“Why?” he asks, “Do you not think I’ll make you a good mate?”
I have some explaining to do
“What?”
I turn around; Declan looks hurt. His brow is furrowed and his lips are turned down into the faintest hint of a frown.
“Why would you say that?” I tip his chin up until he meets my eyes.
“You just said it. You didn’t want me like this,” he pouts.
“No.” I shake my head and grab him by the arms. “That’s not what I meant at all. I meant I didn’t want to do it without asking. I wanted you to want it, and I took that choice away from you.”
I let go of his arms and brush past him, returning to the bed. I’m really getting tired. I can tell that just on the other side of my curtains the sun is coming up, and not only does that make me tired, but the fact that Declan probably drank half of my blood has also added some considerable strain on my nervous system.
“Jesus, you weren’t kidding.”
“About what?”
“How fucking broody you are.” Declan sits beside me on the bed and nuzzles into my neck, pushing me onto my back and licking the underside of my jaw.
I raise my hands to swat him away, but he nibbles at my chin and I curl my fingers around his waist instead, pulling him closer to me. He groans and slides his nose toward my ear, where he takes my lobe into his mouth and sucks ever so gently.
“I killed you,” I remind him.
“No.” He nips me a little harder than necessary and rears back so he can look at me. “You made me live forever. I mean, that’s what this is all about, isn’t it?”
He seems entirely too well adjusted.
“That’s not what it’s about. It’s a symptom.”
He rolls his eyes and kisses me. I’m relieved he tastes the same as he did when he was human, so I open to him and let him lick into my mouth until he’s gyrating on top of me like I’m a carnival ride.
“You’re going to be extremely suggestible to sexual activities,” I whisper against his lips and he smiles.
“You’re telling me.”
“But it’s important we rest. I need it, and you need it more.”
“I’m not tired,” he whines, “I napped earlier anyway.”
He sounds so much like me it’s crazy. Henry is going to lose his shit with two of me here. The idea amuses me, and I kiss Declan again.
“I know, but I promise you need this. There’s a lot we need to talk about so you really understand.”
Declan rolls off of me and onto his side, pulling my arm over him so he’s the little spoon. I tug him backward and our bodies align so perfectly a spark of contentment flares through me.
I feel different than I did before him, and I know my parents were right. They’re going to say they told me so, but if this is what having a mate feels like, then I’ve been stupid to put it off. But I don’t know if this is the mate bond, or if it’s just Declan, so maybe it’s better I waited.
“I’m glad you did,” he whispers.
“What?”
“You said you didn’t know if it was me or the bond, so you’re glad you waited until me.”
“I didn’t say that.”
He looks over his shoulder at me. “You didn’t?”
