I could see the cracks in her composure. Something told me that I had to break through now before she had a chance to shore up her defenses.
“When you’re touching me, you call me Ian,” I murmured.
This brought her eyes to mine. “You hate it when people use your first name.”
I inched closer. “I do.” Brushing the hair back from her face, I leaned closer. “Except when the person is you.”
She stood perfectly still as I took another step forward, close enough that her hand was sandwiched between our chests, her palm still pressed to my heart.
Chloe licked her bottom lip but didn’t take her eyes from mine. “You love me?” she asked.
I nodded, lowering my head so my cheek brushed hers. “I do.”
“But you didn’t want another mate—” she began.
I sensed the tension creeping back into her body. “I changed my mind,” I interrupted. “But only if it’s you.”
Her body shook against mine, as though she were fighting the urge to run or draw closer. I couldn’t tell which. “But Brayden’s mark—”
Once again, I stopped her. “Is gone. Finn removed all traces. I can’t smell him on you any longer. Or me.” I ran the tip of my nose down her neck and felt her tremble again. “But I would like to change the last part.”
“Lachlan,” she began.
I kissed her then, not a gentle touch of my lips to hers, but a merging of mouths full of longing. My tongue slid into her mouth and she responded. Her fingernails dug into my chest and her other hand lifted to my shoulder, clutching hard.
The more I kissed her, the more she gave me. Chloe’s body softened against mine, allowing me to gather her closer. I lifted her off her feet, still kissing her as her legs wound around my hips.
Somehow I managed to carry her back to the cabin without walking into a tree or falling into a hole. I barely noticed the steps as I took them two at a time. The screen door banged against the wall as I fought to open the interior door, and then we were inside the cool, shadowed room.
Without breaking the kiss, I moved straight to the bed and laid her down on the mattress.
Only when my body pinned hers did I lift my mouth. The pink was back in her cheeks and her eyes sparkled in the familiar way I’d grown to love.
“Please don’t make me live without you, Chloe MacArthur,” I pleaded. “I’m begging you.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chloe
Ilooked upat Lachlan’s beloved face, so sincere, and raised my hand, tracing his cheekbone with the tips of my fingers.
His eyes were so blue and warm. He was looking at me as if I were the only other person in the world.
“What if you regret it?” I asked him, forcing myself to voice my deepest fears. “It’s forever, Lach. You’ll never be free of me.”
His eyes closed at my words, as though they hurt him. When he lifted his lashes, my breath caught at the raw emotion in his gaze.
“There is nothing to regret, Chloe. Not unless you don’t want me.”
My throat constricted at his words. Of course I wanted him. I wanted to hold on to him and never let him go.
“I—” I stopped and licked my lips, gathering my thoughts. “I do want you,” I whispered. “I have since…” I trailed off.
“Since when?” he pressed.
“Since I realized you were my mate,” I replied, so softly that I was surprised he could hear me.
“When did you know?” he asked, smoothing back the strands of hair that had come loose from my ponytail.
