Unshift 310
Unshift 310
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."
direction again, only to be
"I don't want to."
course he doesn't. These wolves just do what they
to ha anave, ahout it to then a fit and
17:09 y
Humans Have
inane sort of sound and watch the ceiling in the
that he's
and Lucas
I'm sure they are.
heated huskiness of his voice
you're his mate and he's being all caveman about
throat, desperate to change the subject from the tension simmering between us. "It's only right to give
Lucas need to be around each
curiosity piques, momentarily overriding my
been planted. It needs constant care, water, and sunlight to grow strong roots. The mate bond is similar."
will demand that time together. She'll feel wrong and
is kind of bullshit. It's a lot less romantic when you suddenly get slapped with the label yourself one day out
Kellan's face in the dim light, noting
ask you something?" I venture
"Anything," he replies immediately.
with us? With this
goes very, very still. It's like he isn't even
up
a lot to take in, and I don't expect you to just fall into my arms
don't want this? The mate
He's quiet again.
you? Drag me into your cave and have your wicked
sounds strangled when he responds, "Of
out a sigh of relief, my body relaxing into the mattress. The tension that had been coiling in my muscles starts to
Humans
my words, trying to backpedal. How do I explain that it's not
broad shoulders slumping slightly. "Look, Lisa, I know you're an independent soul. The last thing I
that mean you are going to do
His gray eyes
I realize. Despite everything-the chaos of the past few days, the whole mate situation being dropped on me like
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. "Hell, it's a lot for me too. But I meant
you need."
I ask you something
"Of course."
so kind as to explain things, I may as well ask all the questions we humans want to know. "What exactly does being mates mean? Like, practically speaking. Is it just... attraction? Or is there more
attraction, though that's certainly part of it. It's a deep, instinctual connection. Like finding a missing piece
gone."
my stomach. It sounds romantic,
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!