Michah practically froze at the sight of her tears.
"Why are you crying?" he asked, startled by her sudden reaction.
The whole thing caught him completely off guard. For a mont, he genuinely thought she’d burned her tongue or sothing. Or maybe the soup wasn’t to her taste? But the tears didn’t look like those of soone offended by flavor.
No, this was sothing else entirely.
"I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry, Micah," She choked out, "I’m so sorry for hurting you."
Oh. It dawned on Micah at that mont what this was about. The conversation that he had carefully danced around in fear of rejection all over again.
"It’s alright," he said with a casual shrug, forcing a smile. "I’m cool with it."
"No!" Adele shook her head quickly. "You shouldn’t be cool with it. I was the one at fault here. I should never have done that, tried to erase the bond because I was scared of what the future with you might hold."
Micah said firmly, "And I understand. I already made peace with the fact that I’d never have a family because of what I am." He let out a humorless chuckle. "Honestly, it’s an honor that the goddess even thought to bless with a matebond. But I won’t curse you with it. I won’t bring that burden on you, or on the future of my unborn child."
The words cut her deep.
He had given up on himself.
The thought sawed through Adele’s chest and her wolf whimpered painfully inside her. Mates were ant to complete each other, yet her own actions had only fed the very belief that haunted him: unwanted. tainted. outcast.
Anger — sharp and desperate — rushed through her veins. She set the food aside on the side table and stood abruptly.
"I was wrong about you!" she cried. "I didn’t even give myself a chance to know you before judging you. I shouldn’t have imagined what a terrible fate it’d be to be mated to a demon." She paused, eyes blazing. "Half-demon," she corrected, her voice shaking with conviction.
"I should have known that there was a man in there. A man capable of fighting his demons. A man willing to overco the stereotype about him."
Adele stepped closer, her gaze locking onto his. "I know I hurt you that day. I didn’t say the rejection out loud, but my actions might as well have. I still feel the ache..." she pressed a hand to her chest, voice breaking, "...right here. It should’ve been enough to drive you away, to make you hate . And yet you stayed. What kind of mate does that to soone who still chooses to stay?"
She reached out, hesitant at first, guilt weighing on her hand, but the faint flicker of hope in his eyes gave her courage. Her fingers brushed his cheek gently, before she finally cupped his face and stroked tenderly.
"You’re beautiful, Micah," she said in awe, her voice unsteady. "Both inside and out. I was the fool not to see that. But if you’d have one more ti, I promise I won’t run away again. I’ll be the mate you deserve. What’s your problem will be my problem. You’ll be mine and I, yours. I know our journey won’t be easy, but I’m willing to stand by your side. So please... forgive ."
This ti, Adele waited with bated breath, her heart twisting in fear. Micah could still reject her, and he’d be right to. He already saw himself as a burden, and rejecting her would seem like the kindest thing he could do. But unlike him — who could live with longing — she’d suffer twice as much with her wolf.
Seconds dragged by, her pulse thundered.
Then Micah finally said, "You’ll never take those suppressor pills again?"
"Never!" Adele blurted, shaking her head rapidly. "It’ll never happen again. I swear on my life."
A grin spread across his face. "Then you’re forgiven, my mate."
Adele gasped. Overwhelming joy flooded her chest, and even her wolf yipped in celebration. Before she knew it, she leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to his lips.
She stepped back, waiting for his reaction.
Micah froze.
Adele blinked, nerves kicking in. Had she ssed up? Was it too soon? She bit her lip, flustered. "You don’t want that yet?"
Micah’s brows furrowed. "Was that a kiss or a foretaste?"
"Huh?" Adele managed.
Before she could blink again, his hand slid behind her head and he crashed his lips into hers, kissing her so deeply it stole the air from her lungs.
His lips moved with such ferocity—as if he could swallow her whole—that her legs went weak, and she had to cling to him for support. Goddess help her, her mate was devastatingly good with his mouth.
He explored the roof of her mouth, his tongue tangling and teasing hers until Adele’s thoughts dissolved into a haze of heat and dizzying sensation. Her knees wobbled, balance slipping, as she stumbled under the spell of his touch.
Micah caught her before she fell, his grip strong, possessive, and grounding. Without a word, he turned her and pinned her against the wall. The impact drew a small gasp from her throat that only seed to spur him on.
Adele’s fingers found his shoulders, having no choice but to cling onto him as if he were her lifeline. Micah’s mouth was moving against hers like he was trying to morize the taste of her. Every brush of his tongue sent shivers through her, her heart pounding so fast it hurt.
By the ti they broke apart for air, Adele was shaking, her chest heaving, and her mind completely blank. That was also when she saw his eyes, completely black, and gleaming with sothing both dangerous and divine. Her heart stuttered out.
Adele had no idea how his demon side worked, and what this ant right now, but her wolf knew him, and she felt this confidence : he wouldn’t hurt her.
So when his mouth found hers again, she surrendered.
Micah had been in control of the kiss from the start, not that she was complaining. His lips moved harder, deeper, tasting every inch of her mouth before trailing down her neck. When his lips brushed over the mate rune on her shoulder, Adele shuddered and gasped his na, her pulse quick and wild.
"Do it again," she whispered.
And he did.
Slowly, deliberately, he used the tip of his tongue to trace every curve of the mating rune, each stroke sensual enough to make her shiver.
Fuck her life.
Her fingers dug into his shoulders as her head fell back, a whimper escaping her lips. Her wolf was right at the surface now, pacing and growling with desire.
Her core throbbed painfully, and her panties were so soaked they could lt off at this point.
User Comments
0 comments from readers