Page 133 of The Wolf Prince's Mate

Three.

Clay’s voice was low when he finally said, “He wasn’t rough with her.”

I shook my head.

“He was careful. Protective.” A moment passed. “He wasnice.”

I nodded.

“He treated her the way Enzo’s wolf treat’s Aspen’s.”

“He considers her his mate.”

Clay’s eyes closed.

He let out a slow breath. “I don’t know how to make that fit with what I’ve seen of him.”

“Maybe it doesn’t have to fit. Maybe you can just accept it.”

“How do I do that?”

I shrugged. “Just admit it and move on?”

He grimaced, but didn’t disagree.

I kissed him lightly. “I need a shower. You can join me if you want, but no pressure. If you need some time, take it.”

His eyes opened, the gold orbs meeting my greens. “Thanks, Gorgeous.”

“Mmhm.” I kissed him again before slipping off his lap. I felt his gaze on me as I padded to the bathroom, but I didn’t think it was sexual.

I was halfway through my shower when he joined me, pulling my body to his and holding me close.

Wrapping my arms around his waist, I held him too.

And we stayed like that for a good, long while.

When we eventually emerged fromthe shower, Clay made food with our dwindling supplies while I cleaned my tattoo equipment. It was probably still fine, but I wasn’t risking it after our wolves tracked all that dirt inside. Even though werewolves couldn’t actually get infections.

We ate together in comfortable silence after I was done, then moved to the bedroom. It didn’t take long to get going on thetattoo, and I turned on some music so Clay wouldn’t feel like he needed to talk.

Working on him was relaxing, honestly. I knew what he wanted and what the finished piece needed to look like, and I had no problem making that happen.

We only took short breaks for lunch and dinner, otherwise working through the day and well into the night. I had to tap out around 3 AM, too tired to risk continuing. After I cleaned and bandaged Clay’s skin—even though it was already pretty much healed—he pulled me into bed with him and held me close.

I kissed his collarbone, and his chest rumbled.

“Sorry I’m not great company right now,” he said quietly.

“You’re doing fine, Savage.”

“Doesn’t feel that way.”

“Just ignore your feelings for a while and maybe they’ll go away.”

He snorted. “Have you considered a career in therapy, Gorgeous?”

“Nah. They’d realize how many issues I have and reject my applications.”

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