Chapter 25 #2
“We live longer. Generally, two or three times longer, but human diseases are taking a toll on us.”
“Human diseases?”
He narrowed his eyes. “Yeah, like cancer. It’s still mostly unheard of, but there are rare cases. Are you okay? You look flushed.”
“I’m fine.” But I was anything but fine.
The reality of this was finally starting to settle in.
We weren’t playing a game of house or even of falling in love.
This mating thing was ridiculous, even if that’s what it felt like we were doing.
In truth, I wasn’t certain I was ready for a long-term relationship of any kind and even if I was, how could I saddle him with what I knew I was about to go through?
I avoided thinking the words just in case he could read my mind.
Oceans.
Hot sex.
Being fired from my job once the school administrators read the social media posts.
See? Another reason this relationship wasn’t a good idea.
As soon as I looked away, he gripped my chin with his thumb and forefinger. “What’s wrong? Do you hate me because I’m a shifter?”
“Of course not. That’s not it. I’m just… Overwhelmed, I guess.”
“Completely understandable. It’ll take time.” His entire brow furrowed. He was trying to figure out what I was thinking.
Chocolate.
Horror movies.
Never speaking to my horrible parents again.
“I guess.”
“Just so you know, you’re beautiful, more so when you climax,” he whispered. “Come here.” He pulled me back into his arms, holding me tightly.
I could drown in his massive arms.
“Does this mean I really belong to you?”
“Does that bother you?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. This isn’t normal. This isn’t how relationships usually go.”
“How do they go?” His hot breath created another wave of tingles. “Is there a set rule somewhere I don’t know about? I admit, I’m not good with dating but I didn’t think everything had to follow a pattern.”
I pulled his arms more tightly around me, smiling when he even planted his leg over mine. I was going nowhere. “You’re right. My parents followed that rule and see where it got them. My guess is your parents didn’t have any rules.”
“Oh, my mother hated my father at first. Oil and water.” He yawned. “In fact, she poisoned him, but that’s another story. It was all love and being inseparable after he recovered in the hospital.”
When I laughed and he didn’t, I closed my eyes. His family was crazy and I realized that maybe what I’d needed my whole life was a little bit of crazy.
Almost in the same spirit as having a shifter as a fiancé.
There were two dozen questions to ask, including the most basic regarding any future plans, but I was far more exhausted than I’d been in a very long time. I closed my arms, nuzzling against the warmth of his chest.
And as I could feel myself falling asleep, I envisioned myself as a wolf standing beside one giant alpha male.
* * *
Bam. Bam. Bam.
What was that? I jerked my head up, wincing from seeing the early morning sun.
I listened again, trying to ascertain what I was hearing. I’d settled in once again when the same three hard pounding noises occurred, only this time I realized it was coming from the bedroom window.
“Wake up,” I moaned, fighting to get out of Steven’s arms. We’d stayed locked in the same position for hours. How was that even possible?
“What is it?” he asked, his voice entirely too dreamy for whatever was going on.
“We’ve got company.” I finally disengaged, rising onto my knees so I could look out the window.
Seeing Tawny’s face plastered against the glass brought a shriek. “What are you doing here?”
“Is the Beast in there with you?”
I wasn’t certain if she meant the hockey player or the wolf. “Yes, why?”
“Unless you’re prepared to face a brigade of reporters, I suggest you leave through the back door and find my car on the other street. They’re coming in droves.”
Droves? Was she kidding me?
“How do you know that?”
She narrowed her eyes, even shielding them from the sun. “Girl, what are you doing?”
“None of your business. How do you know they’re coming?”
“Because Jeff mentioned he and a group of reporters would soon be heading out. I knocked him out with a vase and stole his car keys, but others will be arriving. Come on. I’ll get you both to safety.”
“You knocked out your boyfriend?”
“Desperate times call for desperate measures. He’s a dud anyway. Now, get moving.”
“Okay. We’ll be there shortly.” I pulled away from the window, realizing that no matter where we went for the unforeseeable future, reporters would hound us. I wasn’t that girl. I couldn’t tolerate something like that. Besides, I hadn’t signed up to be his latest fling.
No matter the ruse I’d used on my parents only to have it thrown back in my face, I wasn’t his fiancée. I was just a girl who’d gotten caught up in a fantasy.
Or a nightmare.
“What is going on?” Steven yawned, stretching his arms.
“The press is coming. You need to get dressed. My best friend will take you wherever you want to go.”
What are you going to do? Are you going to force him to give up his career because… Just to take care of you?
Coffee.
Missing him.
Keeping my resolve because letting him go was the right thing to do.
“Huh? You don’t want to come with me?” His entire face was pinched in confusion.
I backed off the bed, immediately grabbing a robe from inside my closet. “Look around you, Steven. This is my home. I have a job I need to get to on Monday.”
“We’ll work it out. I promise you. We’ll find another place to live and things will be good. I’ll do whatever is necessary.”
“You shouldn’t have to do anything.”
He scratched his jaw and I realized just how much fur had grown on his face overnight. This shifter thing was real, but I couldn’t allow the mating to continue.
“Oh, for God’s sake, the crap about us getting married was a lie and one I never intended on being taken out of context.
Whatever the hell that means. You don’t need to be tied to me or vice versa.
Not because the press and whoever your social media guru is might like the coupling.
My dad is out to get your kind.” I tied the sash as tightly as I could and continue breathing.
“My kind?” He crawled off the bed, snatching his shirt from the floor. “What does that mean?”
“It just means that you’re a shifter and I’m a human. We shouldn’t mix.”
“What is going on?”
“Nothing. I just…” How could I tell him what I knew in my heart and soul? How could I dare put that burden on him? I just couldn’t do it. That would be selfish and I wasn’t that way.
Bloodthirsty vampires.
Monsters.
Finding a way to destroy my father.
“This just isn’t going to work out. We had fun but that’s all it can be. Okay? Tawny will make sure you have your privacy.” Now I couldn’t look him in the eyes.
“What about your parents?” His voice was gruffer, his body stiffening as he jerked on his clothes.
“I’ll let them know we talked about it and everything was premature.
” I couldn’t look him in the eyes, the ache so severe I wanted nothing more than to crawl under the covers.
But this was the right thing to do. “That’ll sure make my father happy, but little does he know, I’m never speaking to him again. ”
“Jesus, what aren’t you telling me?”
“Hurry, okay? According to Tawny, dozens of reporters are on their way. I know you need time and you don’t want to be caught here. That will further ruin your reputation.”
“What are you talking about, ruin my reputation? That’s ridiculous.”
“Just go. Okay? Go out the back. She’ll be waiting for you.” I was more than exasperated. I was about ready to burst into tears. Why had I done this to myself?
The moment of silence was excruciating.
“That’s what you really want?” There was so much hurt in his voice.
“Yes.”
“Look at me when you say that.”
Remember why you’re doing this.
So I did. Against everything I thought I wanted, I was able to look him in the eyes and tell him to go. “Please. Just leave. You’re a great guy, but this isn’t right for me. I’m sorry.”
His face wore emotions I didn’t know existed and he went through every one of them.
The last being anger or maybe resentment.
While I had no idea what he was thinking, when he slammed the door with enough force I jumped, I pretty well knew he hated me.
And I didn’t blame him in the least.