HIM 40. She's under my skin
My lips are still tingling from our kiss when I force myself to take a step back, even though every part of me wants to stay right there, keep tasting her. She's so damn soft and warm.
But first things first—what the hell just happened?
Something has changed—I can feel itthrummingbeneath my skin.
It's not like I have much knowledge about how the mating bond works.
We only had rumors about it, whispered stories, but nothing concrete. I never would have imagined it would run this deep—her emotions bleeding into mine like they belong there.
And it's not one-sided either. It's her too—she let it happen.
The moment her trust grew, the moment she opened up to it, the stronger this thing between us became, until now we're somehow tangled up in ways I can't even begin to understand.
I tried to control myself, tried to shut it down, to think rationally.
But ever since this started, rational thought has been impossible.
Back in that house, when I got that call and rage tore through me—my wolf tried to take over. I could feel him clawing at my skin, wanting desperately to take revenge.
I had to slam him down, force the shift back so hard it felt like drowning my wolf in ice. I only go that extreme when I'm about to lose control, and it leaves me numb for hours.
But she brought me back—her emotions crashed into me through the bond, all that warmth and fear.Fuck, she was scared for me, not of me.She pulled me right out of that frozen place faster than I've ever managed on my own.
I look at her again.
"I want to know everything," she starts, still sounding breathless.
My gaze drops to her mouth before I can stop myself.
Her lips are still so damn alluring that I have to shift my focus back to her eyes just to concentrate on anything else. But that doesn't help either.Those eyes are doing things to me too.
She snaps her fingers in front of my face.
"Concentrate."
"Right, sorry."
"First, I want to know exactly what's happening between us."
Should have seen that coming.
"Don't look at me like that —I know I'm not imagining things."She starts pacing back and forth. "I also know that the other wolf noticed something too. I know that we're somehow connected, that I can actually feel your emotions running through my body."
Her voice gets louder, sounding more frustrated as she keeps pacing. "I feel this longing to not only be with you, but just the thought of leaving you makes me sad and act all weird. And I'm not normally this weird."
She stops directly in front of me, takes a deep breath, like she's gathering courage for what comes next. "And I don't even know your name, but when you tell me I can always come to you, that's all I want to do."
She goes quiet after rushing through all those words.
I don't say anything, just watch her put the pieces together.
I can see exactly when the realization hits her face.
"No." Her face goes pale, but there's something in her eyes.
"Yes," I say.
"That's a myth."
"I thought so too."
"It's not real—it's just a story they tell about wolves. There's never, ever any mention of it being real. And it can't be because I'm..."
"Because you're human," I finish her sentence.
I run a hand through my hair. "I thought so too, but then my eyes shifted colors. It's rumored that's what happens when the mating bond develops between two people and they... well, mate."
"Mate." She repeats the word, her eyes dropping to my shoes.
"I couldn't tell you before because I thought it wouldn't happen. Well, I don't really understand how it works, but I thought if I just didn't act on it, it wouldn't... it wouldn't snap into place like this. I didn't really calculate the fact that..."
"That what?"
"That you'd want me too."
Her cheeks redden at my words.
"Is that what happened?" Her voice gets softer, more vulnerable. She's staring at me with those wide eyes, waiting for an answer I'm not sure I want to give her.
"Yes. I can only describe it as you opening up to it, and now..."
"Now what?" She bites her lip, looking so damn innocent but brave at the same time.
Makes me want to kiss that lip she's biting, trace it with my tongue until she makes those soft sounds again.
I shake my head. Focus.
"Well, if we can believe the rumors—and so far they've all come true—it means we're bonded."I watch her face. "For life, Communicator."