“What is it, love?” he asked. He hesitated, not taking her in his arms completely but stepping close enough to her that she could take the final step if she wanted to.
And she wanted to. She closed her arms around his waist and filled her lungs with his scent. “It doesn’t matter what I was going to say. It wasn’t very nice thoughts. I’d rather just pretend that I’m a normal woman on holiday with her normal husband.” She closed her eyes, scrunching them tightly in hopes of keeping her fear and doubts at bay.
He ran his hands up and down her back. “I understand that completely, love. But just because Portia thinks we need to mate, it doesn’t mean we have to. Maybe there is something in that magic book of yours that we can use. A spell that could recreate the impression that we’re mated.”
“We both know that there is no magic that can recreate that,” she sighed. “It doesn’t matter if I am a powerful witch. Nothing can mimic the shifter scent of mated couples.”
He pressed his lips together, giving him a stern but thoughtful look. “Well, we can find a solution. I know we can.”
“You’re very optimistic. Is that a usual trait for you?”
He laughed softly. “Only when it has to do with my wife.”
She couldn’t help but giggle at the flirty tone. “Given that we’ve been married for about twenty-four hours, I’m not sure that your brand of optimism is what we should rely on.” She took a deep breath and said, with her eyes still squeezed shut because she didn’t want to see it if he let her down, however gently. “There is one definite way to make sure everyone knows we are married and mated in every sense of the word.”
He pulled away from her to look into her eyes. He arched a brow, and his smile was just as crooked. “Yeah? What’s that, my genius witch wife?”
“We mate.”
“No.” Cooper stepped away from her completely this time, shaking his head. “No,” he repeated. “We can’t do that.”
Anger flared inside of her, and she was thankful for that because she didn’t want to be sad. She didn’t want to be the overly attached arranged-marriage-wife. That was probably not a good look for her. “Why not?”
He finally met her eyes, and he must have noticed the hurt under the anger because he cupped her face in his palms. “My sweet wife, my darling Alice, do you even know what a matingis?”
“Of course, I do. That’s why I suggested it.”
“Our arranged marriage is something we can get out of. There is divorce. But if we mate? If I mark you as mine? If I claim you? There is no walking away from that. We would be linked forever until one of us dies. We would be tied as soul mates.”
Alice sighed. “I know, but it didn’t seem so silly to me.”
He laughed softly and kissed her forehead. “Love, it’s not silly. I’ve been thinking about doing just that, but it’s too soon. We have time.”
“I don’t know why you won’t even consider it.”
“Because there is no way out of it. If you decide to leave me?” He shook his head again. “It would kill me. Not really a physical death, but when I mate, it’s for life. I don’t want you to regret that. Regret me.” Alice wanted to argue with him, but Cooper wasn’t done. “Your whole life has been running. This is the first time you have settled, and it’s only because you’re being hunted. How irresponsible would it be of me if I let you convince me to do this?”
She snorted. “It sure doesn’t sound like you don’t want to …”
He met her eyes. “That’s because I amnotsaying I don’t want to. I’m saying Ishouldn’t. That’s very different.”
Alice centered herself with a deep inhale. She was a powerful witch who trusted her instincts. They had kept her alive for a long time, never letting her down. Now? Those same instincts were telling her that Cooper was safe. That he was for her.
She was bold and fearless, striving to live according to her values all her life. It was hard and lonely, and here was this dragon who had the same values. She was used to taking risks and doing what she thought was right.
And this was right.
Resolved to mate her husband, Alice raised her head and slowly started peeling out of her dress.
“What are you doing?” Cooper’s voice was rough with lust, and the dress still clung to her body, hiding her lady parts.
“Testing your resolve,” she answered simply.
“That’s a dangerous thing to do, Alice.”
She shook her head and removed her hands from the dress. It slid to the ground, and she stood there in a see-through white lace bra and a matching thong. The lingerie was bold and sexy, showcasing her curves perfectly. Cooper took all of her in, and he stepped forward almost as if he were fighting his instincts.
“Cooper,” she said. “You’re a good man. I trust you, you know? Had you forced this last night, had you jumped on me the second I offered this as an option, I wouldn’t have. But I have been alone for a long time. I have been wary of other people my whole life, and my instincts always lead me to the right place. Itrustmy instincts as a woman and a witch. Do you not trust your instincts, husband?”