Page 33 of Cage Me

As soon as we’re alone, I expect things to become awkward, but Spencer starts to laugh, covering her mouth as her whole body begins to shake.

I really need to figure out what the hell happened to her tonight. Starting with the moment she took back the rejection.

Not that I’m complaining—I’m rather fond of this less stressed version of Spencer—but I also want to be sure she’s not having a mental breakdown after all that has transpired.

“Spence?” I say softly, grabbing her leg under the table. “Are you okay?”

She nods, wiping tears from her cheeks. “I don’t know if I’ve ever been better.” Then, her hands reach for me, and she brings my face closer to hers. “I’m going to kiss you now.”

Not only her words, but her actions put me in a temporary state of shock. I don’t move for a long second, even as her lips press against mine, igniting the bond between us and making my heart race.

It isn’t until one of her hands slides around the back of my head, gripping tightly to my hair that I finally awaken.

A rumble builds in my chest, and I open my mouth, deepening the kiss. She tastes even sweeter than she smells, and the need to touch her everywhere is overwhelming. One of my hands slowly moves up her arm, and the other instinctively goes to her chest, flattening over her racing heart.

The rapid thrumming beneath her shirt calls to me like the most powerful siren song to ever exist. This woman is mine. I knew that the first moment I realized she existed, but kissing and touching her as I am, not feeling any restraint on her end, I know there’s no going back.

If she were to change her mind again, I’m positive I would merely cease to exist after that.

“I know it’s not much,” she says between kisses, “but the mattress in the shed isn’t that bad.”

Not that I would even consider turning her down, but I need to know why she’s suddenly ready to go all-in with being mates. That might make me stupid, but I’ve spent centuries being tortured. I won’t have her regretting this decision tomorrow and hate myself for it the rest of our lives.

Pulling back, I take a steadying breath as I stare into her light blue eyes. “Spencer, wait.”

Her fingers start to tug at my shirt, but I grab her wrists.

“This might make me the biggest fool in all the worlds, but I’d like to talk to you first.”

Her head tilts to the side as she finally pauses her movements. “This is not how I saw this going.”

“You and me both,” I mutter, already mentally kicking myself in the ass for what I’m not doing. “What happened tonight? What’s changed your mind about me?”

“Getting right to the point. Seems like that’s everyone’s choice this evening.” She smirks, leaning back in her chair. “I’m not entirely sure if I’m being honest, but I do know one thing: I’m done fighting against everyone in my life.”

Instantly, my chest aches and I reach for her. “It wasn’t my intention to cause you more grief.”

She shakes her head and offers me a half-grin. “You might have been the least worst part of my day.”

I think she’s attempting to make me feel better in her own way, so I try not to take offense that I’m still considered a “worst part” in any form, least or not.

She continues, “I’ve spent my entire life believing in one thing: that I can’t trust anyone or be myself. That who I am, what I’m capable of, isn’t something to be shared with the rest of the world, not even my own father.”

The more I learn about the woman, the more I understand why she wanted nothing to do with me. Still, I can’t regret not letting her walk away.

“Do you wish he would have known who you really were?” I ask her quietly as she seems lost in thought.

She blinks, then shakes her head. “He was evil long before I was born, but I do wish for my mother that things had been different. I can’t imagine being tied to someone you were forced to love, but also feared so thoroughly.”

Her fingers twist in her lap as she goes back to my original question. “When I was sitting on the couch, alone with my thoughts, I realized that letting go of my desire for control was exactly what I needed. The moment I agreed in my mind to just let things be what they’re going to be, I’d never felt freer. Maybe it’s because I feel exhausted, but when I let my walls down…” She pauses and shivers. “It changed everything.”

I want to ask what she saw, but the reverence in her voice makes me believe the answer might be better kept with her. That maybe in time, she’ll show me instead of telling me with words. Much like she does now when she grabs both of my hands.

“I’m sorry I rejected you,” she admits with another laugh. “I don’t apologize much, and I don’t open up to people, but for the first time in my life, I just want to let go of the tight hold I’ve kept on my own life and see what happens.”

I squeeze her fingers before releasing her to stand. She starts to glower, but the moment I pick her up from the chair, her smile returns. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Taking my dove to her room, so I can watch her fly,” I whisper in her ear as I hold her close and let my teeth scrape over her skin there.

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