Page 39 of Make Me Bleed

As much as I appreciated the assurance, I justknewwhat the cause of his distraction was. And after he showed me each part of his den before we somehow ended up back in the bedroom, he raised his eyebrows at me and asked about Julian.

Jealousy is part of having a dominant male for a mate. Granted, he has no reason to be jealous at all, but I’d be more surprised if he let that pass.

He knows the details about Peter. Just like how I felt compelled to explain my nyctophobia, between Bridget and me, we gave a quick rundown over my former relationship with Peter. I could just see his mind working as he flexed the muscle in his cheek. Peter wanted his mate. Peter couldn’t have his mate. Peter would either be taken care of by Conall, or by Hank.

Because Peter’s presence is as much of a threat to the rest of Dyea as it is to me, Hank understood that Conall got first dibs at tracking the human. It especially worked out for him since he got to stay behind at his denwithme.

But Julian…

I nod slowly. “Yes.”

“I gotta worry about him?”

If I tell him that Julian propositioned me even knowing that Hank is my beloved, that might be the shove that pushes mybear over the edge. He’s so sweet. So good-natured. So earnest… but he’s a bear. Give him a reason to rage, and I don’t think even I could stop him if I had to.

“I have no interest in Julian,” I tell Hank as firmly as I can.

His gaze roves over my face. “Alright then.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it. Toldja, Lise. I trust my mate. I trustyou.”

And that’s the end of our discussing the other vampire.

Since Hank brought him up, though…

“You never saw a human out there, did you?”

Hank shakes his head. “Caught a whiff a time or two, but despite Dyea bein’ a ghost town-turned-some mixed supe community, humans come through the woods. I mind ‘em no business, and they leave me alone.”

Of course. Whether he’s a six foot-five male or a eight-foot-tall grizzly when he’s rearing back on his legs, anyone with a brain would avoid Hank Barrett.

Good thing I’m not looking at him with my brain. I’m looking at him with my heart… and otherneedierparts of my anatomy.

“But if there’s a human out there who thinks he can target my mate? If the wolf don’t find him, I promise you, I will.”

I lay my hand on his forearm. “Thank you, Hank.”

He grins. “Honey bear.”

“Honey bear,” I agree softly.

“I woulda gone after him now. If you wanted me to,” my possessive mate feels the need to add. “But you stayed.”

I run my fingers over his warm skin, eyeing the inviting mattress just behind him. “I did.”

“I’m mighty glad. I was hopin’ you would. You know, of your own choosin’.”

I step into him, closing the slight gap between us. My hand slides from his arm to the center of his chest. “Mm.”

Hank peers down at me. My pulse quickens as he stills, like a predator afraid to spook his prey.

But I’m not his prey. I’m not a prize. That’s what he said to Bridget. I’m more than that.

I’m hismate… and it’s time I start acting like it.

I reach for him first. Going up on my tiptoes, parting my lips in invitation, I wait to see if he’s going to respond, or if he’s going to kindly reject my advances. After all, he’s at least a foot taller than me. We’re going to have to get creative to be intimate, and it starts with something as simple as a kiss.

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