Page 33 of Broken By Her Mate

“Really?” he hummed as he took slow steps towards her.

Laila’s breath hitched, and she felt her pulse quicken despite herself. She took retreating steps until her back hit the counter. “Y-yes. It won’t happen again.”

“Is that so?” Tolliver drawled. Covering the space between them. He got so close that she felt the heat of his bodyand his breath on her face. He placed both palms on the counter on either side of her, caging her in, and the gods help her, but she didn’t really want to escape him.

Satisfaction rolled through Tolliver at the sound of her blood pumping harder through her veins and the distinct scent of her arousal. “If it was a one-time thing, then why do you still want me?” he asked. “If I kiss you right now, you won’t stop me. If I lift you onto this counter to have my way with you, you won’t stop me. I can smell how much you want me.” He inhaled deeply. “I can practically taste it.”

“Oh my gosh!” She shoved at his chest, but he didn’t budge. “Stopsmellingme. That’s not fair. I can’t even have a little privacy to be aroused in peace.”

Tolliver chuckled. Her face was flushed, but the mixture of acceptance and humor in her eyes told him she wasn’t truly upset or uncomfortable. He would have backed off at once if he thought she was.

“Sometimes I hate that our senses are so acute. I can’t even deny that I want you… physically.” She blew out her breath and shrugged. “But it doesn’t mean I’m not still terrified.”

The sadness that came over her sucked every ounce of amusement out of the moment. This time, he did step back and give her space. “Look, Laila, I’m sorry I barged in on your conversation like that. I wasn’t eavesdropping on you per se. I was just listening out for danger and heard that man about to ask you out. I just… lost my head, I guess.”

She nodded. “I get it, Tolliver. I know how possessive our wolves can get.” His jaw tightened in frustration. He wanted to correct her—to tell her it wasn’t just his animal instinct at fault. It wasallhim. He simply didn’t want to let her go because every part of him still loved her. However, he didn’t say any of that outloud. The bell on the entrance to the shop dinged, announcing that Cora had returned.

“I’ll leave you and Cora to it. You’re about ready to clean up and close, right?” he asked.

Laila nodded. “Yes. Thanks for accommodating me for the entire day.”

“No problem,” he murmured as he escaped through the back door. Actually, it was a major problem… of the emotional kind. Being around Laila like this was driving him crazy. He wanted to reclaim her as his but knew he had no right to. Not yet, anyway. He had to prove to her that she could trust him with her heart again.

He stepped into the alley, the crisp fall air filling his lungs. He then let out a slow, frustrated breath. It was barely six, but winter approached, so it was dark out. The streetlights had come on, and almost every shop in town was readying to close up. After Laila locked up, they’d be on their way back to Bellefleur… back to being confined to the cabin and him fighting temptation every minute of the day. He leaned back against the cold brick wall and scrubbed his face.

It was a relief when his phone rang because it distracted him from thoughts of how badly he’d messed up the best thing to ever happen to him. Years later, his job didn’t fill the gaping hole in his life that losing his mate had created. He glimpsed Ryder’s name on the screen.

“Yeah?”

“Well, hello to you too, sunshine,” Ryder greeted. “You sound broodier than usual.”

Tolliver rolled his eyes. “Did you call to annoy me, or is there something important you have to say?”

Ryder laughed off Tolliver’s rudeness. They’d been friends since they were in diapers and were used to each other’s descent into moodiness. Their job with the Black Ops got intense at times.

“Actually, yes. I’m calling about something very important.”

“Let’s hear it.”

“You know how Laila talked you into taking her to Cedar Ridge because apparently you’re a sucker for her?”

“Screw you, Ryder.” Tolliver’s indignation was half-assed because he was definitely a sucker for her. He was so weak that it bordered on pathetic.

Laughing, Ryder continued, “Well, as it turns out, it wasn’t such a bad idea after all. Right now, she might be safer there.”

Tolliver straightened, on high alert now. “What’s happening?”

“One of our guys caught someone lurking around the woods near the cabin. These guys might have gotten word on Laila’s location.”

Tolliver’s heart skipped several beats. “For fuck’s sake, Ryder. I’m starting to think these guys arehuntingher. Wouldn’t they have given up after their first failed attempt to get her?”

A soft inhale caught his attention, and he turned to see Laila standing in the doorway, staring at him with wide eyes. In the dim light, he could see how pale she was. He muttered a curse, annoyed with himself for not hearing her approach.

“What is it?” Ryder asked.

“Laila is here. I’m going to put the phone on speaker.”

“Are you sure? What happened to keeping the gorier details away from her?”