Page 104 of Moonlight & Mayhem

“That’s debatable,” he mumbled under his breath.

“You tear your stitches out all the damn time.”

“Only four times,” he defended.

“You argue with medical professionals,” she said.

“Just you,” he promised.

“You are unbelievably arrogant,” she insisted.

Mayhem smiled. “Keep going. This is getting romantic.” Moon laughed. God, he loved that sound.

She looked at him differently now. “And when I was terrified of myself, you weren't.” His smile faded. “You trusted my visions before I did.” He remembered telling her they weren't her destiny and that she could change them. “You trusted my wolf.”

“She's smarter than you,” Mayhem teased.

Moon ignored that. “You believed I could save Christmas.”

“And you did,” he reminded.

“You believed I could face Black Hollow, and you believed I was strong before I did.”

Mayhem shook his head. “No, I didn't make you strong.”

“I didn't say—” she started.

“You were already strong, Moon,” he said. His hand settled over hers. “I just noticed your strength.”

Her eyes filled again. “Damn you.”

“What?” he asked.

“You can't say things like that,” she whispered.

“Why not?” he asked.

“Because when you do, I want to kiss you.”

Mayhem smiled slowly. “Pretty sure that's allowed.” Moon's gaze dropped to his mouth, and his wolf surged. Mate. Mayhem ignored the bastard. This mattered too much to let instinct make the choice. He released Moon's hand, and she looked confused. Mayhem stepped back, and her expression changed.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Giving you room to decide what’s next,” he said.

“Why?” she asked.

“Because the night root is gone.”

Moon stared at him. “Okay.”

“You don't need to touch me anymore or stay close to me. You don't have to save me.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Mayhem.”

“I'm serious,” he insisted. He forced himself to keep going. “If you want the bond left exactly where it is, that's where it stays.” Moon's wolf flashed in her eyes, and Mayhem's nearly clawed through him. He ignored that too. “You don't owe me because I got poisoned.”

“I know,” she said.