Havoc's Mate (Badlands Territory #2) - Lila Rose Page 0,16

gone.” My body shuddered when he slid his nose to the back of my ear. “I thought I’d never see you again.”

I cleared my throat. “Well… I…. My mom sees ghosts,” I blurted.

His head lifted, and I could feel him looking at me. “What?”

“H-How about we talk over coffee?” God knew I could use one or ten or maybe a sedative so I didn’t turn and grab him like I wanted to. Hell, I wanted my mouth on his. I wanted to taste him and see him lose control. But I couldn’t. I wasn’t his, and I never would be because I wasn’t a shifter.

“Okay. Kitchen is down the hall to the left, through the main living room. I’ll meet you there.”

“Got it.” I nodded and started down the hall, ignoring my body and how it protested when moving away from his delicious heat.

It was strange walking through his house without him, but I got a chance to take it all in, and what I saw, I liked. That was after I opened some blinds in the living room and then the kitchen. I quickly went to the coffee maker, found some mugs, and poured two cups.

Footsteps sounded behind me, and I asked, “How do you have your coffee?” When no reply came, I looked over my shoulder to find him leaning back against the wall just inside the archway with his arms crossed over his chest. He just stood there and took me in.

“Jackson?” I asked, my tone quiet.

“Black.”

“All right, here you go,” I said, taking his mug to the table and placing it down. I waved a hand to the table. “Should we sit?”

He nodded. His feet ate up the floor, and then he was sitting at the end of the table, close to me. “Your mom?” he queried.

“Right.” I crossed my legs and picked up my steaming mug. “Well, you see, my mom can see spirits. The powers were passed onto her when my grandmother died. They’ll… um, and I’ll receive the power when Mom moves on from this world.”

“She spoke with someone in the house that we couldn’t see.”

I nodded and gave him a wry smile. “My father.”

“Was this why you didn’t run? You knew about shifters?”

Shaking my head, I said, “Oh no, I didn’t have a clue until I heard and saw… what I did. I went home and begged Mom to leave.” His jaw clenched. “But she made me understand that I hadn’t been thinking clearly. Honestly, I should have guessed there was more in the world. More people with powers or other species.”

“Why are you here today?” he asked, his tone a little clipped.

My pulse raced. I glanced down at the table, and something inside me urged to speak the truth. “From the first moment we entered into Badlands, it felt like home, and each hour that goes by, it anchors me here even more. I don’t want to move again. I don’t want to run.” I took a breath. “I might be scared a little since my mind opened to everything else, but even thinking of running has me in more fear than staying. I want to try. I want friends, a job, and a place where there’ll be no worries.” Slowly, I lifted my eyes to meet his. “This… it could sound totally out-of-this-world crazy, but…” Heat hit my cheeks when I plowed forward, not having the power to hold back. “I feel an attraction to you that I’ve never felt before.” I laughed humorlessly. “But it’s ridiculous, and I don’t know why I just told you that. You’re a shifter. A wolf shifter. I’m human.” I shook my head. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. My mind must be fried after all.” I stood. “I should go. We can try the job tomorrow, but I understand if I’ve made you uncomfortable.” I started for the living room.

“Don’t,” he bit out. The one word had me stilling. His tone gentled when he added, “Don’t leave me again.”

Oh God.

My hand rose to press against my chest where my heart beat frantically. I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to stay at his side all the time, and that scared me. But I knew it would also make me happy. Two halves of myself were fighting about what to do.

“You’re not stupid for what you feel. This attraction isn’t only one-sided. It’s not only coming from you. I… I want to spend time with you. Get to know you.”

I wanted that too.

So