My thoughts trailed off, becauseno. No, I hadnothad males who’d cared the way he had. Who’d taken the time to ensure I was safe and comfortable around him the way he had. But still, I wasn’t going to fall for him and that was that.
I gave myself a firm nod, ignoring the way he was eyeing me with concern before the engine roared to life.
CHAPTER 20
Krusk
Iglanced at where my female had her arms crossed, struggling to ignore the way her luscious breasts were pushed up at the gesture.
Donotstare at her like a common pervert. Focus on her safety.
That was the thought that snapped my gaze back to where I was going. I hadn’t been joking with her. I’d gotten this SUVrecently.I’d been learning with a smaller one. A much more uncomfortable one for me to fit in.
When I’d met her, I’d gone on the hunt immediately. It wasn’t just aboutmeany longer. It was aboutus. And our possible future younglings. There was no way we’d all fit into that tiny one.
Gabbi had insisted that she was an expert on picking what younglings enjoyed and I really couldn’t argue with her there. We’d sat together to choose customizations and she’d ensuredthat the color was acceptable, along with several additions for the backseat entertainment accessories.
I was fairly certain these were more forherbenefit than her future cousins, but I wasn’t going to complain. I’d take all the help I got.
“Do you want to put the address into the console?” I asked her, trying not to look at her or else I’d stare again. I couldn’t get over her beauty and I had no intention of indulging myself when her safety was involved.
She reached forward, the lovely arch of her back almost overwhelming my peripheral vision until I had to stare straight ahead. We weren’t moving yet—we were still in the parking garage—but she’d steal my attention and I knew it.
“Thanks for doing this,” she said, sitting back as the automatic voice robotically told me which direction I should be going. “I think I missed my train anyway.”
“No problem,” I told her, licking my lips and wondering how far I’d be able to take this selfishgood willthat I was offering her. “I… I don’t work on Sundays,” I told her, glancing over before looking straight ahead again, taking my time to move around the other vehicles. “I can take you there after you walk Ribbon.”
She adjusted herself in her seat and it was a grueling effort to not look at where her legs shifted next to me. Those legs that I would give fuckinganythingto be between.
“I’m still going to walk Ribbon?” she asked, amusement lacing her voice.
“Well,” I blustered, my brow furrowing as I scrambled for an excuse. “It would really help out my brother,” I lied, knowing that he wouldloveto go to that dog park. “He’s not very social.”
Not a lie this time.
“Oh,” she hummed, tilting her head and it was a fuckingtravestythat I wasn’t close enough to bury my face in her hair.“So it hasnothingwith you wanting to see me again?”
I clenched my jaw, tapping my fingers against the steering wheel, pondering how I was going to work my way around a direct question from my mate. After a few seconds, I knew what I had to do.
“I always want to see you,” I admitted in a low voice, taking my eyes off the road for only a second to look at her directly. “I think you know that.”
She kept looking at my profile before saying, “I don’t know what to do with that. We can befriends, Krusk, but I wasn’t messing with you or trying to lead you on. That’s all I have to offer,” she admitted in a sweet, low voice that was filled with regret.
“I’ll take whatever you give me, Zemar,” I responded in an earnest tone, reaching out to take her hand in mine, lifting it to my lips to press a kiss to her soft skin. “Anythingyou give me. And there’s no strings attached.”
“What…” she started, but trailed off before looking forward and I ran my thumb over the supple skin of the back of her hand.
Gods, I’d give anything for her to just let me take care of her. To be there for her. To hold her hand when she needs me. Please,pleaselet her accept this. Accept me.
“Why me?” she asked, instead, and I frowned, confused.
“What do you mean?” I asked, checking my blind spot twice before switching lanes. I was carrying precious cargo in this vehicle, and I wasn’t going to endanger her.
“Whyme, Krusk?” she demanded, taking her hand from mine and it sent a pang of loss through my chest. “Why are you saying you want to take whatIhave to offer?”
“How about,” I sounded out, and I couldfeelher temper flaring next to me, “we get to know each other? And then we can decide what we are?”
“We’re already friends, aren’t we?” she asked, folding her armsover those glorious breasts again. “So then you can tell me. Friends tell each other things.Who am I to you?”
