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“Would you like a tour?” At my hesitation, he added, “Of the grounds?”
I was a little frozen in that moment, my mind totally heightened yet relaxing because he was asking something as mundane as giving me a tour of his place. But was it really mundane? The way he asked it, the inclination of his voice, led me to believe my answer was pretty damn important. And I realized… he was holding his breath as he waited for me to respond.
I licked my lips and knew I should feel some semblance of uneasiness, right? I mean, I didn't know this man, and I really shouldn’t be contemplating letting him show me around. For all I knew, he had prisoners chained up medieval style in the depths of his massive home.
Get a grip.
“I don’t have a lot of time. I’m supposed to be heading to the market for some things but got turned around, which is how I stumbled upon your home.” I looked around, knowing I was rambling, but I was really damn nervous. “And I need to get there and return to Dobravina before it gets dark.”
He said nothing, just smiled in a sexy aristocratic way and held his arm out for me to take, as if he came from another time.
And what do you know… I found myself slipping my arm through his as if it was the most natural thing in the whole world, like I hadn’t just made a shitload of excuses on why I couldn’t walk around his property with him.
Just like that, I let this sexy-as-sin male—not just a man, but very much male—walk me around his property, knowing there had to be something wrong with me to want this so. Damn. Much.
14
Ren
I’d shown her the exterior of the property and wanted to show her the inside, but in due time, I told myself. Little steps to get her used to me, to my presence. Things would move quickly once she was mine, and I wanted her to come to terms with all of this in her own way.
“Thank you for showing me around. It’s all so gorgeous.” She glanced over her shoulder at the estate again, this wistful expression on her face. “I do have to go though. Someone is waiting for me to bring back supplies they need.”
“Please.” I gestured for her to go ahead of me. “Let me take you there. It’s just a short walk through my property to the next town over, and I can’t in good conscience let you travel the woods alone.”
Because I have to be with you. I can’t leave you. It physically pains me.
She gave me the prettiest smile, and just as she nodded and was about to step onto the trail, the deep, rumbling roar of my brother gone mad sliced through the stone, as if shaking the very stone of the manor.
Mikalina whipped around to stare at the estate, her eyes wide, the scent of her fear coming through sharply.
“It’s nothing,” I said low, my Lycan rising up at the scent of her fear. My inner animal wanted to protect her, even though I knew what the “threat” was. “Wild animals litter the forest surrounding the estate. They won’t dare come close.” Because one is already inside the manor. One is deep inside me. “After you, sweetling.”
She didn’t comment on the endearment, probably still too shocked by what she’d heard.
But the farther we walked from the manor, the more her fear abased and her curiosity of her surroundings—and me—intensified.
I couldn’t keep my eyes off her. The way the sun streamed through the branches and hit her dark-brown hair, showing me the golden-red highlights. The way the breeze picked up every once in a while, teasing those strands, and sent the most luscious scent up to my nose had every part of my body tightening.
I was drawn to her, her body every single thing I could’ve ever wanted. It was like she was plucked for my very fantasies, no part of her undesirable to me. I meant it when I said she was perfect.
“Your house is gorgeous,” she said again, and I liked that she kept mentioning it. It made me proud and had my chest puffing up at the fact that my mate was pleased with our home.
And it was ours.
She might not know it yet, but she would. Very soon.
“It’s been in my family for generations.” I left out the part that I’d been the one to build it centuries ago... in preparation for when I finally found her. I was pretty sure that little bit of information would probably shock the hell out of her.
We were silent for a few more steps, but I could’ve stayed like this forever.
Both of us quiet.
Both of us speaking.
Or hell, just listening to her talk was enough for me to be happy. It didn’t matter what we were doing as long as she was with me.
