Chapter 31 #2
"You knew who I was..." My voice is a whisper. "How? When did you find out?"
Mark bites his lip as if holding back a smile.
"Kitten, practically from the beginning..."
"What?!" I widen my eyes and sit up. "Then why didn't you say anything? I don't understand..."
He looks at me with that expression that baffles me, more serious, and sexy as hell.
"Actually, when I rescued you, I wasn't sure. I couldn't smell your essence, you were so exhausted that you weren't exuding it, I just felt..."
"You sensed what?"
His gaze darkens and he reaches out, gently touching my cheek. I lean in slightly, closing my eyes as I savour the caress.
"I felt I needed to save you, to stay close, not let you get away..." His fingers slide down to my neck, gently encircling it, pulling me closer. My face hovers over his, and our breath mingles. "I felt the connection."
I gasp, my words lost for a moment at his revelation.
"Connection?"
"Yes, don't you feel it?" he asks, the softness of his voice making my heart race.
My heart skips a beat, I feel fragile, but at the same time, secure. I am speechless, I just nod yes, the heat in my face betraying me.
"Later, as you recovered, I smelled you and knew. But you didn't transform... you were still too weak. Or was it because you were afraid of me?" His voice is low, almost a whisper to himself.
I don't answer, and my eyes burn, small tears forming.
Because, deep down, I can't deny that I was afraid.
I want to tell him about the curse, reveal everything, but the words get stuck in my throat when he continues, and I don't want him to stop.
I want to hear every word, feel every emotion, know everything he keeps inside.
"All I wanted was to protect you. When you tried to escape and were almost attacked for the second time, I freaked out.
I shouldn't have barred the windows, I never wanted to take away your freedom, but with so many dangers out there, with the monsters.
.. I just wanted to make sure you were safe, Sandra.
At least while you remained in cat form. "
He pauses, his voice wavering before he continues:
"And then... when your collar led me to you again, when I sensed your fear and ran to find you.
.. Instead of the cat, I saw you." His thumb slides across my cheek in a reverent caress.
"And you didn't run away. You came back into my arms." At that moment, I had hope.
.. hope that deep down, you wanted to stay.
And then you appeared to me again and flirted with me.
.. Damn, Kitten, I wanted to kiss you so badly that day.
"I wanted to too..." I confess breathlessly.
He smiles and finally the air returns to my lungs.
"I thought you hated me," I murmur, smiling back.
Mark frowns, looking surprised.
"Never!" He shakes his head. "Why did you think that?"
I let out a nervous laugh and touch his face, my finger sliding gently over the crease between his eyebrows. The feeling is comforting, as if all I needed to do was touch him and the fears would dissipate.
"Because you had this closed, scary expression, your claws came out, your face turned red with anger..."
"I didn't turn red with anger... I..." He hesitates for a moment, and then, as if the mere mention of the subject brings the feeling to the surface, his face turns a deep red. "I blushed with embarrassment," he admits.
I can't help it, I start laughing, feeling a wave of relief and amusement.
"You? The Beast? The baddest man in our community blushed because of me?" I raise my eyebrows.
He smiles, a bright smile, completely surrendered.
And by the stars...
How could I ever have thought he was dangerous?
Looking at him like this, all I want is to throw myself into his arms and ask him never to let me go.
Ask him to be mine, forever.
"You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life."
This takes me by surprise. I gasp, feeling a mixture of warmth and excitement. He puts his hand on the back of my neck and pulls me closer, his lips brushing lightly against mine before he speaks again.
"You were made for me, Sandra. From the moment I saw you, I knew you were my fated mate, as if my heart was drawn to yours.
" His voice is soft, but each word hits me hard.
"All this time, I could only watch you from afar, unable to touch you, unable to have you.
But now... now that I know you want me too, there's no turning back.
I won't let you get away. You're mine, Kitten.
My heart stumbles in my chest, missing a beat.
Fated mate.
The words seep into me, awakening feelings I fought to deny and opening a door I kept closed out of fear.
Fear of giving myself away, of revealing my heart, of being rejected.
My fear of being abandoned is rooted in my chest.
I should question, protect myself.
But instead, a pleasant shiver runs down my spine, hot, fierce.
I am his...
The idea should scare me, but everything in me leans towards him, my body, my breath, even my soul, as if recognising an ancient, undeniable truth.
"And you are mine?"
He smiles, a possessive gleam in his eyes.
"I always have been, ever since the first time I saw you." He sucks on my lower lip, his teeth grazing lightly over it, making me shiver with desire.
I moan softly, melting into his body, wanting to continue what we started, but then I remember.
"Ethan is downstairs," I whisper.
He curses softly, his face more serious now.
"Shit, I'll send him away, I'm fine now, I don't need you to babysit me," he says, moving to get up. But when he tries, he seems dizzy and leans on the headboard to keep from falling.
"Mark..."
"I just got up too fast, I'm fine, sweetheart."
Without hesitation, I link my arm through his, thinking he's going to push me away, but he kisses the top of my head.
"Thank you," he murmurs, rubbing his nose against my hair, inhaling my scent.
I bite back a smile, I still can't believe that all this is happening, that we kissed, that he wants me...
I almost pinch myself, but I hold back, I don't want to wake up from this dream.