24

G E O R G I E

✿

"It looked very different just now." What about the passionate kiss in the cave? How he had pressed me to him, how his hands had wandered over my body? greedy for more And what about his hug in front of the cave? The pack around us. His kiss on my head. And the kiss earlier? Leaning over the edge of the tub and pressing his mouth onto mine?

"That should not have happened. I wasn't in control. I'm sorry, it won't happen again."

"I'm sorry? Are you sorry??” It felt like a slap in the face. "Turn around, I want out of here."

"You haven't been in there long enough to warm up properly."

"I said turn around!" I snapped.

Beau growled, baring his teeth and I expected his bite. Wanted him to show me how angry he was. But it stayed with our gaze duel and he kept his distance.

"Okay, then don't turn around, I don't care." With that, I shot out of the water.

Beau's glowing eyes devoured me. All of me. He turned quickly and cursed.

With quick, rough movements, I dried off and put on Beau's trainers, freshly laid out on the bed. "Didn't it mean anything to you?" I snapped, knowing full well that if he said no now, that would have been it. At some point I had reached my pain threshold.

"That does not matter."

I almost wanted to breathe a sigh of relief. So it had nothing to do with his feelings towards me. But then the anger boiled up in me again. What an idiot he was! Didn't realize that our bond was only once in a lifetime? That it was valuable, so valuable that nothing else could affect it? My gaze burned into his back as I pulled his olive green t-shirt over my head. I brushed my knotted, wet hair away from my face. “Of course it does! Nothing else matters as long as we-"

Beau whirled on me. "Bullshit. Is not it! You don't know who you're looking at. I told you before to stay away from me, and I meant it."

I crossed my arms across my chest and lifted my chin. "No."

He looked at me blankly as if I was completely insane. "No?"

"No. You're my mate, Beau. I'm not going to stay away from you just because you say, for whatever reason, that our bond sucks. That's not it."

"It doesn't work with us."

Argh! It was hair-pulling with this man. I put my hands on my hips. "Oh, and why not? Tell me why?” When he didn't reply quickly enough, I pressed on. "Are you scared, is that it? Fear of commitment?”

Beau growled dangerously. "No."

"Then you have someone else?"

Beau slowly circled the tub and walked toward me. With that lurking, inquiring gaze.

"Keep asking such stupid questions and you'll regret it."

So there was nobody else. "Then you're just a coward."

He stood in front of me, looking down at me. His eyes burned into mine and his fangs flashed as he said, “I'm going to hurt you. I'm gonna break your fucking little heart. And you're going to hate me for it."

I held his gaze. "You would never hurt me."

"You do not know me."

“I know you better than you think. And I know you'd never hurt me.” I stroked his clenched fist, gently opening it and stroking the bloody claws he still hadn't retracted. “Don't blame yourself for today. Nothing happened.”

"What if I do something worse than break your heart?"

What was he so afraid of? What was he afraid of doing? I looked up at him, trying to find the answer in those green, unfathomable eyes. My hands ran soothingly over his upper body, which was still covered in fine wolf fur. I stood on my toes, cupped his face.

"What are you doing?" his voice was dangerously calm. Had a menacing undertone. His eyes swept over my face as if trying to read my intentions.

A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. I just ignored his question. Almost purred under his sharp gaze and then gently placed my mouth on his. I felt his fangs under his lips. So much wolves.

He stood there stiffly. Didn't move. His arms against his body, his lips pressed together. I didn't stop. Kissed him over and over again until he finally stirred. It wasn't a jerky movement. He slowly wrapped his arms around me, pulled me to him and kissed me back. Once only. Then he broke away from me.

"Stubborn woman," he said against my mouth, but his arms stayed where they were. "That doesn't mean I don't mean what I said."

Stay away from me.

The words stood between us like ghosts that lurked in wait and didn't want to leave.

I kissed him again in punishment for those words. Only briefly, so that he couldn't turn away from me. "Well. As I said. I can be very stubborn.”

He put his hand on my cheek, rubbing his thumb over my skin. “If I could stay with you, I would. But I can't.” He closed his eyes and pulled his hand away. "You'll have to find someone other than mate."

"That is not true. You have to choose me, Beau. As simple as that."

His eyes flared. "No it is not. You don't get it!"

"How am I supposed to do that if you don't explain it to me!" I snapped at him.

"If I tag you, then-"

steps in front of the house. Then there was a knock at the door.

"Then what?" I called after him as he let go of me and marched toward the door, growling. "Then what, Beau!"

He yanked open the front door with so much force it almost fell off its hinges.

"Oh! Umm.” Blair stalked, finding herself in front of a fuming beau.

Having already smelled her, I just said, "Hi, Blair," while gritting my teeth at Beau.

"Hey," she said hesitantly. Her gaze swung from Beau, who was glaring at her irritably, to me and back to him.

"What do you want?" he asked her roughly.

“I wanted to check on Georgie. Heard what happened.” she squeaked. When Beau made no move to let her in, she picked up a box. 'I've got cake. With chocolate filling.”

I knew Beau didn't like letting anyone on his turf. But Blair had come here in the middle of the night to check on me, how could I just send her home again? So I just said, "I love chocolate cake."

Beau grunted in annoyance. "All right then. Blair, come in."

Blair beamed. "Great, thanks." Then she walked past him and looked at me with wide eyes. Silently, she mouthed, "Oh my goodness, he's so hot!"

I sighed. "I know."

"Well then, Blair." He nodded to her. "Georgie." He looked at me for a second, then disappeared, pulling the door shut behind him. I heard clothes ripping, then he was gone. He had transformed, as usual, to roam the woods and give free rein to his wild side.

"Oh my God! This view. are you hot you are hot I'm hot!” she fanned herself. 'How he looked at you! As if he wanted to eat you. As if you were... As if you were his chocolate cake!"

I frowned. "His chocolate cake?"

Blair nodded vigorously. Then she waggled her brows. 'His chocolate cake with extra cream and powdered sugar. Heavenly to bite into. Or lick it off.”

"Blair!" I laughed, just trying to focus on my funny friend who had given up her sleep and warm, heavenly comfortable bed just for me. "Since when are you so unbridled?"

"Well, times change." She shrugged. "Where should the cake go?"

I led her into the kitchen and we sat down on the velvet upholstered chairs. 'Hm, I think I know who to ask about this. Does his name start with a T? Particularly sexy, tanned, and just happens to be into a sweet, lovely Miss Manning?”

"Stop it!" she laughed.

I grinned and opened the box. "Thanks for the cake."

"What else are best friends for?"

We fooled around for a long time, so long that I almost forgot about the fight with Beau. Blair left as the sun broke and I collapsed into Beau's bed, dead tired. Thanks be to the moon goddess that our training routine didn't start until after noon today, so I was able to catch at least a few hours of much-needed sleep.

My eyelids drooped and I heard the pounding of wolf paws on the floor before I fell asleep - Beau just a few feet from me on the carpet. And I knew even with my closed eyes that he was staring at the door.