He kissed my temple, my cheek, my jaw, my throat… I lifted my chin and leaned into him, getting lost in the feel of his lips against my skin.
“We have a bond.” He paused, his face above mine, eyes locked on me. “We don’t need to fight it.”
“Elias said I have a bond with him, too,” I said. Because I have the world’s worst timing and am apparently trying to cock block myself.
“Can we not talk about him right now?” He pressed his lips to mine. “In fact, I’m good with doing no talking at all.”
There was no way in hell I was strong enough to slow down again. I wanted this. I wanted him. I lifted his shirt, my way of moving forward without words.
With a wicked grin, Xander pulled it over his head, revealing his spectacular abs and broad, muscular chest. His round, firm shoulders gave way to biceps that made me drool. Seriously. This male was marble statue of a god perfection.
And he was mine.
I dropped my eyes to the healing wound. It was red and at the beginning stages of scarring, but it wasn’t bleeding. He was right, it was mostly healed. I traced my fingers over it.
“Shifters carry a lot of scars,” he said.
“I’m sorry for my part in this one,” I said.
“Don’t be,” he said. “I would die to protect you.”
“I don’t want you to do that,” I said.
He set his hand on top of mine, flattening it against the scar on his side. “This scar is a reminder of what is worth fighting for. Pack, family, love. Each scar tells a story. Some aren’t as interesting but they all play a part in making up who I am. I wouldn’t trade any of them.”
I studied his chest, noting several more scars in various sizes. Some were nearly invisible, scars from long ago. Others were more obvious.
I’d never seen a male who reminded me of myself in this way. My scars were earned from my hunts. Memories of bad guys I’d fought and brought in. Not nearly as noble as defending someone you love.
My eyes flicked up to his.He loves me. How can he be so certain? He doesn’t even know me.
Xander cupped my cheek. “I can feel your hesitation. Your uncertainty. I can wait.”
He dropped his hand, then ducked down and picked up his shirt. Part of me wanted to tell him to stop. But he had it over his head before I got the words out.
“Sit. I’ll bring you breakfast.” He was already on his way back to the kitchen. My head was spinning, trying to make sense of everything. Xander was everything I should want, but I’d done my best to avoid dating shifters. If I got serious with him, I wasn’t going to be able to stay out of supernatural politics. I’d be joining his pack.
And despite the fact that he’d told me I’d be welcome, I was still unsure of that. I was a half wolf, I couldn’t shift.
Then there was the whole thing about having a demon mate. Was I going to have to choose? Did I want to choose? What if I didn’t want to have a mating bond with either of them?
Xander set a plate of bacon and eggs in front of me. “Eat. We’ve got a big day ahead of us.”
I wasn’t as hungry as I was when I woke, but I knew I’d need the energy. And Xander was right, we didn’t have time to waste.