Page 41 of Sinful Mates

I rubbed loose circles on her back to cement the message. “You’re talking to the avatar of Reckoning. Thoth would tell me if we unbalanced Maat and must make it right.”

Resistance twisted with guilt, indicating her skepticism. This had to be something she came to on her own accord and when the time was right. Words shoved down her throat wouldn’t ease the weight she carried.

“Let’s talk about something else.” Her fingers tugged out of mine, desperate to keep busy and ease her guilt, playing with the curls at my nape. “Like how incredible you smell.”

Fine. Broach talk of wrath or cosmic order another time.

I unwrapped my lunch, broke off a piece of quiche, and fed it to my mate. Normally I ate with a knife and fork, but when it came to her, I took any chance to have my fingers in her mouth. “Like sweet temptation, darkness, and danger?”

She giggled, winding my hair around her fingers, lightly tugging at my scalp, the sweet heat shooting to my dick. “Something like that.”

She accepted the food, sucking it from my fingers, and I hissed, hardening beneath her, wishing Zethan would take her kid for an ice cream so I had a moment to fuck her. Alone. All mine. Daddy’s submissive pet.

I was lost to this woman. Hers. Almost completely. Only one thing held me back. Tightness gripped my lungs every time I thought about her leaving me. About what I had to tell her next.

CHAPTER15

Castor

“Sorceress.”I swept her hair away from her cheek, prompting her to glance up at me. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

“This sounds serious.” She sat up on my lap to give me her full attention.

I raked my nails along her scalp and her eyelashes fluttered. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about it, but you’ve had your plate full with Alaric and the clinic this last month.”

I didn’t want any miscommunications or arguments if it came to it. Confessing this was bad enough and sure to hurt her.

Her bond shrunk back with regret. “I’m sorry for neglecting you and my other mates.”

Fuck. No apologies necessary. I was a big boy. “Daddy’s a selfish, greedy bastard who wants you all to himself.” I shoved the bastard down.

The tightness in her back fell away and she relaxed. “I’m still ... sorry.”

I leaned in to growl in her ear, “The only place you’ll ever be sorry is on your hands and knees in my bed. Got it?”

A smile tugged at her lips. “Sounds like fun. Make it a date?”

Her calendar was pretty full these days with Mia and the rest of us. I knew what day I wanted. Already had it mapped out. Trip down to Sydney. Stay the night in a hotel. Spend a few hours at a convention.

“Three weekends from now?” I brushed more of her hair. “You’re mine.”

She fisted my cut in her hands. “Let me see what I can do.”

“Okay, Sorceress.” The greedy bastard in me wasn’t satisfied. The practical one understood her new commitments.

“Is that what you wanted to tell me?”

Fuck. Time to face the music before it became a problem that drove a wedge between us. “I want you to know that I meant every word I said that day.”

Her eyes glassed over in thought that cleared with recognition. The text I sent her before she left with Zethan to rescue Mia.I love you.We didn’t have a chance to discuss it, and the words hung over me, waiting for acknowledgment or some kind of reassurance of her feelings.

She softened in my grasp, melting into my body, her bond turning to liquid honey. “I love you too.”

Hearing the words made my stomach turn hard as if filled with cement. Words that felt empty to me when I held back from her.

Her palms caressed my shoulders then moved behind my neck. “Thank you for giving me Danny’s phone coordinates. For your support and loyalty. Please don’t get killed for it.” Her eyes flicked to the door as if she expected Slade to burst in and start beating the shit out of me.

Better not. Asshole should thank me for it. Saved his ass from going down in flames and their relationship with it.

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