Page 35 of Forced Plus-Size Mate

“Oh,” I say, scowling. “Yeah, I know they were always a problem.”

“That’s why we never made it public!” he exclaims. “You know that. They had big plans for me. I was under constant stress to be the best in the team, first in class. They had these ideas about me being a doctor and a football star—and if not that, then alpha of the pack.”

I laugh despite myself. “But everyone knew it was going to be Bae. What the hell?”

He sighs. “Yes, and they also knew that being his friend did not automatically mean getting into the top circle. They would only be satisfied if I was beta, and if not that, then I had to go to Denver for college. Or maybe even a bigger city.”

He reaches for my hand, but I pull away, still glaring at him.

“So, this was all because you didn’t want your parents to know?” I demand. “What about your jock friends, and the cheerleaders?”

Body looks away, and I know I’ve got him.

“You pathetic weasel!” I almost yell, hushing myself just in time. “You really rejected me and ruined everything we had just because you were embarrassed in front of your jerk-off friends?”

He turns back to me, and his eyes are so dark, they look black in the shadowed dark. His lip twitches, but he doesn’t look away from me.

“Yes, Amanda. I was a coward. I’m sorry.”

“You think sorry will fix this?”

“No, I don’t,” he answers, shaking his head. “But it’s all I’ve got.”

“Well, what happened next?” I ask. “You say you’ve missed me terribly—but did you run off and fuck Taylor Stenson right after you dumped me?”

He shakes his head. “She came on to me at the party. Right after I finished talking to you, all of us left for Jenks’s place. I got pretty drunk. Taylor threw herself at me, but it was all so wrong that I just left the party.”

He sighs, looking away as if he can’t bear to look at my face.

“I went home and yelled at Mom and Dad. I told them they ruined my life. They told me to get out, so I did. I went into the wilderness and let my wolf take me. I was out there for a few months, but to me, there was no time. Only freedom.”

I’m shocked by this, but definitely not ready to forgive him.

“Bae found me,” Body says. “He brought me back to town and gave me work to do. I thought my parents would disown me, but they barged back into my life right away. It was horrific. I’ve tried to stay away from them as much as possible, and the entire relationship has become extremely toxic.”

“I can see that,” I say.

“You don’t know the half of it, but I really don’t need to get into it. The only thing you need to know is that I regretted that moment every single day. I looked for you—I was devastated to hear that you’d gone away. All I wanted was to make it up to you, and I thought I’d never get the chance.”

Body scoots a little closer and reaches for my hands. This time, I let him take them. His touch is thrilling, warming my skin and awakening desires I thought were long lost.

“I was a trusted member of Bae’s circle, often working on dangerous missions and training young wolves,” Body continues. “I thought I could redeem myself and become the kind of man you’d be proud to be with. If I couldn’t apologize and make it up to you, then that seemed to be the next best thing.”

He leans in, his eyes shimmering with deep hints of gold. His hands tighten on mine, and shivers prickle up my spine, running across my skin and stirring my lust even as I try to keep it in check.

“I’m not asking for your forgiveness,” he says, his voice thick with pain. “All I’m asking is a chance. Just one more chance.”

My hands tighten on his, and I lean forward slowly.

This is a bad idea, a very bad idea!

I don’t care.

My lips touch his, softly, gently, but the impact of them hits me with the force of a tidal wave. It feels like an electric current is running across my skin, affecting the beat of my heart and the rhythm of my breath.

Body returns the kiss, his hands tightening on mine as he leans in. I can sense how hesitant he is, that he doesn’t want to trample on my boundaries. I appreciate the sentiment, but I’m not craving his soft, sensitive side right now.

I need the animal.

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