Kaleb’s eyes flutter before closing with a shaky sigh.
“I couldn’t breathe, or think, or concentrate until you were in my arms,” I explain. “You don’t understand, Kaleb. I don’t get distracted. I don’t abandon my mission. I pride myself on being one of the best trackers out there. Then, I saw you, and you were all that fucking mattered.”
My words wrap around him like praise. Kaleb whimpers, unconsciously sending lust through our bond. I growl.
I’m so fucking hard and turned on, I’m about to say screw the consequences and drop to my knees, when Cleo urgently brushes against my leg. The whole world seems to whoosh back, along with the blood to my head. Voices can be heard in the distance.
Fuck. What the hell was I thinking?
Slowly, I pull away from the hard press of Kaleb’s tempting body. He’s turned on like me, equally thick in his jeans. As soon as I see people walking by our little alcove, I use my body to shield Kaleb from them. If I had it my way, I would be the only person who ever sees Kaleb horny and lust-drunk again.
“So, to answer your question, love, I might have kissed you to help pull some of that chaotic magic from your body. But before I even knew your name was Kaleb, I was willing to risk practically everything just to hold you.”
It takes several minutes for us to compose ourselves enough to walk back to our cars. Lust still thrums through my blood, and my kraken revels in it. We’ve never felt so alive before. Unfortunately for me, if I’m not careful, I’ll end up shifting in front of Kaleb—full tentacles and all—before either of us is ready. As if understanding, Cleo brushes against my leg, head-butting me.Soon, girl. I’ll tell Kaleb what kind of shifter I am soon.A part of me is terrified that he’ll see my tentacles and run.
With all the insecurities my mother and others drilled into me throughout my life, I’m scared that I’m not good enough for my beautiful mate. I’m terrified his parents will convince him to marry into the bloodline of another powerful witch, as is the custom of witches.
I must have been unconsciously sending worry through our bond, because Kaleb gives me a questioning look before reaching for my hand and lacing our fingers together. He feels so warm and comforting.
“What’s on your mind?” Kaleb asks as soon as we make it into my car. He’s too tired to drive, probably thanks to all his magic and the emotions taking a toll on his body. We decide to take my car to his place, Kaleb insisting that this neighborhood is safe and busy enough for him to stay parked overnight.
“I’m just a little nervous,” I reply, remembering how much he appreciated my vulnerability. A trait I’ve never shown anyone before.
Kaleb leans across the center console, fingers tracing along my chin before he gently turns my head so I’m looking into his eyes. “Tell me what’s wrong, Darius.”
I sigh, leaning my head against the headrest and closing my eyes. I need to tell him the truth. My kraken nudges against my ribcage. He’s just as scared as I am, but he’s also eager to show off. “I’m nervous that this world is all so new to you. What if I show you what I am, and you’re disgusted with me?”
Kaleb blinks. “What?” he whispers. “That’s not even possible.”
“Trust me. A lot of people have rejected me. And they were all paranormal creatures themselves.”
“I don’t understand. Are you a vampire or something?” Kaleb’s brow creases with confusion.
I bark out a surprised laugh, which causes Kaleb to blush. “No, I’m not. But why did you jump to that conclusion?”
Kaleb’s blush deepens. “I don’t know. You said I might be disgusted. My brain went immediately to drinking blood.”
I grin when Kaleb accidentally projects an image of me sucking on his neck into my mind. “And does that disgust you?” I tease. “Me drinking your blood.”
He squirms in his seat, subtly trying to readjust himself. Fuck, he’s adorable. Kaleb swallows hard, the Adam’s apple in his throat bobbing. “Not entirely. It sounds kind of hot.”
Biting back a grin, I study my mate. “What if I told you I’m a shifter?”
His head snaps up. “Like a werewolf? Or a were-panther?”
I laugh at his eager tone. “Neither of those.”
“Can you shift into a bat? Or maybe a lion? Oh! What about a rat?”
Rat?My kraken rages against my ribcage, flexing his tentacles and wanting to prove just how majestic he thinks we are. “Nota rat.” I laugh, turning on the car and flipping the heater on. “I can’t actually shift into my beast. I can only partially shift.”
“A beast?” Kaleb’s eyes widen.
“No, nothing like that. It’s what we shifters call the creature that lives inside of us. Like a wolf shifter usually has a wolf spirit inside of them. Or, like you mentioned, a were-panther, might have a panther spirit. Beast is just a general term.” I hand Kaleb my phone and point at the map app. He plugs in his address as I pull out of our parking spot. Cleo is in the back, happily purring in the cat seat Kaleb grabbed from his car. She is such an interesting little familiar.
“So, you can’t shift into your beast?” he asks once we’re on the road.
“Nope. Never could.” I chew my bottom lip nervously. “Would it be okay with you if I kept my shifter side to myself for another day or two? I want to give you some time to get used to all of this. Or hell, maybe I just want to give myself enough time to be brave,” I admit.
