She didn’t really want him, but she was hurting. He could see it. She needed help. And he’d be damned if she’d find that help in the arms of another.
She. Was. His.
“Instead of finding a lover, you use me. I will take the edge off what your cougar needs and in return, you never touch another male. I won’t mark you, so we won’t be breaking Magic’s pact. And I’ll offer you the same promise to be faithful. A mutually beneficial agreement. Friends with benefits, you could say. And we keep it a secret so the clan never finds out what we really are.”
As she stared at him, her lip trembled. “You would do that for me? Monogamy, even without a mating?”
Owyn would do anything for her. These past few months, watching her from afar, she’d wiggled her way into his heart. He couldn’t put a name to the feelings he had for the doctor, but they were powerful. And monogamy wasn’t as hard as he’d grown up believing. Not now, when there was only one female he ever wanted to have.
“It’s what’s best for the clan,” he said, and it was true. Doc was important. She’d already helped more times than he could count. She was a vital member of their family.
“But…” She frowned, looking troubled. “What do you get out of this?”
You. At least… part of you. But he couldn’t say that out loud.
“My panther can rest knowing you won’t be with another.”
“That’s important to you?”
“Yes.”
She eyed him. “We can have what we need and never break our promise to the clan.”
Owyn nodded.
“Alright then.” Doc raised her trembling hand to shake on their deal.
But fuck that. He wasn’t starting a deal like this out with a handshake. It was too important.
He snatched her hand and pulled her down the bridge until they were hidden by the tall trees at the bottom. Turning on her, he tossed his hat to the ground and pulled her close, cradling her cheeks so he could look into her wide eyes.
Slowly, he brought his lips to hers, feeling them for the first time, so soft against his. They ignited a fire in him. Especially when she gasped at the unexpected contact. He wanted to kiss her more. Spend all night exploring her mouth. But there was a promise to make.
Owyn broke away just enough to speak, but not so far his lips couldn’t touch her skin. Staring into her eyes, he vowed, “I will see to your needs, and you will see to mine.”
“Yes,” she whispered, and he kissed her again softly.
“I will have no other, and neither will you.”
“Yes.”
A kiss to seal every part of this deal.
“We will never break the pact we’ve made with our clan, or the one we’ve made with each other.”
Doc hesitated. “Yes.”
Another tender kiss that had her melting into him in the most amazing way.
“And we’ll tell no one about this agreement. It hides in the recesses of our hearts. Forever.”
Doc was breathing hard, her gaze digging into his. “Yes,” she whispered.
He kissed her once more, dipping in to taste her mouth this time. The briefest of tastes to mark this moment in his memory forever. And hopefully hers as well.
After a moment, Owyn pulled away from his mate. He needed time to settle his cat. Time to come to terms with this new arrangement. He had to make this feel right with his animal or it would never work.
“It’s done,” he murmured, watching her eyes dance around his face trying to find something to anchor to.
“Yes.”
Chapter Eight
Now…
Doc sighed, remembering the night she first offered him a future. She’d been unsure and definitely pressured by the actions of her cat, but she wanted a mating with Owyn. Truly wanted it. Even back then.
What she got, was a patch job. Only a temporary holdover. And the whole thing was fraying at the edges.
They were in need of a permanent fix.
Without a word, Owyn pulled Doc across the bridge and down a small dirt walking path that wound through the woods at the backside of the lodge. They passed a group of tall trees and she glanced over at him to see if he remembered this place.
Their first kiss. He’d done it to seal their deal but that didn’t mean she hadn’t gone weak in the knees. She would’ve kept saying yes to anything he proposed just to feel more of what he did to her.
Owyn raised an eyebrow, but they didn’t stop. He remembered, of course he did.
Doc ducked her head to hide her smile.
Darkness encroached the farther down the path they went. This far away from the lodge, the lights were nearly invisible, but her feline vision made it possible to still see clearly. She squeezed Owyn’s hand and he brought hers up to his lips for a soft kiss.