Page 37 of Phoenix Falling
“I will.” I had to; it was only fair. “But before I do that…I want you to know, if at any time you aren’t comfortable, all you have to do is walk out the door. You don’t have to worry—”
“I am not uncomfortable.” Her brown eyes gazed up at me, glistening with both appreciation and a touch of impatience. She wasn’t all sweetness and light—she had a strong core, and I needed to remember that.
I stared at the precious gift I had been given, praying that she was being as open and honest as she seemed. Without thought my hand came up to cup her cheek, my thumb stroking across her so-soft skin. “I’d never want to scare you.”
She smiled then. “I would never want you to scare me. But you don’t. You haven’t from the moment I saw you in Maddox’s compound. I’m a truth teller, remember? I know if you’re speaking the truth. I know if you’re lying to me. But I don’t need my gift to know you’ve never lied to me.”
“I haven’t.”
“So what are you not telling me?”
I gathered my courage in both my hands, ripped out my heart, and extended it in offering to her. “You’re my mate.”
Those beautiful eyes went wide. “H-how can you be sure of that?”
My thumb was still caressing her skin, and I focused on it, afraid of what I would see in her eyes. “I just know. My animal knows.”
She reached for my hand, drew it down from her face to twine her fingers between mine. For long moments she stared at our joined hands, not speaking. Then, “I don’t understand.”
I wasn’t certain I had the words to explain. Matebonds were instinctive to my people, so much so that it seemed the knowledge of them was embedded in our collective consciousness, but Imogen needed that knowledge now. “A matebond is not merely a physical connection; it is also a spiritual one. A couple may have sex, but it doesn’t connect their souls. A matebond does.”
A frown wrinkled her brow. “How?”
“Good question.” Very good. “The way it has been explained to me, it is a seeking or yearning of one soul for another. Your mind reaches for mine, your soul reaches for mine, and when I reciprocate, we come together like two puzzle pieces that make one whole. In that moment we know everything there is to know about one another, our entire selves exposed fully to the other. Complete understanding. A kind of connection that is both unique and permanent.”
“Sounds…wonderful, if a bit nebulous.”
I couldn’t help chuckling. “Since I’ve never experienced it before, I can only tell you what was told to me.”
“But you know I am the one you can form this connection with?”
I felt the certainty of it deep inside me. “I do.” Taking a deep breath, I risked it all. “I knew…have known…for a while that you were special, but… I guess I never thought it would happen for me, not after so long. But it has. You are my mate, Imogen.”
Dropping my hands, she stood and began a walk around the room, running her palms up and down her jean-clad thighs. “That’s like, no pressure whatsoever, isn’t it?”
I hadn’t really thought about it that way, but I guessed she was right. “I didn’t mean to pressure you. It just…surprised me. I’ve waited so long.”
She glanced my way, and her gaze softened with empathy. “I’m sorry you’ve been alone, Demetri.”
I sensed that I wasn’t the one hesitating now. “But…”
Her head tipped to one side, considering. “Not really a but. But…” A smile curved her sweet lips. “This is like some paranormal romance novel, you know? Male sees female, knows she’s his mate, they kiss and ride off into the sunset together.”
“If you say so.” I was no expert on romance novels.
She snickered at that. “I do.” More walking. I watched her as she rubbed her palms and thought things through. “So does this mean I have no choice?” She stopped across the room. “Can you force me?”
“No, absolutely not. I would never force you to be my mate. You always have a choice. Always.” Something else occurred to me, and I rushed to share. “A matebond can only be initiated by the female, Imogen. I can’t force it on you. It is you who must reach for me, and then I may accept.”
The rubbing stopped. “Would…” She cleared her throat. “Would you accept?”
My hand went to my heart. “In a heartbeat.”
She raised her head, and we stared into each other’s eyes. I wondered what she saw in mine. In hers I saw eternity—our eternity, together.
I took a deep breath. Let it out slowly. Gave her a gentle smile. “This is so much harder than I thought it would be.”
“What is?”
