Page 89 of The Alpha's Fake Mate

He had asked me that same question three times in the past two hours.

“I know you’re worried,” I replied with a sigh.

“Not worried.”

“If you are, don’t be. There are many ways for me to get through the Burn.”

“What do you mean? I’m here for you. I’m not worried.”

“What I mean is--” I hesitated. Everything seemed to be happening so fast. I hated to broach the subject of me being on top. “I don’t have to, you know, be on top to get through it.”

Holland frowned. “But to form the mate-bond it must be that way.”

“You’re safe now. It’s not an imperative if you can’t.”

“I want the mate-bond. I want you to eradicate everything that monster left behind in my blood. You’ve done so much for me, and I know it’s probably too much to ask for more, but I need this.” His breath caught and shuddered in his chest.

I reached up to him and pulled him down to me. “I want the mate-bond, too. But I thought it might be too soon for you.”

Holland closed his eyes tight for a moment. “You won’t hurt me. I know it. Will it be so hard?”

“Not for me,” I said.

“I know you don’t prefer it. Being on top,” he said, opening his eyes.

I stared up at him. “It doesn’t matter what I prefer. This is about you. I know you don’t wish to be touched—uh—like that.”

“With you, it won’t be a terrible thing.” He gave me a fast smile and took a deep breath. “Will it be for you?”

“No! Not at all. But to mate-bond, it will include a knot. Are you sure it won’t harm you?”

He smiled. “I’m an Omega. I’m made for that. I’ll be all right with you inside me like that. And because it’s you, I will love everything you do and every way you touch me.”

“I want to know you are sure. I don’t want you to do it against your will. Or because you think you must.”

“I wouldn’t do that. I want this, Ori. How many ways can I say it?”

“All right. I hear you.”

“Then we won’t wait. We’ll form the mate-bond as soon as the Burn takes you.” His face closed in for a moment. “Unlessyouwant to wait?”

I raised my arms up to his shoulders, his skin silken against my palms. “I don’t want to wait. I thought maybe you would.”

He shook his head. “I’d do it right now.” He let out a laugh. It sounded a bit nervous.

“You can still be on top when we do it,” I whispered.

“Yes. I know.”

We both laughed then. He pressed himself against my side, his head on my shoulder, and I held him to me thinking I never wanted to let go. I wondered if it was possible the bond was forming even now, emotionally, psychically.

When it did actually become real, with a rating of ten, would we dream the same dreams? Read each other’s thoughts? If we were ever separated, would we claw our way back to each other no matter what?

With Holland, I knew I would want to feel all of that. So quickly, he’d become everything to me, from the defiant boy by the pool I’d first met six months ago to this irresistible and challenging young man in my arms.

When we fell asleep, I swore I could feel him with me in my dreams.

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