Page 114 of Blade

Tucking his face against my neck, he pressed himself closer and snuggled against me. “I could feel you. It was almost like faintly smelling something and getting an impression from it, but this was in my head.”

“You’ll always have a piece of me inside you.” He was my mate. “It goes beyond love or any human emotion. You’re part of me and I’m a part of you.”

Letting out a shaky breath, he nodded. “I’m your mate.”

“And there’s nothing on Earth that could break that bond. No magic. No weapon. We’re together from now until eternity. Even when the fates finally bring us home, I’ll be right there beside you.”

Hands stroking my back, he took another deep breath and let it out slowly. “The first time I heard someone talk about mates, it was like an arrow through my chest. I wanted that for myself somuch it hurt, but I knew I couldn’t have it. There was no way the fates would give me something that special.”

Kissing his head, I hugged him tighter. “Love isn’t something that’s ever withheld as a punishment. It’s always there waiting for us to be ready for it. You knew there was something special between us from the moment we met. You were always meant to be mine.”

It’d just taken a while for our lives to line up.

“I love you.” He pressed a kiss against my neck as he softly whispered the words. “I…I kind of feel guilty about how much I love having a mate, though.”

Only my mate.

“Never, baby.” I never wanted him to feel guilty about that. “I love you so much it amazes me. We’re made for each other. I’ve been waiting over a hundred years to find you. I’d have waited a hundred more.”

Snickering, he let out a dramatic sigh. “You just have to keep pointing out what an old fart you are.”

Brat.

But he was my wonderfully insane brat.

CHAPTER 35

HENLEY

“You needed an olderman in your life to keep you in line.” The low tone he used to tease me sent a shiver through me, making me even more aware of how naked he was.

Blaine didn’t always notice that because of the shifter thing, but I couldn’t ignore it for long. He was too sexy and too tempting for that.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Playing coy, I shrugged. “I’ve been very helpful while you ran off gallivanting.”

His quiet hum wasn’t a threat but my dick took it that way and tried to get even harder. “Still having trouble behaving, I see.”

Tsking, he shook his head as I tried to hide how excited I was. “Being mouthy…bossy…playing with yourself. Yes, you’re in desperate need of consequences, my boy.”

Yay.

The rush it sent through me had me almost lightheaded and it was like I’d already taken a step outside my body. “I…I’m sorry, Sir.”

Kind of.

Maybe a little.

Getting my way earlier had been important, so I couldn’t apologize too much because I was going to need to do it again on a daily basis while we had the privacy for it. Otherwise, my protective mate wouldn’t get enough exercise…and every shifter group said how important that was.

So yep, being a pain in the ass was going to be necessary…and if that meant I’d get consequences…oh well, there was nothing I could do about it.

“Don’t worry.” Blaine’s hands came down to squeeze my ass. “I’m going to make sure you remember how important being my good boy is.”

I thought it should’ve taken him longer to figure out how to be the perfect Dom, but my mate was evidently a quick learner.

Before I could figure out a teasing response to make sure I got a thorough spanking, he patted my ass. “Inside the trailer, boy.”

Yes!