Page 53 of Hunting for her Heart
“He showed me how to move my legs and arms. He held me around the waist as I tried to stay afloat.”
“Okay.” He nods as he reaches for me under the arms, and I lean into his embrace, my hands finding his shoulders for support as he lowers me into the cool water with him. I instinctively wrap my legs around his waist.
“Let’s just take a minute to enjoy the water,” he says as his arms move around my back. I hug his neck as my body adjusts to the temperature. I don’t know why being so closeto them makes me feel so content, and I’m just relaxed enough to ask.
“Why does this feel so good?” I ask, feeling a little nervous once the words leave my lips.
“The water?” he asks.
“No, being close to you. When I’m not touching any of you, it’s like…”
“Something is missing,” he finishes for me.
“Yeah. What is that?” I ask, even though I think I know the answer.
“That’s the mate bond. It drives us to be together. It should calm a little once we’ve fully bonded.”
“Fully bonded?” I ask, not having heard them mention anything about that before. “What does that mean?”
“The bond fully snaps into place when we have sex.”
“Oh,” I say as my body starts to feel warm.
“There’s no pressure to do that before you’re ready. And you should know, once the bond is in place, you won’t be able to leave us.”
I pull back so I can look at his face, frowning in confusion. “What does that mean?”
His eyes flick between mine as his mouth presses into a thin line, like he doesn’t want to answer. Thankfully, I don’t have to prod him, and he finally speaks. “I know you want to find your sister, and that might entail going back to your world. But if we have cemented the bond between us, it will cause us all pain to be so far apart.”
“Y-you’re saying it’s either you or my sister?” I ask as a pang of unease grows in my chest. Hawk had told me they’d come with me if I chose to go back, but maybe Bo feels differently.
“No.” He shakes his head. “I’m saying that if you decideto go back to your world, if that’s even possible, that the three of us will be coming with you.”
Relief fills me, knowing he feels the same way as Hawk. I’m still not sure I fully understand what this bond between us is, but I also don’t think I can give it up. “You’d leave everything to come to my world?” I ask to make certain.
A smile pulls at his lips. “Not everything.” His hand comes up to cup my face as he whispers, “We’d still have the most important thing in the world to us.” His face inches closer to mine, his eyes dipping to my lips as he adds, “You.”
Then he presses his lips to mine. My entire body jolts as desire shoots through me. The hair on his beard tickles my face, and he’s only hesitant for a few seconds before his lips start to move. I slide a hand up the back of his neck, holding him to me as he does the same to me.
Knowing this is his first kiss makes me even more eager to touch him. I tentatively press my tongue to his lips, and he opens for me. We tangle in an uncoordinated effort, but soon we find a rhythm that sets me ablaze.
Remembering that he needs to learn what I like and vice versa, I don’t hold back the small moans and whimpers that escape me from his touch. His large hand squeezes my bare ass cheek, making me gasp as I press myself tighter against him. I feel him smile before he sucks my lower lip into his mouth, eliciting a groan from me.
With one last soft kiss, he rests his forehead against mine, a contented smile on his lips. “You feel so perfect in my arms,” he whispers. A look of worry flashes across his face so fast, I almost miss it.
“What is it?” I ask, lifting my hand to touch his beard, finally feeling bold enough to explore hisface.
“I really hope you choose us.” I freeze, my eyes lifting to meet his as he tries to smile, but it comes out strained.
I lick my lips as I consider my words carefully. Not wanting to give false hope, but also not wanting to crush his jovial spirit. But the fact that they’re letting me make the choice and not claiming me without my permission tells me everything I need to know about their character, and how different they are from the men I grew up with.
“You’ll let me choose?” I finally ask, and he nods.
“You are not our prisoner, Willow. I hope you realize that?” I nod. Nothing about my time with them has made me feel that way. If anything, I feel more free than I ever have before.
“But what aboutyourhome?” I ask, knowing they still need to fulfill their prophecy and save their island.
“You are more important. So if you don’t want… us, we will help you find your way back to your sister.” Hawk said as much yesterday, but hearing it again is extremely reassuring.
