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310 Lisa: Humans Have Pheromones?
LISA
Kellan's stare leaves me unsettled. It's been intense ever since our reunion.
I'm grateful for the space he's given me-this whole fated mate business is like being slammed into by a rogue freight train-but there's a whole lot of little things that keep throwing his feelings into the foreground, making it impossible to ignore. Like how he touches me a little too often.
How he watches my every move.
He hasn't kissed me again, but it doesn't make the current situation any less awkward.
"Can't sleep?" he asks, as if us sharing a bed and him lying on his side to stare at me for the past hour is somehow conducive to falling asleep.
"Nope." The word pops out with a little more sass than I intend, but damn it, does he have to
stare at me like that?
"Oh."
And awkward silence again.
"So, why couldn't I just bunk with Dr. Blackwell?" My question breaks the uneasy tension
between us.
"They don't have an extra bed," he explains easily.
"And no empty beds anywhere else? At all? Just-none?"
"None."
"No sleeping bags?"
"No."
"Extra blanket?"
"Not even one of those."
He's lying through his damn perfect teeth.
"You have a couch," I point out. I saw it. I know it's there.
"People come in and out at all times of day. It isn't the safest place to sleep. Better to be in bed."
with the comforter-soft and warm and smelling like Downy-I dare to glance in his direction again, only to be caught by his
"I don't want to."
do
anave, ahout it to then a fit and damand haalaan
17:09 y
Humans
watch the ceiling in the darkness. I hate to admit it, but I
that he's
and Lucas are
I'm sure they are.
his voice
Lisa. Bad! He thinks you're his mate and he's being all caveman about
us.
slightly. "Absolutely. Ava and Lucas need to be around each other as much as possible for the
momentarily overriding my discomfort.
needs constant care, water, and sunlight to grow strong roots. The mate
"Their bond will demand that time together. She'll feel wrong and anxious without his sense,
It's a lot less romantic when you suddenly
contemplative. I find myself studying Kellan's face in the dim light,
I ask you something?"
"Anything," he replies immediately.
now? I mean, with us? With
like he isn't even
up
you, Lisa. I know this is a lot to take in, and I don't expect you to just fall into my arms and live happily ever after. We
don't want this?
He's quiet again.
aren't going to force me, are you? Drag me into
when he
of relief, my body relaxing into the mattress. The tension that had
Lisa. Humans Have
eyes widen as I realize how my words must have sounded. "No! I mean, I don't-" I stumble over my words, trying to backpedal. How do I explain that it's not
Lisa, I know you're an independent soul. The last thing I want to do
back in. "So... does that mean you are going to do it and you're just
strange sound escapes Kellan-half groan, half laugh. "No, Lisa. I would never do that to you. Never." His gray eyes lock onto mine, intense
the past few days, the whole mate
down his chest. He doesn't have a shirt on, which is far too enticing for a woman like me. Especially when I'm trying so hard to not fall into his arms. "I know this is a lot to
you need."
I ask you
"Of course."
all the questions we humans want to know. "What exactly does being mates mean? Like, practically speaking. Is it just... attraction?
mate bond is more than just physical attraction, though that's certainly part of it. It's a deep, instinctual connection. Like finding
gone."
words send a flutter through my stomach. It sounds romantic,
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