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Placing my hand in his, Griffin nods in approval, pulling me to my feet. “I’m trying to take it slow with you, little flame,” he whispers, those deep green eyes begging me to trust him.
“Unlike the other girls in town who let you go fast?” I suddenly spit out. The thought had been sitting in the back of my mind, and I guess this is the moment my jealousy decided to lash out.
Griffin rears back as if I slapped him, and for a moment, I wonder if I did. He truly looks hurt at the accusation, and I open my mouth to apologize. He cuts me off before I can say anything, however.
“Only you, Phoenix,” he says, the look in his eyes dead serious.
I’m sure he can’t possibly mean I’m the only girl he’s ever shown any interest in. That’s ridiculous. Someone like him? Ex-military, shredded muscles, piercing eyes, dark, messy hair that frames his chiseled cheekbones and angled nose perfectly? Yeah, he’s for sure had more than a few offers.
“Only you,” he says again, holding out his hand. I automatically slip my hand in his, and Griffin smiles in approval. “Now, let’s get you back home safe and sound so you can rest up for our next date.”
I can’t help the blush creeping up my neck and spreading to my cheeks. I nod, letting Griffin lead me to the door and put my jacket on for me. He even zips me up and secures the hat he gave me yesterday on my head.
Giving me a once over, Griffin nods. I hold my hand out this time, giggling when he grabs it and laces our fingers together in the next second.
CHAPTER SIX
GRIFFIN
Walking hand in hand with my mate is almost perfect, except for the fact that we’re walkingawayfrom my cabin and nottowardit.Soon, I tell my wolf, who has been clawing at my throat all night long.
I know Phoenix saw my eyes glowing a few times, and goddamnit, I couldn’t help the growl that escaped when she sucked the frosting off my thumb. I can’t fucking wait to claim her, to feel her soft lips everywhere, to know how she tastes. I bet she’s sweeter than any of the desserts we had tonight.
"So, what brought you to Twisted Oak in the first place?" I ask though I'm not expecting a straight answer. I've tried a few different times to get my mate's story, but she's reluctant to trust me with the details. That's okay. I can be patient. I think.
After a few moments of silence, I look over at Phoenix, who is nibbling on her bottom lip. She doesn’t want to talk about her family, she doesn't want to talk about Kansas, and she doesn’t want to talk about what brought her all the way out here to start over. I don’t like any of it, but I’m that much more determined to show my mate that she’s safe with me and I can protect her from anything and everything.
Phoenix stops in her tracks, jerking me to a halt by my hand securely wrapped up in hers. Instantly, my wolf is on alert, picking up on her anxiousness and fear. I scan the streets for any sign of a threat, any looming shadows, or anything that might have spooked my woman. I’ve got nothing.
“Everything okay, little flame?” I murmur, gutted when I see the abject terror in her pale green eyes. “Phoenix,” I say softly, squeezing her hand to try and break her out of whatever prison her fear put her in.
She blinks a few times, then looks embarrassed. “Y-yeah,” she stammers. “Just thought I saw…” She trails off, not wanting to give away the reason she’s so jumpy.
I look up at the sky as if I’ll find some magical answer there, then scan my surroundings one last time, noting that we’re right in front of her building. She seems hypervigilant now that we’re in her space, and I really don’t like that she’s so afraid, like she’s expecting someone to jump out and get her at any moment.
“Let’s get you inside, okay?” I offer, nodding to her apartment. Phoenix nods, looking over her shoulder one last time before making her way to the building.
By the time we get to her apartment on the second floor, my girl is shaking so badly she can hardly walk. Her fingers fumble for her keys, and she drops them in her trembling hands before she can unlock the door.
I bend down and collect her keys, picking out the correct one and opening her door for her. Before she can scurry away and slam the door in my face, I follow her inside, taking the keys out of the door and shutting it behind us.
Leaning against the closed door, I cross my arms over my chest and give Phoenix a stern look. She knows without me having to say a single word what I’m conveying.It’s time to talk.
“I…” she starts, wringing her hands in front of her. “He…”
A snarl erupts from my core at the mention of another man, and I instantly regret my outburst. Phoenix bursts into tears, breaking my heart into a thousand little pieces. I’m next to her in a flash, wrapping up my precious mate in my arms and rocking her back and forth.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper into the top of her head as she melts into my embrace. “I didn’t mean to scare you. Please trust me, Phoenix. My little flame. I can handle your biggest, darkest secret. All I want to do is help.”
“Why?” she squeaks out, her face still buried in my chest.
How can I possibly explain fated mates right now? Is this really the time?
Instead of going into all of that detail, I simply reply, “Because it seems like you haven’t had a lot of love in your life, sweetheart. Because everyone deserves to feel safe in their own home. Because I care about you and I want to know everything about you, even the hard, scary things.”
This seems to satisfy her for now. Phoenix squeezes me in an extra tight hug, as if soaking up all of my strength, then takes a step back. She wipes the tears from her face and takes her hat and coat off before motioning toward the tiny loveseat in the corner of her studio apartment.
I sit down, taking up nearly the entire thing, and watch as Phoenix tries to decide if she wants to sit next to me or pace nervously, like she has been. I hold out my hand for her, and just like always, she takes it. I gently pull her into me, getting her settled on my lap.
