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)
“Explain it.”
“I have one mate. You.”
“Jesus Christ, Beau,” I snapped, rising to my feet. “Why the hell is this like pulling teeth?”
“She was happily married, Reese,” he barked, throwing his arms out. “We never completed the bond. That’s it. That’s the entire story.”
“No, it isn’t,” I argued, knowing it instinctively. If it had been that simple, it wouldn’t be so hard for him to talk about. “You said that we were made for each other, so why would that be true if you were made for Millie? Why would you have met her after she was married if mates were a part of some grand plan? What you’re saying makes no sense.”
“He should’ve died in the war,” he shot back angrily, his voice practically vibrating. “All right?”
What war?
“Why didn’t he?”
Beau’s hands curled into fists at his sides.
“Beau?”
“Because I saved his miserable life,” Beau snarled, his face contorting into an expression I’d never seen him make before, even at his angriest. “I followed him, and I kept the motherfucker alive.”
“Why would you do that?” I practically yelled in disbelief.
He was changing in front of my eyes. The veneer of detachment that I’d come to expect whenever Beau was pissed had disappeared, and I could suddenly see every emotion he was experiencing.
My heart raced as he struggled to control himself.
“Because she loved him,” he gritted out, breathing heavily. “Because she was pregnant, and even if he’d died, I couldn’t have done that to her.”
“Done what?” I asked gently, my heart in my throat as I slowly rounded the table.
“Made her watch while her child grew old and died, and she stayed twenty-one years old,” he said so quietly that I barely heard him.
“You walked away,” I whispered.
“I barely remember it,” he confessed through his teeth. “The pain was—” He shook his head.
“You’ve probably blocked it out,” I murmured, carefully laying my hand on his chest.
Beau was quiet as he wrapped his arms around my back and pulled me closer.
“I don’t want to talk about this anymore,” he finally murmured tiredly, tipping his head down until our foreheads met. “Can we stop for now?”
The pain in his eyes nearly brought me to my knees.
“Okay.” I still had so many questions, but the fact that he’d reached his limit was undeniable. I could’ve pressed for more, and I was pretty sure he would’ve given it to me, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
“I—just say the word,” he breathed. “And we can talk about it again.”
“Did you sleep last night?” I asked carefully, brushing his messy hair off his forehead.
“No.” He swallowed and licked his lips. “You had bad dreams all night.”
“I did?” I rarely remembered dreaming at all.
“I didn’t want to leave you alone,” he confessed almost defensively.
Closing my eyes, I pressed my forehead harder against his.
I’d been so angry that I’d had to force myself to sleep beside him so that the heat wouldn’t burn me alive, meanwhile, he’d spent the night guarding me from bad dreams.
“Come on,” I ordered, pulling away.
Beau followed me silently into the bedroom and onto the bed. He moved like the weight of the world was on his shoulders, but there was absolutely no hesitation as he wrapped himself around me.
I shuddered as his lips pressed lightly against my throat, and he immediately jerked his head back.
“Go ahead,” I murmured, catching the back of his head in my hand. “You haven’t had blood since yesterday.”
“I’m fine,” he murmured, leaning up to meet my eyes.
“Don’t make yourself sick,” I chided softly, a lump in my throat. “I’m yours, right?”
He bit down so quickly that I let out a breath of surprise before leaning into the sensation. It was different when we weren’t aroused, more like a soft warmth cocooning me rather than sparks racing along my skin.
When he was done, he let out a sigh of relief before kissing where my shoulder met my neck in silent thanks. Minutes later, he was fast asleep.
Once I knew that he wouldn’t feel the need to follow me, I carefully edged off the bed and left the room. Closing both doors as I went, I wandered into the main house and made my way downstairs, where quiet voices were having a discussion in the living room.
Erik had called his friend, and while Beau had seemed angry about it, I was just curious why he had.
“Reese,” Erik greeted gruffly, rising to his feet. He glanced behind me in silent question.
“Beau’s sleeping,” I answered with a tight smile.
“He looked like he needed it,” Erik replied.
Mattie was quietly sitting in a chair with red-rimmed eyes, and she didn’t get up as the other two people in the room stood up and turned my way.
“This is Mordecai,” Erik introduced, gesturing to a gorgeous black man with long locks and a closely trimmed beard. “And his mate, Helen.”