The Wolf Lord's Mate

Chapter Thirty-Three

"We could quell the fire." I offered, crossing my arms over my chest. Nathaniel's gaze immediately followed my movement, and I glanced down, heat rising in my neck as I noticed how the position had pushing my breasts together, accentuating the soft swells through the opening in his shirt. I shot him a glare, pulling the string-tie as tight as it would go. "Focus, please."

"Oh, darling, I am quite focused," Nathaniel smirked, "I can assure you that you have my undivided attention."

"Focused on our discussion," I corrected.
"If we quell the fire, then you will be cold." Nathaniel said.

"You have lots of blankets."

"Then I will be hot."

"Only if we share the blankets," I gave a saccharine smile, "If we sleep as separately as possible that might solve the problem."

"I wish to be near you, not guarded from you," Nathaniel huffed, ""That defeats the purpose of sleeping in the same bed together."

"I disagree."

"Must you argue with me about everything?" Nathaniel groaned, rubbing at the bridge of his nose.

"I am not arguing, I am merely making suggestions," I tilted my chin up in the air, "It is not my fault if you wish to make things more difficult by choosing not to listen to them."

"I am tired, darling, which means you have to be exhausted. Feel free to give me an itemized list of your grievances in the morning, after we have both rested." With that, Nathaniel stood up, turning his back to me completely as he began to turn down the bed.

Hard muscles twisted in his back with every movement, shoulders flexing from only the subtlest shift. It was enough to make my mouth go dry, and I could not help but wonder what it would feel like to run my hands over his tanned skin. Nathaniel took his time lifting up the duvet and smoothing down the pillows, giving plenty of attention to the side of the bed that I had positioned myself in front of.

"Do you need more blankets?" Nathaniel asked, "I have more in case you are actually feeling cold, I should have already asked—or would you prefer furs? I could skin and dry you some new ones tomorrow after I go hunting—"

"—Nathaniel," I interrupted, "You do not need to skin me anything." The idea of those sharp canines tearing an animal open sent a shiver down my spine, though I could not be sure whether it was one of disgust or desire.

"Perhaps not furs, but is there anything else you need?" Nathaniel's expression was far too earnest, and I glanced out the window to avoid looking at him. "And I don't just mean tonight, darling, although I'd be happy to fetch you any water or supplies you might need. But anything you desire—clothes, books, jewels, trinkets—I would enjoy finding and procuring them for you."

"I have no need for those things," I said quietly, "I have spent most of my life getting by on very little."

"But you don't need to anymore," Nathaniel paused, a sigh escaping his lips,  "I know that you are still adjusting, Mira, but you must know that every instinct I have urges me to protect and provide for you. I'm your mate—it is my job to keep you safe and happy and loved, and I can think of no greater calling. And courting gifts are not so uncommon, even among humans, are they not?"

He was right, but the issue was that we were not courting; he already believed he had a claim to me, and I refused to accept that claim—so what was the point in pretending that we were courting? Perhaps because he thought that it would give him a chance to win me over, but I did not need anything else to feel guilty about. His devotion was difficult enough to deal with, and I did not need any physical representation of it.

"I do not need gifts," My chest tightened as I turned to look at him, his face falling at yet another refusal, "But I will come to bed."

Nathaniel's crestfallen look turned to a soft smile at my tiny acceptance, and he motioned for me to come to bed. I paused for the briefest moment, and he raised his brow as if daring me to argue again. I sighed, ignoring the self-satisfied smirk that appeared on Nathaniel's lips as I climbed onto the bed.

I burrowed under the blankets, laying my head down on the softest pillow I had ever known, sighing as I was finally able to stretch out my legs. The mattress was so comfortable it made me want to weep, the pain in my lower back easing little by little. Nathaniel blew out the candle on the chest of drawers and climbed into bed next to me. The mattress dipped, the temperature under the blankets raising immediately from the furnace of a male beside me.

I pulled the duvet up under my chin, shifting as far towards the edge of the bed as I could to keep a bit of distance between us, but it still wasn't enough. I was acutely aware of how close his body was to mine, and I could practically feel him staring at me in the dark, even with my eyes closed. I willed sleep to take me as quickly as possible, but just as the first tendrils of exhaustion started to steal me away, Nathaniel's body shifted on the other side of the bed.

THE WOLF LORD'S MATE updates every Friday for free on Wattpad

OR you can read ahead on Patreon and get twice weekly updates on Monday & Thursday

patreon.com/CassidySmoke