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“I’m not going far,” he said in a low, dangerous voice as he stared at Banner. “I’ll be right outside the cave.” He tapped his ear. “And believe me, wolf, I can hear just as well as your feral kind.”
Banner made a low sound of warning and took a step forward, but I reached out and placed my hand on his forearm. He stopped immediately and looked at me, his body so tense under my touch.
Adryan exhaled and then turned and left, and it was when he was out of sight and I heard him leave the cave that I felt the tension leave me.
Banner slowly turned to face me, and I didn’t miss how he shifted his body to the right so that his back was blocking the cavern entrance.
“Lass,” he gruffly said. “That’s yer brother?”
I swallowed and nodded. “He’s a little?—”
“Fooking insane, darlin’. He’s fooking bluedy insane.”
I couldn’t deny it, and a strangled laugh left me. “Understatement, but yeah. But he’s harmless.”
Banner cocked a dark eyebrow and crossed his arms over his wide chest and smirked down at me. “Harmless? That male was about tae rip my heart out. Literally.”
All I could do was lick my lips and nod slowly. “He’s extreme, but he means well. He’s just protective.” I shouldn’t be downplaying Adryan’s insanity, but despite his failings or shortcomings, I loved him. He was my family. “It’ll take him a little bit to know his place where you and I are concerned.”
Banner slowly grinned at that and moved closer. “And where are ye and I concerned, Luna?”
Ohhh. Banner’s voice did funny, pleasurable things to my body.
Banner took a step forward, and I found myself taking one back. The scent of his desire was thick in the air, swirling around us, making mine rise even more.
He kept advancing, and although I retreated, it wasn’t because I was afraid. On the contrary. It was exciting when he came forward, that he was almost hunting me like I was his prey.
The rocky wall stopped my retreat, but he didn’t stop advancing until his chest brushed against mine, his massive form towering over me. He braced his hands on either side of my shoulders and leaned forward so his face was inches from mine.
I inhaled deeply, taking in his scent and moaning at the wild, sweet intensity of it.
“My sweet lass, I want ye so badly.” He trailed his lips along the corner of my mouth, across my cheek, and then moved his tongue along the shell of my ear. I rested my head back on the rocky wall, letting my eyes close, wishing that Adryan wasn’t right outside the entrance and could hear, no doubt smell everything that was happening right here, right now. I knew he’d be in here in an instant to start more shit, whether being with Banner—my mate—was consensual or not.
I shivered at the feel of his tongue moving along my ear, at that gentle yet rough scrape that had my toes curling and my breathing coming faster. But I didn’t touch him, knowing it would just escalate things, that I wouldn’t be able to control myself. I was already having such a hard time keeping my hands off of him.
But as if he realized we couldn’t start anything here or right now, he huffed out almost irritably, gave me the sweetest, most gentle kiss on my temple, and backed away.
I licked my lips and smoothed my sweaty palms down my skirts, knowing that my entire life had changed so drastically and in just a short amount of time. If things were this intense and earth-shattering and I’d just met Banner, I could only imagine how things would go once we really got to know each other.
“He’ll come around.” It seemed a little out of place to mention Adryan at a time like this, although he was the catalyst to the situation we were currently in. I didn’t know if I was trying to convince myself or my new mate.
Banner gave me a smile that said he didn’t believe me.
“Lass, I just met him and already I can tell he’ll be an issue until his last breath.” His voice was gentle and low. “But it matters not. He can be the biggest pain in my arse and it would no’ matter because I’ll never let ye go.”
Banner held his hand out to me and gave me a lopsided smile that did funny things to my belly, tightening it, spreading tingles throughout my body once more. “Let’s go deal with yer psychotic brother because I am desperate tae get tae know my fair wee mate.”
I melted at his words but found myself rooted to the spot, just staring at him.
“Come with me, darlin’.” His voice was deep yet so very soft. “Let me show ye my home. Let me show ye all that yer entitled tae as my mate.”
My heart galloped in my chest, and I let his words process in me, let them sink in deep and find a home in the softest place in my soul.
Everything was happening so fast that I was physically dizzy.
“Let me show ye yer home, as well.” He lifted his hand and cupped my cheek so gently that I felt the stinging pressure behind my eyes.
I’d known affection, known a family bond. And although my brother might never be able to experience the emotion of love, his heart too cold and black, his personality too closed off, I still knew he cared about me.
