“I know.” He stepped closer, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I just... I’ve waited so long to find you. Being apart, even for a few hours...”
“I’ll come back,” she said softly.
“Tonight?” Matt asked hopefully.
Tessa nodded, a smile spreading across her face. “Tonight.”
Matt pulled her into his arms, his heart so full he thought it might burst. He buried his face in her hair, breathing in her scent, memorizing it to carry him through the hours until she returned.
And when she did return. He would convince her to stay. Forever.
Chapter Twenty-One – Tessa
She didn’t want to leave. But she had to. The last twenty-four hours had been life-changing, and she needed time to process it. Time to put things into perspective. To re-evaluate her plans.
Tessa reluctantly slipped into the shower, letting the hot water cascade over her skin. Matt had offered to join her, but she’d gently declined. She needed a moment alone with her thoughts.
As she shampooed her hair, she couldn’t stop smiling. Matt was a shifter. She was his mate. And somehow, instead of feeling terrified by these revelations, she felt... right. Complete.But was she simply being swept up in the romance of it? Only by putting some space between her and Matt would she be able to think clearly.
After drying off, she slipped back into her sundress from yesterday, smoothing the fabric over her hips. When she emerged from the bathroom and went downstairs, she found Matt waiting with a travel mug of coffee and that smile that made her heart skip.
“For the road,” he said, pressing the warm mug into her hands.
“Thank you.” She took a sip, savoring the rich flavor. Of course, he made perfect coffee too.
Matt leaned against the kitchen counter, watching her with those intense eyes that seemed to see straight through to her soul. “I wish you didn’t have to go,” he said softly.
Tessa closed the distance between them, drawn like a magnet. “I know. But I need to check on Rachel, grab some clean clothes...” She let her free hand rest on his chest, feeling his heartbeat beneath her palm. “And honestly, I need a little time to process everything.”
“Too much to bear?” His tone was light, but she caught the flicker of uncertainty in his eyes.
“No,” she said firmly, rising on tiptoes to kiss him. “Just enoughbear.”
“That makes us happy.” His arms came around her, solid and secure, and Tessa melted into him. The kiss deepened, his beard soft against her skin. When they finally broke apart, she was breathless.
“I’ll see you tonight,” she promised, reluctantly stepping back to gather her purse from the counter.
As she reached for her phone to tuck it away, the screen lit up. Three missed calls from an unknown number.
Tessa froze, her fingers hovering over the device.
“Everything all right?” Matt asked, moving closer.
“Yeah,” she nodded, picking up the phone. “Just a handful of missed calls.” Her thumb swiped across the screen. “Oh, and a text.” She tapped the screen and read the text. Then read it again.
Matt was at her side instantly. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes,” she looked up at him, her voice barely above a whisper. “It’s a message from a publisher I sent some preliminary sketches to, along with an outline of my project.”
“Good news or bad?” Matt’s eyes searched her face.
Her lips curved into a smile she didn’t entirely feel. “Good news. They want me to call them and set up an interview. They want me to be their in-house designer.”
“That’s amazing!” Matt pulled her into his arms, his enthusiasm genuine. “Tessa, that’s incredible!”
Her smile faltered. “It might not be so amazing,” she replied, pulling back to meet his gaze.
“Why?” His brows drew together in confusion.
