Chapter 44
Volik
Pain streaks through my chest at the sight of my mate’s tears.
“Please.” I struggle to keep the boiling power inside me contained. “Tell me what to do, and I will do it.”
Nix blinks, clearing the tears from her eyes as my own play tricks on me, making it look like her irises flash to black, then back to brown.
“Please,” I beg.
Her tears… they smell like awful feelings.
Like burnt perfume.
Like flower petals caught in flames.
Please do not ask me to leave.
I catch another poisonous drop with my thumb.
Ask me for anything, Fleur. But not to leave.
I hold my breath as she inhales.
“Stay.” She curls her fingers against my forearms. “Don’t go.”
Stay.
My throat fills with purpose.
Don’t go.
I wrap my arms around Nix and lift her to me, hugging her as tight as I dare.
Her body trembles against mine. And I let my instincts take over as I purr.
My chest vibrates. My palms heat. And I soothe my Nix.
My Only.
She tucks her face into my neck. “I’m sorry.”
A growl mingles with my steady rumble. “You will never apologize for asking me to stay.” I hold her head to me as I duck back inside. “You can ask that of me always.”
“You were going to leave and I…” Her arms tighten around my neck. “I panicked.”
I shake my head as I walk to her couch. “I was just going to get my robe. I will never leave you.”
Carefully, I lower myself to sit on her couch so she’s sitting on my lap, knees on either side of my hips.
My cock throbs at the pressure of our mate sitting on us like this. But I ignore it.
Best I can.
I stroke my hand down her pretty hair, because I do not know what else to do.
The scent of her tears still burns my nose, and if anyone else ever causes her to cry, I will kill them.
I nod to myself.
It is decided.
I press my nose to her hair and inhale. There is a hint of her shower, but her natural orchid scent overpowers all else.
Closing my eyes, I breathe in more of her.
I cannot believe I made my mate cry.
Our hearts still beat painfully at the memory. At the lingering hurt.
I cannot believe Nix cried because she thought I would leave.
I stroke my hand over her damp hair again, feeling every twist of her pretty braid.
My eyes slide open, and I watch steam follow the path of my hand.
I start back at the top of her head, moving slowly. Concentrating. Keeping the heat in my palm steady, but not too hot.
More steam rises as her hair dries.
Next time, when she’s not upset, I will run my fingers through her hair. See if I can dry it that way.
I slide my hand down her hair once more. And her body finally relaxes against mine, her trembles disappearing.
Nix loosens her arms around my neck and lifts her head from my shoulder. “I’m sorry for crying on you.”
“Nyet.” I shake my head. “I do not like your tears, Mate. But you can cry on me anytime you want.”
The corner of her mouth twitches. “Thank you.”
My chest, which had quieted, rumbles.
She takes a deep breath, and when she lets it out, the last tear—clinging to her lashes—dries. “I’m sorry—”
I open my mouth to cut her off, but Nix places her hand over my mouth.
My dick jumps. And her eyes widen.
“Ignore that,” I say from beneath her palm.
“That is hard to ignore.” She shifts her hips.
My smile is hidden by her hand, but she can feel it.
Nix shakes her head at me, but I see the small smile on her lips.
Then it drops. “I’m sorry for asking you to go this morning.” My own smile slips away. “If that… When I thought you were going to leave just now… it felt like my life was ending.”
I shake my head and try to hug her closer. “Nix—”
She presses her hand more firmly over my mouth. “Just let me. Okay?”
Swallowing, hating that she felt that way, I nod once.
“I was okay during the day.” She presses her lips together. “I was okay during the day, because I got to see you this morning. But the more time that went by… Gods, Volik, I missed you.”
She flexes her fingers against my face, and that’s the only thing that keeps me from lunging forward and licking those words out of her mouth.
My Mate missed me.
“For the past hour, I’ve been going out of my mind waiting for you. My skin felt like it was going to crawl off my body, and… I was starting to think that you’d never come back.”
A pitiful sound leaves me.
How could my mate think that?
She keeps her hand on my mouth but moves her other hand to my chest, pushing herself back enough so she can get it just right. Over my heart.
“I know. You’re here. But in the moment…
And then I saw you standing there. And you looked so…
good. And sexy.” My cock throbs, and her body shifts.
“I couldn’t figure out how to react. And then you turned to leave…
I don’t know what’s happening with us, but I just—” She swallows and drops her hand from my mouth to join her other hand on my chest. “I feel better when you’re close.
And if this morning, when I made you go…
if you felt like I did just now, then I’m really, really sorry. ”
I part my lips to tell her it’s okay. But then her mouth is there.
Against mine.
She kisses me.
Her.
My Nix.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers.
I palm the back of her head, holding her, our lips still brushing. “No more. I understood.” I kiss her. “I understand.”
Circling her arms around my neck again, she melts into me.
And I feel her give in to the bond connecting us.
I feel her stop fighting it.
And, gods. I feel something click inside me. That energy. My gravito. The swirling storm of power. It slows.
It doesn’t dim.
Doesn’t lessen.
It just… rests. Because our mate is starting to accept us.