I tucked an escaped piece of hair into my bun. I’d tried to make it somewhat sturdy this time, but my hair pretty much always refused to do what I wanted.
One of those gigantic hands caught my wrist, the grip secure but not tight.
Maverick took in the rings on my fingers. “Silver jewelry? Is that really necessary?”
“You already broke into my house, stole my clothes, assigned a pair of werewolves to stalk me, publicly claimed me, and bit me. Twice. So yeah, I’d say it’s necessary.” My nose twitched. “And you smell like me, which means you probably have something of mine in your pocket. I don’t want to know what.”
“I haven’t dragged you to my apartment and locked you inside yet, which is a testament to my self-control.”
“Resisting the urge to abduct meagaindoesn’t mean you have control of yourself.”
“If you understand the pull of a mate bond, it does.”
“Well, I don’t.”
“Clearly. You ignored my calls.”
“I’m not part of your pack, Mav. You can’t order me around or expect me to do whatever you want. I knew you were calling about Harper’s ex, so I ignored you.”
“Your friend was clearly covering for you so you could have a conversation without the media exploding with questions about our connection any more than it already has.”
Crap.
“What if she was?” I asked.
“I want to know why.”
I let out a long breath.
If he was going to believe me, I needed to give him something true.
“Vampires typically take mates as young as possible, so we have a consistent food source. When we’re mated, we don’t have to bite humans.”
“I’m aware.”
I wasn’t going to ask how he knew that. It probably had to do with the war, and I didn’t want the story.
“My mom wanted me mated the day I turned eighteen. Seven years ago. There are four potential matches in the city, and she can’t understand why I haven’t chosen one. I’m the only eligible bachelorette for any of them, as of a few months ago.”
“So itwasa date.”
“No. It was an offer to mate with me to take care of my current… wolf problem.”
A savage snarl tore through the room. Maverick released my wrist and stood, his fists clenching and his gigantic chest swelling as fur broke out on his arms.
Crap.
This wasn’t the plan.
I was supposed to make Maverick want me—not lose his mind and bite me again already. It would heal before I needed blood again.
“What did you say to him?” he gritted out.
“I don’t think that’s any of your business, Alpha.”
Maverick lifted me out of my chair and sat me on the edge of my desk in what felt like a heartbeat. His hands were on my face, his eyes glowing.
I was starting to think they only glowed like that when he was trying not to shift.
