Page 57 of Remington’s Mate

She gestured to herself. “This is all I have. No wolf. Just me. I figured I didn’t get to have a mate. So I should go find happiness somewhere else, where I wouldn’t have to watch everyone else get things I can’t have.”

“I hear that.” He didn’t want to say this, but if they really might be mates, he had to get used to opening up to her. “Like me watching Colt and Callie, thinking I might never get what they have.” He pushed the words out. “It hurt so bad, I just stopped feeling anything.”

She brushed her hand lightly across the back of his. “That must have been hard for you. But you’re a shifter. There was always the possibility of a true mate for you. It’s different for me.”

Remy turned his hand to hold hers. “Your mom got one.”

“I know, but my mom is… special. She was always badass enough to be a shifter.”

Remy had to laugh at that. Jaeda pulled her hand out of his and smacked him. “Don’t laugh at me. You didn’t grow up like I did. You don’t know what it’s like, always being the weak pathetic one.”

He captured her hand again and brought it to his lips, dropping a kiss on it. “Babe, you are as badass as the deadliest shifter women I know. Kira. Jasmin. Kitty. Every time you threaten me with your knife, I get a massive hard-on.”

Jaeda laughed through her tears. “Maybe it’s just that you’re weird and kinky?”

He’d made her happier inside. He could feel it. A little ball of light expanded in his chest, like a tiny sun. “That’s a definite possibility,” he conceded. “How do you feel about handcuffs? Role playing? Spanking?”

She was still holding his hand. Very softly, she said, “Do you really think we’re mates?”

He could feel the hope blossom inside her, and he felt like his heart was breaking. “I don’t know.” He took a deep breath. “But I sure as hell hope so.”

He heard her little intake of breath, and felt her surprise and joy. “Really?”

Making her feel that special made him feel ten feet tall and badass as fuck. “Really. It would make me the winner of the mate lottery.”

She leaned her head against him. “You sure? There’s still that Picard thing to work out.”

He kissed the top of her head. “I think I can live with that. You do know all the dialogue to The Blob. That counts for a lot.”

She said, “So if we might be mates, and we’re both okay with that, then I could drag you under these covers and check your belly for tattoos?”

“As long as you’re gentle with me. I’m in a fragile state.”

“I’ll take it slow,” she whispered. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

Chapter 23

There was no worst, Remy thought. Nothing bad could ever happen again—not with Jaeda in his arms, soft and sexy and all his.

His mate. He knew it, deep inside, even if she didn’t know it yet. By the time this night was over, she would.

And he could make up for letting her get hurt by healing her body—and her heart.

He started with slow, deep kisses. Just like the very first time, he felt like he could do this for fucking ever. Tasting her, feeling her lips on his, her tongue exploring him the way he was exploring her.

Those fabulous, amazing, tantalizing curves. Finally now he could touch her everywhere. Her breasts, soft and heavy in his hands, pink nipples standing up as he sucked them gently, one after the other.

She arched her back, smiling, as he kissed her neck, her breast, her ribs.

And then the red, angry bullet wound. He ran his fingers over it, and then kissed it softly—once, twice, three times.

A tiny spark of blue fire sizzled from his lips. Some of the redness faded, and the skin softened.

It really was healing.

Jaeda’s face lit up. “You’re magic,” she whispered.

“We’re magic. Together.”