His Mate, Her Choice novel · Chapter 8 of 24

Chapter 8: Ask Me

He broke the kiss first.

His forehead came down against mine.

He was breathing harder than he had after the whole run.

"There's a hut," he said. "Past the creek. The woodcutters use it."

"Take me there."

"Wynn."

"Take me there, Dain."

He wrapped his coat tighter around me and picked me up.

I put my face in his neck and did not say a word the whole way.

The hut was one room with a stove, a stack of split wood and a narrow bed.

A wool blanket lay folded on it.

He set me on my feet and lit the stove with hands that weren't quite steady.

Then he stood with his back against the door, as far from me as the room allowed.

"I'll stay here," he said. "Until you're warm. Then I'll walk you back."

I looked at the distance between us, and understood him.

He had said he would not touch me until I asked.

He meant it so completely that he would stand there all night.

I had thought a mate's bond made a man take.

I had thought the King wanted me the way Halvard wanted Hollowmere's river.

But he was across the room with his jaw clenched and his hands pressed flat on the wood.

"You don't need the bond for this," I said slowly. "Do you?"

"No." His voice was rough.

"I wanted you before I knew what you were to me. When you said you'd never agreed. When you put your hand in mine."

"Then I'm asking."

"Wynn, you're cold, and you've had a hard night."

"I broke a man's nose tonight and ran as a wolf for the first time in eight years."

I let the coat fall off my shoulders.

"I'm not cold, and I'm not confused. I'm asking you to touch me."

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