Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 104350 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104350 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Tao figured it made a strange kind of sense. Unlike most shifters, he wasn’t completely sold on the true mate deal. His brother had spent years searching for his true mate. Given what Joaquin had found, Tao often wondered if his brother had ever wished he hadn’t bothered looking. It perfectly showed not only that true mates could be unhappy together but also that sometimes a person could spend so long daydreaming about their intended mate—building them up in their head into the perfect person—that they were disappointed by the reality. Joaquin’s mate had expected a white knight and found herself with a guy who was almost as much of an asshole as Tao. And she never let him forget just how far from perfect he was.
Many of the mated pairs in Tao’s pack were deliriously happy and devoted to each other—perfect examples of how true mates complemented and completed each other. But Gabe and Hope were just as close and well suited, and they were an imprinted couple.
“Back to the Alpha family,” he said. “I’ve met Lucy; she seems nice enough. What about the other daughter, Cynthia?” He smiled as Riley’s upper lip curled. “You don’t like her.”
“We clash in a major way. She’s slightly below me on the dominance scale and she’s always hated that—probably almost as much as she hates me.” Riley’s chest tightened as two children ran past, making her think of Savannah and Dexter. Damn, she was going to miss the little buggers.
“So it’s fair to say that she won’t be so happy to see you.”
“It would indeed be fair to say that. Then again, she might relish that she can show me she’s now dating my ex-boyfriend. She always wanted Sawyer and she’s petty enough to be smug that she has him.”
“You jealous?” Tao rumbled, claws almost slicing out at the idea. Riley barked a laugh, and the tension left him.
“No. I was the one who ended the relationship. But Cynthia will believe I still want him if it makes her feel better about herself.”
“Personally, I doubt she’ll want you in his line of sight.”
“I’m not the only one in the flock that he dated.”
“Does she hate the other females as much as she hates you?”
Riley shook her head.
“Then it’s got to grate on her that you’ve had her male.” Tao didn’t want Riley near Sawyer either. His wolf growled at the idea. “What’s your favorite day of the week?”
She did a double take. “What?”
“Your favorite day. What is it?”
Baffled, she asked, “Why does that matter?”
“It just does. I told you, I want—”
“You want me to let you in a little, yeah, I know. I just told you all that stuff about my flock.”
“Yes, about your flock,” he pointed out gently. “Not you. It’s you I want to hear about. I’m not asking you to bare your soul, Riley. It’s just an itty-bitty question.”
She thought about it for a moment. “Friday. It’s the start of the weekend. I like weekends.”
Satisfied, he nodded. “So, do you think Cynthia will cause a scene at any point this weekend?”
Blinking at how swiftly he’d returned to their previous subject, she said, “I don’t know.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if she does.”
“She might feel reassured by my bringing you along.”
“Don’t be so sure.”
“Well, you’ve left a mark on my neck where it’s easy to see. That’ll convince her I have no designs on Sawyer, won’t it?”
His eyes drifted to the bite. His cock, hard and heavy, throbbed at just the sight of it. “If you were my ex, seeing another guy’s mark on you would piss me the fuck off . . . but it wouldn’t stop me wanting you. And if she’s worried he might still want you, she won’t be reassured by my mark.” Tao gently fingered the bite, asking, “Coffee or tea?”
“Huh?”
“What do you prefer to drink, coffee or tea?”
She didn’t know whether she wanted to laugh or grab him by the throat. It seemed easier to just answer him. “Tea, but I like the smell of coffee better.”
He frowned. “Tea’s a girly drink.”
“I am a girl.”
“But you’re not a girly girl, so that surprises me.”
When the attendant announced it was time for them to board, Riley grabbed her duffel and got to her feet. Tao took the duffel from her, easily carrying both hers and his own, as they joined the line to board. Finally stepping onto the plane, she stayed behind Tao as they walked down the narrow aisle, passing rows of fabric seats and pausing while passengers shoved their bags into the white overhead compartments.
When they reached their designated row, she was grateful to see there were only two seats. She didn’t like sitting with strangers on airplanes, particularly since she always seemed to be seated by the chatty ones who liked to take off their shoes.