Page 65 of Brock’s Mate

“They shouldn’t have said that to you,” he told her.

She could feel the ache in his chest, and now she knew what it meant. It matched the ache in her own, whenever he was hurt. Whenever she thought about leaving him, never seeing him again.

She went up to him and slid her hands up his chest. He rested his lightly on her waist. They’d become physically comfortable with each other, but they still sucked at opening up.

Desi knew she had to start. She opened her mind to his—somehow this was easier if they didn’t have to talk out loud. Am I your mate? she asked.

He bent his head until his forehead was resting on hers. Of course. Then he added, Forever and always.

He didn’t ask if he was hers. Is he? she asked her wolf. Our mate?

Her wolf said, I will not submit.

Desi said to Brock, I think that means ‘yes.’

He gave a little smile, then said to her wolf, It doesn’t matter. We will love you always, whatever you do.

That brought a startled silence.

Brock kissed her softly and said, “Have fun with your clay. Can’t wait to see what you make.” And he left.

Suddenly, the studio felt cold and empty. Desi said to her wolf, I think you hurt his feelings.

For the first time she could remember, her wolf sounded uncertain. I did not mean to. I do not like the way it makes me feel. He should not be hurt.

What if nobody has to submit? Desi said. Maybe we can be partners with him, and his wolf.The other guys don’t seem to make their mates submit. Hell, they trip over themselves trying to make them happy.

I would like that, her wolf said.

I bet you would, Desi said. Little princess. She added, And I like it here. I like being with him. Hell, she might as well admit it. I think I love him.

Her wolf said slowly, I like it here too. And when I think of leaving the man and his wolf… I find I do not wish to. She paused. Maybe they will submit?

Desi laughed. Maybe they won’t. I would go with partners. And he did order us all that clay.

I do not like clay, her wolf said. It tastes nasty. I would rather have duckies, like the bear-man gets for his mate. We could chew on them, and make them squeak.

Oh, hell. Do NOT chew on Mari’s duckies. Or Titan will kill us.

We will kill him first. Or get Brock to do it for us.

Desi laughed, and started to dig the clay out of the can.

Chapter 25

The next day Brock went looking for Desi, finally finding her in the studio. She was intent on whatever she was making, working at it with a small pointed tool.

He watched her for a few minutes, loving how intense she got when she was working. Then he succumbed to temptation and sneaked up behind her using his shifter stealth.

On the wooden board in front of her was a small slab of clay, about an inch by an inch and a half. She was incising symbols into it with a delicate touch.

She said without looking up, “You know I can smell you there, right?”

“I didn’t want to startle you.”

“Liar liar, dick on fire. You hate it that I won’t tell you what I’m working on, so you’re spying on me. I knew you were a stalker the first night I met you.”

“You’re right,” he said, leaning his hips on the edge of the table. “You’re my obsession. Want to come to my cabin? I have a nice cage there—you’ll love it.”