His to Protect: Book 1 in the Bound to Him Series by Sandra Antoni (the reading list TXT) 📗

asked her, trying not to sound too curious. There was a specific reason for my question, but I wasn’t ready to tell her that.

“Marissa. Marissa Feldman. She was from Phoenix. I have no idea how my adoption took place in Kansas City. I just know that my parents adopted me when I was about two months old. I never found out anything else,” she said softly. I could tell that this was a difficult subject for her, so I changed it.

“Do you watch any sports?” I asked her and she grinned. Ice hockey and football. A woman after my own heart. I would have to look into any hockey games that might be playing while she was in town. Hopefully, I could get her to go to one with me. I intended to spend a lot of time with her over the next two weeks.

“Um…I need to call my parents,” I heard a few moments later. She seemed hesitant, but I already knew that she was doing it for the right reasons. I held her hand as she made the call.

“Hi, dad. Mom there too?...No, I’m good…I didn’t do much today. Yesterday was quite intense with the hiking in the mountains, so I decided to take it easy today…Yes, tomorrow I’m going to see Tucson and make a plan for the rest of my time here…I’m having a wonderful time. It was good to get away. Just what I needed…Okay, I’ll call you tomorrow…Love you too.”

I grinned over at her and she relaxed against the back of the couch. We spent the next half hour talking about whatever came to mind. Just then, there was a knock at the door, and I knew that our dinner was here. I stood and answered the door, leaving a large tip for the delivery driver. When I was seated once again on the couch, I set the food on the coffee table in front of us.

“Chopsticks?” I asked her, and her smile grew even wider.

“Definitely,” she replied eagerly. I handed her a pair and then handed her the container of Szechuan beef that she had requested. I opened my chopsticks and my container of General Tso’s chicken.

The conversation never ended between us, and I caught myself laughing several times. Chelsea had an amazing sense of humor, and there was never a dull moment between us. Whatever this was between us, it felt so right. Well, I knew what it was, but she had no clue, and I was not ready to broach the subject yet. Instead, I just accepted the time that we had together.

It was several hours later that I told her I needed to get home. The look in her eyes changed to panic for a moment, but then she quickly schooled her features. I had no idea what that meant. She reached for my hand, and my eyes met hers.

“Zeke,” she said, and I heard what sounded like desperation in her voice.

“What is it, Chelsea? What’s wrong?” I asked her gently, my eyes searching hers.

“I don’t want to let you go,” she replied on a whisper. I knew what she was feeling and why, but I couldn’t tell her. Not yet. It was just too soon.

“Do you want me to stay with you?” I asked softly.

I had no idea what it was like for a human, but as a shifter, and knowing that she was my mate, the desire to mate her was strong. I was not sure that if I stayed with her that I would be able to control myself, but I would try for her. I would do whatever she needed me to do.

“Zeke, I don’t want you to go. Will you stay?” she asked, and I could see the hesitation on her face. She knew what she was feeling, but she did not understand it.

“Chelsea, I want you. I won’t lie. I want you badly. If I stay, I don’t know…I don’t know that I could keep myself away from you,” I replied on a breathy voice.

I had never lost control before, but this was different. I already knew that she was mine, and my wolf begged me to claim her.

“Will you stay with me?” she asked again, and I knew what she was asking. She wanted the same thing. My response was to claim her lips with mine.

The electricity crackled between us once again, and I knew that I would claim her, the pack be damned. Nothing mattered in this moment except me and her. Without breaking the kiss, I lifted her in my arms once again and carried her into the bedroom. I laid her down on the bed and looked down at her.

“Are you sure you want this?” I asked her, needing to make sure that I had not misconstrued her desire.

“I have never wanted anything more,” she replied, and I lowered my lips to hers once again.

Chapter 8

When my lips met Chelsea’s, the sparks were immediate, like lightning under my skin, but there was no pain, only pleasure. She ignited parts of me that I didn’t know could feel. I slowly lowered myself to the bed beside her and moved my hand to her waist. When she didn’t flinch, I slid my hand under her t-shirt so that skin met skin.

My tongue plunged into her mouth and it seemed instinct took over. Her tongue met mine and her teeth grazed over my tongue, making me gasp at the sensation. My hand moved up her bare skin until I palmed her large breast, and I heard her sharp intake of breath. Then she moaned. The sound sent a shiver through my body, and my cock pulsed in anticipation of being inside her.

I kissed her bottom lip and moved down her neck, kissing the sensitive skin there. Her breast pushed against my hand as she arched her back against me. I squeezed it then teased her already taut nipple with my fingers. I pulled back long enough to slide her shirt up