With us,his wolf suggested.
Hell no, Rafe dismissed.
Why not?
I can’t trust her. Not yet at least.
Of course you can. She’s our mate,his wolf insisted.The universe wouldn’t bring us together if it wouldn’t work.
Tell that to Damon. I’m sure he’ll give you plenty of reasons how that doesn’t always work out, specifically with his parents.
Damon’s mother had left his father, and he’d gone mad after losing her. The connection between mates wasn’t always beneficial because it could ruin a shifter’s life.
Rafe’s wolf huffed.
He returned his attention back to Mila and glanced down at the village. “I can book a room at the hotel.”
She tilted her head. “Oh, okay. That will be new.”
“Why?”
“I’ve never stayed in one before.”
“Maybe we can spend the week introducing you to new things over this side of the borderline.” His heart beat more quickly as he pictured the possibilities.
She slanted him a look with a hint of a smile on her lips. “Let’s take this one step at a time.”
After Rafe setMila up with a room for the week at the reservation desk, he brought her up in the elevator to her floor. She hesitated at first, having never ridden in one, but then relaxed.
“How does it work?” she asked.
“Machinery, electronics, solar power? I don’t know how it all comes together, but Grayson ensures we try to operate with as much green energy as possible to reduce the impact on the earth.” He gave her a lopsided grin. “See, we’re not the monsters you think we are. We do care about the land and the resources.”
She blinked at him before moving her gaze to the rising numbers of the floor levels. It amused him to see her fascination with something he never considered. Being with her in that confined space also brought keen awareness to them being alone together. Her scent concentrated, intoxicating him. He closed his eyes and let it suffuse him.
After he reopened them, he said, “It’s amazing how you live so close to me, but almost in a world away.”
“We chose a simpler lifestyle,” she replied without any judgment in her tone. “Our trips off our land are minimal. We typically just get what we need and return.”
The elevator door opened, and she gasped with surprise.
“It’s okay. This is our floor.” He offered his hand. “Come on. Your room is down this way.”
She glanced at his hand and bit her lip before accepting it. The moment their hands touched, it felt like a thousand watts of sensual electricity surged inside. His wolf moaned with satisfaction inside. Forget about the mystery of how the elevator functioned—this powerful connection was far more mystifying. Her hand felt so warm in his, so right, so perfect. Rafe was so stunned by all the enigmatic sensations inside, he was surprised he could walk.
Once they reached her door, he released her hand with reluctance. He flashed the key card before the card reader. “This is how you’ll access your room. It’s locked until you use this.” He showed her how it was done and opened the door.
“Whoa.” Her eyes widened. “Let me try.”
He closed the door and gave her the key. She swiped it in front of the reader as he had done. The lights turned green and the sound of the door unlocking followed.
She opened the door and stepped inside before turning to him with a beaming smile. “It’s like magic.”
He chuckled and followed her into the room, closing the door behind them. “Yes, in a way. For humans, technology is their magic.”
Mila examined the room, and her gaze stopped on the king-size bed in the middle of the room. His mind was swarmed by images of what the two of them could experience together. He’d kiss her while he led her backward toward the bed. He’d lay her on it and press his body on top of hers before he kissed down her body.
When she brought her gaze back to him, her cheeks were slightly flushed. “That’s quite a large bed. Do you have one like that?”
