After they handed me their gifts, they stayed for five more minutes, wanting to make plans for the future when I was more settled, talking excitedly about having a new mated couple in the family, and how they couldn’t wait for the holidays and gatherings when everyone could get together.
By the time they left I felt happy and loved but most of all… overwhelmed.
“My sweet girl,” Odhran said, and took the flowers from me to set on the foyer table, then grabbed the books and put them back in the tote before coming back to stand in front of me. He pulled me into a tight embrace, and I breathed in slowly. “That was too much, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, but it was,” I said and pulled back, feeling my smile grow, “It was absolutely wonderful.”
His smile was slow and lovely, and it made me feel warm and soft in the best of ways.
“How about I help ye unwind?” He pulled me in for another hug and just held me for long seconds.
“Aren’t you hungry?” The low growl that left him had my body reacting.
“Aye, darlin’.” He started kissing my temple, down the side of my face, running his tongue along my neck, and started sucking at my throat. “I’m starving.”
I clenched my thighs together and moaned softly.
“How about we head upstairs and I can run ye a nice hot bath. I’ll wash yer hair, give ye a massage, then I’ll lay ye back on the bed—” he said in a lower voice laced with sexual need, “—spread those pretty pale thighs, and eat that perfect pussy until ye come for me.”
Before I could answer he had me in his arms and was striding to the room, about to make good on that promise.
And I was all for it.
Chapter
Twenty-Four
Larkin
A week later
There were a lot of Lycans that had been coming out of the forest for the past week. I stayed in the comfort of the study, designating it my favorite place on the estate.
The aroma of aged books, leather, and the faint hints of Odhran’s scent lingered in the air. I knew he enjoyed this room as well, and more times than not, when he wasn’t with me, I’d find him sitting in the beat-up leather chair, a glass of whiskey in one hand and a book in another.
Like right now, I was between his legs, my back to his chest as we sat on the couch together. He read to me from the Latin book he was reading, and although I didn’t understand anything he said, the lithe tone of his voice, that deep rumbling pitch, was the most relaxing thing I’d ever heard.
There was a fire going in the hearth, the sun starting to set in the horizon.
“How many languages do you speak?” I asked after he paused to turn the page. His free hand gently stroked my arm, his fingers causing goose bumps to rise up on my flesh.
“Seven.” His voice was calm and relaxed, his body the same. “English, Gaelic, Latin, French, Spanish, Italian, and Russian. But I’d like to learn more, and was in the process of it when I found ye.”
“So many.” Even I heard the awe in my voice and felt my cheeks heat in embarrassment. He probably thought I was so uncultured and knew nothing of the world.
“I’ll teach ye, lass, if ye want?”
I moved slightly so that I could tilt my head back and look into his eyes. His seemed content, a smile playing across his lips. “I’d like that,” I said honestly. But then his expression turned guarded.
“The reason I started learning all these languages was because I dinna know where ye were. I wanted tae make sure I could speak the language of anyone who might know something of where ye were.”
I lifted my hand and touched his scruff-covered cheek as I gazed into his blue eyes. “I love you.” His expression softened even more, and he leaned in, kissing me on the center of my forehead.
“I love that my mate has such a soft heart.”
I rested back against him and he started reading once more. I got lost in the beautiful tone of his voice, and the way he pronounced the words. I could’ve fallen asleep like that, one of Odhran’s big arms wrapped around my middle like a protective band, the soothing sound of his voice in my ear.
I learned my mate liked creature comforts, wasn’t keen on things changing, but he was incredibly smart and worldly. He knew so much about the world, taught me about science and all the modern technologies. He spoke of histories the likes of which I’d never even heard of.