Page 61 of Brandt's Rule

“Well, I said she was reborn to a family who love and adore her…”

“Yeah, you did.”

“And her new father, the only one she’s ever known, is a Gargoyle, and is so devoted to her that she’s never known anything but love. So, with their support she grew into her own, and she and her Dragon mate were finally able to claim one another.”

Brandt’s head canted as he began to understand where her story was going.

“Then they had me,” she said

Slowly Brandt’s lips turned up into a grin. “She’s your mother, and her Dragon mate is your father.”

Tempest nodded.

“And you’ve got part of her elemental magics because you grew inside of her.”

“Do you want to take me home now?”

“What? Why? Why would you ask that?”

“Because no one has ever wanted to be near me. Except my family.”

“Why not? That’s cool as shit!”

“Fear,” Tempest said plainly. “Fear.”

Brandt slammed the shifter forward to put the truck in park, then he reached for Tempest and pulled her into his arms, nearly strangling her with the seatbelt in the meantime.

“Oh, shit, I’m sorry,” he said, reaching for the clasp to release her.

Tempest swirled her fingers and the seatbelt simply disappeared, leaving behind a vague purplish mist.

Brandt watched open-mouthed as it disappeared before he looked up to meet her gaze again.

“You sure?” Tempest asked again.

Brandt pulled her into his arms, this time without strangling her with the seatbelt and kissed her for all he was worth, nibbling at her lips until she opened for him, then delving inside, his tongue like an invader marking her mouth as his, conquering her swollen lips into submission as little moans of pleasure climbed up and out of her throat while she clutched at him as needily as he did her. Brandt kissed her until he was afraid he’d lose control, and then he still refused to let her go, holding her close, his head resting against hers, taking in her scent, the feel of her in his arms, the warmth of her body. And as his Bear settled into an almost meditative state of holding and learning all of the nuances of their mate. This. This was what he needed — always.

Tempest shook her head. “I’m afraid.”

“I’ll never hurt you.”

“Not of you exactly.”

He understood. She was afraid to trust. She’d been excluded and avoided all her life. All she wanted was to fit in, to belong and to have her mate treat her with less than complete acceptance would hurt more than she was willing to risk.

Brandt pulled his face back enough to lock eyes with her. “I’m afraid. I hate not being in control, and you shake me to my very foundation. I feel anything but control when I’m with you. I’m not going to lie and say this is easy for me. It’s not. Hell, yesterday I’d decided that I couldn’t have you because you knocked me off balance. But I know I was just lying to myself. I’ll be damned if I ever let you go. You’re mine, Tempest. However it came to be, how it comes to be. You’re mine, and I’m not willing to give you up. So all the uncertainty we’re just going to wade through together until it all makes sense and we’re both the better for it. The fates have spoken. You’re mine and I’m here for it. We’ll be here for it together. Whatever else happens, we’ll do this together.”

“I’m going to need some time,” Tempest whispered.

“I think we’re beyond that.”

“It’s a little overwhelming,” she said.

“It is that. In fact, it’s a lot overwhelming.”

“Just maybe take it a little easy at first as I get accustomed to whatever it is.”

He looked at her critically, analyzing her body language as well as her words. “Makes you feel better to refer to it as ‘whatever it is’ doesn’t it?”

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