Page 22 of Bind Me

She’s my fated mate.

Whether she likes it or not, she’s mine.

Sasha

Fated mate?

No, this can’t be happening. I’ve always figured I’d just keep dating until maybe I found someone special, if ever. Finding your fated mate? That’s supposed to be a one-in-a-billion chance. Something inside me isn’t ready for something so serious—so permanent—that it might destroy me if I lose them… or if I hurt them.

My thoughts flash to my parents, to the river, to my mom’s kiss of death to my dad, stealing his life. I shake those images away because I’m not her, I’m not…

Kaden stares at me with that ridiculously sinful smile, and my knees are close to buckling. I hate that he smells so good—like the fresh cut of lawn, the ocean in a storm, and masculine sexiness that leaves me close to swooning.

Sure, I’ve been attracted to lots of men, but this is something else, something terrifying in how my body is responding, as if my insides are pushing me to get closer to him.

I force a step backward instead.

On the bright side, this guy isn’t my target, Belu, so one point for me in not falling for a criminal again.

“My little mermaid, what brings you to my family mansion? To find me?” His voice is deep, the kind that slides over my body, slipping between my thighs, teasing me, grasping onto me as though he has me pinned beneath him once more. Whatever he’s doing to it, it’s almost like being strangled into submission… and part of me wants to give in desperately.

For a moment, I forget how to breathe.

My thoughts fly to the conversation I had with my boss about this very property. She mentioned it held a lot of dark history, and I assume this man is the family member who returned. I also remember my boss, Ada, saying his grandfather had been sent to Tartarus.

Does Kaden know what his grandfather did to end up there?

When I notice he’s staring unblinking, waiting for my response, I manage to murmur, “W-work. I’m here for an investigation. I’m searching for someone.” My voice comes across steadier than I feel, but the casual flicker of his eyebrows shows he senses the nerves in my voice. He steps close, a challenge written all over that gorgeous face.

“In my yard?”

I meet his steely gaze. “Could be. He was last seen down by the water recently.”

Kaden runs a hand through his deep chestnut hair, which glints in the light. It cascades around his face and falls to his shoulders, and it’s almost impossible not to stare. How can someone be so handsome? The way the sunlight catches his features almost seems unfair.

He’s tall, too, close to six foot two or three, and broad, massive. I feel so tiny next to him. He could easily overpower me, yet he seems more interested in watching me, as if I should just fall to my knees before him.

The idea of accepting my fated mate is incredibly tempting. The attraction, the invisible pull to him, my body responding to his scent, his touch… it’s my body telling me I’m meant to be with him. Imagine having by your side the kind of man who nobody would dare challenge.

I shake myself back to reality, to the fact that this is happening too fast, and I’m not ready.

“Who are you looking for?” he asks, his head tilting slightly to the side, the breeze fluttering through his hair. I can easily frame in a photo now where the slight frown at the bridge of his nose just adds a darker edge to his beautiful face.

“You wouldn’t know him,” I say, keeping my gaze fixed on him as I try to decipher the nature of his supernatural essence. Given that he had a cave underwater, he’s some sort of water being. A merman, maybe? But then, on second thought, curiosity gets the better of me.

“Actually, do you happen to know someone by the name of Belu Jonsyn?” I’m torn about whether I should have mentioned my target, but if there’s a chance Kaden knows him, I need to find out.

He shakes his head. “Can’t say I do. I’m new in town. But I prefer to talk about us, not another man.” There’s almost a growl in his voice.

We stand there, the moment stretching awkwardly—or maybe it’s just awkward for me because he’s studying me with a smile in his eyes that’s breathtaking. My heart hammers in my chest, every beat echoing that tingling sensation I’ve been told you sense when you meet your fated mate. They say you’ll know instantly.

Well, I hate that it feels so overwhelming, confirming what he suggested earlier.

He’s my fated mate.

Fuck!

Now what?

---