“Stop what?”
“You know what. Stop looking at me like I’m edible!” She stood, hands on hips, trying not to smile.
He chuckled. “Okay, I’ll behave.” He dragged her back against his lean, hard body, kissing her softly. “Goodnight, Katalina Winter, I love you.”
Katalina grinned stupidly. “I’ll never tire of hearing that. Night.”
Katalina closed her door, keeping her back to the room. She took a deep breath and prepared herself to turn around. It didn’t matter how many deep breaths she took, the pain at seeing her room, the memories of her old life, a life she could never truly go back to, no matter how much she wanted it, the pain was too much. She let out a broken sob. Thick tears rolled down her face as she walked around her room, looking at pictures of her parents.
The door opened behind her. She knew it was Bass without looking, whenever he was near, she could feel the connection deep in her heart. “I’m fine, Bass,” she said, wiping her face.
“No, you’re not. I can feel your pain as if it’s my own, Katalina.”
She turned to face him, seeing for herself the pain he felt etched in his eyes. Being someone’s mate was going to take some getting used too. It meant more than just loving someone. The connection was mind, body, and soul, as if they were your other half.
“You no longer need to suffer alone. Come here.” Bass took her hand and led her to the bed.
“Wait, what are you doing?” she asked, startled. She’d never had a man in her room, never mind bed.
“I’m going to hold you while you sleep.” He got on the bed, dragging her with him and wrapping his arms around her.
“But my grandma, she’ll freak out if she finds you in here.” I’m kinda freaking out, too.
“Kat, I’ll be out of here before she’s even out of bed. Now sleep.” He pulled the blanket around her, tangling his leg with hers. “Goodnight, my beautiful mate.”
The urge to protest disappeared when she was wrapped in his hold. She didn’t feel embarrassed or self-conscious. It simply felt right.
Katalina smiled into the darkness, entwining her fingers with Bass’s. His heat seeped into her, his solid strength a soothing presence. The tears still came, but she wasn’t alone. He never said a word, just held her impossibly tight, stroking his thumb in circles over her skin, leaving only when she’d cried herself out and fell into a deep, peaceful sleep.
Chapter 11
Katalina woke to the sound of talking and the smell of bacon. She sat up, running her hands through her hair. It felt so surreal to be back in her bed. Pulling on a chunky cardigan, Katalina ventured out to the kitchen.
She stopped in her tracks as she rounded the corner. Bass was in the kitchen, cooking. She’d only ever seen him in his ragged jeans and the dark t-shirt he’d had on the previous night. Before her, Bass was wearing a baby blue t-shirt, which clung to his lean muscular body in all the right places. As he looked up smiling, her breath caught, the color of his shirt bringing out the faintest shade of blue in his impossibly dark eyes.
“Morning, Katalina,” he said as she sat down next to her grandma.
“Hey,” she answered, amazed she was able to keep the shake from her voice.
“Sebastian is cooking us breakfast,” her grandma said, sticking a forkful of bacon into her mouth.
“Yes, I can see that. I didn’t know you could cook,” she said to Bass.
“My father isn’t the most gifted of cooks, so it was either learn or eat his rubbish. I learned.”
Katalina laughed, giving him another once- over she sighed, content; he was sexy as sin and all hers.
“What about your mother?” Katalina’s grandma asked.
“She died when I was a baby,” he answered, placing a plate of bacon, eggs and pancakes in front of Katalina.
“Oh, I’m sorry, dear.”
“That’s all right. I’ve had many years to come to terms with it.”
Katalina searched for a change of subject. “What are you up so early for, Gram. You’re never out of bed before ten.”
Her grandma’s face fell. “It’s your mom and dad’s funeral today, sweetie.”
“Funeral? They haven’t been buried yet?” The thought of them lying in some morgue made her feel queasy. She wrapped her arms tightly around her stomach, attempting to settle the emotions churning inside of her.
“No, darling, the police have only just finished their investigation, ruling it an accident.”
“Oh.” Katalina didn’t feel much like eating anymore. She pushed her food around her plate, staring at the food but focusing on nothing.