Page 17 of Hidden Magic

Too different. It was a mild way to explain it. A human with telepathic abilities and a werelynx. A shifter. Inconceivable.As inconceivable as a werewolf and a witch?The thought popped in his mind. Were they that different to Ian and Sera, or even Asher and Valeria? His entire life he had been rejected, alone, fighting for his survival. It was impossible for him to expect or hope for anything. Except for his Kat. Would he ever be able to let her go?

Two gentle hands cupping his face brought him back from his somber thoughts. “Brant.”

He winced at his name. “You read my mind again. Damn it, Kat!”

This time, she was the one who silenced him. He wanted to explain, to tell her how much of his heart she owned, but words never came easily for him.

Lost in the kiss, he felt her fingers tracing ticklish patters on his pectorals and abs before taking care of his jeans. Fumbling, Brant decided to help and they both quickly discarded their remaining clothes. Brant was about to slide between her thighs, but it seemed that his Kat had other plans. Grabbing his neck, she straddled his hips. Brant wasn’t about to complain. He knew most male shifters didn’t like to relinquish their dominance by having a woman on top during sex, but Brant knew his powers well. For him, having Kat devouring him like this was a gift. He’d never thought someone would want him, desire him enough.

Breathing hard, Kat lifted herself. “You silly lynx. You are worthy of so much more than me. And you don’t even realize it.”

“Stop reading my mind.” His voice must have sounded gruff, but deep down he had nothing to hide from her. If he was being honest, he found it much easier to communicate via thoughts as he wasn’t usually a talkative kind of man.

“Brant...”

Gloriously naked, straddling his body, her chocolate curls around her face, she was a feast, and one he intended to ravage if she’d stop talking. And for that to happen, he would need to answer her questions. “A mate in the shifter world, is the equivalent of a spouse. Mating is the marriage.” He reached for her then, hoping their discussion was finished. That wasn’t happening as she swatted his hands away from her breasts and he growled at her. Kat didn’t even blink.

“It’s a ritual that binds two people together.”

“How do you do it?”

Obviously sidetracked, Brant groaned and almost rolled his eyes, his body craved to be inside her. “It’s initiated by the female. She takes the male inside her and ritual words are exchanged. Satisfied?”

Her smiled returned, both amused and curious. “The female, woman, has control over this? Interesting.”

“It was to make sure males wouldn’t force themselves on females. The magic doesn’t work until the female takes control of that part.”

“Magic?”

“Yeah. I told you it was unbreakable. That’s because it’s magic. Unless one dies, the female will only be able to have offspring with her mated male, and the male won’t be able to stand any other female.”

He normally could read her face like a book, but when Kat lowered herself to kiss him, he was at a loss. It was soft, sweet like her, with a touch of longing he hadn’t felt before with her. When she broke away, staying close, her hair surrounded them like a curtain, her breath tickling his lips, it took a moment to understand the words.

“And if I said I love you, Brant the lynx. What if I asked you to marry me?”

Brant licked his lips, unable to put the words she’d said together and make sense of them, unable to answer her declaration with one of his own. It felt almost dreamlike, unreal. In her naked glory, Kat straightened up, positioning herself as she grabbed his erection and slowly impaled herself on him. If not for the film still coving her eyes, the moment would have been perfect.

“Now, tell me what to do next.”

The way she grabbed him and squeezed him hard made it almost impossible to speak, but for her he tried to get his wits together. “What do you want me to say again?”

Her laughter was like rays of sunlight. He wanted to curl up in her lap forever.

“Marry me, Brant.”

His entire body froze. “Kat. My Kat, you don’t know what you’re asking me.”

Her wicked smile and pure expression would be his downfall. “I love you. And I know nothing will be easy between us. Maybe I’m delusional, maybe you should be the one worried. My world is dangerous and mean. I don’t know if there is safety in it. With my powers, who I am, I’ve been alone most of my life. And then I found you.”

The words rang so true, at the same level he’d felt when he’d first seen her. The baker smelling of sugar, covered in flour with the most beautiful smile on her face.

“I have nothing for you, Kat, except myself. I have no pack to offer you protection, no money, not even a home.”

Ever so slowly she leaned forward placing a palm on his heart. “All I need is you and your cat. Only if you want me.”

Brant’s lips trembled into a smile at the familiar playfulness. “It’s a lynx.”

She straightened herself up, her sheath caressing him felt amazing and he lost his breath. “I know. I was only teasing. But if you don’t want to marry me, I understand.”

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