Chapter 4
FOUR
Declan
The feel of Chloe plastered against my back had my bear purring and my cock hard.
Not a comfortable state to be in on the back of an ATV.
As soon as I got close enough to the barn, I stopped the vehicle and unhooked her arms from around my middle, careful not to let them brush against my cock.
I kept my back to her, my breaths harsh as I tried to calm the blood pumping through me.
I wanted to take her into my arms, make sure she was okay.
When I saw her facing down Havoc, terror swept through me.
The bull wouldn’t care that she wasn’t a threat.
He’d run her through with his horns just for being there.
Normally, when we moved Havoc for anything, we were all involved.
We never took chances with him. But there’d been no time to wait for help.
I only had enough time to send a quick call over the radio as Thunder and I raced toward the pen.
My bear wanted blood, angry that the bull would dare to threaten our mate. If my brothers hadn’t arrived so quickly, I likely would have killed him, a move that would have cost the ranch more than we could afford. But my bear didn’t care.
“Are you okay?” Chloe stepped closer, her hand resting lightly, hesitantly, on my back.
I moved away, her touch stirring the arousal I’d barely gotten under control. My voice, when it came out, was raspy, rough from my bear just beneath the surface. “There are clothes in the barn.”
My long strides ate up the distance to the barn. Inside the door was a cupboard we kept stocked with clothing. We didn’t always have time to strip before shifting. I grabbed a pair of jeans and yanked them on just as Chloe entered the building.
A blush stained her cheeks as her gaze swept over me. Her tongue darted out, wetting her lower lip. My eyes locked onto her glistening lip, my mouth watering, wanting to taste her. Feel her lips against mine.
My jaw tightened, and I squeezed my hand into a fist to keep from reaching for her. Fighting shifter instinct, which screamed for me to claim her, right here and now. Danger to one’s mate caused the possessive side to rear up, making it difficult to control. The need to protect was so strong.
Instead, I turned that energy to anger. Anger that my mate put herself in danger. If she hadn’t driven off so quickly, I would have been with her when she reached the bull pen instead of trailing behind.
“No more going off on your own. If you want pictures of something, I’ll escort you.” My tone came out harsher than I intended, but the fear for her safety was fueling me.
I watched her eyes narrow and her hands land on her hips. “I am not a child. I’m a grown woman, and I can take care of myself.”
“Like with the bull?” I stood in front of her, closer than was wise, considering the bear clamoring inside of me. “What would you have done if I hadn’t shown up?”
“You wouldn’t have had to if someone didn’t leave the gate open.” Her chin jutted out, her eyes defiant as she stared me down.
I frowned. Why was the gate open? It hadn’t been when I rode past earlier.
“Anyway,” Chloe continued, “I had a plan. I appreciate the assist, I really do. But you’re not responsible for my safety. I am.”
We were even closer now, nearly toe to toe. Her scent, mixed with sweat and dust, filled my senses, drawing me in and overwhelming me. The words tumbled out of me. “You’re mine to protect. Always.”
“Is that some kind of cowboy chivalry thing?” Her voice was breathless, and she cleared her throat, hardening her tone. “It’s really not necessary. I’m used to taking care of myself.”
“That’s going to change.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Excuse me? Who do you think you are?”
My chest brushed against her breasts and we both sucked in a breath. Her head tilted, showing off the graceful line of her neck as we glared at each other. My head was fuzzy as I pictured her with my mark. I blamed that for what I said next. “Your mate.”
Chloe
My jaw fell open, but no words came out. I was Declan’s mate? Declan, the overly responsible, overprotective, and overly grumpy bear shifter? It explained the attraction I had to him, but he was not my type. I wanted someone who supported me. Not someone who tried to restrict me.
“Are you sure?”
He nodded but didn’t seem pleased. I probably wasn’t his type, either.
I ignored the stab of disappointment that I wasn’t what he wanted in a mate.
My experience with shifters was that they were all in when they met their mates, but he obviously didn’t feel that way.
Something I could hardly blame him for, considering my own reaction.
“This isn’t how I wanted to tell you.” He scrubbed his hand across his face, his expression softening as he stepped away to grab a shirt from the cupboard. I tried not to watch as his muscles flexed and bunched when he pulled it over his head.
“How did you want to tell me?”
“I hadn’t figured that out yet. Thought I should see what you thought of mates first.” He hesitated, a vulnerable expression flashing across his face so fast I might have imagined it. It seemed out of place with our interactions so far. “Then, I guess, dinner? That’s how humans do things, right?”
“Usually.” Had I read him wrong? Maybe he wasn’t upset I was his mate but just uncertain how to handle one who was human. “I know shifters approach things differently.”
“We do. With shifters, the marking and mating happens fast. Then we get to know each other.” His gaze shot to me. “I don’t expect that from you. I know humans need more time.”
“Are you disappointed I’m human?” I was hesitant to hear the answer, but the question needed to be asked. Honesty was important if we wanted a chance to make things work.
His eyes widened. He stepped in front of me, reaching out to cup my cheek with his work-hardened palm. “Never.”
Heat raced across my skin, radiating out from where we were connected. I wanted to turn in to his touch, to lay my hand over his. The idea of being his everything was enticing. But I still held back. “You can be honest with me. I’m sure a shifter mate would be easier for you.”
“Mates aren’t meant to be easy. Knowing it’s right doesn’t take the work out of it.” His eyes, so serious, gazed deep into mine as his thumb brushed across my cheek. “It just means you know it’ll be worth it.”
My tongue wet my lower lip and his gaze dropped to my mouth. He groaned, dropping his hand and stepping away from me. “I think I need to take a dip in the pond. Should be cold enough. Maybe.”
My lips curved into a smile, and I followed him as he retreated. “Is that really what you want right now?”
“Hell no.” He gave a rough laugh. “You know exactly what I want. But I’m trying to give you time. Not pressure you.”
My mate was a gentleman, but I found myself wanting to shake that control of his. “Might do us some good to relieve this tension between us.”
He stilled and his eyes heated. “Don’t tempt me.”
“What if I want to?” I tilted my head and brought my hand up to rest against his chest. Now that I knew he actually wanted me, the thought of walking away right now seemed impossible.
Why resist the attraction when it was fated?
I never thought I’d have a shifter mate like my sister did, and secretly I’d been jealous of the bond she had. The knowledge it was right.
Declan and I clashed, but fate had other plans. I wanted to see what fate saw in us. I wanted to know what we could become if we stopped arguing and considered the possibilities. That was how I lived my life, after all. Seeking the adventure that existed all around us. Whatever form it came in.
He growled, drawing my attention back to him.
The tension between us thickened, his chest rising and falling with his harsh breaths, his fists clenching and unclenching as if fighting for control.
Then he stilled, his gaze focused entirely on me before he pulled me into his arms and kissed me, showing me a whole other side of him.
One that wasn’t all rigid and stern, free from passion.
He was fire and heat, and I melted into a puddle in his embrace.
Only his powerful arms kept me on my feet.
When he lifted his head, I was certain my expression was dazed.
His voice was rough, filled with feeling, but his hand was steady as he held it out after stepping away from me. “Will you come with me?”