Page 44 of Make Me Bleed

There’s just one issue, and we both know it.

My shower is at my home. Since Hank moved me inside of his den, he’s acted as though it’smyden now, too. Like I’ll be moving in as soon as he can arrange to bring my few belongings from Dyea to his cave. It’s almost as though he just assumed that his mate would join him out in the woods.

I’m not afraid of the dark when I’m with Hank. His den provides enough light during the day, and when the sun goes down, he has plenty of candles. Now that he knows about my phobias, he’s already done everything he could to make me feel comfortable here.

And I have. Ido. But I like living in Dyea. I’m a female who loves her comforts. My television shows. My shower. Living among other supes, and having my bestie so close… to stay with Hank, I’d have to give that all up.

Am I ready to do that? It’s not enough to hold me back from taking him as my beloved, but it’s something we need to discuss. I’m not ready to do that. I’ll have to be sooner or later, but that’s firmly in the ‘later’ column. We’ve been happy together so far. Giving him an ultimatum already… I don’t want to do that.

But Hank, it seems, isn’t eager to see me walk away just yet.

“If it’s what you want, then I understand. You’ve gotta go back to that settlement of yours. Fine. Give me a couple of minutes to change and extinguish the candles. Then I’ll be ready to go.”

What? “It’s daylight, Hank. I don’t need a chaperone. I’m pretty sure I can find my way back on my own.”

“I’m sure you can, too. Doesn’t mean I’m not goin’ back with you. You’re my mate. Of course I’m comin’.”

In that case, it looks like we might have to have that discussion I’ve been avoiding ‘sooner’ after all…

“What if I want to stay in Dyea? In the settlement?” My voice wavers with sudden nerves, but I push on: “With you?”

He shrugs. “That’s fine. Hopefully you have enough space for my workshop, but if not, I’ll figure something out.”

Wait—

“What? You mean it? I thought you’d want me to stay here with you.”

“Ah, Lise… I figured ya knew.” I shake my head slowly, and he chuffs out a soft laugh. “It don’t matter where we stay. My den. Your lair. Home is where my mate is. As long as we’re together, that’s fine with me.”

There’s one teeny, tiny little problem.

At my core, I’m a rule-follower. I always have been. I do what’s expected of me. As much as I love the idea of just packing up Hank’s den, grabbing his hand, and marching him right into the settlement, I know better.

I can’t do that. The border spell might’ve allowed Hank to follow me into the sanctuary, but I’m not the leader. I don’t have the authority to approve his relocation from the woods to the hidden town. Asking permission from the witches is unlikely, but I at least have to run it by Mayor Lou.

“Mayor Lou is super nice. I’m sure he’ll say it’s okay, but I’ll feel better if I go and ask if you can come stay with me.”

Hank raises his eyebrows. “Nice, huh? I gotta worry about this mayor?”

This time, I smile in response to his jealous question. “Mayor Lou is a skunk shifter.”

“Point taken.” I thought so. “Still don’t understand this idea of permission. You’re my mate,” he reminds me. “That’s all the permission I need. Where you go, I go.”

“I know. And after he says ‘yes’, that’s fine. But I’m asking you nicely, honey bear… please let me do this.”

I thought I had him withhoney bear. I should’ve known better.

He is a male shifter, after all.

Hank ruffles his hair, looking determined. “I can still come with you. Wait outside in the trees until he says it’s okay and I join ya.”

He could, but I was planning on talking to Mayor Lou, maybe checking in with Conall and Bridget on whether they found Peter or not, then stopping by my house for that shower. I’d freshen up, change my clothes, and pack some of my more luxurious lingerie for one last night with Hank in his den.

Bridget teased me when I unpacked one of my many suitcases and she noticed the silky, revealing nighties I brought with me to Alaska. Now I’m grateful that my need to dress my best no matter what led me to pack them because Hank is going to roar when he gets an eyeful of me wearing one.

I want him waiting for me in his den. Wondering if I’m in the shower, wondering if I’m wet and naked… I want him crawling with need by the time I come back, ready to finalize this thing.

I can’t tell him that, though. Insead, I whisper huskily, “Wait for me here,” and leave the rest up to his imagination.

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