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I don’t think I’ve spoken so much so quickly before in my life. Not voluntarily, anyway. I don’t know where this sense of authority is coming from—I just know that I can’t let North keep feeling like shit about himself. Not when I see someone who’s so much more than he thinks he is.
“Others aren’t fucked up like I am,” North growls. He shakes off my hand. “It’s not the same. They can access their fae heritage. I can’t. Just look at Cain and Raven.”
“Cain and Raven would walk on hot coals barefoot if you asked them to. You ran over boulders today, North, that’s not fucking useless. You’ve been protecting me and keeping me safe. That’s not useless either.”
North turns to face me fully, glaring at me. “You think you can just come in here after knowing me for only a few days and decide you know me better than I know myself?”
“Yes,” I snap. “I’m your fated mate, right? Doesn’t that mean I should know you? Maybe you need an outsider’s perspective. Someone who isn’t blinded by their loyalty to you. Cain and Raven would never stand up to you and say these things because you’re their leader. You’re in charge.”
“So you’re going to be that person to stand up to me, huh?”
North is looming over me a little, trying to intimidate me. I have to admit, it’s kind of hot. But that doesn’t mean I’m just going to roll over and let him win this argument.
I poke him in the chest, telling myself not to get distracted by his huge damn muscles.
“Yes, you dummy. I’m going to stand up to you. I’m calling you out on your stupid, self-destructive beliefs. You think beating yourself up is going to get you anywhere? Think again.”
A stormy look passes over his face, his jaw muscles clenching. “You don’t get to waltz in here and decide what I should and shouldn’t do.”
Our voices aren’t rising, but they are getting sharper. We’re almost right in each other’s faces, our gazes locked and our teeth bared. I might not be a shifter, but I can snarl with the best of them.
“Why the fuck not?” I shoot back. “You made a huge deal about how we’re mates. So why am I not allowed to care about you? To worry about you when I see you spiraling into a shitty thought pattern? Why don’t I get to be a fucking part of your life?”
North jerks his head back as if startled. His eyes widen, and he growls at me, an expression I’ve never seen before passing over his face.
Then, faster than I can breathe, he grabs me, yanking me against him and kissing me.
CHAPTER18
North’s lips are hard and demanding on mine, and my body tenses in surprise at the suddenness of his kiss. My hands reach up to grip his shoulders automatically, holding on to keep my balance as my knees wobble a little.
He growls again, licking at the seam of my lips until I open for him, then plunging his tongue inside the moment I do. One large hand palms the back of my head, and he looms over me, angling his own head to take our kiss deeper.
I think I’ve forgotten how to breathe, but my body doesn’t seem to mind the lack of oxygen. Why would it, when it can havethis?
I haven’t kissed North since that amazing night we all spent together, when he and his brothers owned my body in ways I had never imagined possible. I haven’t kissed him since back when I still thought this thing between us was nothing but blazing sexual attraction, before I knew anything about the bond.
And fuck, I’ve missed it. I’ve missed the feeling of his lips, the taste of his skin, the way he makes me feel completelydominatedin a way that somehow turns me on instead of scaring me.
I have no problem going toe-to-toe with him when it comes to an argument, but for some reason, I don’t mind letting him take total control when it comes to this.
And he does.
He really fucking does.
Still kissing me like his life depends on it, North lets his hands roam over my body, his strong fingers squeezing and groping every bit of me. When he reaches down between us and slides his hand between my legs, cupping me there and grinding the heel of his hand against my clit, I whimper.
“Mine,” he growls, pressing harder against my clit as his fingers slide along my pussy, teasing it through the fabric of my pants.
Fuck.
I’m still not sure how to feel about this bond that took me by complete surprise, but hearing him say that word in his deep, gravelly voice sends shockwaves through me. A rush of wetness dampens my panties as my heart starts to race wildly. There are too many emotions crashing around in my chest for me to sort through all of them, and in this moment, I don’t even want to try.
I just want more of North.
More of this.
So I kiss him harder, shoving against the broad muscles of his chest as I press him back against the wall. He grunts, nipping at my bottom lip before plunging his tongue into my mouth. One large hand is still pressed between my legs, and I reach down to return the favor—but I do him one better, shoving my hand beneath the waistband of his pants and boxers so that my fingertips brush the smooth, hot skin of his cock.
