Chapter 9
If You Could Read My Mind, Love
Braden laughed. He stroked her face. He couldn’t believe his incredible luck. Eve had chosen him. He didn’t know that he wanted a mate until she came along. Hell, he’d thought he was happy. The thought made him scoff. He’d never known happiness until now, of that he was certain. Eve waited for him to answer.
He focused his mind.You only need to think something to me, and I’ll hear you.
Eve smiled.This could get embarrassing. I plan to think a lot about how much I want your big penis inside me all the time.
He shook his head and grinned. Even her thoughts held that delicious southern drawl.First, I can’t believe you said “big penis.”Braden nuzzled Eve’s neck, sending a delicious shiver down her back.Second, I’m actually okay with having my penis inside you all the time. Although, it might get a little awkward when I introduce you to my parents and my second graders may have some questions.
“Braden!” Eve said aloud, and smacked him in the arm.
“I’m just following your lead, baby.” He flashed a wicked grin. “I’d do anything to keep you happy.”
“And you’re doing a damn fine job of it.” She kissed him hard.
His spent cock twitched with new life. He wanted to make love to Eve again, only slowly and carefully, taking his time as he savored every orgasm he could wring from her luscious body.
An enraged roar at the mouth of the cave froze Braden in place. Eve and Braden’s gaze snapped toward the noise. Tom Ellis stood in the cave mouth. He clenched his fists in fury.
“You can’t have her!” His muscles bunched and bulged as he stalked toward them.
Braden and Eve scrambled apart, and Braden put himself in front of her. Whatever Tom had planned, Braden wasn’t about to let him get to Eve.
“Tom,” Eve said, fear heavy in her voice. “Stop. Just stop.”
“I love you, Eve. Don’t you know that?” His eyes watered with grief and anger and unshed tears.
“I can’t love you like that.”
Tom pointed a shaking clawed finger at Braden. “Because of him!” His six-four frame blocked the exit. Braden wanted to shift, it would only take seconds, but the space was so small, he worried Eve would get hurt if a fight broke out. He had to figure out how to talk Tom down, or at the very least, get them out of the cave before all hell broke loose.
Eve’s voice invaded his mind.Braden, I’m scared.I’ve never seen him like this before.
I need to get us out of the cave. It’s too dangerous to have a confrontation in here.What he didn’t say was that it was too dangerous for her. Braden didn’t care about his own safety.
“Answer me, damn it!” Tom moved closer.
Braden put his hand out to keep Eve behind him
“I’m sorry, Tom, but I’m in love with Braden,” she replied.
“No. No, no, no. I didn’t go through all this, do all this, only to lose you to a goddamn school teacher.”
“You’re too late, Ellis,” Braden snarled. “We are mated. Bound by bite and blood.”
“She would already be mine if it wasn’t for you.”
Eve gasped. “No. I don’t want you that way, Tom. I never did.” Tears streamed down Eve’s face.
Tom’s muscles rippled as his bones clicked, snapped, and lengthened and his face transformed into half-beast. His voice grew low and guttural. “I’ve sacrificed too much to get you here. To be with you.”
Eve shook her head. “You’re a kind man, Tom. I can’t tell you how much your support has meant to me, but I can’t be who you want me to be. I can’t love you.”
Tom laughed, low and menacing. “You don’t even know what how much I love you. What I’ve done to have you. You think I’m going to let one more hurdle get in my way? Once I kill Braden, you’ll see. He’s weak. You need someone strong to take care of you, Eve. You need someone who can protect you from harm. I think I’ve proven over the past six months how easy it is for someone to get close to you. You need me. You will always need me.”
“Oh God.” Eve’s hand flew to her mouth in disbelief. Every message from her stalker had been signed with the line,You will always need me.
