Her eyes widened as she released that plump lip.
“Fair warning, though. The bond between us is already strong. You can feel it growing. It will continue to do so for months before it feels like it finally levels off. Fate means for us to be together in every way, and She does not make mistakes. She has aligned our bodies to ensure we are so attracted to each other that we can’t put off the union for very long.”
Sienna bit into that lip again. Her gaze lowered to his mouth. Her heart rate increased. She started panting. That was a good sign. But he still would never rush her.
Grabbing her hips, he said, “How about I let you explore your nursery a bit. I know you probably watched me put everything together and fill the shelves with toys and games I hope will entertain you, but maybe you’d like to look around in person. Touch things. After that, I want you to take a bottle. I promise you will like the taste.”
“Yes, Sir.” She was being too agreeable. It was in her nature and upbringing. He didn’t like it, but hopefully she would lighten up soon and figure out that she was allowed to defy him. She would find herself over his knees when she did so, but that too would likely be cathartic and welcome.
Fuck, he wished he could fast-forward through this awkward stage, but it was a necessary part of life. All they could do was trudge through it.
Chapter Three
As Jayce carried her into the nursery, Sienna held her breath. She’d spent weeks trying to wrap her mind around this odd custom. No matter how many times she saw this exact room or any of the other nurseries she was acquainted with in other homes, she couldn’t wrap her head around the odd expectations.
Jayce strolled over to the rocking chair and lowered onto it before setting her on her feet in front of him. He grabbed her hands and lifted them to his lips to kiss her knuckles. It was so intimate and warmed her heart.
Even though she’d never been more nervous in her life, she felt the bond he spoke of. It was a presence between them, surrounding them, magnetically drawing her to snuggle up to him.
“I’ll let you explore, Baby girl,” he said as he released her hands.
She felt the loss and wanted to crawl up onto his lap instead, but she wouldn’t disobey his request.
“This is your playroom, Little one. Nothing is off limits to you in here. If there’s anything you don’t see that you want, let me know, and I’ll get it for you. There’s an ereader on the shelf. It’s filled with books, but all you have to do is ask, and I’ll add more.”
At the mention of an electronic reading device, she shifted her attention to the shelf. “I’ve never had an ereader.”
“Do you like to read, Little one?”
“Yes, Sir.” He’d asked her to call him Daddy, but that idea was so foreign to her that it wouldn’t slide off her tongue yet. He didn’t seem upset by it.
Daddy… How odd. A part of her wished she’d also had audio while she’d been an unsuspecting witness into the lives of everyone around them. Strangers she would eventually meet.
The thought of facing any of the other Alpha Protectors and their mates made her so nervous she was afraid she’d pee herself. Did they know she had the ability to basically spy on them? Were they angry about it? She would be.
She didn’t want to meet anyone. She would be content if she could stay here in this house for the rest of her life. Live like a hermit. She’d do almost anything not to have to face other shifters. Socializing wasn’t really her thing. It never had been.
Perhaps she’d been born an introvert, but she suspected the main reason she was so shy had nothing to do with biology and everything to do with the fact that she’d spent twenty years hiding the most important part of her identity from others.
She’d hated lying even by omission, so it had been easier to simply not talk to people. She hadn’t fit in with either the marked or the unmarked girls. She’d kept to herself, interacting with them only when it was expressly necessary.
Now that she was here, she still didn’t want to face people. No matter how nice they were. They would be frustrated from either knowing or discovering that she could spy on them. She’d give anything if she could stop the visions, but they weren’t in her control.
Stepping away from Jayce was difficult. She truly didn’t want to. But she did it because he’d asked her to. She was trembling, though. Ignoring the changing table and crib, she headed for theshelves. They were filled with toys and games she was already familiar with.
Drawn to a particular doll, she picked it up. She’d been curious about it since it had first arrived.
“I had it ordered to look like you,” Jayce said. “Amber helped me.”
“That was very sweet of her.”
“She has a power, too. Did you know that?”
Sienna turned her head toward Jayce. “No.”
“Yep. She can see better than anyone. Great distances and through walls.”
“She can?” That intrigued Sienna. “All the time?”
