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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."
direction again, only to be caught by his unblinking
"I don't want to."
do what they
an I want to ha anave, ahout it to then a fit and damand haalaan an
17:09 y
Lisa: Humans
an inane sort of sound and watch the ceiling in the darkness. I hate to
like that he's
and Lucas are
I'm sure they are.
of his voice has
and he's being all caveman about
throat, desperate to change the subject from the tension simmering between us.
gaze softening slightly. "Absolutely. Ava and Lucas need to be around each other as much as possible
curiosity piques, momentarily overriding my discomfort. "Why's
he explains, his voice taking on a 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 bond is similar." I let out a little hum. "So, they
time together. She'll feel wrong and anxious without
It's a lot less romantic when you suddenly get slapped with the label yourself one day out
Kellan's face in the
ask you something?" I venture after
"Anything," he replies immediately.
I mean, with us?
isn't even breathing, until he finally
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.
don't want this? The mate thing,
He's quiet again.
are you? Drag me into your cave
sounds strangled when he
a sigh of relief, my body relaxing into the mattress. The tension that had been coiling
Lisa. Humans
sounded. "No! I mean, I don't-" I stumble over my words, trying to backpedal. How do I
know you're an independent soul. The last thing I want to do is scare
narrow 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
his voice 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 on me like a bomb-I believe that Kellan won't force me into anything. ""Oh," I breathe out, not sure what
is far too enticing for a woman like me. Especially when I'm trying so hard to not fall into his arms.
you need."
ask you
"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
bond is more than just physical attraction, though that's certainly part of it. It's
gone."
flutter through my stomach. It sounds
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