Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 92941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 465(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 465(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
“It’s normal for things to be heated in the beginning.”
“Is that a joke?” I asked dubiously. “Did you really just make a joke?”
“What?” He glanced at me in confusion.
“Heated?” I replied dryly. “Really?”
“It wasn’t intentional.” He shook his head as he nuzzled between my breasts. “The desire is normal. Most mates don’t leave their rooms for days—sometimes weeks.”
“What’s different about us?” I asked, trying to hold on to my train of thought. It was nearly impossible to focus as he dragged his teeth gently over one of my nipples. “Why did you bring me here?”
“It usually takes longer for a human mate to accept the bond,” he said distractedly. His tongue slid around the underside of my breast, and I nearly screamed.
“What?” I was having a hard time following. Threading my fingers through his hair, I yanked his head up so he’d meet my eyes. “What do you mean it usually takes longer? People just—just live with it? I thought this was normal?” My voice rose in volume and pitch with each word.
“It’s uncomfortable,” he clarified, his eyes on mine. “But most humans are more distrustful of the bond. They don’t want to give up their lives, or they’re too nervous to make that kind of commitment. It usually takes months to finally cement it.”
“I could’ve waited,” I murmured, understanding hit like a bucket of cold water. “I didn’t—You made it seem like—No, you said—”
“I asked you,” he flatly cut me off. “I asked you every step of the way.”
“You made it seem like it was inevitable. That nothing would help except if I fucked you.”
“It is inevitable,” he gritted out. “Even if you’d wanted to wait, we still would’ve been uncomfortable until you came to a decision.”
“That wasn’t discomfort,” I argued, shoving him off of me. “That was impossible. It was painful. It burned.”
Beau shrugged as I scuttled off the bed and reached for my sweater. “Other mates choose to deal with it until they’re sure.”
“I didn’t know that was an option!”
“You could’ve said no at any time.”
“No, I couldn’t.”
Beau stiffened and crossed his arms over his chest. “I didn’t force you.”
“What, so I’m just weaker than all the other mates?” I spat, glaring at him. “Is that what you’re saying?”
“I’m not saying anything beyond the fact that no one forced you to accept the mating bond.”
“It’s not like you were trying to wait either,” I shot back. “You wanted it just as much as me.”
“It’s a biological need for me,” he replied calmly. “I’ve always known that I would have a mate at some point. Why would I want to wait?”
“You don’t even know me!”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Of course it matters!”
I wanted to hit him. The realization that I was the only mate who hadn’t held out long enough to actually get to know their partner? That stung. I wasn’t some weak woman who’d been waiting for Prince Charming to come rescue her or who threw herself onto the dick of any handsome man who smiled my way. I was discerning. I had self-respect. I didn’t need some full-of-himself Vampire to come sweep me off my feet. I’d never even wanted that. The pull to Beau hadn’t been rational. It was visceral. Agonizing.
Even as I wished I could clock him, my body still ached for his. It was already protesting the lack of contact.
“Son, dinner is on the table,” a voice called from the speaker in the wall, making me jump.
“You have a fucking intercom system?” I spat. For some reason, that made me even angrier.
“The house is big,” he replied evenly. “Come on.”
“I’m not just going to go down to dinner with your family when we’re in the middle of a conversation,” I argued, my eyes widening as he walked toward the door.
“She went to the trouble of setting out a nice meal for us,” he replied. “I’m not going to keep her waiting just because you’re having some kind of identity crisis.”
I sputtered as I hurried after him. “I’m not having an identity crisis.”
“It’s not my responsibility to make your choices for you,” he said flatly as he led me toward the door to the hallway. “You can deal with your own regrets.”
“Take me home,” I whispered, my voice shaking with rage.
I hated him. He was cold and distant, and it didn’t matter how much my body craved his. He was an awful person. There was no shred of understanding or empathy in his gaze. No words of comfort for my understandable panic and confusion. There was just…impatience.
“I’ll take you home after dinner.”
“I’ll call a ride share.”
I moved to walk past him, but I didn’t make it far before his hand clamped down like a vice on my arm.
“You may be angry or scared about your change in circumstances—” I scoffed, and his hand tightened. “But my mother is fucking ecstatic that I’ve found my mate. She’s down there right now making sure everything is perfect for your first dinner with our family. You will not fuck this up for her.”