Her gaze held mine as my thumb feathered over her cheek. The soft warmth of her skin demanded more than a simple touch. I wanted to hold her to me and keep her in my arms. Safe. Wanted. Mine. Her heart skipped another beat and her scent sweetened. My need intensified at the signs of her willingness.
“I will work every day of my life to deserve the gift you’ve given me,” I promised her.
I leaned, closing the distance between us. This time, fear didn’t cloud her gaze. She tilted her head up, welcoming me, and my hand shook as I slid my fingers into her silky hair. The need to taste her consumed me. With gentle pressure, I set my lips to hers.
My first real taste of her sweetness made my knees weak and my heart pound. She held still as I moved slightly to feel the texture of her soft, inviting lips. As much as her taste tempted me to move to her neck and end our torture, I took my time, pressing a kiss to the corner of her mouth, then her cheek, then her jaw, slowly working my way toward my goal. Her soft acceptance fed my impatience and my canines burst forth, scrapping her skin of her throat.
She tensed and I slid my hands to her arms, holding her steady.
“Everything will be fine,” I said, kissing her skin gently.
The marks from her previous bites made it difficult to find a safe place for my teeth. Bracing myself for the scent of another male on my Mate, I moved to the recently bitten side of her neck. However, her wound had been cleaned and disinfected, removing any trace of Anton’s scent. A hint of the alcohol’s sharp smell remained under her natural sweetness.
I flicked out my tongue, testing her. Her pulse jumped again, spurring the need, and I couldn’t wait any longer. Opening my mouth, I bit down. My heart squeezed painfully as my teeth broke her skin. Pleasure tingled through me. The bite wasn’t deep enough to cause her harm, just deep enough to Claim her.
With my teeth in her skin, I opened myself to her, waiting for the connection I’d so often heard about. The magical bond between a Claimed pair. I wanted to feel what she was feeling.
She grunted and pushed against my chest. Maybe it only worked when the bite was finished. I withdrew carefully, not wanting to tear her, but it wasn’t fast enough for her liking. She shoved at me again.
I pulled back and studied her. She looked angry. Could I feel her anger? I focused, searching for something in my mind that wasn’t my own.
“Well?” she asked.
There was nothing. The hopeful tightness that had banded around my chest left me. In the hollow numbness it left behind, I struggled to understand what I’d done wrong. How had it not worked? She’d picked me and had been willing. I’d brought her flowers.
“At least, now you don’t have to worry about forgetting your responsibilities to chase me,” she said before stepping away from me to face the rest. “Will you let me stay here in peace or should I move on?”
“Stay,” I said, through the pain. I couldn’t let her leave. Mate or not, she belonged here. Not only because the pull she had on me wouldn’t allow me to let her go but because she knew our secrets.
“To be clear, this means no more fighting to meet me. No more looking for ways to win my favor in hopes of a little nip. None of it. Because that was the last bite.”
“We heard you before. We understand,” I said.
“Then, thank you for letting me stay.” She turned and went back inside.
Grey walked toward me, his eyes seeing everything.
You’re not giving up, are you? he sent me. Even from the back, I could hear the way her pulse leapt for you. You’ve proven you can’t Claim her our way. So, Claim her the human way.
You mean, stay here?
Grey shrugged slightly as the door opened.
Mary walked out and took a shirt from the line. Gregory moved toward her.
Maybe Winifred’s right, Grey sent me. Maybe we need to consider changing. He looked at the building behind me. Humans are thriving with their buildings and staying in one place. Why can’t we try the same thing?
It was a good question. Was there any harm in trying? Perhaps. Staying here meant we weren’t out there, removing the humans from our land. Yet, if we built a…home for our kind here, would we still need so much of that land?
You’re right. Take a room on the bottom floor. Gregory and I will take the room next to the females. Tell Henry he should take the one on the other side of them.
We moved to the door, and a male stepped into my path.
“Where are you going?”
“Inside.”
“You had your chance.”
The reminder of my failure increased the hollow ache in my chest and my determination to try again.
“We all did. Now it’s time to try something different. She can’t live here like it is. She started changes to make it safer, more comfortable, for her. She’ll need help. If you’re willing to stay and work, take a room on the lower level.”
I stepped around him, and he growled a challenge. Uncaring, I continued toward the door. Challenges were over. There was nothing left to fight about. She’d made her point clear, and I didn’t want to waste more time. I needed to see her again. To know if the pull was still there. When she’d left, I hadn’t been paying attention.
The main room was empty. I wasn’t entirely surprised. She was good at hiding away.
Several males followed me into the room, and I knew they came because they were willing to help me make this a better place for her to live. Now, we just needed to know what making this place better meant.
“Since she’s still nervous around us, go claim a room further away from the main room then meet back here. I’ll see if she’s ready to tell us what needs to be done.”
I left the main room and took the stairs two at a time. In the hall, I slowed. The scent of her blood still lingered in the air, and the rapid flutter of her heart echoed in the hall. I frowned. Why was she afraid now?
I knocked on the door. Her pulse sped faster.
“Who is it?” Her pitch even carried her fear.
“Thomas,” I said, wishing she would just open the door. Was she still bleeding? I’d been careful not to bite too deeply.
The door flew open, and she scowled at me. My gut clenched with the pull and I felt a measure of relief. The pull was still there and she looked fine.
“I wanted to let you know that Gregory and I will be staying in the room next to yours. Henry and Paul will be in the room to your right. Several other men will be staying in the rooms downstairs. We wanted to know what we should work on next.”
“Why?”
I wasn’t entirely sure what she meant by that. Why ask her or why work on something. I figured it was likely the first because we hadn’t asked her before. Another thought hit me. Was she asking why I was telling her where we were staying?
“I thought telling you would be considerate. And we have no idea what your plans are.”
“No. I mean, why are you staying here? I thought…”
“You thought we’d leave?” I laughed. No chance of that. “Not after your pretty little speech about being different.”
“I didn’t give a speech. I said that to Gregory in the—”
“Main room where we could still hear. You said no more biting, and we agreed. That doesn’t mean we’ve given up.” Her pulse started to calm. “It means we need to figure out how to Claim you without using our teeth.”
A hint of relief shone in her light blue eyes. Could it be that she’d been afraid we would leave her?
“How many are willing to help?” she asked.
“Seven, so far,” I said.
She glanced at the window then met my gaze.
“Let’s meet in the main room after I change my shirt.”
My eyes drifted over her face, neck, then shirt. There were a few blood spots on it. That should have held my attention and made me feel guilt or remorse maybe. Instead, my gaze returned to her neck and my mark there. Mine. I just needed to figure out how to make it work.
With one last look at her, I went to look at the room Gregory and I would sleep in. The window had been repaired, but the space wasn’t anything more than an empty wooden box.
A sound drew me to the door to see Mary and Gregory walking up the steps.
“We’re in this room,” I said to him.
He nodded and turned Mary for a quick kiss before she continued to her room with a clean shirt.
“How long are we staying?” he asked, stepping in.
I moved to look out the window. The number of those lingering in the yard had thinned.
“I’m not sure. I have no urge to leave soon. Not until things are settled with Charlene. Let’s go to the main room and see how many will be staying with us.”
We found Grey and Henry peeling the skins from three rabbits while the two men I’d previously challenged, Bine and Zerek, lingered by the hand pump, looking at it curiously. Likely they’d avoided humans and human contraptions their whole lives.
“Want the skins?” Henry asked me as I approached.
“No, thanks. The fur makes me cough.”
“Me too. Give me yours,” he said to Grey. “I’ll go toss them into the woods. You can spit the meat on the fire. Winifred told me everything we feed Charlene needs to be cooked thoroughly or she’ll get sick.”
Grey nodded, and I helped him take the rabbits to the fire.
She was afraid when I went up there, I sent to Grey. But when I told her we weren’t leaving she seemed to calm down. I don’t know what to make of her.
She’s female. I don’t think you’re supposed to, he sent back with a grin.