Chapter Four
I was Casey’s.
He’d said so, and from the look of murder on his face, he meant it.
“It’s hurting me that you don’t see it. Feel it,” Casey continued. “Because you’re all I feel. I even agreed to the date, hoping you’d realize I was yours.”
“That was why you agreed to see Riddick?!” I gasped. “I’m the reason for his lips almost touching yours?!”
He looked smug at that. “Yes, you only have yourself to blame.”
My mind was a mess. I wanted Casey to be mine more than anything, but what if he was mistaken?
“I can’t lose you,” I whispered.
His face softened and he gingerly sat on my bed, taking my good hand in his. “You won’t ever lose me, Jamie. I am yours, remember?”
I nodded, still not entirely sure I was ready to believe him. I wanted to. Gods how I wanted to, but I knew my heart wouldn’t bear it if he was mistaken.
The door opened in a rush, Nym, Ryn, Myve, and Nazuss all made their way into the room, eyeing me with worry.
“We heard you fell,” Myve said, coming up to stand next to the bed. “Did you break your arm?” she asked, not even pausing to let me answer. “Of course you did! It’s just like when we were little and you felt the need to test just how far up your racoon could go.”
Ryn snorted. “My dad had to fly you down.”
“That was the first time you tried flying with a dragon,” Nym added fondly. I’d refused his dragon’s help, not willing to let my brother save me from the tree.
I could see Casey’s clear annoyance at us getting interrupted, even I felt their timing could’ve been better, but neither of us was about to just throw them out—
“Out,” Casey demanded, pointing to the door.
My brother and cousins eyed him with amusement and not a hint of surprise.
“You finally had enough, eh?” Ryn laughed, bumping Casey’s shoulder.
“Yes, so leave us or you’ll bear witness to our mating,” Casey threatened.
Now, my body was an aching mess. I literally couldn’t get up to any fun, but my dick didn’t seem to know that and perked up immediately at the thought of mating with Casey.
“Good for you, Casey,” Myve said, winking at him.
“Wait…” I said, glaring at my brother. “You knew! That’s why you were so angry with me!”
Nym just rolled his eyes as they left the room.
Once Casey and I were alone again, I felt a tad embarrassed and a tad hurt, too. Why hadn’t Nym just told me?
“They weren’t certain,” Casey said, stroking my hand. “I told Myve about it when you were asked out by that jerk, Hyland.”
That made me smirk. “He really was a jerk,” I agreed.
He’d also been the one who’d kissed me without my consent.
As soon as I’d told him I’d had fun, but we weren’t fated, he’d grabbed my shirt and slammed his lips down on mine so hard my teeth had ached for hours after. It had been the worst kiss of my life.
I took in a steadying breath. “If you aren’t mine,” I forced out, my voice cracking a little on the mine. “Then please stay in my life, please?”
Casey just seemed irritated at that, and before I’d caught on, he was tilting my chin up, bringing his soft lips down on mine in the gentlest of kisses. I whimpered as the scent of peaches enveloped me. I’d never smelled it before, only now realizing that Casey had such an amazing scent.
He deepened the kiss, one hand beside my head and the other still holding my chin.
I was feeling so light and floaty as his warm tongue met mine, careful and searching.
It was such an intimate kiss, filled with all the patience in the world, a slow and gentle feeling, but I’d never been more turned on.
His lips on mine felt right, amazingly so, and I kissed him back with all I could, wishing my arm was healed so I could grab him into my arms and never let him go.
I needed him closer, needed him under my skin. I felt my heart reaching out to him.
I gasped, breaking the kiss. The tug intensified and as we stared at one another, awe filled gazes locking, our bond snapped into place.
We were mates.
“I fucking told you!” Casey exclaimed, slapping at my chest and making me wince.
“Ow!” I gasped, rubbing my chest while glaring at my mate.
He rolled his eyes. “You deserved that. I had to watch you go on so many dates. You have no idea how patient I’ve been.”
I averted my gaze. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. If I’d known—”
“Sweetheart?” Casey breathed, his eyes all wet now. “You called me sweetheart.”
“Well, yeah,” I blushed. “Because you’re my sweetheart.”
“Damn you,” Casey sniffed, smiling. “I’d planned on making you suffer for a while, and then you had to go and be all cute.”
I beamed at that. “You think I’m cute?”
He nodded, smiling. “The cutest.”
Once again, the door opened and this time it was an older woman, carrying a mattress as she huffed and puffed. “Don’t mind me, I’ll just carry this whole thing by myself.”
Casey hurried over to help her, grabbing the other side and giving her a sheepish smile. “I’m sorry, I should’ve waited on you.”
“Yes, you should’ve,” she huffed. “But I can tell from your flushed cheeks that I might’ve interrupted something fun.” She waggled her brows. “That’s your punishment for leaving an old woman like me to carry this beast on my own.”
I knew my blush had only worsened and did my best to avoid any eye contact with the healer.
“I’m Janine,” she said, forcing me to meet her knowing gaze.
“Thank you for healing me, Janine,” I said, feeling a tad embarrassed. I had fallen out of a tree, something I wouldn’t be able to live down any time soon.
She waved me off. “You shifters all heal fast on your own. You just needed me to help your bones snap back correctly.” I winced at that. I’d blacked out once I hit the ground, so thankfully I hadn’t heard my arm breaking.
“And to dull the pain,” I reminded her. “I’m sure I would feel a lot worse had it not been for you.”
She smiled at that. “Compliments will get you everywhere, luv. Now, I need to get my beauty sleep, but if you need any assistance, you ring this bell and the healer here tonight, Bella, will come running. I also have the salve for your bruises, grab it before you leave tomorrow.”
“I’ll be able to leave tomorrow already?” I asked, tone hopeful.
“You sure will, luv,” she smiled. “Your arm will take about a week to heal, faster if you manage to rest. Also, absolutely no shifting until after I say so. Understood?”
I nodded.
“Good. Come see me in a week and I’ll do the last bit of healing on it.”
“I will,” I promised, already eager to get the sling and whatever hard stuff she’d wrapped around it, off.
“That’s a good boy,” she grinned. “Now, sleep well you two, and don’t get up to anything fun.” She eyed us both as she backed out of the room.