Mating Brand(15)
“It’s not the biggest place, only one bedroom, but it’s in great shape. I had the guys come out with me a few days ago to paint and do minor repairs.”
She faced him again but had to blink back tears. “Yes!”
He lifted her off her feet and hugged her tightly. “You haven’t even seen the inside.”
“I don’t care. We’ll get to sleep together every night. I hate when we’re apart too.”
His gaze flicked to her shoulder then back to her eyes. “Sometimes I want to bite you.”
That heartfelt confession made her sad. “We can’t do that.”
“You love me.”
“I do but you’re a wolf and I’m a cat.”
“You’re half cat but I don’t give a damn. It doesn’t change my feelings or my urges.”
“Our families would raise hell if they knew we were a couple. I also told you—”
“Don’t,” he cut her off. “Don’t mention that asshole you’re supposed to mate because your leader ordered it. Not now, not today. We’re living in the here and now. We have a while before you have to return to your pride.”
He was right. She always resisted thinking about when she’d graduate and be expected to return. “Okay.”
He slowly eased her back to her feet. “Let’s try living together before we have a discussion about that kind of crap.”
She could tell he was upset. “I’m so sorry, Brand. I’d want you to bite me if it were possible. I swear I would.”
He released her waist and snagged her hand. “I refuse to argue today. Let’s go inside. I’ll give you the tour.”
“Okay.” She was willing to let the matter drop.
He fished his keys from his pocket and unlocked the door. Charma tried to take a step inside after he swung the door open but she gasped instead when Brand scooped her off her feet and carried her inside. It was romantic and sweet of him to carry her over the threshold.
The living room and kitchen were one big open space. She was in for another surprise as she studied the new furniture. “You big liar!” She laughed though.
He turned her a bit so she could take in more details of the room. “Sorry about that. I didn’t want to buy stuff you’d hate so that’s why I made up the story of needing to replace everything in the living room of the house I rent with the guys. They do randomly get sick from drinking but I’d never sink money into that hole. It’s like a fraternity with five guys living in one house. They destroy everything nice.”
She turned her head and stared up at him. “This was so sweet, Brand. It must have cost you a small fortune.”
He shrugged. “Not really. I just had to buy stuff for the living room and our bedroom. I got us a king-size bed. No more twin.”
She grinned. “I kind of liked having to sleep on top of you so one of us didn’t fall out of my bed.”
The bedroom was down the only hallway. They passed a bathroom on the way. He paused inside the door. “I just got the bed and a nightstand. There’s built-in drawers under the closet. See?”
Charma wiggled until he put her down. The space wasn’t big and the bed took up most of it. “A dresser wouldn’t fit. I love it just as it is. It’s perfect.”
“I got the most important thing in this room.”
She grinned, following his heated stare to the bed. “Yes, you did.”
His gaze shifted to her. “I meant you, hon.”
She loved him so much it made her chest hurt. “I think we should test out how comfy that mattress is.” She reached for the edge of her shirt, tore it up her body and tossed it to the floor.
Brand kicked off his shoes. “Welcome home, Charma. We’re going to be so happy here.”
“I know we are.”
She’d take every precious moment with Brand. She pushed thoughts of when she’d have to return to her pride away. They had a few years before that happened…
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Brand took a deep breath, pulling her back to the present.
Life had seemed so perfect back then until it had all come crashing down around her. She’d had to leave the man who’d won her heart and the life she’d loved. The solid arms around her were real again.
“My cousin is safe in the basement. He knows you’re here and won’t come upstairs if he hears us.” He brushed his lips over her forehead. “I want to talk. No. I want to take you to bed and make you mine. I know that’s too fast. I know you mated someone else. It pisses me off smelling him on you. It’s faint but it’s there. I want it gone.”
“I had no choice. I told you that.”