Her hand was still on the door knob, not a good sign. “We’ve had fun—I mean, I’ve really enjoyed my time with you, Brakkor, but we always knew this was a temporary thing.”
“I didn’t,” I growled, stalking closer. “Kitten, this isn’t temporary to me.”
“Hunt, catch, fuck, Brakkor, remember?” She backed up until her shoulder blades hit the door. “You hunted me, you caught me?—”
I caught myself and stopped before I could reach for her, instead looming over her like the asshole I was. “This went way beyond catching and fucking, and you know that.”
She lifted her chin, and I could see her eyes were watery. “You said this was just a hookup.”
Part of me was relieved that we were finally having this conversation; that she was finally letting me in…while the other part was horrified at the thought of screwing this up badly enough to push her away.
So I forced myKteerto quiet, and I stepped back, hoping to appear calmer than I actually was. “We had an agreement at first, yeah. Up until I met you, Joss, I only everwantedhookups. When you snuck out of that hotel room, and I couldn’t get you out of my mind, I thought it was just because I was the one used to leaving.”
“Yeah, that was why,” she sniffed. “It bothered you that someone leftyoufirst.”
That’s what she was trying to do now? I shook my head.
“That’s what Ithought, but I was wrong. I couldn’t get you out of my head—myheart—because you were more than just a hookup to me.”
Unable to help myself, I reached for her again. But when she glanced away, I hesitated, wondering if she even wanted my touch, and my fingertips hovered near her cheek.
“Joss,” I rasped. “You’re myMate.”
This, my friends, was a Big Fucking Dealfor me to admit. Apparently, Jocelyn didn’t realize that, because she snorted softly.
“You don’t have to promise me anything. I slept with you willingly, and I enjoyed myself. We don’t have to pretend like there’s more to it.” Her voice caught and her eyes closed. “Pretend we have a future.”
Unable to help myself, I closed the distance between us, cupping her cheek. “Pretend? Fuck, this is as real as it gets, Kitten!You’re my Mate.”
Jocelyn swayed slightly, leaning against my hold, but her eyes stayed closed and she sounded close to tears when she said, “I get it. You want control over the situation—the power. And honestly? I don’t need that power, I just…” She made a noise like a sob. “I don’t want to get hurt again.”
Oh fuck,thisis what they meant when they talked about heartbreak? I felt like my chest was squeezing, and for once, myKteerwas silent. “Joss…I wouldneverhurt you. I would cut off my own arm before I hurt you, I would?—”
“I don’t mean physically.” She took a deep, shuddering breath and straightened, pulling away from my palm. But her gaze never rose above my chin. “You were clear what you wanted from me, Brakkor, and I don’t blame you—Ilikethat you were honest with me.” Finally, her honey-warm eyes flicked up to mine, and I saw the sincerity in them. “Really. Ilikethat you say exactly what you think, and you don’t worry about sugarcoating it. You don’t waffle or whatever, you were clear you wanted a hookup, and I appreciated that.”
How the fuck had this conversation gotten so far away from me? I wanted to grab her, pull her against me, wrap myself around her, around her scent, and assure her this wasforever. Instead, I curled my fingers into fists, my claws digging into my palms, to keep from scaring her away.
“Joss, that was weeks ago. From the moment you walked down that beach at Korrad’s wedding, I knew that’s not what I wanted.”
Her smile was sad, almost pitying, when she met my eyes again. “You told me what you wanted, and people don’t change.”
People changed all the time! It’s what made thempeople! But I shook my head and played my trump card again. “We’reMates.”
“You can call me whatever cutesy name you want, but you can’t gaslight me, Brakkor. I’ve been gaslit by the best of them.” Her tone had gone hard.
Frantically, I shook my head. “All my lights are electric! I don’t know what that means!”
She pulled the door open. “It means you’re doing one thing and telling me another, coming up with that cute new term of endearment.”
Oh gods, she was slipping away, and I still didn’t understand why. “I’m not! Joss, I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about!”
Maybe my panic convinced her because she sighed and pushed the door shut again. She didn’t remove her hand, though, so I couldn’t breathe normally.
“I know orcs call their partersMate, I’ve been around enough of them this week.” Her irritation was back. I’d rather her be angry, but irritated was better than sad. “I know it’s part of you claiming me, and that’s okay—I washappyto be claimed for a little while.”
“A little while? Mating is forever!”
“Nothingis forever. I know how guys think, Brakkor. I showed back up into your life, you knew I was a good lay, and you convinced yourself that you wanted more than just a one-night stand. That’s okay, as long as we’re honest about it.”
