The lines crease near his eyes as he laughs, giving me a big grin. He rubs his hand over his mouth and down his neck. I tracked that giant hand as it went down the column of his throat, swallowing the saliva gathering in my mouth from the delicious view in front of me.God dammit… focus!!! This is important. This is not the time to get sidetracked from how hot heis.
“We most definitely have families. Usually they are pretty large with the way demons love sex, particularly fertility demons. We are quite the fertile bunch.” He winks at me when he says that, making my face and body light on fire.Pretend like his words have no effect on you.Which was nearly impossible, but I wasn’t going to admit as much. “I have a mom and a dad. I believe I have nine siblings, of which a few of them have families of their own now.”
I start laughing uncontrollably at his answer. Oh. My. Gosh. This is insane. Of course he would have a giant family, why wouldn’t he. “I apologize–” I wheezed. “I swear I’m not laughing at you–” I continue to chuckle, trying to get myself under control. “This whole thing is just crazy. And I’m not sure what I expected, but it wasn’t that.” I finally calmed down enough to catch my breath. Ireallyhope he didn’t think I was psychotic.
“Whooo–” I breathed out. “Sorry about that. I have ADHD and sometimes I have laughing fits I can’t stop. I promise I’m not psychotic.”
“In all fairness, you’re taking this all rather well, considering everything I just told you. I’m a bit surprised.” He murmured, but it sounded like it was more toward himself than if he was talking to me.
“Well, I appreciate that. Glad to know I’m not as crazy as I thought.” I brush it off, but realistically relief sweeps through me. I haven’t messed this date up too terribly,thank god.
“Do you want to head back to my truck now? It’s getting a little cold. You have goosebumps on your arms and I don’t have a jacket to wrap you up in.” the look of defeat on his face. I blush from the way he easily offered me his jacket. Ibet it would have smelled just like him; warm, earthy, and musky.
I nod my head in agreement as he takes my hand in his, lacing our fingers together. We walk in a comfortable silence on the way back to his truck. A chilly breeze ruffles my hair, making me shiver. He stops suddenly and turns toward me. “Is it okay if I hold you while I walk? It’s not as good as a jacket, but my body warmth would definitely help keep the chill at bay. My instincts are riding me hard, and I hate that you’re cold.” he posed it as a question but I can’t seem to fault his logic, some warmth right now sounded really nice.
“Sure, that sounds nice. Thank you,” I give him a warm smile as he picks me up and places me against his chest, his left arm going beneath my ass. I wrap my arms around his neck to help keep myself stable so I don’t fall.
As he continues his pace, I’m lost in thought. Ruminating on all the information he has shared. Fated mates… I was shocked to hear that demons had fated mates. I wouldn’t have expected that little tidbit. I honestly didn’t even think they had family units. With each passing moment, my brain kept going back to the fact that he had a mate out there. If he was on a date with me… Was it safe to assume that means thatI’m his fated mate?Or am I here to pass the time until he finds her? Just thinking about the latter feels like a blade to my heart. I rub my chest, hoping to dislodge the discomfort.
He clears his throat, breaking the silence. “Are you familiar with the concept of fated mates, Blair?” he asks gently.
I nod my head. “In a similar way, yes I suppose. My mother always told me I would find the one for me. That everyone has their one true love,” tears welled in my eyes, a small smile across my lips. God, my parents truly had something special.I wonder if they were fated mates? It sounds similar. “My parents had that special kind of love. When they met, it was as if something clicked between them, and they were together until the very end. I always wanted a love like theirs, one that felt like magic. If that exists.” He nods his head as he cups my face with his warm hand, wiping away the tears that are running down my cheek with his thumb.
He leans his head down, our faces mere inches apart, “magic does exist, if you know where to look.” I feel the electricity between us, sparking me to life. “Can I kiss you?” he whispered against my lips, as he gazed into my soul. I nod my head, unable to speak.
He readjusts me slightly in his arms, pressed against his chest now as he closes the distance. His warm lips caress mine, a shock running down my spine. I gasp from the sensation, he takes advantage of my open mouth, deepening the kiss and running his tongue against the ridge of mine. My hands wrap around his neck, holding me close. A groan escapes him, “fuck, you’re perfect. I’m going to keep you forever,” he whispers. Unsure whether or not he meant for me to hear that, his declaration makes my heart thunder.
He continues the onslaught of his lips against mine, one of his hands roaming along my back now. The slight pressure has me leaning into his strength and the heat radiating off him, keeping the fall chill away. A moan escapes me, his body setting mine on fire. A kiss was never like this before. I know I may be ruining the moment with him, but I have to know.
I pull back from him to create a few inches of space between us. The look of confusion and hurt dances across his features. “Did I make you feel uncomfortable or cross a boundary? I apologize if I did anything to upset you,” his tone coming outdistraught and rough.
I shake my head no, touched at the thought of his concern for my boundaries. I raise my hand and gently stroke his cheek, as I gaze into his eyes. “Can I ask you something?” I murmured.
He nods his head yes. “Of course you can, anything,” his voice cracks.
I take a deep breath. “Have you found your fated mate yet?” I see his eyes go wide at my question, catching him off guard. Oh god, this is it, I steel my nerves for the inevitable answer.
“Yes, I have,” he rasps, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat. A stab of pain and jealousy runs through me. I try to pull back, wanting to create some distance between us, unable to handle being this close to him. When I try to pull away from him, he wraps his arm tighter around me, pulling me into his orbit again.
“Why are you crying?” His voice is soft and gentle as he wipes away the tears I didn’t even know were falling.
“Why are you with me when you found your mate?” my voice breaks, as I try not to cry. “I’m not a placeholder,” I whisper, vulnerability entwined with my words.
I look at him and see the softness behind his eyes, “You aren’t a placeholder, you couldneverbe a placeholder. You’re my fated mate,” he says quietly. I stare at him while I process what he admitted to me.
“What?” I whisper, not sure if I heard him correctly.
“You, Blair. Are. My. Fated. Mate,” his tone serious and brooked no argument.
“Oh,” my cheeks flamed from how silly and stupid I was being. I assumed way too much there with his statement.
The look on his face changes to worry when I am silent fortoo long. “I am sorry to spring this on you. I meant to do it at a later time since I didn’t want to pressure you or make you think I was crazy. But you asked, and I wasn’t going to deny it or lie,” he rambles off. I rub his chest with my hand in soothing circles to calm him and myself down as well.
I give him a small smile and place my index finger over his lips, “It’s okay. Please give me a moment to process.” He nods. My mind is spinning out of control right now and going a million miles a minute.
Demons are real….
Magic is real….
