“Why not?” I couldn’t stop myself from meeting her gaze. The moment I did, she had me ensnared.
“Because we’re mated.”
“Not officially.” We hadn’t made vows yet, though we did plan on doing so.
“Is she right?” Madi asked.
“About what?”
“Don’t screw with me,” she warned. “I deserve better than that.”
I let out a harsh breath. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” I held her gaze. Couldn’t have looked away if I wanted to. “I’m not sure. I’ve never been in love with someone before. I have a hard time imagining it could be any more intense than the way I feel.”
Madi’s eyes widened just a little.
She rolled onto her back again.
I once again fought the urge to reach for her.
“You should’ve told me that before you bit me.”
“I was ignoring it.”
“Not very well.”
“Apparently not.” I looked back at the ceiling. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have claimed you the way I did.”
“I told you to stop apologizing.”
“Did you?”
“I think so.”
I made a noncommittal noise.
“Do you regret it?” she asked, a moment later.
“Do I regret what?”
“Biting me.”
“Fuck, no.” The response slipped out before I could consider the consequences. “I should, though.”
“But you don’t.”
“No.”
“Then stop apologizing and own it. You didn’t mean to bite me, but you did it because…” she trailed off.
She wanted me to finish the sentence. To give her an answer.
I didn’t think the truth was going to get me anywhere I wanted to go with her, but she deserved it anyway.
“I didn’t plan on biting you. I did because I wanted you to be mine so fucking badly that I couldn’t stop myself. You were wrapped around my cock, sitting on my lap, letting me take care of you. I thought about you leaving me, and I lost control. I was biting you before I could consider the outcome.”
“You let the skulk take me away right afterward.”
A growl rumbled my chest. “If I had started a fight, those fuckers would’ve hurt you to get you away from me. There were too many of them for me to handle without risking your life.”
