Page 40 of Blood Moon Bound

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An hour later, it was dark outside, and I sat back in my chair, mind spinning. I’d been right.

Our bodies were meant to fit together. That’s how the couple in the book had mated. I’d had to flip through several chapters to find it, but I had. Why didn’t Constantine want to do that with me? Why did he keep avoiding my questions? When I’d asked him about it, he’d not answered me. I realized now he’d distracted me with pleasure.

I heard voices in the hall, the front door opening and closing, then Constantine going back into his office and shutting himself inside. I got up, slipped out of the library, then rushed up the stairs to my room. I showered quickly and fixed my hair, then put on my underwear and nightgown before slipping on my robe.

That’s what the female in the book had done. She’d made herself look appealing so she could “seduce” her male. John said Constantine didn’t want me. If that were true, then this wouldn’t work.

When he walked into the blood moon ceremony, when he took my hand and led me from the room, he was telling everyone, just by being there, that he planned to make me his mate. I had to believe that. I had to believe he wanted it. Still, the idea that he’d changed his mind, that he didn’t want me as his mate anymore, that I might be facing a future alone and unwanted—without Constantine…

I wrapped my arms around myself.

No. John was wrong. He had to be.

I shoved those thoughts from my mind and rushed down the stairs. Calling on every ounce of courage I possessed.

His office door was still closed, so I knocked lightly.

“Come in, Delphine.”

He always knew when it was me. I bit my lip and opened the door with a smile and my hand planted on my hip, the same way the female in my book had. He didn’t look up, busy reading something. He was frowning.

I thought about the scene I’d read and straightened my spine, moving to stand in front of his desk…then dropped my robe. “Constantine?”

“Mmm.” He glanced up and froze.

I smiled brightly.

He sat back. “What are you doing?”

I walked around the desk. “Trying to seduce you.”

His brows shot up. “How do you even know what that means?”

“A book I found in the library.”

His eyes narrowed. “What book?”

“Taken by the Dark Prince.”

“That’s not one of my books,” he said.

“No, it’s Alice’s. She’s given me several books to read, but they only had kissing, this one had taking as well.”

“Taking?”

“Yes, they also called it fucking in the novel, and I want you to do that with me, please.”

His eyes closed and he drew in a breath, then let it out harshly. “Get me the book.”

“Constantine—”

“Now.”

I jumped at the demand in his voice, the quiet, contained fury, and snatched my robe from the floor, yanked it back on, and rushed off to do as he bid, my heart hammering in my chest. I grabbed the book and ran back.

He hadn’t moved, just held out his hand.