“Because I have some important meetings and I need to sign off on next season’s designs. But before I leave, I have a serious question.”
“What?” Jess asked, sidling up to him and wrapping her arms around him.
“The mate bond? Why don’t we have one yet?”
Jess looked away, and Mitch became suspicious. “It will grow over time,” she replied.
Mitch blew out a breath of air. “So biting each other while making love doesn’t come into it, and neither does your shifting to cement our tie?”
“How can I shift while you’re inside me? I’d kill you,” Jess cried.
“You don’t know that!” Mitch exclaimed, picking up on Jess’s worry. He rubbed his hands up and down her arms.
Jess tried to pull away, and Mitch stopped her. “Hey, stop. Look at me. I don’t care what we have to do if I am your soulmate.”
“Oh, it wouldn’t be a problem if I turned into Ness while you’re screwing. How sexy would that be, Mitch? You inside a hulking monster?”
“Okay, honestly, I’m not into bestiality. Not a turn-on for me. But if we have handled that for a split second, then we manage,” Mitch said.
“No.”
“This isn’t just your decision. Jess, I want the mate bond. I’m your mate,” Mitch argued. He wasn’t going to let Jess get away with this.
“Do you know what happens if we mate?” Jess demanded.
“We get a bond that’s special to you and me,” Mitch replied.
“And you turn into the Loch Ness Monster, too. Mitch, I’d damn you with my shifted form. I refuse to do that,” Jess said, shaking her head.
“And if we bond, I’ll help you gain further control over Disease. While that miserable fucker won’t like that, to me, that’s a bonus.”
“But one that damns you.”
“Jess, do you love me?” Mitch demanded, his heart pounding. Were these self-doubts she was having because she didn’t love him? He wished he had not asked, as Jess hesitated.
“Shit. I’m sorry, I’ll back off. Clearly, I’m further along in the relationship than you are. I’ll get Mary to send Diar and me home, and I won’t bother you again. When you’re ready, come and find me,” Mitch exclaimed.
His babbling hid his hurt. Mitch had believed that he and Jess were reading from the same hymn sheet. Obviously, they weren’t. Mitch stepped backward, swallowing the urge to roar his pain, and moved away from Jess.
Jess made a weird noise and then launched herself at him.
Mitch caught her up, confused.
“I do love you; never doubt that. But I’m terrified that shifting into Ness will hurt or kill you. I don’t want to squish you!” Jess wailed.
Mitch tried not to laugh. “Honey, it’s less than a few seconds; you’re not likely to kill me.”
“I weigh nearly a ton. I would flatten you,” Jess argued.
“If you were on top, possibly, but I’ll be on top,” Mitch said.
Jess opened her mouth and then closed it. Mitch could read her thoughts. She’d not considered that. “Huh.”
“Yeah, no squishing involved then, is there?” Mitch challenged.
“No.”
“Now, when can we mate? I need the bond, and want everyone to know you’re mine,” Mitch demanded.
