When they touch me (Shelagh Milano)

Chapter 29

He is still turned away from me as I clear my throat. "I'm going to look for some chocolate now."

Clapping my hands, I feel so desperately awkward for him to acknowledge me.

"Would you at least look at me?" I ask, but he just ignores me, scoffing again.

"Okay," I whisper, my heart cracking once again, and always because of him.

As soon as I have turned around, the air shifts, and I'm suddenly wrapped in his embrace.

My breath hitches in my throat as his arms wrap around my waist, pressing me to his front. I lay my hands on his forearms as I inhale, filling my lungs with his scent.

"I'm not like Matthew or like Logan," he growls, his head buried in my hair. "I'm neither tender nor flirtatious like them. I'm an arrogant asshole, and I only took females in to satisfy my needs. This is all new to me, and I still don't know how to act this way, but the last thing I want to be with you is being condescending."

He hugs me closer, my heartbeat speeding up as he presses a kiss on my neck. "I know that you hate me. And my wolf is even worse. So, I actually understand yours not wanting to communicate with us. But, don't think that I'm not feeling this mate bond. And that it isn't driving me absolutely crazy."

I gasp for air as he takes another deep breath. "Especially since you are so fucking beautiful. And so stunningly strong-willed."

His chuckle vibrates through me while I feel tears welling up in my eyes. I turn my head to look at him, locking my eyes with his dark ones.

"I don't hate you," I whisper, making him smile. I lose myself in his intense gaze and feel a tear rolling down my cheek.

He catches it with his thumb, and he tilts his head at me as if he were checking my face for more to get. "I can't... Even if I wanted to. You are such an idiot. Stupid mate bond."

I laugh with teary eyes, and he flashes me his wolfish smile. "Sorry that I scared you. And I can never forgive myself for hurting you."

Taking my face into his hands, he gets me to turn around fully. "But trust me when I say that I would never have marked you, or done anything against your will."

"You did take my shirt off though." He shrugs, smirking slyly. "I was teasing you."

Shaking my head, I laugh and unfortunately, get him to let go. "You are something else."

"As if you weren't teasing me all the time, little mate."

And here we are, back to the mocking pet names.

But it makes me smile as I actually grew fond of it.

"Touché," I say, scrunching my nose.

He clears his throat as we get enveloped by silence and asks the question I have been fearing to get all along. "Why didn't your wolf help you as you bumped your head? It was something minor that shouldn't be any problem to heal. Was it because she wanted to punish you for rejecting me?"

"Erm..." I nearly feel bad for breaking his heart as she surely wasn't thinking about her mate. "Not exactly... But I don't want to talk about it here. Could we talk about this in private?"

He nods with a worried expression as I lower my head.

"Okay," I say in a whisper about to walk back to my room, but instead I squeal as he lifts me into his arms to carry me back to it.

"Oh, you have to stop doing this." I hiss as my heartbeat goes crazy.

"Why? You are a princess, aren't you?"

Smart ass.

***

The coziness of the bed he just cuddled me in, doesn't help at him staring at me in disbelief.

"I'm sorry, what?"

I chose the rip-it-off-in-one-go kind of way, and am now doubting my strategy as I actually have to go on.

I bite my upper lip nervously as I move my feet under the blankets. "My wolf isn't responding to me anymore. She abandoned me."

"Why?" He stares at me as he sits with his elbows leaned on his knees. "Why would a wolf do that? Is it because of us? Because of me? Because I tore you away from your family, your pack?" "No, no! It's not that! And surely not your fault." I shake my head, and he continues to stare at me agape.

As he realizes that I'm not talking any further, he gesticulates with his hands. "What is it then?"

"You have to remain calm," I say, lowering my head.

"I am calm," he snarls, making me tilt my head.

"No, you are not." I pinch my sheets as he takes a deep breath.

"Okay. I'll remain calm."

Lifting my head to see him clench his teeth forcefully as he bobs his leg.

But I can't stop now.

He deserves to know.

Cassy utters one last whimper before I open my mouth, and his expression falls.

It morphs into an expression I have never seen on his face.

"She left me as Rick... Alpha Saviano rejected me," I breathe out, my heart beating into my throat as I try to read his traits.

"Come again?" He finally asks, making me swallow a sob.