Page 44 of Little Mate
All three move into place not far from us and side by side. Another whistle and they sit on their haunches, a grumpy sound coming from the backs of their throats. Their eyes are also on me now. They’ve learned to follow each of my commands without hesitation.
“That’s me reminding them to mind their manners.” I bop her nose, then drag the tip of my finger down and over her lips. “You’re not lunch.”
“Am I not tasty.” The cheekiness in her is something I’m finding myself quite fond of. Something I would hate from anyone else.
“You’re an aphrodisiac, sweetheart. But more importantly…” bringing my lips down to her ear, I exhale roughly against her skin and enjoy the quick rise of goose bumps there “…I don’t share.”
“Neither do I.”
“Good girl.” I walk us forward, her body still in my tight hold while the animals watch. They’re not the only ones either; I have exotic birds, hippos, a rhino, and three cows just because. “Ready to meet these three knuckleheads?”
“How is this even real? Are they not afraid of you?”
“They are, but I rescued them from poachers as cubs and raised them. Different times, but always the same story.”
“Money?” she asks, sadness in her tone.
“Yes, love. Money.”
“You’re not what I thought you’d be, you know?” Low, Gabriella says this so low I almost miss it. “In my head, you were this larger-than-life monster with no heart or remorse, and here you are rescuing animals and—”
“I’m not a saint.”
“I know, but I hated you unjustly just the same.” Won’t deny that stings; a small laceration spreads across the area where my heart should be. Gabriella must sense this because she quickly turns in my arms and cages my face in her small hands, pulling me down to her. “That was on me, Theo. Not you.” A small press of her mouth to mine releases every bit of the tension her confession brought on. “I put something on your shoulders that had no place being there, and I’m truly sorry. A man my father respects as much as he does—who my mother defends so adamantly—must have a good soul. Not perfect, but good.”
“Your parents spoke of me to you?”
Gabby nods before giving me another peck. “The night we met, I dreamt with them.”
“And they didn’t tell you to run?”
“No. They told me to hold on tight.” So many questions run through my mind at that, but before I can probe further, the cougar lets out a low growl. Her smile widens and she turns, retaking her place with her back against my chest. Fuck, she feels good against me. “I promise to explain everything to you, my gift and guilt, but I want to enjoy this with you first. I’ve never seen such animals up close.”
I don’t want that for her. To feel upset by something she had her reasons to feel.
My plans before finding her to be my mate weren’t good.
I’d been planning to make her nothing more than a pet. My personal slave.
“Never apologize to me, Gabriella. My intentions with you weren’t always pure.”
“Never tell me not to, Theodore.” Another playful yowl, this time from the tiger. He’s lying down on his side, half exposing his belly. “Besides, I did put a knife to your neck when we met. I’m not without fault. Although, according to my mother, women are always right.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, and I want to get closer to them. Can we?”
She’s going to keep me on my toes. I re-wrap my arm around her waist while raising my unoccupied hand high into the air. The other two lie down as well. Eyes always on me.
“You need to teach me that. It’s very cool.”
“We have eternity, love. I’ll show you anything you want.”
“And we can get them girlfriends?”
“If it makes you happy.”
“It would.”