“Okay, okay,” she breathed out as her small hands fisted his shirt.Callon released her hands, but she didn’t let go of him, which he liked.A lot.He ran his hands up and down her biceps hoping he could keep her calm.“This is happening.I mean, what other explanation is there?Those aren’t contacts, are they?”She lifted up on her toes to get closer and Callon obliged by leaning down.She smelled incredible, all warm and inviting, calling to his lion to nuzzle against her.
“And those,” she released one of her hands and lifted it up, poking at his lip, pushing it up to look at his canines.“Those aren’t veneers.They’re actually yours.”Lola tugged at it and tried to move it.Callon forced himself not to laugh.
“And this,” she reached up and ran her fingers through his hair.He couldn’t have stopped the purr that rattled his chest even if his life depended on it.The intimacy of having her practically pet him was a heady sensation.“I watched it grow and thicken and it looks very much like a lion’s mane.Even the individual strands are thicker than human hair.”She continued to run her fingers through the strands, and even gave it several tugs, which had his beast growling with the need to pounce.That probably wouldn’t go over well.
“Lola,” he said her name through clenched teeth as he attempted to reign in his lion.“I need you to stop petting me.”
“I’m not pet—” her hand froze at the same time her words did.Then she lowered it.“My bad.I totally was.That probably felt violating, but to be fair, you’ve violated a lot of my boundaries.”
He smiled at her and it was all teeth.“You can violate me any time you’d like, but I’m pretty sure you’re not ready for that next step in our relationship.”
“Umm, what?”she blurted, and started to pull away, but he quickly snatched the hand still fisting his shirt.“Relationship?”
“Did you not hear the part where I said that you're mine and I’m yours,” he asked, leaning closer.“Literally all of me is yours.”
Lola frowned.“Buuut, that doesn’t mean I’m yours.”
“Sorry, Beautiful, but it absolutely does.”Callon noticed her phone on the ground.Neither one of them had realized she’d dropped it.He noticed eighteen minutes had passed.“You have to get home or your friends are going to send someone to kill me.”He smirked.
“Would you hurt them if they did?”The question was a challenge.
“I will never hurt someone you care about,” he paused as the smile left his face.“Unless they try to hurt you or take you from me.”
“Mm-kay,” she patted his chest with her free hand, “you’re being weird again, and yes, I need to get home.”
He released her hand and leaned down to grab her phone.As she tried to take it, Callon held on.“I’m going to walk you home, then I’m going to guard your apartment.This is non-negotiable.There is still so much you need to know, Lola.But I think maybe tonight you’ve had enough.”Callon had not.He’d never get enough of her.He would crave her for the rest of his existence.Now that she knew what he was, he didn’t want to be separated from her, not even by a wall.He felt his beast's annoyance.It was interesting to feel more of the animal now he’d met his mate.He didn’t understand why her tattoo was an exact match to his.He didn’t know why their situation was different, but he sure as hell wasn’t complaining.Yes, she was human, but she was remarkable, and she washis.The bond between his animal soul and human soul would merge as his ability to shift took root.More and more, they would become one.His lion was annoyed by human dating customs.They belonged to each other.Their souls paired.His lion thought that was enough and the rest of their relationship– the getting to know one another part– would come as they lived their life together.
“Alright then,” she said curtly.“You may walk me home and you will talk as you do.”He released her phone and watched as she swiped the screen and began to text.The top of the screen were Katy and Maddie’s names.She texted: ‘I’m almost home.He hasn’t abducted me.Don’t send in the kill squad.’
Callon snorted.“Kill squad?”He walked back to the backpack she’d abandoned and forgotten, snatched it up and slung it over one shoulder.Then returned to her side.
“Shut it, Puss ‘n Boots,” she huffed.“You don’t get to tease me considering the bomb you just dropped on me.You’ve spent the last few weeks freaking me the hell out with your intense gaze constantly on my back.You drop two stories to the ground and make me think you’re falling to your death, then you flirt with me and make me think I have Stockholm Syndrome, then you tell me you want to get to know my friend–”
He glanced at her as they walked side by side.Her tone of voice suddenly sharp.“Jealousy becomes you.”He liked that she felt possessive of him.
“I’m not jealous,” she said quickly.“I mean, maybe a little.”Then threw up her hands.“I don’t know what I am other than possibly losing my mind.Shifters– or beastwalkers– whatever you called yourself.Callon, really?Do you know how that sounds?”
“Considering you’ve told me I’m crazy more than a dozen times, I’d say yes, you’ve made it perfectly clear how it sounds.”He let out a deep breath.“But no matter how unbelievable it sounds, that doesn’t make it untrue.”
As they walked he fought the urge to reach over and grab her hand.He wanted to touch her, but forced himself to behave.“Do you think you can get a couple of days off from work?”
She glanced at him, her brow worried.“Why?”
Unable to stop, he lifted his hand and brushed her strawberry-blonde hair from her face, letting his fingers trace over her cheek.He loved her two-toned skin.Loved even more that she didn’t shy away from his touch.“Because I have much to tell you and show you.”
She seemed to think about it a moment, chewing on her bottom lip.Finally, she nodded.“I’ll send Sal a text.Although, that means Antonio will probably show up at my house wanting to know where I am.I’ve been avoiding him as much as I can.”She seemed to be talking more to herself than Callon, which he didn’t like.He wanted her to share and confide in him.
“He has a death wish,” Callon said, feeling his anger rise.“He takes too many liberties with you.”
“So, that was you snarling the day he walked me home?”She smirked at him.
“He touched you, with his lips,” Callon snapped.“He was lucky I didn’t follow him after he left you.”
“Whoa,” she breathed out.“You’re eyes are doing some seriously non-human things, and your face keeps shimmering.For a split second, I see a lion and then your face is back.”Her lips turned up in a small smile.“That makes my vitiligo seem downright boring.”
“Your vitiligo isn’t what makes you interesting, though it is a part of what makes you who you are,” Callon said, trying to get his words to convey what he felt when he looked at her.“This,” he ran a finger down her exposed arm, “makes you unique.It draws the eye, and for some, yes, it’s because they think it looks strange.But then for others,” he continued trailing his hand down until he reached her palm.He entwined their fingers and then lifted it to his mouth, “like me, it makes you stunning.”He watched her cheeks bloom, causing her flesh to be two different soft shades of red.He pressed a gentle kiss to the back of her hand and pulled her to a stop as she stared up at him.Her mouth having fallen open a bit.
“As promised,” he motioned behind her.“I’ve delivered you home and answered your questions.
