Chapter 16 Moving #2
Luca stared at the ceiling, his eyes glittering.
“I was sixteen. Young, I know, but once you shift it can happen any time. She was a bit older and from a rival pack. My parents were negotiating selling some of their territory, and I shook hands with their daughter and bam, a fated mate bond. Her parents were horrified. They pulled her away so quickly.”
My throat tightened, and I settled my hand on his bicep, gently squeezing.
“They let me talk to her on the phone. I begged her to give me a chance. But she said she already had a boyfriend, and she hated me. She told me she wished I was dead.”
“That’s horrible.”
“Yeah,” he said with a laugh.
“I mean, even if I hated Cade, I would never say anything like that. I can’t imagine.”
His head turned toward me, his gaze softening as he brushed stray hair off my face. “You have a wonderful heart.”
“So she’s out there with someone else?” I asked, needing to hear the whole story.
He shook his head. “No. Turns out, her family was lying. They didn’t want a territory for themselves. They were selling land to vamps. And when things went sideways, their allies turned on them. She was killed by the vampires they were working with.”
Understanding dawned, and I grimaced. “It didn’t bother you that I came from the vampires?” I asked. “After all of that happened?”
“I could tell you were a victim, even if they convinced you otherwise. And one look in your eyes and I knew you were different.” He cupped my cheek, wiping away tears with his thumb. I sniffled, embarrassed I was crying. This was his tragedy, not mine.
“But that might have something to do with why Cade is so cautious. He was my best friend back then, and when she died, he picked up the broken pieces. He’s never left my side since then. Even when he became an Alpha, he made those plans with me in mind.”
I drew in a slow breath and released it in a rush. “The Cade you know and love does not match the one I’ve met.”
Luca rolled his lip ring between his teeth. “That’s what should give you hope. You haven’t seen the other side of him. And that’s the side you’ll get once you guys get to know each other for real.”
Ice eyes met mine, and he held my stare, imploring me to understand.
That promise hurt, burning my heart. It didn’t seem possible, but I needed it to be real so badly. Luca had been honest from our first moment together. Maybe he was right about Cade too.
“It’s the side you know, the asshole one, that defends us. Protects us.” He tried to explain, and I clung to the words.
“Okay, I trust you.”
“That’s my beautiful mate,” he said, and the word curled through me, comforting and healing.
Sighing, I tucked my head against his chest and closed my eyes. Luca’s hand stroked down my back. The bed was so comfortable, I could easily…
Luca brushed my hair off my forehead. “Hey, no falling asleep. We have work to do.”
“No way. I didn’t sleep hardly at all last night.” I yawned, rubbing the back of my hand over my eyes.
“We are moving.”
“What?” I sat up, my sleepiness fading. “Why? Where?”
Those dimples distracted me again. “You’re moving into my room.”
“Are you going to ask me, or just tell me?”
“I knew what you’d choose, and I want you close. Besides, now you can use my bathroom and tub whenever you like.”
“Luca, what’s the point? You're here with me every night anyway.”
“Summer,” he said, drawing my name out teasingly. “I’m not taking risks with you. And my room smells like Cade. It will help your instincts.” His sincere expression crumbled my defenses. “Not to mention my bed is bigger.”
“Yeah, because it’s where Cade sleeps. It’s his room too.”
“He can get used to it.” He shrugged, unbothered.
“I don’t think he will agree,” I chided him.
“It’s only a matter of time before he gives into the bond, and he’ll be so glad you’re already in our room, ready and ripe for the taking.” His voice dropped seductively, and my core clenched.
“Ugh, when you put it that way,” I said, unwilling to give in without grumbling.
“Thank you,” he said, planting a kiss on my forehead that sent warmth through my chest and swirling lower. I focused on that feeling and not the anxious dread I felt at the idea of moving into Cade’s personal space.
I had to attempt to win Cade over. My body wanted him, and Luca wanted us both. It seemed impossible, but Luca deserved everything he desired. For him, I would try.
My hands twisted in the sheets, fighting with myself. I could do this. Besides, the mate bond was strong.
Luca rolled out of bed and pulled open drawers, taking the clothes I had been borrowing. They were mine now, I guessed.
“You know, the lack of underwear around here is concerning. I was suspicious it was just me, like you were withholding underwear, but after the full moon, I realized you guys just don’t do underwear, do you?”
Luca laughed, dropping the clothes in his arm into a pile and launching himself at the bed. He caught me around the waist, pinning me down with my legs between his.
“I’d have you naked all day if I could. But then I’d be eating you out on the kitchen counter and Holt would get angry with me,” he purred.
Scoffing, I opened my mouth to argue, and he covered it with his own. He wasted no time in swirling his tongue against mine.
My chest heaved, and he smoothed a hand over my breasts, cupping one over the thin t-shirt. Without breaking our kiss, he scraped his thumb over my nipple.
“I never did get to fuck you senseless in this room,” he whispered, peppering kisses on my cheek and chin before he bit my bottom lip hard enough that I moaned.
The air in my lungs wasn’t enough, and I felt a wave of dizziness. “Luca, I…” My throat dried up. “We just…”
“It’s okay, wildcat.” He pushed up onto his hands and knees and pressed a kiss to the tip of my nose. “We’ve done more than I could ever have hoped for. I can wait.”
Nodding, I pushed up to sit as Luca slid off the bed and began picking up the clothing from the floor.
I blinked at him, still off kilter from his hot kisses and how easily he moved on, as if my wants and opinions mattered more than his.
I might never get used to being treated like I was truly precious to him.
“Ready?” he asked. Climbing to my feet, I followed him out of the room. We made a stop in the bathroom to gather up the toiletries.
Five minutes later, I was tucking my clothes into drawers beside his. The window spilled late afternoon sun across the room, and I couldn’t help lifting my face to enjoy it.
Eight years of darkness. I don’t think I could give up the sun again. It was worth moving into Luca’s room just for the windows.
“I’m going to go check on Cade. Stay here?” he asked.
“Sure,” I said, fighting back a yawn.
Luca’s shoulders rose and fell as he smiled knowingly at me. Without saying a word, he pulled back the duvet from his bed and patted the pillow.
“Luca?” I said, and he paused on his way out of the room. “Thank you.”
“When I said I’d do anything for you, wildcat, I meant it.” With a wink, he was gone.