Page 69 of Mated Exile

"Cat!" I laugh, her wickedness infectious, and take another long sip of whiskey. Its warmth is already spreading through me. "I'm pretty sure that if I mate with four men I'm going to wind up a walking UTI."

We both laugh at this for way longer than necessary. Cat chokes as she says, "Get creative with your hands and mouth, if you aren't already doing that."

"I am! I think I've figured out every way to orgasm without actually having a dick inside me." Wrinkling my nose, I add, "Except sixty-nine."

"Such an overrated position."

"Only a teenage boy would think it's easy to get off while balancing like that." Rolling my eyes, I add, "I can't really say that my chemistry with any one of the guys is any better with the others. Although... I honestly haven't gotten that close with Kieran, since last time we almost got together."

Cat's voice goes soft and sympathetic. "Why is that? Do you think it's because of how he hurt you?"

"I think it's because of how big it feels," I confess. Moments later I realize my double entendre, and our eyes meet. We both start laughing again, and I clarify, "Not how bigthatfeels! Not that it'snotbig, I mean, I haven't really been comparing, but he does fine in that department."

Hooting and hollering, Cat reaches up to wipe tears from her eyes as her laughter peels off. "It sounds to me like you're afraid that if you become intimate with Kieran, you'll wind up mating with him."

"We almost did already," I point out. "I'm not sure that I can control myself around him. It's not that I'm more attracted to him than anyone else, it's just that, even after all these years, I stillwantto have him. Because I didn't get him when I was supposed to."

"You have to stop thinking that way. For one thing, it was years ago," she says, ticking off on her fingers. "And secondly, he's not the same person you would've gotten together with. But finally, I think youneedto become intimate with Kieran before you make a big decision about who you're going to be with—because otherwise, you could wind up rushing into something before you're ready."

"Yeah. You're right." I give her a soft smile, take a deep breath, and sip another long draught of whiskey to relax myself. "Four men. Am I lucky, or am I about to be very, very busy?"

"Both," Cat retorts. Then she glances over her shoulder, towards the staircase, and shoots me a wry look. "Are you sure the number isn't five?"

Licking my lips, I shake my head. "Bastian isn't ready for anything like that. You see him—he wanders around this house like a stranger in a strange land. I don't think he'severtouched anyone romantically or sexually, at least not willingly."

"So you're not saying that you haven't thought about it." Cat snorts. "Because webothknow you've thought about it."

Annoyed, I shoot her a look. "He's six and a half feet of muscle with long hair and an Adonis jawline, of course I'vethoughtabout it. I'm not going to jump him, though. He deserves a little peace and some control over what happens to his body."

Taking the last sip of her whiskey, Cat points out, "You have no idea whether or not he'd object to you jumping his bones. Just saying." She holds up a hand to fend off my icy stare. "I've seen the way he looks at you. That not-so-little puppy has a puppy dog crush on you."

"I saved his life. Of course he has some emotions there." Splaying my hands on the table, I shake my head. "I'm not going to take advantage of anything he feels for me. Not unless something drastically changes."

"Mmm-hmmm. We'll see." Finishing her tea, Cat rises to her feet and places both glasses in the sink. "On that note. I have some sleeping to do. Don't stay up too late reading strange, cursed books—we both know it's bad for your eyesightandyour soul."

"I won't," I promise. "I'm almost done with the books anyway. And if they don't help me break the curse, we've got some other tricks up our sleeves."

Including waking the elders, if Roarke figures out how to, or if worse comes to worse just putting the curse off for another seventy-seven years.

I'd rather defeat it now, though. Knowing that it still exists is like an itch between my spine. Besides, some part of me feels like I have to earn my part in the pack by proving that I'm not just like the last hybrid. Undoing her dirty work would be a big step in that direction.

Cat heads down the hallway to the spare room in the back of the house, closing the door and shutting off the light. I spend a few long moments with the last of my whiskey, draining my cup to give me some liquid courage. The curse books await me upstairs, and I don't look forward to cracking them open.

There's something about the way the magic slides across my palms and tingles on my skin that I just don't like.

Sighing, I stand up, crack my neck, and put the glass in the sink. Then I turn on my phone's light and carefully creep up the stairs. Bastian is sleeping in my dad's old room, and I don't want to wake him. It still gives me a funny feeling to know he's there, but I suppose it's better than leaving the room empty for no reason.

The floorboards in the office creak as I shuffle in, wincing at their sound. I flip on a lamp at the back of the room and stare at the drawer I've shoved the curse books into. They're wrapped in two towels, so I don't have to touch them too much. I have to take a deep breath to get up the courage to open the drawer.

Last night I found a spell in here to make a woman infertile. Its ingredients included a lock of newborn baby hair and the skin of a small, rare lizard. Undoing it requires owl feathers, a new moon night, and three drops of blood gathered in the throes of passion.

Hopefully the curse on the pack's mate bonds won't be so horrifying to undo.

Flipping open the towel, I reach for the leather-bound book—then pause. I forgot the bottle of water. Sighing, I take the excuse to back away from the books, spin on my heel, and head back into the hallway.

When I get there, my phone dimly lighting the hallway, I'm not alone.

I freeze at the sight of the hulking figure standing a few feet in front of me.

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