But claiming? That still had to happen. The clock was ticking. Time was running out for me not to go moon mad. I could feel the chaotic energy simmering within me. The animal warring with the man. I was hot and agitated. On edge. Like I had too much energy running through my body for my skin to contain.
She stood and pulled on her clothes. For a moment, I lay on the bed to watch because there was nothing more beautiful in this world than my mate. Also, because I needed to calm my wolf, who freaked out just because she climbed off of me. After what she just did to me, I could’ve been sated but no.
This was getting to be a problem. She might have protected herself by tying me up, letting me forget about possibly harming her. But it was back now with a vengeance. I would never forgive myself if I ended up losing control and putting her in danger like I promised would never happen. Or marking her before she was ready. I forced him back down.
I rolled to get up and pulled on a pair of sweats. “You must be hungry after that.” I winked at her, and she blushed prettily. “I have sausage and eggs. I could probably figure out pancakes, too. There’s real maple syrup. And coffee. Of course, I have coffee. Or hot cocoa.”
She smiled at me, and something shifted in my chest. I wanted to make this woman happy more than I cared about my next breath. But what if I was still a danger to her? I knew my wolf would never intentionally let anything happen, but if I were protecting her, fate knew I wouldn’t be able to hold back the violence. And then I might lose her anyway.
“Eggs and sausage sound great. And if you have chocolate let’s make mochas!” She bounced a little on her feet.
Fuck, she was cute.
I started the coffee and pulled out a skillet while she opened the refrigerator and found the eggs and sausage.
Fifteen minutes later, we sat down to heaps of steaming food with mugs of coffee with milk and hot cocoa mix.
“You must think I can eat like a wolf,” Summer laughed, picking up her fork and eyeing the huge mound of eggs and sausage.
My wolf loved providing for her.
I grinned. Fuck, I didn’t know my face even knew how to smile anymore, but apparently, it remembered. “You need your energy if we’re going on a mountain hike in the snow to see the tree farm.”
She chewed her bite of food, smiling at me in a way that made my entire world crumble and rearrange itself.
Claim her. My wolf wouldn’t stop.
I forced him back down. Not. Yet. Soon.
“Which brother did you say owns the tree farm? Will I get to meet him?”
“Ace. Uh, sure. You want to?” My chest felt too tight. Like it was expanding, and my ribs couldn’t contain the energy.
“Of course, I do.”
I held still for a moment. Was it possible she was already accepting me as her mate? Wanting to meet my family was a good sign, right?
“I’ll make you a deal.”
She smiled, lifting her brows. “What deal?”
“I’ll show you the tree farm if you sing a song for me. One of your songs. Maybe an original one that you wrote?”
Summer flushed. “Well, yeah.” She let out an embarrassed laugh. “Okay. I’ll sing the whole way, if you want.”
“I want.” I held her gaze. “I want to hear every beautiful thing you wrote. Now that I know how good you are, I’m gonna make sure you don’t abandon yourself or your music for a man again.”
Tears sprang into her eyes. “Boone.” Her voice scratched.
I immediately pushed back from the table to make room and held my arm out to her. “Come here, baby.”
She surged up from the table and came to me, and I pulled her onto my lap, wrapping one arm around her waist and kissing her shoulder.
“I won’t smother you, Summer. I promise. I know I come on too strong. I’m too intense. My wolf wants to claim you, and I want to protect you, but I’m not gonna keep you to myself. I mean, if you let me have you.”
Her arms twined around my neck, and she kissed my head. She didn’t agree. Didn’t say she believed me or trusted me, but I could somehow feel that the tying up sex and this, they were a start. I was making progress. I would find out all her objections and fears and make sure I addressed them. Eventually, she’d believe she was completely safe with me.
“We might be up in the mountains here, but I would never try to keep you from the world. Just hearing you sing karaoke, and I know that you were born to be enjoyed by the masses, baby. And I know it’s probably too soon to say this, but I just want to get it all out in the open. If you think it’s too remote up here, I’ll buy or build a place in town. Your happiness is what matters to me.”
