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."
his direction again, only to be caught by his
"I don't want to."
do
to ha anave, ahout it to then a fit
17:09 y
Lisa: Humans Have
sound and watch the ceiling in the
that he's
and Lucas are
I'm sure they are.
of his voice has all my lady
mate and he's being all caveman
between us. "It's only right to give the newly mated couple their own space, don't
"Absolutely. Ava and Lucas need to be around each other as much as
overriding
"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
Kellan confirms. "Their bond will demand that time together. She'll feel wrong and anxious without his sense, and his aggression will
kind of bullshit. It's a lot less romantic when you suddenly get slapped with the label
it feels different now. Less awkward, more... contemplative. I find myself studying Kellan's face in the dim light,
you something?" I
"Anything," he replies immediately.
mean, with us?
still. It's like he isn't
up
take in, and I don't expect you to just fall into my arms and live
if I decide I don't
He's quiet again.
are you? Drag me into your cave and have your wicked way
when he
body relaxing into the mattress. The tension that had been coiling in my muscles starts to unwind,
Humans
realize how my words must have sounded. "No! I mean, I don't-" I stumble over my words, trying to backpedal.
Lisa, I know you're an independent soul. The last thing I want to do is scare
my eyes, suspicion creeping back in. "So... does that mean you are going to do it
sound 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
few days, the whole mate
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."
I ask you something
"Of course."
being 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?
of it. It's a deep, instinctual connection. Like finding a missing piece of yourself you didn't
gone."
a flutter through my stomach.
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!