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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."
and smelling like Downy-I dare to glance in his direction again, only to be
"I don't want to."
just do what they
anave, ahout it to then a fit and damand
17:09 y
Lisa: Humans
inane sort of sound and watch the ceiling in the darkness. I hate to
like that he's
and Lucas
I'm sure they are.
voice
you're his mate and he's being all
subject from the tension simmering between us. "It's only right to give
softening slightly. "Absolutely. Ava and Lucas need to be around each other as much as
curiosity piques, momentarily overriding my
lecturer's tone. "Especially in the beginning stages. It's like... imagine a sapling that's just been planted. It needs constant care, water, and sunlight to grow strong roots. The mate
will demand that time together. She'll feel wrong and anxious without
thing is kind of bullshit. It's a lot less romantic when you suddenly get slapped with
myself studying Kellan's face in the dim light, noting the strong
I ask you something?" I
"Anything," he replies immediately.
I mean, with us? With
still. It's like he isn't even breathing, until he
up
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
decide I don't want this?
He's quiet again.
me into your cave
strangled when he responds, "Of
my body relaxing into the mattress. The tension that had been coiling in my muscles starts
Humans Have
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 him specifically, but this whole
you're an independent soul. The last thing I want to do is
mean you are going to do it and you're just lying
escapes Kellan-half groan, half laugh. "No, Lisa. I would never do that to you. Never." His gray eyes lock onto mine, intense and sincere in the dim lighting.
sends a shiver down my spine. I believe him, I realize. Despite everything-the chaos of the past few days, the whole mate situation being dropped
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 take in," he says softly.
you need."
ask you
"Of course."
we humans want to know. "What exactly does being mates mean? Like, practically speaking. Is
though that's certainly part of it. It's a deep, instinctual
gone."
words send a flutter through my stomach. It sounds romantic, sure, but
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