

Nica froze. Nerves kept her from twitching, even though she knew Thor would never harm her, even when he was wearing his magnificent beast’s skin. Demon sniffed along her head and back, the nickname she’d given him felt apropos especially since she knew it meant something entirely different from the Judeo Christian definition of the word. He was the descendant of Vikings. A mighty warrior Wolf gifted by the gods to be so much more than she could have ever dreamed in this lifetime.

Demon’s growl reverberated in his chest as he rubbed his lupine face against her body, marking her with his scent, letting her and everyone else know she belonged to him. He wasn’t mad or disappointed. He still loved her. Nica loosed a deep, satisfied croak. Her human had hurt his earlier, but she would make it up to him.

Boundaries were tough in any relationship, but when one of them was a little bit psychic and the other a little bit sheltered, communication was highly important.

Normally, she would just send her thoughts to him in this form, but when she tried, she just couldn’t. Nica cawed, but Thor simply canted his head, waiting for her to take to the skies as he usually did.

Crap. Messing up did not feel good at all. But she’d apologize and tell him how much she cared about him, and how much she wanted to grow their matebond as soon as they finished their run. She was certain now that if they just took some time to explore their bond together, she wouldn’t feel so anxious about it.

Truth was, the depth of her feeling for Thor was immeasurable. Scared the crap out of her most of the time. She was in love. Not lust. Not like. But really in love. He was so big. He felt like everything to her.

But what if he didn’t want her for keeps like she wanted him? What if this was just a passing thing? Wolves mated for life, but did they still do that if their mates weren’t Wolves, too?

She had so many questions. Nica wasn’t educated like Thor, who had two degrees in theology and Philosophy on top of his vast world experience. She sure as heck was not on the level of beautiful as him. So, what was keeping him there?

Dang it. She hated feeling inadequate, like she didn’t have the right tools for the job. The wind was coming in powerful gusts, blowing Nica to the side, and she righted herself, but it was difficult to focus when her brain was a mess of feelings. All she knew was she loved Thor, and that had to count, right?

Tell him, her Raven insisted.

Yeah. The animal was right. Nica needed to talk to him. The sooner the better. The swoosh of her wings was loud as the passing wind as she soared high above Thor. Looking down, she wished she could tell him everything she was seeing, but with their bond closed tight, she couldn’t.

Oh well. It will have to wait.

Thor snarled and barked from below. She cawed a reply, but there was no way for him to understand her. Nica cursed herself for being the reason he closed their link. What was he trying to tell her?

She looked up, shrieking, when she suddenly understood what had her mate in a frenzy. The two tall pines that marked the end of the Dire Wolf territory whizzed past her. Darn it. Nica had been so damn lost in thought, she hadn’t been paying attention to where she was headed.

No no no! How could I make such a big mistake?

Thor’s growls and snarls grew frantic, and she tried to slow down so she could safely come around again. But before she could turn, something slammed into her from the side. Nica spun to the left, seeing stars explode behind her eyes. She tried to right herself, but she’d been flying too fast and started hurtling towards the ground. Desperate to slow down, she spread her wings as far as she could, hoping the air would slow her down in a parachute effect.

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