My smile widened. “I can.”
And just like that we had found our place. Gavin placed a small kiss on my lips before turning to tinker in the kitchen. The fridge was fully stocked, the pantry too, and we were both starved from the long drive. I went in search of the four bedrooms and found that they were all empty except for two. One was plain with just a guest bed and no other furnishings. The other had my entire bedroom furniture, clothes, pictures and everything moved into it.Dad. I hoped in the morning we could find him and I wouldn’t have this awful feeling in my chest any longer.
After showering off the grime from the trip, I put on short sleep shorts and a Tool band t-shirt.
Turning the corner, I saw Gavin had set the table. A huge steaming bowl of pasta sat in the center with the wildflowers and two glasses of water. Smiling, I walked over to pull out a chair, Gavin looked up from the kitchen where he was tossing a salad and his eyes glowed yellow.
When he spoke his voice was gruff. “Okay, honestly, I wasn’t sure if you were my mate but now I’m one hundred percent certain. I love Tool.”
I pulled on my t-shirt and smiled. “I’m pretty sure mates mean same taste in music, in the werewolf dictionary.”
He grinned, bringing over the bowl of salad and joining me at the table. I dished out a huge helping of pasta and salad. Gavin looked a little lost, staring at his plate of food. I probed his feelings with the matebond and I could see he was struggling with anxiety over this new life … and guilt. Why so much guilt? Oh God, it was eating at him. I could feel it.
I knew from experience that it was easier to get a serious conversation started when talking through the pack bond. Somethings were just harder to say out loud. So even though I was starving, I set down my fork and reached for his hand.
‘Tell me what’s bothering you,’I prompted him.
His eyes flicked up to meet mine. They were the color of mint leaves being ignited with lightning. His wolf was raging.
‘You’re my mate. I’m supposed to protect you! Instead, I stole your wolf and let you go out into the woods alone, unarmed and that Skin Walker found you.’
Oh shit. This again. “He didn’t touch me,” I assured him, although that technically wasn’t true, he bit a huge ass hole in me but he didn’t touch me inthatway.
“But he could have!” He raged, banging the table with his free hand. I squeezed his other hand tight.
“Life can be complicated. Shit happens. Yes, you stole my wolf. Yes, you’re the Matefinder now. But I’m a bad-ass huge bear and I’m a Light Keeper. I stole things from you too. We just need to accept it and move on.” I fully opened my feelings to him through the matebond so he could feel that I wasn’t just saying this. It was true and I cared so much for him, it didn’t matter to me.
He let out the breath he was holding, his eyes losing the lightning and I could see that my words settled him. “I would never forgive myself if something happened to you.”
I nodded and tried to suppress my smile. It was sweet, that he thought he could protect me better than I could protect myself. He grew up in the human world, had been a wolf only a few days. Granted he did have some martial arts skills, but I was hardly a damsel in distress.
Letting go of his hand, I shoved a bite of pasta in my mouth. “Mmm,” I groaned.
Looking up, he gave me a look that could cut glass. I could see that he was pleased with my food whore moaning. I smiled. Guys. So easy.
After scarfing our meal, and damn, could my man cook, I took the plates to the kitchen to wash while he showered. After cleaning up, I realized the exhaustion of the past few days was catching up with me. I shuffled into the hallway on the way to my bedroom just as Gavin was coming out of the bathroom.
His towel hung low on his hips, giving me a glimpse of the V-shaped muscles on his abdomen. Suddenly, I wasn’t tired. Gavin saw me looking and smiled.
“I can’t find where they put my clothes,” he admitted.
I smiled. “Clothes are overrated,” I joked.
He chuckled and I tore myself away from staring at his beautiful form to go into my bedroom. Opening the doors to my dresser, I smiled when I reached the last one.
“They’re in here!” I called out and turned to see he was right behind me.
“Oh, sorry. They’re in here,” I said softer this time.
He didn’t move, didn’t even look in the drawer. Instead, his yellow eyes were roaming my body.
‘Mate,’my bear said and I shivered as the possessive need uncoiled in my stomach.
I stood facing him as his eyes suddenly lost their yellow and he gave me a look of vulnerability.
“I don’t want to be too forward … or move too fast for you, but I’m having a hard time controlling my wolf. I mean, I can sleep in the guest room if–”
I grinned cutting him off. “Shut up and kiss me.”
