Chapter 8
Mira
I’m all over the place the next day. When I wake up, I can feel the mating heat, just like Ansel said I would.
My whole body is hot and buzzing with sensation.
My body has an awareness I’ve never experienced before.
The connection between Ansel and I is even stronger.
Every time he moves, I’m aware of it. Every touch from him, every freaking look, stokes the fire burning inside me.
It’s only two p.m., and I’m not sure how I’m going to make it much longer without throwing myself at him.
Ansel seems to be giving me space. I know he’s worried about me after yesterday, and he’s letting me process everything. I want to tell him that I don’t need time, and I really don’t want space between us, but something is holding me back.
Part of me feels guilty for even thinking about being with Ansel while Ridley is still out there, probably terrified and in danger.
Another part of me is worried that my emotions are just high today because of the full moon.
That I’ll wake up tomorrow and realize I acted rashly and made the wrong decision again.
That’s crazy, I tell myself. Ansel is it for me. He would never do anything to harm me. I trust him, and he’s shown me who he is every moment since he rescued me. He took a freaking bullet for me.
“I’m going to head into town to handle some stuff. Ever was hoping to come over and hang out with you for a bit,” Ansel says, shifting on his feet by the front door.
“You’re leaving?” I ask in a panic.
“Just for a little while. I need to meet with the Alphas. I shouldn’t be long.”
“Oh. About the men?”
“Yeah.” He nods, watching my face.
“I know that I said it yesterday, but thank you for saving my life. Again.”
All the tension seems to leave Ansel, as if my words have lifted a weight from his shoulders. “Always, Mira. I’ll always be there for you.”
“I know,” I admit, standing from the couch and walking closer to him.
I stop in front of him, shivering at the electricity that skates along my skin. I can feel his body heat and smell his cedar and honey scent.
“Ansel,” I pant.
He tenses. “I should go,” he says, but he makes no move to leave.
I step closer, closing the distance between us until my body is pressed flush against his.
“Fuck,” he grunts.
I look up at him, my eyes meeting his golden ones.
In the next instant, we’re crashing together.
His hands cup my face, and he growls as his lips mold against mine. All I can hear is my heart beating out of control as I kiss him back. It’s like all the pent-up energy inside me finally has somewhere to go. I kiss him harder, pressing my body against his. I can’t seem to get close enough to him.
“Please,” I beg, grinding my hips against his.
“Fuck, mate,” he snarls. “You have no idea how—”
I want to cry as he’s cut off by a knock at the door.
“Don’t look at me like that,” Ansel begs.
“Like what?”
“Like I just broke your heart.”
“I need you,” I whisper.
He looks torn. “I need you too, Mira. Tonight. Just a few more hours. We can wait until then.”
“Speak for yourself,” I grumble.
He laughs, his expression easing.
The knock comes again, and he takes a deep breath before he turns and pulls the door open.
“Hey!” Ever says, smiling wide when she sees me.
“It’s good to see you again,” I tell her honestly as she hugs me.
“Hey,” Russo says, nodding at me as he waits on the porch.
I wave. “Hey, Russo.”
“Right, so we’ll be back in an hour or so,” Ansel says, his gaze locked on me.
“Call if you need anything, Ever,” Russo adds.
“I will.” She waves as the guys leave, then turns to me. “How are you feeling?”
“Good,” I say as she tugs me over to the couch.
“Yeah?” She eyes me, a knowing smile tugging at her lips.
I sigh. “All I can think about is fucking Ansel.”
She bursts out laughing. “Girl, same! But with Russo, obviously.”
“Is it always like this?”
“Every month. I’m lucky. Now that we’re mated, we can wake up and just go at it as soon as the mating heat hits.”
“Brag,” I grumble.
She laughs again. “It will be time before you know it.”
“Does it hurt?”
“Sex?”
“No, well, yeah, but I meant the biting thing.”
“Oh, no. It stings, but then it feels really good,” Ever says, tracing her fingers over the mark at the base of her neck.
I squirm in my seat, wanting that. Badly.
“How are you feeling about everything that happened yesterday?” she asks gently.
“I’m okay now. I think I was in shock yesterday.
Everything hit me all at once. I mean, I could have died.
Again. Ansel could’ve been killed. Russo too.
They could’ve taken me. I was relieved when they were gone and that no one was hurt, but then the fear rushed in.
That, and I guess I wish we’d asked them about Ridley. It was all too much at once.”
“That’s understandable,” Ever assures me.
“Thanks for sitting with me.”
“Of course. That’s what sisters-in-law are for,” she says, squeezing my hand. “They’re still looking for your friend. From what Russo said, they may have some new leads. The men had notes and maps in their truck, I guess. Plus, our guys have their phones now.”
“Really? Ansel didn’t tell me that.”
“We found out on the way over here. I’m sure Ansel is getting caught up on everything now too. He might know more once he gets back. Pryce and Julian have been working on it since last night.”
“I’ll have to thank them.”
Ever smiles and squeezes my hand again. “They’ll find her. This is their job.”
We spend the next hour hanging out, talking about life in Night Grove Falls and our mates. Ever shares some of the details about how she came here, and I tell her about my parents and our lack of a relationship.
“Fated mates are good for that,” she sighs.
I cock my head. “At what?”
“At being exactly what you need most in the world. I needed someone patient who would protect me and help me find my bear. That was Russo,” she says with a dreamy smile.
“And you need someone who loves you unconditionally. Who wants to spend all his time with you and be a real partner. That’s Ansel.
He’s obsessed with you. He won’t let anything bad happen to you.
All he wants is for you to be happy, healthy, and safe. ”
“And what about them?” I ask. “What do they need from us?”
“They just need us,” she says simply. “You fill that missing piece in him just by breathing.”
“It seems uneven.”
“Nah. You give him a home and a purpose. Love. He can’t get that anywhere else. Shifters aren’t like humans. If they can’t find their fated mate, they spend their whole lives alone, yearning.”
“That’s so sad.”
“You saved Ansel from that fate.”
We both turn as we hear boots on the front porch.
“Hey,” Ansel greets me, moving my way as soon as he steps inside.
I smile. “Hey.”
“I have news about Ridley,” he says, looking pleased.
“We’ll get out of your hair. I’ll see you later,” Ever says, stooping to hug me goodbye.
“Thanks for keeping me company,” I say.
She smiles and waves as she and Russo head home.
“They might have found Ridley,” Ansel tells me, sitting down next to me.
“Really? Where?”
“She’s still back in Southmill. There’s a building there, a warehouse. We think that’s where they’re keeping some of the girls.”
“Why?”
“I have no idea. I’m not sure why they split you up. Maybe it was easier to move one girl at a time?”
“When can we go get her?”
“They’re making a plan now. Getting blueprints of the building and the area. They’ll be moving soon.”
“Oh, thank God.”
Ansel tugs me into his arms. “We’ll get her.”
I nod against his shoulder. “Thank you.”
“Of course. Anything for you, mate.”
My body heats at his proximity.
Ansel clears his throat and sets me back on the cushions. “Are you hungry? I was going to make dinner.”
I push to my feet as he stands. “I can help.”
He shakes his head. “I’ve got it. You take it easy.”
Ansel growls as I move toward the kitchen anyway and bends to lift me in his arms. He carries me into the kitchen and settles me in my chair before quickly putting space between us.
Now he’s back, the mating heat is hitting me full force. I take deep breaths as he gathers ingredients for dinner. The deep breaths don’t work, though. My body feels like it’s burning up.
I shift in the chair, biting my lip to hold back a moan as I watch Ansel move around the kitchen. My eyes lock on his arms, on the ripple of his muscles.
He could probably pin me against the wall and fuck me. Or bend me over the counter. Or—
Get it together!
“I can help,” I offer again, needing the distraction.
He waves me off. “You should rest your ankle.”
“The doctor cleared me yesterday,” I remind him.
“For light activity only,” he reminds me.
I raise an eyebrow at him. “Standing is light activity?”
“I just… want to take care of you,” he admits.
I melt at his words. “You have been. Maybe I should be taking care of you now.”
My words come out low and husky. Ansel stiffens, and his eyes darken. Is he having as hard a time as I am right now?
“Angel,” he rasps, breathing harder as I lean over the kitchen counter. His hands clench into fists at his sides like he’s trying to hold himself back.
“Can you feel it too?” I whisper.
“Yes.”
“What does it feel like to you?” I ask.
“Pure desire. All I can think about is biting you and fucking you.”
“Me too,” I admit. “Could you lift me and fuck me against that wall?”
“Mira,” he warns, his voice pained.
“Is that a no?”
His gaze rakes over me. “Yes. I could.”
“Could you bend me over this counter?”
His eyes glow amber. “Yes.”
“How do you imagine it? Taking me?” I ask, suddenly realizing that I’m basically crawling over the kitchen island to get closer to him.
“Every way. Every single way. I’ve fucked you in my head in a hundred different positions since I woke up this morning.”
“Do it in real life,” I urge.
His whole body vibrates with need. “Not yet. Soon, Angel. Very soon.”
“I don’t want to wait,” I pant.
He grits his teeth. “Please, Angel.”
I groan, flopping back in my chair. “I can’t sit here and watch you. It’s too much.”
“Why don’t you take a nap? Or watch TV?” he suggests.
“I’d like to take a bath.”