Total pages in book: 173
Estimated words: 168701 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 844(@200wpm)___ 675(@250wpm)___ 562(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 168701 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 844(@200wpm)___ 675(@250wpm)___ 562(@300wpm)
“We’ll figure it out. Okay?”
I nod. I glazed over it with Aunt Mimi and my sisters. Maybe I should’ve been more direct about my fears. But the visit was all happy and fun and I didn’t want to take the mood to someplace dark.
“I killed those two shifter bad guys, and I didn’t even mean it.”
“They deserved it.”
“I don’t want to fuck anything up. I don’t want to risk hurting you, hurting my coven and our work, harming your pack that’s being so, so fucking nice to me.”
“You won’t, baby. You won’t.”
I’m not feeling so sure.
Riley starts purring for me, knowing just what I need.
I feel myself sinking into his warm, comforting embrace and my eyes drift closed as it feels like I’m swimming through a warm, calm sea.
43
Riley
I startle awake, shaking off a dream of the angry river. I dove in, certain she was in there, sure I could pull her out. But I just kept falling.
She’s asleep beside me. I stare at her in the pre-dawn shadows, making out every feature. Listening to her breathe. Love floods me. My beautiful mate is here. Safe. Mine.
And my and Grey’s conversation with Mimi Young comes back to me.
She told us as default coven lead after her older sister’s death a few years ago, she was supposed to take on the responsibility of notifying the SCC before Erica finally revealed herself to me. They wanted to have a meeting first, before we mated. They wanted to control things, oversee my mate because of their visions of the sort of power she’d come into upon mating. Erica doesn’t know her aunt broke the rules by not telling the SCC. Our eventual union has been a topic of interest for the SCC for years, apparently.
She told us it’s likely they’re going to put sanctions on her for not cooperating and furthermore, Mimi Young doesn’t give a shit. She hasn’t discussed her niece’s new powers with her in any depth yet. She says that’s Erica’s business. She also told me she knows her niece has paid too much of a price for loving me already.
Mimi wanted to let it all play out without the council’s interference. She felt since it was none of their business, she was leaving them out of it. The family decided to send Erica to me, tell her it was time, knowing it was the right time because of the birth order. Tyson and Mason had mated, so she said she’d argue that the council didn’t need to know.
Mimi did not know Danica would reveal my mate’s scent to me that day in the back of the drycleaners. But after that, the family had a meeting and decided it was time for Erica Young to move forward with her life without further SCC involvement. Mimi wants me and Grey to step up and support her nieces if something goes wrong in that meeting.
She then dismissed me and I left her and Grey alone for another conversation. Whatever that conversation was, I have no idea, but Grey left the party shortly after with a hard look in his eyes and a glare pointed at his old man as he said his farewells.
I’m skipping my run this morning. I decided that yesterday, wanting the whole morning with my mate, in case she’s nervous. But I’m now wishing I’d taken the pack up on the late night run some of them went on last night as I’ve got pent-up energy.
I’m pondering going down to the Savage Construction office in my garage to run on my treadmill and get at least some of this energy spent.
But my mate stirs and looks at me with bright eyes and then a darker, sexually charged expression as her gaze travels over my chest. My favorite scent hits my nose. Her arousal.
I could run on the treadmill this morning. Or, I can exert my energy here since she fell asleep last night before I had a chance to fuck her.
“Ask me what time it is,” I invite.
Her brows scrunch with confusion.
“What time it is…” I repeat, giving her a loaded look. I roll my hand.
Recognition hits her eyes, and she clears her throat. “What time is it, Mr. Wolf?” Though it’s still dim in this room, I see amusement dancing in her eyes.
“Dinnertime,” I announce and then disappear under the blankets.
“I’m supposed to run first,” she breathes as my tongue spears her tight pussy.
“Next time,” I say and then drive two fingers into her while I suck her clit. Hard.
***
We watch Mitch’s rental car pull into the parking lot of the town hall. It’s Mitch with two women. This means the vampire who fought their decision didn’t come. I plainly smell that they’re both witches.
I feel my mate’s nervous energy in the passenger seat beside me. I squeeze her hand. “It’s gonna be okay, darlin’.”