Page 11 of The Alpha Warrior's Mate

I should’ve known that we were being watched, that the scent of Jeremy coming into the office would’ve been noticed by my boss. Except I didn’t, and when my boss came in and asked how the day was going, I answered normally, not expecting his reply.

“You aren’t going to tell me about the vermin who was in here?” He grabbed me by the arm. “I saw him leave, and I scented him the other day. You know the rules.”

Part of me wanted to say I had nothing to do with it, that he came in here on his own. It was the truth and might buy me time to get out. But I couldn’t do that to Jeremy. I couldn’t throw him under the bus. He was probably in at least as much hot water as I was.

“It wasn’t like that,” I said. “It’s just… I was lonely.” They would buy that, right? Wrong.

“Well, you won’t be lonely for long. Looks like you just got a demotion to our newest division. No worries. There will be lots of alphas paying you all kinds of attention soon enough.”

Breeder. He was going to turn me into a breeder. Fucker.

He dragged me out of my office by my arm, and then we waited. And waited. I didn’t understand what for, until he took me outside.

And then everything with Jeremy, the other shifters, and my boss dying happened all at once, and I wasn’t even sure all what “everything” had been. I sort of disappeared—my bear stepping in front, pushing me back, protecting me from all that was happening. To the point where I didn’t even realize where we were going or how we got there. But, all of a sudden, I was at what Jeremy called the safe house, and he was carrying me inside. Only it wasn’t a house—it was a freaking warehouse.

Maybe safe houses were in warehouses, and I was just watching too much television.

“Why? Why?” I asked, over and over.

“I’ve got you,” he kept whispering back. He didn’t put me down until we got into a room I instantly recognized as his—his scent permeating every inch of it.

“Tell me how to help you.” He cupped my cheek.

“I don’t know…a shower. I need a shower.” I had to get the scent of that man off of me. He’d only been holding my arm, but I needed it gone.

“It’s in here.” Jeremy pointed the way, but I shook my head.

“Don’t leave me. Don’t leave me.”

“I won’t,” he promised, walked me inside, and set up my shower, laying towels out, promising me he’d wait for me to be done. And he did. When I came out, drying off, he climbed inside, said he had to wash the day away.

And, unlike him, I wasn’t a gentleman. I watched him bathe.

“I’m sorry,” I said over the hot water. “I’m sorry I fell apart.”

“Don’t be sorry. Don’t be sorry. That man had his hands on you.”

“I know. And my bear protected me, but that meant I didn’t really see all that was happening… He kind of took control.”

The water cut off, and Jeremy stepped out. All hope of a conversation was lost as I took in his dripping-wet body. Leave it to me to be hard as a rock after the day I’d just had.

“You’re my mate,” he said.

“And you’re mine.” I took my towel and dried him off, as he did the same with his own towel.

“Lie with me,” I asked.

“I would do anything for you,” he vowed.

And we climbed into his bed. I felt safer than I ever had before. The scent of my mate permeated his sheets and I loved being enveloped by them. His broad chest rose and fell in a soothing rhythm against my back as I lay nestled under his chin, our legs entwined in the cocoon of warmth we’d created. It was weird how we could barely know each other and still feel completely comfortable lying like this, our bodies mingled, tangled.

“I want you, Jeremy. I don’t want to wait.” I needed to feel our connection completely.

“Are you sure?”

“More than anything.” I rolled over, tilting my head to expose more of my neck in silent invitation.

Jeremy’s breath hitched. He traced a line down my spine, with a possessive touch. He leaned in and kissed me, sweetly at first, but deepening with each brush of our lips. Our lips danced together, our tongues exploring each other’s mouth, and everything was suddenly right with the world.

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