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“Are you okay, Mara?”

“He recorded that sometime. We have to stop them, Daddy. They’re bad people.”

His heart went out to her. Of course, his Little girl worried more about an injured dog than herself. He offered an alternate thought to comfort her. “Perhaps this was artificially created, Little girl.”

Darius would be glad to make them pay for everyone and everything they hurt. “That driver isn’t ever going to hurt anyone else again, Mara.”

“Good.”

The vehemence in her tone made him smile faintly. He loved that his Little girl had a vicious streak. “Rest, Mara. I will keep you safe.”

“I love you, Daddy.”

“And I love you, precious mate.”

Chapter

Seventeen

When the alarm on Mara’s cellphone sounded the next morning, Darius announced, “You are not going to work today, Little girl.”

Shaking her head at him in disbelief, Mara rolled out of bed and ran to the bathroom to use the toilet and wash her face. Why did this feel like she was pulling against an elastic band that threatened to ricochet her back into the bedroom? Gritting her teeth, she forced her muscles to carry her where she wanted to go.

Returning to the bedroom relieved the internal tension, and Mara sighed in relief. Darius stood by the bed dressed in a pair of low-slung shorts that made her mouth water. She did her best not to ogle his vast, chiseled form and failed miserably. Damn, he made her hot even when only breathing. Dragging her gaze from him, she crossed the room as if today were another regular day. Somehow, her normal had become incredibly abnormal since she’d met Darius.

“I can’t call in sick again,” Mara protested, as she walked into the huge closet that now held her clothing as well. Again, the farther she got from him, the more energy she needed to move. Concentrate. Pick out something to wear.

She smiled at the sight of their clothes hanging together and grabbed a skirt and blazer before choosing a blouse to complete the professional outfit. She fought to concentrate against the need to return to him, not understanding what was happening. That pull again eased, and Mara’s shoulders relaxed as she shook her head. After selecting sensible heels, Mara juggled her items. When she turned to return to the bedroom, Darius lounged against the doorframe, looking tall, dark, and yummy. Some days, she really hated working.

“You can and you will. You’re scraped and sore from yesterday. Your nerves are shot, and so are mine. I need to keep you close.”

“You’ll be fine.”

“I won’t be, and neither will you. The mate bond has tightened. Anytime we move apart, the tie that links us together rebels. Staying close today will reassure our bodies to relax again.”

“That’s crazy, Darius. We can’t be glued together. We’ll be fine.”

“We won’t,” he said, shaking his head.

“I know you’re worried about me. I promise I’ll be more careful. Okay?”

“I’m not making this up. The discomfort you’re experiencing gets worse for both of us when you’re away from me. If you need to test the bond, go out in the hall and try to make it to the stairway.”

“I’ll do that as I head to the dining room for coffee.” Stubbornly, she didn’t want to cooperate. He didn’t get to tell her what to do.

“Go now before you get dressed. You won’t want to wear that outfit around the house today,” Darius suggested.

She set her things on the bed and whirled to glare at him. Mara didn’t get pissed often, but when she did, she stubbornly didn’t let go of whatever had made her mad. Well, not for a long time until she calmed down. “Fine. I’ll show you if you insist.”

Mara stomped into the hallway and froze. Every fiber in her being screamed at her to run back to him. She squared her shoulders, determined to do what she wanted. Planting her palm on the wall, she physically pushed herself farther along the corridor until she was panting from the effort. Her stomach twisted inside her abdomen, and she doubled over, nauseous.

Muffled, rapid footsteps sounded behind her. The discomfort and illness ebbed and disappeared as his arms wrapped around her. Mara let Darius pick her up in his arms. She slumped against his chest, dropping her head onto his broad shoulder.

“That was awful. Are you doing that?” she asked, pretty sure she knew the answer but needing to hear him say it.

“I am not, Zoí mou. I am not capable of hurting my mate. Stretching the bond is creating the discomfort,” he said quietly.

“Sorry, I had to ask.”