Page 51 of Mated to the Human: Volume One

“Oh.” Suddenly the space between them seemed too close and too far, all at the same time. Leander’s voice had dropped into such a low whisper, like the words hurt to even utter, that it twisted hard in Merrick’s gut. “What happened?” He wasn’t sure if that was a rude question to ask, but knowing Leander had had a mate before…didn’t paranormals mate for life?

Turning his head to the side, Leander met his gaze. “I’m going to tell you something that isn’t common knowledge.”

Merrick nodded for him to continue, vowing inside his own mind that he’d keep Leander’s confidence.

“Vampires have the ability to bond a human to the magic that sustains us.” Leander paused to take a breath and pulled his gaze from Merrick to stare at the ceiling again. “It’s usually reserved for mates. Ann and I had been mated for almost five years before I offered it to her.”

Merrick couldn’t move. Could barely breathe. Leander sounded far away, like he was back with Ann whenever this had happened, and since this obviously wasn’t a happy story, he was afraid of what came next.

“She balked at the idea. She left.”

“She dissolved your mating?”

Leander turned to look at him again. “There was no human standard for mating back then, and since I’m paranormal, we couldn’t marry. But I had accepted her as my mate, and for me, she remained my mate until she died. That’s the way it works for us.”

“Did she ever come back?”

“No. She married a human and had four children.” Leander sighed. “It was difficult, but I am grateful that she was happy.”

Slowly, Merrick reached out and rested his hand on Leander’s bicep. His skin was cool to the touch. “I’m sorry that happened to you.”

Leander gave him a small half smile and patted his hand.

“With the way matings are done now—on paper and everything—have you accepted me as your mate?”

“Yes.”

Scooting closer, Merrick slid his palm down Leander’s arm until he reached his hand and threaded their fingers together again. “I can’t promise about the magic bonding thing, but I do promise I won’t ever leave. As long as I’m alive, I’m your mate.”

When Leander spoke again, his voice was soft. “Thank you, Merri.”

Merrick sucked in a surprised breath. “No one’s called me that since my grandpa died.”

Leander hummed and switched the hand that was holding Merrick’s, lifting his arm in invitation. “Do you mind if I do?”

Sliding the rest of the way across the bed, Merrick slotted in against Leander’s side, resting his cheek on his chest. “Not at all.”

5

For the first time in nearly a hundred years, Leander woke with the warmth of another body pressed against him. Soft, pliant skin was separated from his by a couple layers of cotton. Merrick’s heat seared along his side from chest to thigh, and Leander reveled in the feeling.

His mate.

Perhaps it was dangerous, feeling so possessive of Merri so soon, but the parts of him that had stopped being human didn’t care. Merri was his, and it seemed a testament to how lonely he’d truly been this last century that he’d lasted barely a week before giving in to the call.

Looking down at the wild tangle of Merri’s copper hair, he smiled, pressing his nose against the soft strands and breathing deep. Merri’s scent was sunlight and leather and warm paper straight from the press.

Merri shifted, snuggling closer and smacking his lips. He was waking up.

Leander let him, running a steady hand up and down Merri’s back while he relished this moment of peace. On the upstroke of his hand, his finger caught in the hem of Merri’s t-shirt, lifting it enough that his fingers brushed over warm skin.

Leander froze, and Merri’s breath caught. He moved against Leander, pressing his side up into Leander’s hand, almost like a cat asking for more pets.

“Good morning, Merri,” Leander said, keeping his voice low. He slid his hand further beneath Merri’s shirt, nearly groaning at the pleasure of such simple contact.

“Morning.” Merri looked up at him with rosy cheeks and sleepy eyes.

It was too much. Truly, how could any man resist such a temptation? Leander pressed a kiss to Merri’s forehead, his nose, before finally bringing their lips together. For half a second, Merri hesitated, whispering something about morning breath, but Leander didn’t care. He sealed their mouths together. Why he’d waited days for this, he couldn’t fathom now that Merri’s lips were against his.

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