“Yes?”
He was naked except for the white towel he had slung around his neck. She wished he’d wrap it around his waist and cover himself. There was too much tempting real estate for her to view. His cock was bigger than it had been even moments ago, his legs were heavily muscled and strong, his chest powerfully built and lightly furred, his shoulders broad.
The gash on his arm was closed but it still needed some antibacterial cream and could stand to be wrapped. Not that she thought for one moment Quinn would bother with either. She itched to do it for him, but made herself stay where she was. She wasn’t his mate. Not really.
He motioned to the bed. “Sit down. Please.” He raked his fingers through his hair. It looked darker when it was wet, but she knew it would dry much lighter.
She perched on the edge of the bed. “I’m sorry we didn’t get to Chrissten in time.” That had to be eating at him.
Sorrow bled from him and he lowered his head. “Me too.” His chest expanded on a sigh. He came to stand in front of her and crouched down so they were eye to eye.
“I know this isn’t fair to you.”
Oh God, he was going to sever their ties now. “It’s okay.” She wasn’t ready for that. Not yet. In her heart she still hoped to find a way to make him love her. Which was stupid. True love meant loving without conditions. It meant giving the other person what they truly needed.
Unable to stop herself, Bethany reached out and combed an unruly lock of hair off his forehead. “It’s okay,” she repeated.
He shook his head. “No, it’s not. You deserve better than me.”
“Isn’t that my decision?” she countered.
He gave her a rueful smile and his eyes lightened briefly before turning darker again. “I didn’t tell you everything about myself before we mated. I took advantage of you. I took what I wanted without allowing you a chance to get to know the other males. It was wrong.”
Anger began to burn low in her gut. Did he truly think she was that spineless? That stupid. “Actually, it’s the other way around. I took advantage of you. I took what you were offering because it was what I wanted.”
Bethany slid off the bed and began to pace. “I had plenty of time to spend with the other males. I’m not blind. I know that both Michael and Benjamin are interested in me. Hank isn’t at all, not really, and Kevin could be with very little prompting on my part.”
Quinn stood. His eyes flared red for a moment and claws took the place of his fingernails. Didn’t like that, did he? Too damn bad. She wasn’t done yet.
“No, I don’t know everything about you, but you don’t know everything about me either. That’s what relationships are all about.”
“But we’re mated,” he growled. She could see him struggle as he reined in his wolf. His eyes went back to their normal blue and his fingernails shortened once again.
She shrugged. “That’s only temporary, according to you. I’m free to fuck any male I want once we’re done.”
For a moment she was afraid she’d pushed him too far. He pounced, grabbing her around the waist and taking her down to the bed in one motion. He poised over her, teeth bared. Fury poured off him in waves, but she wasn’t the least bit afraid he’d physically hurt her. It was her emotional state she was more concerned about.
“You’re mine.”
“Until you get tired of me,” she pointed out. After all, wasn’t this simply a mating of convenience? Damn, she sounded like some simpering virgin from a historical romance novel.
She closed her eyes, not wanting to see the anguish in his gaze. It wasn’t his fault that she loved him and he didn’t love her. He’d done what he thought was the best thing for her. But this situation wasn’t helping either of them. “Get off me.”
“No.” His blunt reply had her eyes flying open. His large body covered hers and she could feel his cock pressing against her stomach. Against her will, she felt her body softening, her nipples tightening. It wasn’t fair how easily he could arouse her.
“You’ve got it wrong, baby.” He lowered his head, nuzzling her neck and nipping at the sensitive curve until he drew a husky moan from her. “You’ll get tired of me. You’ll realize you could have any male you want. One who hasn’t lived a lie. One who hasn’t ruthlessly killed for his own gain.”
He kissed her cheeks and temples. “One who can make you his entire focus. One not caught up in a quest that could take years to complete. I can’t ever stop searching for Chris.” He dropped his forehead until it was touching hers. “You deserve better.”
Her heart stopped and then began to pound so hard it hurt. Was he saying what she hoped he was? Was this just his misguided sense of honor setting her free? Did he really want her to stay with him?
“I want you.” The words were almost a whisper, filled with an aching need. “I don’t want any other male.”
He stilled and every muscle in his body tightened. “I want to kill Michael for even thinking about you.” He said the words as if he was ashamed of them. “I’m a violent man.”
She shook her head. “You’re a good man. A strong one. Protective of those you love.” She placed her hand on his chest and felt the strong beat of his heart against her palm. “You didn’t touch Michael.”
“But I wanted to.” He gave a short bark of laughter. “You see the best in me.”
“I see what’s there.” She put her hands on his cheeks, willing him to really listen to her, really hear what she was saying. “From the moment we met, I felt something for you. Call it instinct. Call it whatever you want. We have a connection. Our wolves recognized one another instantly.”
Quinn nodded. “The second I saw you I wanted to throw you over my shoulder, drag you upstairs, strip you naked and never let you go.” His eyes were hot, filled with passion. “Lucky for you, I let you talk first.”
She laughed and couldn’t stop. She laughed so hard tears ran from the corners of her eyes. Totally disgruntled, Quinn rolled off her and lay beside her, his head propped up on his hand. “You really know how to kill a guy’s ego.”
She shook her head and took a deep breath, swiping at the tears in her eyes with the backs of her hands. “Yeah, you waited a long time to get me into bed. Hours at least.”
He grinned. “What can I say? I’m a focused guy when I find something I want.” His grin faded and his blue eyes grew serious. “And I do want you.”
He rested his free hand on her stomach. “When I felt your terror, my heart stopped. I knew you were under attack and I couldn’t stop it.”
“How? How did you know?”
“The connection between us is strong. Even though you didn’t use our mental link to speak to me, your emotions came through loud and clear.” He slipped his hand beneath the hem of her shirt, as though needing to feel the warmth of her skin.
“I thought I’d lost you.” The words were dragged from him. His voice sounded rusty as emotion threatened to choke him.
“Oh, Quinn. The only way you’ll lose me is if you walk away from me.” She paused and dived in headfirst, laying her heart on the line. She prayed he didn’t destroy it. “I love you.”
Quinn couldn’t believe his ears. This beautiful, courageous, giving woman loved him. It couldn’t be true. But the soft gaze in her eyes and her warm hand on his cheek told another story.
He buried his face against the curve of her neck, wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. She was everything he hadn’t even known he wanted until he’d met her. For him, she was perfect.
He didn’t deserve her and he said as much aloud.