Page 34 of Loched in Love

“Unnghh,” an involuntary growl climbs my throat echoing loudly over the spray of water as I thrust my dick in my hand. I bite my lip, wringing the rest of my orgasm from my cock, and pray the act staves off my want for her.

The pleasure is so intense that sparks fly behind my eyes.

Blackness spreads, dimming my world around the edges and I suck in a shuddering breath to keep my claws at bay, realizing with dawning horror if and when I ever do get my claws into my mate, I may not survive it.

“Fucking hell.”

A few minutes later and I’m scrambling across the train cars to find my beloved, all the excitement of the wind passing through my hair and watching the trees whir past replaced with the need to lay my gaze on her again.

Where is she?

The moment I didn’t find her in the small cabin car we sat at last night, a panic seated itself in my chest, and with every second that passes now, it seems to grow and unfurl. Dressed casually in a set of jeans, plaid shirt, and boots, I fear any second now I’ll be consumed by the power that ripples just beneath my skin along with my scales that I can’t hide without her, and destroy any hope of making it through this journey.

I grip the train car door so tightly the handle crinkles in my hand, but pay it no mind as I push into the next cabin, relaxing only when I hear the unmistakable sound of her laughter close by. My body shudders as my inner beast relaxes, and I glance around the new car cabin I’ve not been inside before.

This must be the observation room she was talking about last night. Several small tables are dotted around the space along with green high back chairs that are obviously outdated, but have a full window view of the passing scenery.

Another tinkle of laughter from her, and I know one of them hides her form from me.

The panic subsides entirely when she comes into view, her gaze cheerful, and I realize she’s speaking with the railway waiter we met last night who stands at her side.

“Very well ma’am, if you need anything you need only ring the bell,” the man says, tipping his hat to her before turning to leave.

“Thank you,” she murmurs.

“Good morning,” I say, and slide into the chair across from her, unsure of how to begin to apologize, and not knowing where to start. My words lock on my tongue with the many things I need to make known to her, least of which our next destination.

“I’m so sorry—” she blurts, just as I open my mouth to say the same.

My brows come together when I get the innate sense that she’s highly embarrassed with what happened this morning, and we won’t get anywhere until we get my schoolboy behavior out of the way.

“Don’t apologize. I need to explain,” I start.

But she shakes her head in refusal and her cheeks turn a deep pink. Her shoulders go inward and I get the feeling I’m not going to like what she has to say next.

“I’m the one who should be sorry. You were sleeping and I was staring and...” Her voice fades away as if she can’t bring herself to say the word.

Her pink cheeks deepen to a red that spreads along her hairline and what I can see of her neck through her white blouse. She’s embarrassed in truth because she tried to get a look at me?

“You were looking at me while I was sleeping?” I ask, amusement rising in my sternum.

The idea pleases me immensely, and makes me wonder what else she’s curious about. I know I’ve several questions for her too. I want to know and learn everything about her, and it gives me hope that she’s at least interested enough to try and get a look at me.

The sound of the door opening and closing alerts us that we’re not alone, and I lean back and wait as the staff make their way to us, giving her a look that says we’re continuing this discussion later.

“A water for you sir?” one of the waiters asks.

I nod my head and wait as cutlery and glasses fill the nearby table, and wait until we’re left alone again so we don’t have an audience.

“I need you to know that you could never offend me, Elena,” I tell her. I hope she’s listening, because the closer we get to my homeland, the more it dawns on me how much she doesn’t know, and how much our journey could test us before we get the chance to bond.

I need her to know it’s not just her that will be doing things out of character.

Mate bonds are different for everyone, as it will be for the two of us, I’m sure.

Sometimes, a couple can become so intertwined they can feel the coming and going of their partner’s emotions any time they want. Others have different capabilities, like knowing their loved one’s very thoughts. Only time will tell what exciting experiences we will have. “I’m your mate, and it’s perfectly natural to want to know more about one another.”

“I didn’t mean to look. I mean, obviously, I want to look and see. But I’d never want to overstep and I feel what I did was wrong on so many levels,” she replies in rapid fire succession.