I wanted to feel those big hands onallof me, to give myself over to him, to his control. To be held by him. Claimed by him.
To behis.
God, I wanted that.
Could I have it?
I stumbled into the kitchen, thinking I needed a beer of my own, and saw Brakkor follow.
When I straightened from the fridge and slammed the door, he was standing right there. I took a deep, shuddering breath, and popped the can. “I’m not his Mate,” I assured the glowering male.
“Oh, I know it.” His tone was mild as he lifted his own beer. “Not so sureyoudo.”
“I’m—I’m leaving tomorrow.” I couldn’t saygoing home,not when it felt like I was leaving a piece of myself here. “I can’t be his Mate.”
“Mates are bullshit.” Brakkor scowled down at his bottle. “Hunting. Catching. Fucking. That’s all life’s about.” Hesaluted me. “And judging from how knotted up Garrak is inside, you haven’t allowed any of that.”
I stumbled back, my hand going to the counter to maintain my balance.Hunting. Fucking.Was that what this guy thought it was all about? My hand shook too much to try to drink.
“What…” I began, trying to understand.
Garrak, where are you?
“Look, Stevie, it’s easy.” Brakkor tipped his head back, his eyes closed. I could see scars on his throat, and couldn’t tell if he was drunk or just tired. “Mating is a lie we tell ourselves to be happy. Find someone who makes you happy, and fuck her?—”
“There you are!” Korrad’s tone was scolding and a little relieved as he joined us in the kitchen.
Garrak followed, andhe… Well, he looked ready to rip someone apart.
I wondered if there was some way he’d felt my call.
Korrad was smiling a little desperately as he moved between Brakkor and me. “Sorry, Stevie. My brother was just trying to prove a point.”
“About what?” I asked in a shaky voice.
Korrad threw a glance at Garrak as Brakkor grinned at the ceiling. With his eyes shut and his scars, it didn’t look like anicegrin.
“About the possessiveness of Mates,” Korrad finally said. “He knew Garrak wouldn’t be able to stand the thought of another male in here alone with you.”
“Yeah,” drawled Brakkor. “Or maybe I’m just an asshole.”
“Get out,” Garrak growled.
The other two males glanced at him in surprise, but he was staring at me with that intense, hungry gaze.
“Get out,” he repeated, making a little slash with his palm. “Party’s over.”
Brakkor scoffed what might have been a laugh as his brother began to pull him toward the living room. Garrak stepped to the side to let them pass without dropping my gaze.
My pulse thundered against my temples, and I knew I was breathing too quickly. I wasn’t scared—oh no.
No, this was…something else.
Anticipation?
I heard the murmur of voices out in the living room—I guess they were packing up to leave—but I wasn’t going to bother dragging my attention away from the hot green light in Garrak’s eyes.
Hunt. Catch. Fuck.
