“I shouldn’t have used that word.” He explained that because shifters know instantly when they meet their mate, they mark one another. “It’s based on mutual recognition and trust and not done when one person resists. Sorry.”
I removed my hand from his and put both mineover my face, trying to block out what he’d said. But I couldn’t ignore what was in my heart.
“We can’t do that.” Not that I was certain whatthatwas. “It’s too soon and we know so little about one another.”
“You talk to your trees because they're your family. You’re kind and you signed a lease and saved the pack from homelessness. You are at one with this land.” He paused and I was yelling inside my head for him to continue.
“I recognize your scent and after last night, how you taste. And I never want to go another day without having you with me.”
Gods, when he put it like that, I wanted to throw myself into his arms. Maybe I should.
I grabbed him, greedy for his lips on mine and he met me, his mouth and hands as desperate as my own. When we broke apart, we were both breathing hard.
“I can’t pretend to feel different than I do.” Roscoe peppered kisses along my jaw. “But I will wait for you.”
He nibbled the soft part of my ear and it took all my strength to not rip his clothes off. “But I have to be honest.”
Damn. There was more. What else could there be?
“Before this goes any further, I should explain something.”
He didn’t have a wonky dick ‘cause I’d seen it so itwasn’t that. Perhaps he had a life-altering disease. If so, I’d be there for him.
“When we are with our mates, even if we haven’t marked them, there are consequences.”
Oh shit. That council he talked about. Did I have to appear before them and agree to love him forever? Maybe they didn’t want a human to be with a shifter? They’d have to fight me on that issue because the more Roscoe spoke, the more I fell for him.
“Go on.”
“You could get pregnant the first time we're together. The chances are high.” Roscoe watched me, possibly anticipating I was going to pull away.
“Pregnant,” I repeated. My mind reeled. A minute ago I was saying we were going too fast and now he was talking babies.
“Kiss me,” I said. Did I just say that? I did and right now, I didn’t give a damn about any consequences.
He captured my mouth with his and I responded. The pent up frustration, confusion and… I couldn’t find a word for the emotion taking hold of me. Love? Was that what it was?
“We should think about this,” Roscoe spoke into my mouth as his hands slipped under my PJ top. “The pregnancy risk?—”
“I’m tired of thinking. No more.”
“Reed, if we do this?—”
“I’m sure about you and whatever happens next.”
He carried me toward the stairs, pausing every few steps to kiss me.
“Now it’s my turn to tell you something.”
He pulled back, his eyes studying mine.
“This mate bond and whatever happens next, I’m choosing this. I'm choosing you. Not because the universe decreed it but because I want to.”
“One more thing.” He kissed the base of my throat. “I’m the pack Alpha and if we mate, you’ll be the Alpha Omega.”
EIGHT
ROSCOE
