Page 27 of Fated Obsessions

Was I dreaming? I had to be, because this was the most fantastical—maybe even ridiculous—thing I’d ever experienced in my life.

I thought over and over again about what Ren just told me, my heart thundering, my body still awake from the intense pleasure he’d just given me. But not even this truth, this unbelievable reality, could douse the fire still simmering in me. And I felt like I was traitorous to myself for feeling this hard need for a man that wasn’t really a man at all.

I exhaled, thankful he stayed by the fire and didn’t make a move toward me. He seemed…heartbrokenat having told me, knowing I was terrified. But as I stood there, I felt some of the shock start to leave. I felt reasoning and rationalization start to replace all the confusion.

Another species.

Think. Think.

“You’re taking this better than I expected.”

I snapped my head up to look at him. He was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his big, wide chest.God, he looks so good.I shook my head and told my thoughts to stay at the task at hand.

“I envisioned this going a lot differently.”

I lifted a brow at that, and it was my turn to cross my arms. I tried to appear stronger than I felt, but I knew the act was all about protecting myself. “How did you envision it going?” My voice was surprisingly strong and clear.

“You running away and never looking back,” he said matter-of-factly.

“I thought about it,” I responded honestly. That had been my first inclination. But even if the fight instinct had been strong in me, I hadn’t been able to leave. “I figure you’re either batshit crazy, or… this is pretty damn real.” I shook my head. “I contemplated running,” I murmured and gave a humorless laugh.

“Why didn’t you?”

I repeated what he said in my mind for long moments and came up with the only thing that made sense out of all of this. “Because it felt wrong to leave you.”

He sucked in a breath, as if shocked by my words, and then I heard a low sound come from him, a mix between a growl and a purr. I looked at him, taking note of everything about him.

“As crazy as this entire situation is, I’m not all that surprised.” I shook my head again at how freaking insane that sounded coming from my mouth. “I mean, the first time I saw you, I felt like you didn’t seem like any other man I'd come across in my life.” I licked my lips as that pleasure started to heighten once more. “You seemed inhuman, in a way. I guess I know why I felt like that.”

He pushed away from the wall, and involuntarily I took a step back. “I won’t hurt you. I’d never hurt you.”

I swallowed. “I know.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “So you believe me, understand what I am?”

No. Yes. “I don’t know what I understand or believe, but everything in me is screaming that you’re telling me the truth, that you won’t hurt me.” I didn't bother bringing up the whole Mini story she told me. It wouldn’t matter at the end of the day.

“Given what I am, how can you not assume I’m some crazed beast wanting to harm you?”

I shrugged half-heartedly. When he put it that way, I supposed I didn’t know shit. But... “You’ve had plenty of time to do that if you’d meant to. And—” I nibbled my bottom lip. “—given what we just did, I can’t see hurting me is your intention.” My face felt hot as my pussy became wet once more at the memory of how good he made me feel.

He growled again, his head lowering slightly, his eyes becoming hooded as he stared at me.

“Can you…” I breathed out slowly, knowing I should feel embarrassed for what I was about to ask. “Can you smell my desire?” My voice was so low, breathy, but I knew he heard me anyway by the way he groaned.

“Ohyes.” His voice sounded different, deeper, huskier, and his eyes kept flashing from blue to brown.

“Why do they do that?” I swallowed, this little part of me still saying I needed to run, that this wasn’t normal or safe. But the much stronger part refused to leave him.

He closed his eyes, squeezing them as if grappling for control. When he opened them again, they were normal. “My inner animal pushes through at times, far more now that you’re in my life. The blue coloring is his eye shade.”

It’s the same as mine.I didn’t want to think too deeply on that, but then again, the fact that they were a perfect match just seemed to bring about the wholematesituation.

I cleared my throat, trying to focus on something other than the fact that even though things had definitely gone into the fucked up category, my body still hummed with arousal. “Are there more of you? Different species?”

He inclined his head, and I was taking that as a very old world, aristocratic gesture from him when he agreed with me. “Many. Hundreds.”

“Vampires?” He nodded. “Witches and warlocks?” Ren inclined his head again.