Shifters have a phenomenal sense of smell. For that reason, we rarely use hygiene products that have any scents added, whether they’re artificial or natural. Before, my scent was covered up by Declan’s lemon and Guy’s anise. After my shower, all I smell like is me.
Bishop smells like cloves. I smell like honey.
More importantly, I don’t smell like any other male…
His lips twitch. “I like it better than before. It’s nice.”
Score one for Helene. She knew exactly what it was that set Bishop off, and if I’d been thinking straight, I would’ve figured it out myself. But I didn’t, and now I’m looking at an Alpha who’s expression makes me thing of Winnie the freaking Pooh.
Like Bishop loves him some honey.
I gulp, waiting for him to stalk the rest of the way toward me before climbing into the bed with me.
Only… he doesn’t. He takes a deep breath, shuddering as he gets a lungful of my scent, then walks past the bed, heading toward his closet.
At first, I thought he was grabbing a flannel to replace the one he seemed to have lost. Nope. He grabs a blanket with each hand before tossing them to the corner opposite of the bed.
Bishop makes my head spin, but even I can tell he’s building himself a nest on the floor.
Why?
I pat the mattress next to me. Then, digging deep, I find my voice. “Hey, um… aren’t you going to join me in the bed?”
His heavy-lidded gaze flickers over at me. He lets out a soft grunt, then shakes his head.
No?
I scoot back against the pillows at the head of his bed, taking the covers with me. “I… are you rejecting me?”
Because I messed up before? Because I’m not the she-wolf he was expecting? Because Helene was right, heisa virgin, and he doesn’t want to mate me? Or could it be?—
Bishop shakes his head, but that doesn’t stop him from dropping down to a crouch before kicking out his legs, making himself comfortable on the floor.
“Never,” he says. “But I’d be a right bastard if I crawled into bed with you right now.”
I don’t understand. “I’m your mate. Isn’t that… I mean…”
“That’s not all I was wantin’ a mate for,” he says. “Don’t misunderstand me. Reason I pulled my jeans back on after my shift is because I didn’t want to scare ya with how much I do want you forthat. But it can wait.”
I think of his low slung jeans and what he might be sporting beneath them. I swallow roughly, and Bishop notices.
He gentles his voice. “Listen. I’m not rushin’ you into anything, Sofia. I already made that mistake. Just because I found out your name, I didn’t have to tell Kendall River that you needed to make up your mind right away. How can I expect anyone to know if I’m worth bein’ taken as their mate in a damn day?”
“What about a month?” I ask. Damn it. I can’t shake the vision of Bishop without those jeans out of my head… and, well, he says he’s not rejecting me. Part of me doesn’t buy it. Not like I think he’s lying. It’s just… I came all this way because he wanted me to be his mate.
Is that still on the table, or?—
He raises his eyebrows, but he doesn’t get up from the nest he made on the floor.
“A month,” I say again. “Or three weeks, really.”
Understanding dawns on his face. “You’re asking me about performing the Luna Ceremony the next time the moon is full.”
I guess I am. “Yes.”
He’s quiet for a moment. “I’ll take you as my female when I’m sure you ain’t afraid of me.”
“I’m not afraid of you.”