AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Mine.”
His fingers caressed the back of my head.
“I’ve witnessed your courage and resolution.You fear nothing, including me.When the others still mistrusted me, you showed kindness.When you thought I needed protection, you gave compassion and allowed me to hold you in my arms.I want you, Andie, but it is your choice.”
But it wasn’t.Not really.If I said no and Molev said he was okay with that, the general wouldn’t take the rest of what Molev said seriously.Best case scenario, refusing Molev would put him at risk.Worst case, Molev would leave before we have a vaccine.I was fairly certain he wasn’t the type of person to do that.However, I also had to acknowledge he wasn’t any type of person I’d encountered before.
He withdrew his hand, jarring me from my thoughts.
“I apologize.I thought—”
“It’s fine.”I blew out a short breath.“What I mean is that I’ll go with you, Molev.I understand what you want, and I’ll go with you.”
He studied me again in that way he did.Assessing.But what?I waited patiently.
“When you look at me, what do you see, Andie?”
I took a moment to consider him, knowing what he wanted.He wanted me to see him as more than a potential cure.More than a creature with the strength surpassed by men.More than a killer of the hounds.
He wanted me to see him as a man.
And I did.I couldn’t not.But I wasn’t ready to throw myself at him just because he was physically attractive.
“Do you know why I think I never connected with anyone?”I asked.“After a while, they always wanted me to be something I’m not.To slip into a role for them.Something they had in their heads but never came out and said.And it would happen slowly over time.Little things, like, ‘oh, you want to go out again?Wouldn’t you rather stay in?’or ‘babe, why didn’t you wash my clothes too?’or ‘what’s for dinner?’I absolutely hated that last one, by the way.
“So, when I look at you, I see a very attractive man with a lot of responsibility on his shoulders.The fate of the world, really.And he’s looking for someone to fill a role, but he hasn’t really come out and said what it would be yet.So, I’m trying not to feel any attraction.Instead, I’m assessing the situation.”
His lips twitched again.“Will you tell me if I do something you don’t like?”
“I will.”
“Will you tell me if I do something you do like?”
That question surprised me a little.“Sure.I can do that too.”
“Good.”His hand cupped the back of my head again.“Your pulse jumps when I do this.Do you like it?”
“You can hear my heartbeat?”
“Faintly when we’re alone.I can see it here, too,” he said, tracing a finger down my throat.
He had to see what he was doing to me then.
“Yes.I like both things.”
His pupils, which had been vertical slits in the light, expanded for a brief second.
“Do you like when I sleep beside you?”
“Yes.”
The hold on the back of my head firmed, and a wave of heat swept through me.
“I don’t want you to fit into my life, Andie, any more than I want to fit into yours.I want us to make our own lives together.Equals.Companions.Do you understand?”
I nodded.
His gaze dipped to my mouth, and he started to lean closer.
