Page 63 of Examining the Bond

I can’t pack when I know leaving is the biggest mistake of my life. When I’m leaving my mate behind.

No, we aren’t bonded. And no, we aren’t a scent match. But there’s no way we would share this insane chemistry if it wasn’t meant to be. There’s no reason why everything about Skylar should feel soright, why every part of me already belongs to her.

And we could easily make it official tonight.

All I need is her mark.

I lock my hands behind my neck and tilt my head back, staring up at the ceiling while my conflicting emotions rage. A pathetic whine escapes me, and I blow out a heavy breath.

All I have to do is convince her to bite me. How hard could it be?

Through the window curtains, I can see a sliver of the night sky. It’s dark enough that the street lamps are glowing yellow, and the busy noise of rush hour traffic has come and gone.

Maybe she changed her mind and didn’t tell me?

Maybe something happened?

I don’t even have a chance to consider that possibility before a knock at the door makes me jump. My heart shoots into my throat as I hurry across the room, nearly tripping over my boots to get there.

My hand shakes as I reach for the handle, and the second I crack the door, her scent swirls around me. It soothes my mind, my scattered thoughts calmly gathering. I wrench open the door expecting to see her standing there in her slacks and a button-up shirt, the way I’m used to seeing her, but my jaw drops when my eyes land on her.

She’s standing there in jeans and a black hoodie, a backward ball cap on her head. She's holding a bouquet of white and purple chrysanthemums in one hand and a bottle of champagne in the other.

“Hey,” I breathe, drinking her in.

Fuck, she can pull off anything and still be the hottest woman I’ve ever seen.

Her gaze slowly drops to my bare legs, lingering there for a moment before climbing back up.

“Hey yourself,” she says, offering me the bouquet. “Sorry I took so long. I wasn’t sure what kind you liked.”

I take it, bringing the flowers to my nose. “No one's ever bought me flowers before,” I say softly, loving how they brush over my skin.

“Really? Well, I’m glad I got to be the first.” She grins, pressing a kiss to my forehead as she enters the room.

The mild floral scent is swept away as her scent pours into my hotel room. Closing the door behind her, I turn around in time to see her pulling two champagne flutes out of her back pockets and setting them on the table.

She catches me staring and grins. “I ran out of hands.”

I set the flowers down next to the champagne just as her eyes shift to the disaster on the floor.

“What happened here?” She cocks a brow at me.

“I was trying to pack and… well, it didn't go well.”

“Packing?” She pauses for a beat, a muscle in her jaw ticking. “Does that mean you booked your flight?”

I nod.

The corners of her mouth curve downward. “How soon?”

“Tomorrow afternoon.”

She nods and works her mouth, taking a step closer to grab me by the hand. She pulls me against her, and I bury my face in the front of her hoodie, inhaling deeply.

My nerves from earlier dissolve, replaced by complete contentment as Skylar holds me. Her chin rests on top of my head, her arms wrapped tightly around me, her quick heartbeat racing against my ear.

To finally have what I've been so desperately craving and know I have to say goodbye in such a short time has tears pricking at the corners of my eyes.