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“Yes, I know,” she said softly.
“I would like to know, ahead of time, which you prefer, the hip or neck?”
Her eyes had been wandering around the blanket, the remainder of the food, and the stunning backdrop of the mountain, when they snapped back to him. Xander felt nervous being regarded by her and watching the wheels turn in her mind.
“Does it hurt?”
Xander shook his head.
“From what I’ve been told, no. Plus, I would never hurt you. I want it to be transcendent, as enjoyable of an experience as we can have in front of a live audience.”
Her eyes moved away from him again, and she began to look a bit dazed. He hoped he wasn’t driving her away with the myriad of details that could drain all the passion out of such an exciting act.
“I like the neck,” she said, sliding her jaw back and forth again. “I always thought neck biting was sexy anyway.” Lexi gave him a smirk, one that eased Xander’s worries.
“Let’s eat. I don’t want you to pass out on the ride back.”
They ate, and Xander told her about his childhood memories of growing up on the property. She didn’t seem to believe him when he admitted to her that he often engaged in mischief, pushing his shoulder away and cackling.
It was all very lovely, but in the back of his mind, Xander was still concerned about Maureen and Harper. Having her best friend show up and then suddenly disappear wasn’t a good look for the kingdom. But for the time being, he focused on the beauty before him, smiling and laughing like the most harmonious song he’d ever heard in his life.
FIFTEEN
LEXI
The ride through the magnificent countryside was certainly romantic. In fact, it was the most romantic activity Lexi had ever been a part of. She had rarely been the object of such affection, but despite the swelling of her heart whenever Xander regarded her, there was always a vexing doubt lurking in the back of her mind.
She knew, of course, all about the mating ritual. That was a part of being in a pack and growing up around shifters, even if she and her sisters were only half-wolves. When she was contracted to be with Xander for the sake of their lineage alliances, and financial benefits, the occurrence of the mating ceremony was heavily implied. Lexi knew it was part of the deal, so bringing it up with him didn’t fill her with apprehension.
What it did fill her with, though, was more of that poisonous doubt that simply wouldn’t fade away.
Xander’s gestures had been making her heart full and her body electric. Looking at him up close at her twenty-first birthday party had filled her with lust, but she thought she could easily disregard that. She was young, after all, and bursting with hormones that made any practical decision fuzzy.
But then came the reading room, the gentle chin tilts, the patience toward her boundaries, the ride and picnic in the perfumed wildflowers, all thefirsts. It was like a romantic storybook tale, to say the least, and she’d be lying to herself if she said it all hadn’t softened her resolve.
Despite all this, Harper and Maureen were weighing heavily on her mind. She did her best not to show it, though. She knew shifters like Xander had keen intuition about such matters. Lexi could tell, too, even with her inexperience with love, that he was smitten with her.
But was he actually falling in love with her? The deals had been so practical, so sterile, done to secure her sisters’ and her futures with a permanent binding of their kingdoms. How could he fall in love so easily with a woman he had just met?
No, she told herself, it was all about the deal. The mating wasn’t about love, even if the sex had been spellbinding … which it was. Even thinking about it made Lexi’s face flush … she was smart enough to not mistake carnal longings for soul mates.
Nevertheless, she did her best to focus on him, sitting casually in the field of purple, white, and sparkling emerald, the sky above them like scattered streaks of paint thrown across a canvas.
“I think we should get things started,” Lexi blurted. “With something like an engagement party to show the kingdom that we’re ready to take the next steps forward.”
Xander’s jaw tightened, and he took his hand from her cheek rather abruptly. He cleared his throat, looking bashful for one of the first times in their entire relationship.
“That would be suitable, I think,” he replied, playing with the grapes below them. “How about the end of the week? Is that too soon for you?”
He was so gracious and thoughtful it would be easy to fall for him. Lexi found herself tilting her head at him, grinning, forgetting all of the doubts cascading around inside her head.
“Not too soon, my darling. I think that would work wonderfully.”
Lexi felt the inclination to tell him what was rolling around in her mind. She trusted him more than she was willing to admit to herself. Talking with him was so simple and easy, but she managed to pull back out of fear that he was simply using her as a way to progress the reputation of his kingdom.
But it was hard, like trying to swallow a stone, not to give in to his gentle touches and affectionate looks. They’d only had sex a handful of times, but each time she felt herself growing closer to him, their lovemaking was like a poem she wanted to add to with every caress.
She forced the thought out of her mind as her chest began to burn with desire, changing the subject entirely.
