Craved Mate: Cybermates, Ayers, Candace [the rosie project .txt] 📗

nipped playfully at my neck, sending me into a fit of giggles. “Not dog. Wolf. And liking the way you touch me has nothing to do with being a shifter and everything to do with being touched by you.”

“Mmm.” I stretched up to kiss him. “Can I see?”

He seemed hesitant. “You’re not weirded out?”

“Not at all. I admit, I had trouble digesting the whole thing at first. Kinda thought I lost my mind. But I know what I saw, and now I just think it’s really cool that you can turn into an animal. I wish I could shift into an animal.”

Something pained crossed over his face, but he blinked it away. “What would you be?”

I thought about it. “I’d want to be something badass like a cheetah, or a wolf like you. Most likely, I’d actually be an oversized house cat.”

He raised his eyebrows. “An oversized house cat?”

“Yeah, the kind that lies around and sleeps all the time and expects to be fed between belly rubs.”

Laughing, he rolled off the mattress and stood at the foot of the bed. I rolled onto my stomach with my chin propped on my fist and watched him. I grinned as his eyes went to my naked ass. His growing erection was impressive and dangerously close to my eyes if he didn’t move back.

“For the record, I’ll feed you and rub your belly anytime you want.” He rolled his shoulders. “Are you sure you want to see this?”

I nodded. “More than anything.”

He held my stare for a minute more, then nodded. He was there one second and the next, there was a massive wolf in his place. Solid black with glowing silver eyes, he stood stock-still, watching me. He was bigger than any wolf or dog I’d ever seen. The word hellhound flashed through my mind. Except, he was stunningly beautiful and didn’t appear frightening. Although, there was no doubt he could be if he wanted to.

I was mesmerized.

Without even realizing I was doing, I slid off the bed and moved toward him. I was almost surprised at myself when I reached out and buried my hand in his thick fur. I swallowed audibly. I wasn’t afraid of him. I was just…in awe.

He nudged me with his nose and wedged his head under my hand. I smiled and rubbed his head, leaning into his strong body.

“You’re beautiful.”

That got me a growl, but I didn’t care. What did he want? Powerful, magnificent, ominous? He was all those things, but he was also the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. I felt giddy, I was so happy. I wrapped my arms around his neck, completely overwhelmed by everything that had happened tonight.

Mac was suddenly back in front of me, his arms wrapped around me. “You okay?”

I gave him a silly smile. “Yeah, I just… Wow. That is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen.”

He stroked his hands through my hair and pulled me back to the bed. “Come on. You look exhausted, like you’re barely standing upright.”

“That’s your fault. You wore me out.” I wanted to talk more, but I was so tired.

17

Mac

Mel was sleeping so soundly, I didn’t dare wake her. She was on her stomach, a soft little snore was floating on each exhale, and a puddle of drool was on the pillowcase under her mouth. I grinned as I watched her sleep. She was splendid—everything about her, just unbelievable.

Her giggles of excitement when she witnessed me shift were almost as pleasing to my ear as her lovely singing voice. I’d never been so proud of being a shifter as when she’d stroked my fur and called my wolf beautiful. My head puffed up like a balloon right then. My wolf was definitely still strutting proudly. I was the happiest I’d ever been. Okay, he was a little pissed I hadn’t marked her.

I’d wanted to. She was gorgeous. Sexy. Sweet. And she’d not only gotten rid of the leach she’d referred to as her boyfriend, but she’d also come looking for me.

She came to me!

Having a woman like Mel in my life was the biggest ego boost a man could experience, and I hadn’t been all that humble to begin with. But Mel wasn’t shy about what she wanted. She was quick witted and talented. Her voice was the sweetest sound I’d ever heard and would forever be stuck in my head, no matter the lyrics that accompanied it.

Unfortunately, none of that changed the fact that she was human. She was fragile. She could be easily broken.

I rolled over, got out of bed quietly so as not to disturb her, and went into Ame’s room to check on her. The baby was sleeping just as soundly as Mel and had her little thumb tucked between her lips.

A smile spread across my face as I stood in that perfect moment marveling at what a lucky man I was. The moment lasted for about eight seconds. That was how long it took before panic set in.

Reality struck like a lightning bolt. This all seemed perfect, sure, but right at this very moment, unbeknownst to anyone, and for absolutely no reason at all, Mel could have some dark, deadly disease growing inside of her, just like the cancer that was eating away at Warren. She could be sick already!

Or it could happen next week or next month. Her body could turn on her. Hell, Warren had seemed perfectly healthy and robust for years before there was any sign that he was sick.

I could spend the next ten years, twenty years, with Mel only to have her stolen away by some vile, wretched, uncompromising human illness.

Oh god. I wasn’t strong enough for that.

I couldn’t walk away now. It was too late for that. I was crazy about her. I wanted her next to me in my bed every night, and still there when I awoke every morning. One night and I was completely fucked. She owned me.

There was a light knock on the