Page 66 of Half Wolf Mate
Now that it seemed Cole didn’t mind my pregnancy, guilt about planning to leave pricked me in the chest. Doubt crept, however. What if, by tomorrow, he changed his mind about the baby and wanting me to stay? Maybe it was his stress level that had him talking crazy. He’s been so on edge tonight.
He searched my face and frowned. “You still don’t trust me. I hate it.”
I frowned. “Of course, I trust you.” I wouldn’t have stayed at his home if I hadn’t. “You’ve been keeping me safe from hunters.”
“I mean you don’t trust me with your heart.”
I studied the floor between us. “Can you blame me?”
His heavy sigh floated around the room. “No. I treated you horribly in the beginning.” He took my hands in his. “Please, give me a chance to make it up to you.”
I exhaled, and the soft sound resonated with doubt. That typical sliver of hope that my optimistic side tends to feel almost rose, but my logical side tamped it down. I was usually disappointed when I dared to hope. “But you’ve mostly avoided me, except when we’re…” My cheeks got hot. “Having sex.” That was the only time we got along perfectly.
Cole blinked, and I felt myself blush harder.
“I know,” he sighed. “Because I’m an idiot.”
My gaze snapped back to his.
He combed his fingers through his hair. “I’ve been trying to fight my feelings for you, Sydney. I thought it was best for the pack and me. When I felt myself needing you too much, I stayed away. I can’t do it anymore. I almost lost you tonight, and that forced me to stop being a fool.”
I swallowed hard. “What are you saying?”
He still held on to me. “I’m saying—I’maskingyou for the chance to make everything right with us. I’ll work to remove that distrust in your eyes, no matter how long it takes.”
“But you can’t claim me…”
“I made a mistake when I rejected you. It took me a while to realize that.”
My heart raced, and the hope I tried to keep at bay surfaced at the possibility of having the life I’d dreamed of with him. My mate. I held his gaze but said nothing.
“Please, give me a chance to make everything right,” he beseeched. “I promise—"
“Cole, before you make any promises, there’s something I have to tell you.”
“Is it about you or our baby?”
My heart jumped. He sounded so accepting of our child already, and I hadn’t even gone to a doctor to confirm anything yet. Although did I really need to? Werewolf senses were more accurate than any ultrasound.
“Well, no,” I answered. “But—”
“Then tell me later. All I care about right now is you. Us.”
“There’s an us?” I whispered.
He smiled. “I’d like there to be. If you’ll give me a chance, that is.”
Pushing aside my doubt from months of being rejected, I nodded. “I can give you that chance.”
Relief flickered across his face as he blew out a breath. “Thank you.”
Before I had another thought or could say another word, he swept me into his arms and kissed me. I have to admit, being in his arms was something incredible. I loved it, and I hoped it lasted. He kissed away my doubts—for the moment. That consuming passion that always presented itself when we were together like this took over.
Without breaking contact, we moved toward the four-poster bed. My top had already vanished, and I was working on getting Cole out of his when he stopped.
“Wait.”
I froze. If he didn’t want to go further, I’d likely die of intense arousal.