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I could fix this. I would let her have all the control she needed to make our bond feel right to her.
It was difficult not to let my emotions show, but I forced myself to remain calm. Now was not the time to push her or make her feel trapped. I couldn’t tell her that I’d stopped acting long ago. If I told her that, she’d freeze up and distance herself even more, and I couldn’t handle that.
“Tori, are you worried I’m trying to snare you?” I ventured. “Trap you with a fake marriage?”
Tori froze.
“Because, little wolf, that’s not the case,” I continued. “Us being fated mates has nothing to do with me suggesting the fake engagement. I truly didn’t realize we were fated until well after we’d put it into play.”
“I don’t want to talk about that, Ridge,” Tori replied. “I need time to adjust. A lot keeps being thrown at me, and I feel like I’m barely keeping myself afloat. Being around you does not make any of it easier because you’re too fucking sexy to think straight.” She huffed. “How do I know my attraction to you is even real or just because of this bond? A bond I’ve never heard of, I might add, and really do not understand.”
A laugh burst out of me; I couldn’t help it. I buried my face in her neck and tickled her skin with my morning whiskers. “Trust me, little wolf, our attraction to each other is all natural.”
I nipped her teeth, then flicked my tongue over it to soothe it. Tori squirmed in my arms, fighting back her own laughter, but I eased off because this was a significant moment. As much as I didn’t want space between us, I never wanted my mate to feel pressured. I wanted her to want me as freely and happily as I did her.
Not wanting her to make any rash decisions, I decided to distract her with other important details in the hope that, given some time, she’d calm down over our relationship status. After all, there was so much that required our attention. We needed to build a reliable security team with regular patrols and figure out our defenses against the hunters. We also needed to get all the new shifters situated and some comfortable living arrangements squared away. For many, living rough wouldn’t be sustainable, especially considering the lack of access to basic hygiene facilities.
“Tori, we’re not wasting anyone’s time,” I said, my voice serious. “It’s not like we’re actively planning anything. There are more pressing matters to attend to, such as building our defenses against the hunters and helping the new shifters settle in. If anybody asks, we can say we’re taking care of priorities or something.”
I said this, even though Tori was my absolute priority, and I’d make sure we were married on the day we chose. Better yet, we’d be mated long before then. Right now, though, she needed her space. As long as she was by my side, it suited me fine.
“All right?” I told her. “Let’s focus on what needs to be done.”
“Deal,” she said after a couple of seconds, then lifted her head and pressed a gentle kiss to my lips. I savored the warmth and sweetness of her mouth on mine. I was utterly addicted to her. “Thank you.”
I kissed her several times, then moaned. “I am going to need so many more of those.” An unwelcome thought crossed my mind, and I scowled. “I’ll have to deal with the other alphas today.”
Tori’s eyes widened in curiosity. “I thought you got along with other alphas? Do I need to be worried about a fight?”
“Normally, no. We can be civil,” I admitted. “But Brett Longtail has gone out of his way to make things difficult between us since we were children. That wolf has always been a pain in the ass. It became easier as adults because I didn’t have to deal with him, but that changed with the death of his father. He’s the alpha of the Longtail Pack now. I need to work on being diplomatic around him and the other new shifters in town.”
She chuckled, amusement dancing in her eyes. “You don’t seem like the type to have an archnemesis.”
“Believe me, I didn’t think I was,” I muttered. “Sometimes, life has other plans.”
“Tell me about it,” Tori agreed, her expression turning serious again. “Speaking of unexpected situations, do shifters have a crash course or PowerPoint presentation for humans who discover the truth? Because if so, you should give it to Lola Kipling.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You talked to Lola earlier?”
“Yeah,” she confirmed. “She could use guidance from someone who knows what they’re talking about. I spoke to her as best I could, but it was more about how I understood the shock and fear of finding out about the reality of shifters, but I assured her she was safe here. I also explained why it’s important to keep it secret. She gave her word she wouldn’t say anything. I believe her.”
Tori leaned against me, her body relaxed and at ease. Watching her take on this leadership role—even if she hadn’t realized that’s what she’d done—made me prouder than she could know. I couldn’t help but smile.
“I’ll make sure to check on Lola soon,” I said. “For now, I’d prefer to stay in bed longer and hold you.”
“Sounds perfect to me,” she murmured, snuggling closer.
Lying there, with her breath soft on my neck, I knew that with Tori, I had to learn to appreciate the wins.
Chapter 5
Tori
As I stepped into the shower, I let out a contented sigh, reliving the moment I’d woken Ridge, the way he’d wrapped himself around me. The sensation of his caresses remained on my skin, his hands trailing along my body still vivid in my mind. It only made my craving for him intensify.
The scalding hot water pounded down my back, but it didn’t come close to matching the heat we’d created between us earlier. I smiled as I remembered the touch of his firm lips on mine, the possessiveness in his embrace. Even recalling the memory of his hard muscles pressed against my soft curves had me craving for more. Goddammit it, I was a goner. If Ridge hadn’t already left, I’d be tempted to go another round.
As I lathered myself, I allowed my thoughts to wander, relishing the undeniable, intense chemistry between us. A nagging worry wormed its way into my mind, quickly snapping me back to reality. Was any of this real? Was the passion between us genuine? Or was it because we were fated mates? There was no one I trusted enough to confide in, which left me even more jumbled and confused.
