“You aren't to blame,” I grumble. “He can take it in small amounts.”
“And you?”
“Me?” I stop and face her.
“You seem….unsettled,” she whispers.
“I don’t mind being around them. Working for Heath, I’m around others all the time.” I stare at her, not liking the concern she shows freely. “I would rather be around the family than most of the humans I deal with every day. Sometimes, I would rather be alone or just with my brothers. I’ve seen the damage humans can do to others, and I don’t respect many of them.” I lift my free hand and drag my finger from her forehead to her nose. “I don’t want you to worry about catering to us.” I drop my hand.
“I think that comes with having a loving relationship,” she says.
“Loving,” I mumble.
“I mean…we aren’t there yet, right? I just want to be careful with your feelings.” She twists her hand on the side of her shirt. “Of course, we like each other. I didn’t—”
“Baby, stop.” I pinch her chin with my knuckles, pressing my thumb against her lip. “I don’t speak often, and especially to people I don’t know. It doesn’t mean that there is anything wrong. Most of the time, it’s pleasant being around the others here. Today, I would rather have you alone. I’m adjusting to the promise of a stunning woman who is my mate, and I’m going to share her with my brothers. It’s not that I don’t want it because I desperately do, but because of the possibility that you won’t accept us. We're trying to be on our best behavior, and it’s difficult. How much should we tell you about ourselves? Will itbe too much for you?” I slide my hand away. “I use distance to protect myself.”
“From what?” she asks.
“Heartbreak,” I whisper, and she gasps softly. “I don’t use the wordlove,except toward my brothers. We didn’t have a mother figure most of our lives. No one held us while we were sleeping as you just did. There were never soft touches or someone to rock us. Seeing you do that stirred up all kinds of feelings. I like you. Neither of us is ready to admit to deeper feelings. Besides my brothers, I haven’t cared about anyone, and meeting you, knowing you are meant to be mine, scares me.”
“Why?”
“You could be taken from me. You could decide we aren’t worth it, or you don’t want to be a shifter and stay with us forever. If you left,” I exhale. “I wouldn’t want to be here anymore.”
“Bane,” she breathes.
“I didn’t want to say this because I didn’t want to influence your decision or pressure you. The choice is yours.” I step close, gliding my thumb over her skin above her shirt. “I’ve been fighting like hell to stay away from you as much as possible. My control is threadbare on a good day. With you, it’s nonexistent. All I want to do is lock you in our home and never let you leave.” She licks her lips, her big, beautiful eyes locked on mine. “I want to fuck you. I was thrilled that Lawson was with you, and Remy got to watch. I didn’t want to take that away from them, but I wished I was there. I want to hear what you sound like when you come while I’m inside you, and I get hard thinking about you calling me Daddy.” I break contact and step back. “The last thing I want to do is scare you with how much I want and need you.” She blinks, and I watch her delicate neck as she swallows.
“You don’t scare me,” she says.
“Good.” I grab her hand and resume walking. “I’m commanding. I make demands and expect them to be followed. I will always get your permission beforehand. Everything we do will be consensual. I will make it pleasurable, and you will beg for more.” I grin slightly, glancing at her.
“I have no doubts,” she murmurs.
“You may not be ready to call this love,” I continue, looking forward. “But I’ve never been so close to saying it.” Her pulse speeds, and I can hear it and feel it against my wrist. “So, prepare yourself.” She stumbles, and I tighten my grip.
“Sure, okay, I’ll do that,” she rasps, and I widen my grin.
We come to a slight clearing in the trees and see Lawson sitting on a low rock at the edge of the creek. He’s looking over his shoulder, his gaze on Haven. He doesn’t smile, but his heartbeat slows, and his eyes crinkle. My brother is ready to call it love. Even though I wanted to be with Haven, I’m grateful he was the first. I’ve tried to protect him since he returned to us, and I know he needs my quiet nature to help calm his chaotic mind. Nothing has helped him as much as our mate.
“Lawson, it’s beautiful here,” Haven says, and I release her hand. She looks at me, and I nod, encouraging her to go to him. She smiles at me and continues to move closer. “I hope you don’t mind us invading your spot.” She sits in the grass beside him, her face tilted up.
“It’s not just mine.” He glides his knuckles down her cheek. “We share it.”
“I see a theme.” She smiles widely. “You guys sharing things.” Lawson laughs, and I shake my head.
“Smartass,” he says, and she lifts a shoulder. She so easily distracts him. “Did they leave?”
“No. Haven wanted to go for a walk,” I say, and ease onto the ground beside Haven, facing them.
“Do you guys ever wade in the water?” she asks, laying her head against the side of Law’s leg.
“Not in human form,” he says, threading his fingers in her hair. “It’s too shallow, but our jaguars like to walk through it.”
“What’s it like?” She wraps her arm around his leg. “Shifting into an animal?”
“Freeing. Magical,” I hum, and she twists her head to look at me. “It comes naturally to shift. It’s not painful. The worries of the outside world disappear, and we can just be one with our animal.”
