Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44044 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 220(@200wpm)___ 176(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44044 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 220(@200wpm)___ 176(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
“I have so many things I want to say to you,” Jayce said, “but I’d rather get you out of here and home before we continue. Is that okay?”
He was asking her permission? “Yes, Sir.”
He kissed her forehead again. “I’m going to carry you up the mountain in my arms. I have a vial in my pocket with a potion that will let you sleep during the journey. Would you like that, Sienna?”
She gasped, stiffening. “No. Please don’t.”
“Okay, Little one. I want it to be your choice. If you get too scared, let me know, and I’ll stop and put a few drops under your tongue.”
Unable to resist, she rolled her body more fully against his and wrapped her arms around his neck. It felt so good. Right. His scent was woodsy. Outdoors. Masculine. She could inhale it all day.
For weeks, all she’d had were visions without the other senses. Now she could finally add his scent, the sound of his voice, and the feel of his touch. A part of her wanted to stick her tongue out and taste him, rounding out her senses with that one last piece.
The idea was ludicrous, of course, so she refrained. But she held him tighter and couldn’t stop herself from rubbing her nose against his neck, scenting him so deeply she could almost taste him.
A deep growl rumbled through him, startling her, causing her to ease her grip and jerk back a few inches. Maybe he didn’t like the way she was crowding against him as if she were clingy and needy.
He shook his head and slid a hand up her back to her shoulder blades. “Don’t stop, Baby girl. Hold on as tight as you’d like. It feels so good to have your arms around me.”
Oh. With less trepidation, she resumed gripping his neck and nuzzling him. She’d never been this close to another person—not in her memory at least. Wolf shifters in the valley weren’t particularly demonstrative. She’d never even seen her parents snuggle in this close.
It was instinctive, though. She needed to be pressed against him. A part of her couldn’t wait to do so without all these layers of clothing. And where did that thought come from?
“Ready?” he asked as if she had options.
“Yes, Sir.”
“Good girl.” His hand slid into her hair and cupped the back of her head as he spoke those words. Words that penetrated deep in her heart and endeared her to a man she’d met only moments ago.
Chapter Two
Jayce
It felt so good to finally hold his mate in his arms that Jayce didn’t care if they ever made it back to their home. He could hold her like this forever. Inhaling her scent, stroking her small frame. He could do without the layers of clothing she was wearing, but that would come soon.
He sensed she was both relieved and nervous. Surely a tremendous weight had lifted off her shoulders at discovering he was the man she’d envisioned. She’d had no way of knowing.
This union was going to be the most unconventional one ever because unlike every other marked girl from the valley who found herself mated to an Alpha Protector at the age of twenty, Sienna knew things. She’d seen them prematurely.
Jayce assumed she knew damn near all things. He couldn’t blame her. There’d been no way for her to avoid the visions. In a way, he was grateful. The stress of introducing her to the new way of life she would be expected to assimilate into had eased tremendously.
She knew. She hadn’t even flinched when he mentioned her nursery. She was aware of its existence. She probably had a million questions, but she wouldn’t be nearly as shocked as any previous new mate.
It wasn’t just their own home she’d witnessed. She’d seen into the homes of others. Maybe everyone. She would have watched—albeit unwillingly—as his friends—other Alpha Protectors—took care of their mates in every intimate way.
Fuck, it felt good having her arms wrapped around his neck. The best sensation ever. Jayce was the youngest of his generation to mate. At twenty-eight, he’d only been eight years old when Sienna was born. Some of his peers had been so much older, and they’d been forced to wait longer for their mates to come of age. Hell, Felix had been twenty-five when his mate, Khloe, had been born.
Jayce felt fortunate. Considering all the unrest lately, it was possible Fate had stepped in to ensure Jayce’s mate would come of age earlier than the average Alpha Protector’s. Sienna was the last of the mates to be united with her Alpha for a while.
There was no denying Jayce had concerns. Lots of them. There was a distinct possibility that Sienna would prove to be a very important member of society. The thought unnerved him. The last thing he wanted was for his mate to ever be in danger or have to deal with undue stress.