He didn’t like the loss of contact with her, but he hated her distress even more. What was going through his Little mate’s head?
“I’ve kept you from whatever you usually do all day. I bet you have things you need to attend to. It’s getting late in the afternoon. I should start dinner. I’ll do that while you’re gone.”
He frowned. Whatever was she talking about?
He reached for her hips and brought her between his legs. “Molly, I’m not going anywhere, Little one. Not for weeks. It’s customary for Alpha Protectors to spend about a month with their mates before returning to our usual duties.”
Her eyes widened, and her face paled further. “Maybe you’d like to go for a run to get some fresh air?”
Perplexed by her odd insistence on him leaving her, he pulled her closer and gently kissed her lips. “I don’t need fresh air, Little one. Are you trying to get rid of me?” he teased.
That was exactly what she was doing, though he had no idea why. Couldn’t she feel the bond between them as much as him? Did she not realize what a frenzy she would be in if he left her alone?
“Of course not,” she argued. “I just… I like to work in the kitchen alone. If you hover, I’ll probably burn something.”
He chuckled. “Ah. Your mother told you that you’d be expected to cook for me, didn’t she?”
“Of course. All females look after their mates.”
“Not in the mountains, Little one. We live just the opposite. Alpha Protectors take care of our Little mates, not the other way around.”
Her brow creased. “You… You’re going to cook formetonight?”
He smiled. “I will always cook for you, Little one. In fact, I will forbid you from touching anything dangerous in the kitchen.”
She glanced over his shoulder toward the nursery door. A shudder wracked her small frame. “Everything in the kitchen is dangerous if you’re me,” she muttered.
“What do you mean, Little one?”
She met his gaze and held it. When she spoke, she did not answer his question. “You’re seriously going to cook for me?”
“Always. If you need something to eat, you’ll ask me to get it for you. I don’t want you touching the stove, oven, or microwave. Nothing that might burn you. Definitely no knives. Understood?”
She continued to stare at him without blinking. “Are you serious?”
“Yes, Baby girl.”
“Men in the valley don’t do much cooking or cleaning.”
“I’m aware, but up here in the mountains, we dote on our mates in ways you’ve never experienced. Our bond is fierce, and with it comes the intense need to protect. I won’t want you doing anything that might put you in danger. You are the most important person in my life now. I already know that deep in mysoul after just a few hours. I knew it the moment I scented you before I even stepped into the ceremonial room.”
“But…”
Gavin shook his head. “No buts. That’s just how Alpha Protectors are wired. We take care of our mates in every imaginable way. You’ll see.”
“I’m…” She licked her lips again. “I’m a terrible cook.”
He laughed. His entire body shook when he did so. “Then you won’t mind me doing the cooking.”
She narrowed her gaze. “Are you pranking me?”
He laughed harder. “No, Little one. I’m serious. The mates of Alpha Protectors do not cook or clean. None of them. I promise. If I could wrap you in bubble wrap to ensure your constant safety, I would, but I don’t expect you’d like to be bundled up in bubble wrap,” he joked.
She licked her pretty lips. “What are my duties then? How do I serve you?”
He smiled. “You won’t have duties, Little one. As soon as you tell me what your interests and hobbies are, I’ll get the supplies you need to fulfill your desires. Some mates like painting, coloring, or other arts. Some are musicians. What makesyouhappy, Molly?”
Her brow furrowed deeper. “Is reading a hobby?”
