Page 38 of A Luna's Dynasty
Asher’s voice was a low growl as he warned her, “You’re playing with fire.”
“This is a game? Well, then … am I winning?”
He stood up and was in front of her in an instant. “I don’t know. We didn’t establish the rules of this game. Are you tempting me to touch you? Is that how I lose? What if you want me to touch you? Is that how we both win? Well, Lita? Do you want me to touch you?”
She could feel the heat of his skin against hers, so torturously close. She looked into his eyes, seeing the color flickering between his and his wolf’s. Suddenly getting devoured by the ‘Big Bad Wolf’ had an entirely different meaning.
Chapter 22
Clever.Mira wagged her tail in Lita’s mind. Lita’s heart was beating as fast as a hummingbird’s wings.
It’s not like I don’t want him to. My head’s just a mess right now. I just wish I could know—
You can. Ask. Him.
And just take everything he says as the truth?
Why not? Is everyone a liar until they prove themselves innocent? Is that the type of person you are? I prefer my instincts, and they tell me we can trust our mate.
I don’t know.
Lita, you are a young woman. Are you really going to deny even a kiss? And for that matter, you aren’t a child. Why can’t you have a relationship with him? You don’t have to accept his mark yet. What’s the problem?
The problem? She had gotten so used to the idea that no one would ever want her. This was completely foreign to her and if she became intimate with him, she was going to fall harder than she already had. It would make the rejection that much harder. And that was the center of it all. Deep down, she felt like she was going to be rejected. That this moment of him wanting her was fleeting. She didn’t want to be alone anymore. She didn’t want to be lonely. The walls she’d built around herself were a dumb mental game of fake protection. She’d lost. No matter what happened now, she was going to feel the loss of her mate.
She noticed his silver eyes soften. They were no longer dark and full of lust. He reached his hand out to cup her face.
“Lita, I’m sorry. I would never force or hurt you. Please forgive me.”
She was crying. What was wrong with her? She never cried, and now it was as if Niagara Falls had been released. She closed her eyes and stepped into his chest. His hands moved to wrap around her naked body, holding her flush against his torso. She leaned her face against him, breathing in his scent, trying to relax herself. She felt his arms rub over her bare back, something that must have been difficult for an unmated male.He was holding his naked fated mate, but right now, he was only interested in comforting her. He thought he’d upset her … but it wasn’t him.
“It isn’t you. It’s me. I’m sorry, Asher. I-I-I’m scared.” She hated saying it out loud. Growing up, she never realized how much her pack had messed with her head. Now it was clear just how much.
“Lita, I’m here. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”
“What if you aren’t?! What if this can’t work? I don’t want to accept this. I’m afraid the bond is going to destroy me. Will I be able to believe in this? And … will I be able to recover if you reject me? I don’t want—”
“Lita!” This time his voice was stern. “I’m not going to reject you. I don’t care if you’re part frog or troll. Whatever you are is mine.” He grabbed her chin and tilted it up, staring into her wet eyes. “Lita, don’t you think I feel the same thing? If you don’t accept our bond, what will I do? If you reject me, how can I lead my pack? Don’t you know that I’m in love with you? This bond is more than just fate … I feel things with you that I never knew were possible. I can sometimes feel your emotions inside me. I can’t explain it or understand how, but I do. This connection is bigger than a normal bond. I’m certain of it. But Lita … I love you as a person. There isn’t anything about you that I dislike … well, maybe that you don’t think you’re worthy of love. But I’m going to fix that. You’re going to know how much I adore you. Every day together, my personal quest will be to show you my love. And when the sun goes down, I’ll pleasure you until you collapse from exhaustion.”
“You will care.”
“I didn’t care about Mira’s size, did I? I want you to trust me, and I will prove it to you with my actions.”
“What if I’m dangerous to the pack?” She felt tears streaming down her face as he brushed them away with his thumb, a small smile resting on his lips.
“I’d choose you over the pack. If you’re a werewolf eater, then I’ll take you somewhere in solitude. Where you can feast on me.” He smirked, wiggling his brows.
“My whole pack is afraid of me. Shouldn’t that tell you something?”
“That isn’t your pack anymore. Black Ice is your pack.” He raised his brows at her. She needed to get in the mindset that this was home. Most mates naturally accepted their new home and life, but Lita was struggling with it. Honestly, it pissed him off. Her father was the alpha, and he should have demanded better. The shit that happened to her never would have happened in his pack. “And what it tells me is that your pack was given too many liberties. Your father should have demanded their respect.”
“My father doesn’t lead that way. And I don’t want their respect that way either.” She stuck her chin up with determination.
“Baby, we’re animals. The weak-minded need a strong leader to guide them. Otherwise, they fall apart and let fear take over. I promise you, their fear of you was misplaced. And as the alpha, it was your father’s job to guide them and show them their fear was misplaced.”
“What if I told you I was part witch?”
“Then I’d tell you I have a broomstick for you to ride.” He smirked. “Are you?”
