Lily patted his arms some more and turned her head to try and make eye contact with him over her shoulder. His hold wasso tight she was worried her ribs might start snapping under the pressure.
“We know she’s your mate. No one wants to take her away from you. But you have to stop hugging her so tight,” Lonergan said. “You don’t have to let her go, just loosen your hold before Kodiak has to knock you out.”
It took another few seconds before Sailor eased his hold. He kept his arms around her and his face buried in the side of her neck, but at least she could breathe.
“Mine.”
“Yes, Sailor. Lily is your mate. But to help you keep her safe, we’re going to have to move you both to the dormitory.”
“My mate.”
When Lonergan met her wide-eyed gaze, she knew he was waiting for her to acknowledge Sailor’s claim. Rubbing one hand up and down his right forearm, she relented and accepted the intense attraction between them was more than just not having had sex in a while. Being this close to the man was doing funny things to her, but she thought she liked it.
Could she be his mate? Reaching deep down into her soul, she acknowledged that it was a distinct possibility. She just wasn’t sure what it would mean for the rest of her life.
Taking a deep breath, she gave in to the pull to the man holding her. “Yes, Sailor. I’m your mate.”
“Papa,” he demanded.
While she wasn’t sure she should agree to the mating, and being Sailor’s Little girl, she did need to get him to release her and move them to the Bratburg campus. To that end, she would agree to nearly anything. She would just have to put off the mating as long as possible.
“Yes, Papa, I’m your mate. I’m your Little girl.”
Sailor shivered at her acceptance and relaxed. He shifted her so she was straddling his thick thighs and facing him. Pushingher head to his shoulder, he wrapped his arms around her again. This time his hold made her feel safe and secure, something she’d never felt before.
“My little flower,” Sailor murmured as he stroked one hand up and down her back.
He knew he’d overreacted to her explanation of why she’d come to Bratburg but he’d been unable to stop himself. He’d hoped their mating could happen before they moved into the dormitory, but from the expression on Lonergan’s face, that wasn’t going to happen.
“Sailor, you’re going to have to release Lily and go pack your things. We should get you moved as soon as possible. Once you’re safe in the dormitory, you can spend the rest of the day snuggling and getting to know one another.”
Though he knew the director was right, he wasn’t sure he could let his mate go. Especially with the other two men in the cabin.
Taking a deep breath, he felt Lily’s scent fill his lungs and soak into his soul. He probably should have waited until after he’d mated her, but this was probably better. Without their help, it might have taken him days to learn why she’d come to Bratburg. They’d gotten it out of her in only a few minutes.
Releasing Lily and lifting her off his lap, Sailor stood and glanced around the room. Looking at Kodiak, he pointed to the kitchen. “Can you pack up what’s in the kitchen, please?”
The big polar bear shifter nodded before heading in that direction.
Then he looked at Lonergan. “Can you repack her bag? Please.”
“I’ll do it,” Lily said before Lonergan had a chance to answer.
Though he wanted to demand she come with him to the bedroom, Sailor forced himself to nod and leave her in the main room. Now that she’d agreed to be his mate, it would be hard to near a bed with her without throwing her down and consummating their mating. At least it would only take a couple minutes to toss his stuff in his own backpack.
In less than five minutes, his bag was packed, and he returned to the main room with it. He didn’t bother packing the toiletries in the bathroom. He would just pick up new ones from the supply room after they got settled in the dormitory.
“Come, little flower,” Sailor said, holding out one hand.
Without a word, Lily crossed the room to him and laid her hand in his. He shivered at the feel of her touch, his cock stiffening in seconds.
He led her out onto the porch, away from the other men. His gorilla needed to keep her away from them, even though they already had mates and were not interested in her. From what Sailor had learned over the years about shifters and wild gorillas, he would be highly volatile until their mating was completed.
A few minutes later, Kodiak and Lonergan joined them on the porch, each carrying a box full of groceries. Sailor closed and locked the door, pocketing the key. He would have to trade it with Jaxon for a key to either an apartment in the dormitory or one of the houses along the edge of the clearing where Bratburg Institute was located.
Without a word, the other two shifters began walking, disappearing down the path behind the cabin that led straight to the main campus. Sailor gave them a few minutes before he led his mate down the same path.
He kept his pace slow so Lily could easily keep up with him. They didn’t speak, and he was surprised that the silence between them felt comfortable and not strained. Twenty minutes later,they left the forest and entered the large clearing that held Bratburg and its growing population of mated shifters.
