Page 88 of Torin

His mate?

And then the pieces start falling into place.

The strange shock the first time Torin touched me. The same thing happening again when we shook hands.

A male knows immediately.

The way he reacted when I asked whether he kissed women he wasn’t serious about.

I only kiss my mate.

And then he tried to kiss me.

Oh.

I stare down at the bottle in my hands.

Orson hadn’t been teasing me. He’d said it casually, like it was something everybody knew.

Everybody except me.

Which means Torin knows.

So why hasn’t he told me?

I take another drink, but there’s barely anything left. Apparently, I’ve drained the bottle without noticing.

I set it on the porch rail and look towards the track again. Darkness has swallowed it completely now. Even when Torin does come back, I won’t see him until he’s almost at the lodge.

And I’m still standing here waiting for him.

What am I doing?

He’s a grown man. He doesn’t need me keeping watch for him from the porch.

I let myself back into the lodge and lock the door behind me.

The house has settled for the night. The dishwasher has fallen silent, and the only light left burns above the stove. I switch it off and make my way down the hallway.

I slow as I pass Torin’s room. At the door, I draw in a breath, wishing that, like a bear, I could pick up his scent through the closed door. That sexy, spicy, exciting smell of his.

I wish I knew what he smelled like to a bear.

I shake my head and keep walking.

In the bedroom, I change into my T-shirt, climb beneath the duvet and switch off the lamp.

Moonlight spills through the gap in the curtains, silvering the floorboards.

I roll onto my side and close my eyes.

Can’t keep a bear away from his mate.

I turn onto my back.

Then onto my other side.

Sleep never comes.