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SIX

Fiona

R eed’s room was much smaller than the one I’d woken up in, and I noticed there was not much to identify it as his . Sure, a pile of work on the desk. But that could be anyone’s black notebook and phone charger. There was a pair of expensive-looking leather loafers peeking out of the itty-bitty closet, and a spare suit jacket hanging above them. But that was it.

Everything else was the enclave’s, identical to the other room.

“How long have you guys been here?” I asked, turning to face him.

He was watching me study the room, and I resisted the urge to look away. Every time our eyes met, I felt this awareness that I didn’t know what to do with.

Was this what he felt that made him think we were fated mates? That thought was… overwhelming. I certainly wasn’t ready to alter the course of my entire future on the word of a near stranger. But… I clenched my hand into a fist, covering up the glowing mark there.

“Not long. Less than forty-eight hours.”

“Where’s all your luggage?”

“It was a spontaneous trip. We didn’t have time to pack.”

I blinked at that, feeling there was more to the story he wasn’t sharing. Which was okay. He didn’t owe me his life’s story in five minutes. Soon, I’d be boarding my plane, and maybe we’d talk on the phone or something?

If he thought I was his mate, I assumed he’d want to stay in touch.

Right?

“What’s that look?” he asked, taking a step closer, eliminating the space between us.

“What happens after I go home? If you think I’m your mate…” I trailed off, watching emotions play over his face rapid-fire.

“I know it’s sudden, but for a wolf, there’s no question. You are my mate. But if you want to go home, I won’t stop you. There’s nothing that says we have to immediately be together, though my wolf won’t like letting you go.”

He looked like the admission cost him, and I didn’t like that. He’d done a lot for me; I didn’t want to repay that kindness with pain.

Even if it was unavoidable. I couldn’t walk away from my life in a few hours. Surely he didn’t expect that?

“We could still talk, right? Get to know each other a bit more? Maybe when you’re done with this spontaneous trip, you could come and visit me.” I touched his hand, and he stilled, eyes locking on to the tiny bit of contact.

But before I could withdraw it, he flipped his hand, letting my fingertips trace over his palm. It was the most innocent of touches. But I shuddered anyway, his warmth affecting me in ways I didn’t understand.

“Absolutely. We’ll talk. I have a restaurant in Philadelphia, so I go a few times a year.”

I froze. “Uh, how do you know what city I live in?”

“When you had the seizure, the nursing student at the bar found your pills in your jacket pocket, and there was a pharmacy address on them.”

“Oh, right.”

I felt silly for overreacting. Reed had truly not done anything to make me question his motives or intentions.

Unlike the four shifters who chased me through the woods.

“It’s still pretty early. Why don’t you lie down and try to catch a few hours of rest? I’ll wake you when it’s dinnertime, if you want.”

“I can’t. My flight leaves at two.”

He checked his watch and winced. “It’s nearly one, now. I’m afraid you’ve missed that flight.”

“Shit. Change fees cost a fortune, especially for an international flight.” I ran my hands through my hair, wincing when they caught on multiple snags caused by my early morning hike.

“I’ll make you a deal. Give me a week, stay, get to know me. Let me tell you the ins and outs of fated mate bonds. If you still want to fly back home at the end of the week, I’ll buy you a first-class ticket.”

My jaw dropped. A first-class ticket from Europe to Philly wasn’t cheap, and we barely knew each other. Hadn’t he done enough for me?

“That’s a lot of money, Reed. I don’t know if I could accept that kind of gift in good conscience. You’ve already done so much, I…”

He reached up and traced his thumb along my jawline, and the whisper-soft touch made me want to lean into him, drink it all up. “A plane ticket is nothing compared to the gift of getting to spend a week getting to know my mate. I promise the money isn’t an issue. If you’d feel more comfortable, I’ll buy the ticket now, so you have it ready.”

I bit my bottom lip, trying to think clearly, even though his touch was incredibly distracting. “Sure, let’s book the ticket. One week. Why the hell not?” My rational mind could think of several reasons why not, but she wasn’t the one in control right now.

Reckless Fiona had the reins, and she wanted to live in the moment, revel in the unknown.

He smiled then, slow and sure and breathtaking . Reed was the kind of man who could swallow you up whole, and you wouldn’t even complain as you vanished.

I didn’t want to disappear, but I did want to exist in his orbit for a little while. Feel what it was like to date a man like him. He exuded confidence, and power, and… that extra something I couldn’t quantify.

Is that the influence of his wolf?

It was impossible to separate the two. He was just Reed.

“Excellent. I’ll book it right now.”

I mourned the loss of his fingertips on my skin the second he dropped his hand to grab his phone, but to my surprise, as soon as he had it, he took me by the hand and led me to the bed. He kicked off his shoes and climbed up, tugging me gently along with him.

He sat up against the headboard and patted the empty space next to him in invitation. I settled into the space a little awkwardly at first. But then the tantalizing scent of him enveloped me, all sweet rum and spicy sandalwood, and the tension melted out of me. Our arms brushed as he tapped away on the phone in a comfortable quiet, worn in like your favorite pair of blue jeans. A couple of minutes later, he showed me his screen.

First class to Philadelphia, leaving one week from today with my full legal name on the ticket.

“What’s your email? I’ll send it to you.”

I rattled it off with a yawn, and a second later, my own phone dinged as the email came through.

“Thank you,” I murmured, drowsiness and warmth tugging at me.

“No, thank you for agreeing to stay.”

Reed’s quiet words were the last thing I heard before my eyes drifted shut, cheek on his shoulder and a deep sense of peace in my heart.