Page 58 of Hers to Call
She flinched and he sucked in a breath, turning away from her. His hands ached with the need to grab her, to kiss her. He wanted to leave his mark on her body, leave evidence for the world to see that she was his. But he knew with her history, that anything he did could reinforce the way her ex used to treat her. He was at a loss at how to treat her without further traumatizing her. His bear was near inconsolable that another bear had had its hands on her. He heard her clothing shift as she stood.
“Don’t, Cali, don’t come near me right now. I came upstairs to reassure you, but you can’t touch me.”
“What? Why not?”
The hurt in her voice turned him around and he shoved his hands deep in his jeans pocket to keep from reaching for her.
“Do you have any idea what you do to me, woman?”
“I apologized.”
He growled, “Your apology sucked. It was rote, automatic.”
She reared back. “Well excuse me, did I not grovel enough for you?”
“Calita, you’re pushing.”
Anger flushed her face. “So what? You’re mad, and now you’re going to pout about it.”
“Pout? I’m trying to be sensitive to what you’ve dealt with from the piece of shit you dated. I’m trying to abide by the rules we set in this relationship, Calita.”
“Rules you set.” She stepped closer, her finger stabbing into his chest.
“Yes, rules I set. Rules that kept me from ravaging you. From locking you in this bedroom and fucking you until you agreed that you were mine,” he shouted.
Her chest rose and fell in quick breaths but no panic infused her scent. “That’s not, you can’t just…”
“Can’t just what, baby? Tell you what I feel? I’m trying not to push you, but it seems like every concession I’ve made for you only seems to get you in more danger.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “I didn’t ask you to take it slow with me. You could have just left me alone.”
“Calita, before you told me what happened to you, I was very much aware something haunted you. I’ve known you were my mate from the very second I smelled your scent. For a year I have been fighting the need to hunt you, fuck you, and mark you. Visceral needs, Calita. I’ve gone to bed every night yearning for you,” he lowered his voice, his eyes meeting hers. “So no, I couldn’t just leave you alone.”
“Simon,” she whispered, and stepped closer to him.
He stepped back. “Not yet, you can’t touch me yet, my love.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t follow your safety protocols. It won’t happen again.”
He nodded. “Thank you for that. I need to go outside for a little while, I need skin time to soothe my bear.”
Her hand reach for him again.
“Cali,” he whispered. “Babe, I’m on the thinnest of threads here.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means, sweetheart, that you scared the shit out of me. My bear is not feeling nice about it. I need skin time.”
“You wouldn’t hurt me, he wouldn’t hurt me. You said that, everyone says that.”
“You’re absolutely right.” He nodded. “But remember that conversation you asked me about, the day of the clan picnic.”
Her eyes widened and her heartbeat kicked up.
“I need to let him settle a bit before I can touch you.”
Her breath hitched, “if I’m your, your mate—”
