Chapter Six
Gideon sat in the corner of the coffee shop and waited for his mate. There were a few wolf shifters from his pack in the building, but they didn’t interrupt him.
He knew she was there before she even stepped into the place. All his senses were so attuned to her that he could hear not only her breath but the beat of her heart.
She came to stand by the table. “Hi.”
He stood and held the chair out for her. “I got you a black coffee, but if you want something else...”
“No. This is fine.”
They sat facing each other, and because the table was small, their knees bumped a few times and then stayed pressed together.
She took a sip of coffee and then cleared her throat. “So, what did you want to talk to me about?”
Gideon couldn’t believe how nervous he became.
He’d never been anything besides perfectly in control of his life, and nothing ever made him lose that control.
As the alpha of his pack, he needed to stay strong and make the right decisions for them all, and he couldn’t do that if he was angry and couldn’t think.
“Gideon?” she whispered.
Shit, this wasn’t the place for this talk. “Drink your coffee. We need more privacy.”
“This sounds serious,” she commented.
“It is, but it’s nothing bad.”
She nodded. “I’m ready now.”
“Good.” He stood, helped her to her feet, and guided her through the shop with a hand on her lower back. “Did you drive here?”
“No. I had my father’s driver bring me here. He told me to call if I needed him to come and get me.”
He nodded. “Good.”
He got her tucked into the car, made sure her seatbelt was fastened, then closed her door, walked around to his side, and slid in. He was thinking about taking her to his house, but was afraid he’d never let her leave. Nevertheless, it was the best place for what he had in mind.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“My house.”
He waited for her reply and relaxed when she settled into her seat.
They were just about to his place when she started asking questions.
“Why do I feel like this? I’ve never felt this way before in my life.”
He reached for her hand, and he was pleased when she didn’t try to pull away. “That’s part of what I’ll explain.”
They pulled into his driveway and up to his huge house.
“Wow, this is beautiful, Gideon.”
“Thank you. It’s been in the family for a few generations.”
He stopped the car, got out, and walked around to her side. “Here, mate. Let me help,” he said and reached for her hand to help her up and out of the car.
He walked them through the house and into his office before closing the door. “Have a seat.”
Jessica sat on the edge of the sofa, her hands pressed together between her knees.
He could tell she was nervous, but he didn’t feel any fear from her. He pulled up a chair to sit close in front of her and took her hands.
“God, I don’t know where to start,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter. I’m here and listening.”
He brought one of her hands up to his lips and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “I want you to wait until I’m done before you try to leave or get emotional.”
“Okay.”
“Have you ever heard of shifters?” he asked.
She tilted her head to the side. “The people who can turn into animals?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
“Yes. When I was a child.”
“They exist,” he murmured.
She looked shocked for a moment and then grinned.
Gideon sighed. “I’m not kidding, mate. I’m one of them.”
He tightened his grip when she tried to pull away from him. He also felt the first glimmer of fear from her, and he didn’t like it.
“At no time will I ever hurt you.”
“So, what do you want with me?”
“Shifters have mates, especially the wolves. We mate for life. There’s only one person in the world that matches me, and that’s you.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because of the way you make me feel,” he said. “I’ve never felt this instantaneous attraction or the level of desire you make me feel.”
“So, I’m the only one you can be with?” she asked.
“I can be with any woman, but you’re the only one I’ll ever be able to love. You’re the other half of my soul.”
He let her think about it for a moment. He could still sense her confusion, but there was no fear anymore, which he was thankful for.
“Yesterday, in your garden. That was me.”
Her mouth dropped open. “It was a dog.”
He scowled. “No, mate. I’m one hundred percent wolf, and I happen to be the alpha of my pack.”
She shook her head. “It’s not possible.”
“You were in ripped, faded jeans and a light blue t-shirt. I had you on your back and laid on top of you. You said I was squishing you.”
He caught the shock on her face and then grinned when she blushed.
“How is this possible?” she asked.
“Let me show you.”
“How?”
“I’ll shift, and you can get to know that part of me.” He watched her inhale and then relax before she nodded. “Just remember that I’ll never hurt you.”
“All right.”
Before she took another breath, he shifted and stood before her as his wolf. He sat still in front of her and let her study him.
Gideon was pleased when she reached out for him and sank her fingers into his fur.
“I can’t believe how soft you are,” she murmured.
Her touches were quickly driving him crazy. He just had to get a little taste of her skin. He climbed up onto the sofa, pushing her back against the cushion, letting some of his weight pin her, and started licking her.
She screamed and laughed and tried to dodge his tongue, but there was nowhere she could go.
Jessica tried to push him off her, which made him smile.
She wouldn’t be moving him until he was ready, and he couldn’t see that happening anytime soon.