She might have laughed, told him he could scare the Jolly Green Giant, if sincere worry wasn’t etched across his face.
“No. Not even when we first met. Which, come to think of it, I should have been intimidated as hell by your size alone. And I can’t explain that one either. Because honestly? I’m out here alone with Patrick, and I should have been more cautious with you, if not flat-out scared. My instincts have told me all along that you would never hurt me or Patrick. Maybe I shouldn’t put that much faith into my instincts, but they’ve never failed me before.”
His shoulders relaxed, and he pulled in a deep, slow breath. “The last thing I’d ever want to do is scare you. And you are right. I would never hurt you or Patrick. Not if my life depended on it.”
And yet that’s exactly what he was going to do. Scare the hell out of her. Galen had no doubt that Myka could handle just about anything she was faced with, but when he told her what he was? He wasn’t exactly sure how that would go. Would she believe him? Probably not . . . at first. But he’d make sure she knew exactly what she might potentially have to deal with before he left.
And he had to leave. Tonight. His skin itched, which was a sure sign trouble was on the way. He had to lead the danger away from Myka and Patrick. But he refused to leave her in the dark and stranded. Chances were that she would not need to know what he was or the danger she could possibly face. Chances were he’d lead the pursuit away from her and she’d never be the wiser. But he was not a gambling man, nor did he depend on chance.
She was his mate, and he had no choice but to give her the tools to protect herself. She was strong. She’d take what he told her tonight and use it if necessary. She’d deal with it because she was a survivor. But his gut clenched in dread.
After learning what he was, would she look at him the same, or would her eyes fall on him in disgust? Either way, it couldn’t be helped. Every lycan who found his mate ran the risk of his destined mate not accepting what he was. He put faith in fate where that was concerned. Surely fate would not pair any of his species with someone who was not strong enough to deal with the circumstances.
“What’s wrong, Galen?”
“Nothing. Let’s enjoy dinner. We can talk after.”
He was being selfish. He should leave now, but he wanted to spend every second he could with her. When he left, he may never see her again. The thought sent an ache through his chest that exploded outward through his body, nearly dropping him to his knees. Anger quickly sliced through the fear. This shit was going to stop. He would either resolve the problem or die trying. One way or the other, it would stop. He couldn’t go on living knowing Myka was here unprotected while he traipsed all over God’s green earth avoiding his pursuers.
He hadn’t asked to be backed into the corner he was now in, and he was about to come out swinging. She was his, damn it. And he was going to do whatever it took to keep her.
A half hour later, they sat at the table eating dinner. Myka had been quiet since she’d asked him what was wrong. She was smart. She was aware something was bothering him, although could have no idea the mammoth proportion of what that something was. The food was good, but he could barely get it down knowing what was coming.
“Galen?” She reached over and covered his hand. “What is it?”
The concern that marred her beautiful face made his heart thump. She cared about him. Joy sang through his veins, but it was quickly doused by dread. He put his fork down.
“Do you not like the spaghetti?”
“It’s amazing, as is everything you cook. It’s not that.”
“Tell me.”
He turned his hand over and linked his fingers with hers, then stood and gently tugged at her. “Walk with me.”
“O-Okay.” She frowned.
She slipped off her flats by the door and stepped into some boots before he draped her jacket over her shoulders.
“Where’s your jacket?”
“Don’t need one.”
“But it’s cold,” she said.
He cupped her cheek. “I’m okay. I promise. If I get cold, I’ll get something warmer from my room.”
He opened the door, followed her out, and reached for her hand again as they walked together toward the barn. Once inside, she shrugged the jacket off and went to the stalls, where the horses were still happily munching on hay.
“You have a wonderful place, Myka.”
She smiled as she rubbed Chloe’s nose. “It’s not much, but there is something about it that calls to you, isn’t there?”
He nodded.
“Tell me what’s bothering you.” She turned toward him.
“Kiss me first?” He closed the space between them, cupped her face, and waited.
“I couldn’t possibly deny a request like that,” she said quietly.
He bent to take her lips, and need shot through him like a raging forest fire that couldn’t be stopped. She leaned closer, and he slipped his tongue inside her mouth when she sighed. She tasted like heaven. When she was near, when he touched her, the darkest parts of his soul were bathed in the warmth of her light. She was everything to him. Everything he needed. She would forever remain a part of him until he drew his last breath, and even then he vowed to stay with her.
She reached for his shoulders, and he picked her up without breaking the kiss. She gasped into his mouth, but he refused to break the contact just yet, craving more of her. He stepped forward until her back met a thick support post, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. When she rubbed against his hard cock, he groaned. Her heat scorched him, and he wanted nothing more than to rip the clothes from their bodies and finally bury himself inside her where he belonged.
She clutched at his shoulders as he claimed her mouth. Her short nails dug into his skin through the fabric of his shirt and encouraged him on. Her small tongue tangled with his own and wrenched a growl from his throat. Her breathing grew in frantic gasps as he ran his fingers along her ribs and up over one breast, where he kneaded the nipple into a stiff peak through the dress. He wedged his hips tighter into the vee of her thighs and held her against the post, while with his other hand he reached behind him to skim along the smooth line of her calf, over her knee, then up to her creamy thigh.
He broke the kiss and rested his forehead against hers. The blue-violet color of her passion-glazed eyes deepened with need.
“I want you, Myka,” he growled. “Have from the moment I first laid eyes on you.”
“Take me, Galen,” she moaned when his fingers skimmed further up her thigh, slipped between their bodies and over her mound.
Chapter Ten
Myka reached for the front of Galen’s jeans. She was out of her mind with wanting him. She craved him, couldn’t wait to feel the slide of his hard cock as it disappeared inside her. His hazel eyes glowed bright down at her, and once again, instead of questioning why they shimmered, her need for him overrode all logic.
His long fingers stroked her through her panties, and she fought the unadulterated wave of pure pleasure that threatened to render her unconscious. Her fingers trembled as she struggled with the buttons on his jeans before they finally gave way. He sprang free, hot and hard, into her hand, and they both groaned. He’d been right when he said he didn’t need a jacket because he was like a walking furnace, and she was about to go up in flames.
“Please, Galen. I need you inside me now.”
He turned, unexpectedly, and she was falling back. Before she had time to be startled, she landed on a soft pile of fresh hay. Galen tumbled down with her, and suddenly her legs were up over his shoulders, her panties were ripped away, and his wicked tongue was teasing her clit. Once, twice he glided over the bundle of nerves before dipping deep inside her.