Page 24 of Run Free

I wasn’t aware of just how long we stood there looking each other over, but the smell of our combined arousal began to coat the air. It empowered me to know Gage was just as affected by me as I was by him.

I slowly walked to him. He stiffened, and I wasn’t certain if he would stay or bolt. I reached out and ran my fingers across his side where I had made the incision to stop his internal bleeding. There wasn’t a single sign of the surgery.

“Remarkable,” I said, barely recognizing the husky tone of my voice. Gage shivered but didn’t step away. “If only the internal scars healed as quickly.”

We both knew what I was talking about and at some point we’d have to discuss it. I had overheard enough to know how much it bothered him that I had seen the videos of what they’d done to him. Something told me he was strong enough to get past that in time.

His fingertips lightly touched my chin and forced my head up so that I was looking into his eyes. My heart raced, and I imagined my wolf’s tail wagging happily in my head. He studied me for only a moment before his lips crashed down on mine. I smiled as I parted my lips for his tongue to enter and dance with mine. It felt so right and perfect. My mate.

Gage slowed the frenzy that started to consume us and pulled back. I pouted in protest. He rested his forehead against mine.

“Angel, tell me to leave. Tell me I’m not good enough for you. I know I should walk away now, but I just can’t. Tell me to go,” he all but begged.

I lowered my arms from where they’d wound around his neck during our kissing. I could see both disappointment and relief in his eyes, thinking I was pulling away. There was no way in hell I was letting him get away that easily. I wrapped my arms around his waist and pulled my body flush against his. There was no barrier left between us. He threw his head back and growled seconds before he found my lips again.

My wolf grew impatient quickly as my canines extended. He ran his teeth across them and I felt the rumble of approval through his entire body. He lifted me easily to bring us face-to-face. I wrapped my legs around his waist, pressing myself against him with a soft moan. A primal need took over as we got lost in the moment.

I bared my neck to him and with a possessive growl he bit down. The piercing pain lasted only a second. I sunk my teeth into his neck just as he entered my body. It was an immediate moment of sheer ecstasy that grew stronger and stronger until it felt like something inside me snapped and the world exploded in lights around me.

My canines retracted, and I kissed the mark I’d left on his perfect skin. This was one scar that would never fade, telling the world Gage Matthews was mine. Our bond was sealed.

As our labored breaths steadied, I pulled back to look at him. Panic and regret met me. I released my hold on him and lowered myself to the floor. My legs were wobbly.

“Angel. . .” he started, but I held up a hand and immediately cut him off.

“Don’t,” I said, sounding stronger than I felt. “Don’t tell me you’re sorry.”

He dressed, gave me a sad look, and walked out without another word. I sank to the floor in a puddle of misery and cried.

What had I done?

Gage

Chapter 15

Shock was the only reason I’d been able to walk away from her. What the hell had I done? I knew I wasn’t good enough for Clara. I knew I would only destroy her life in the end, but I’d gotten so caught up in the moment. I hadn’t been thinking clearly and now I had condemned her for life.

Bonded? We were bonded mates. That wasn’t something that could ever be undone. Hell, we had just been talking about how to find a way to break the bond, and in one lustful moment, we had sealed it instead. I didn’t know what to do or where to go now. She was my mate and my instincts told me I had to stay. I had to protect her. Would she even let me after the way I’d just handled things?

I stood out in front of the clinic, pacing a barren path in the grass when Dave walked up.

“Gage? Everything okay?”

“No,” I told him. “Everything is definitely not okay.”

“How about a beer?” he asked, like an old friend who knew I just needed to talk.

I looked back at the clinic. I could feel Clara’s sadness as clear as if it were my own. I knew I should go back in there and assure her everything would be okay, but I was just as emotionally wrecked. I nodded and turned to follow Dave instead.

We hopped in one of the SUVs and drove the short distance to town and the nearest bar. I followed him inside as we sat at a small booth in the back corner. Normally I’d sit at the bar, but I think he sensed my need for solitude instead.

“What happened?” he finally asked after our beers arrived.

“I don’t know. What have I done?” I asked. He gave me a moment to compose myself. “Clara’s my mate,” I finally managed to say.

Dave smiled. “That’s not news, man. Everyone knows that.”

“No, I don’t just mean my mate, I mean we bonded. It happened so fast. We were just caught up in the moment. I never meant to let it go that far, and now she’s stuck with me.”

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