Page 49 of Broken By Her Mate

Tolliver didn’t move a muscle as she sank the fork into the chocolaty dessert. Was she going to feed him? His heart pounded with anticipation at the possibility. He hadn’t expected it. To his shock, she carried the fork to his lip.

“Careful,” she warned. “It’s hot.”

It took every ounce of his control to keep his hands to himself. She was dangerously close, and he was fighting the potent wave of desire trying to swamp him. He took the bite he offered, his eyes locked with hers. His tastebuds danced with recognition. “Chocolate peanut butter cheesecake,” he hummed. He’d never heard of it until Laila made it the first week he moved into her place. “There’s something different about this one.”

She laughed. “Your tastebuds have a great memory. I tweaked the ingredients a little.”

“It’s delicious. I need another bite.”

She dutifully complied, and he wondered if she even realized she was still feeding him. She was so passionate abouther culinary creations that she was probably oblivious, and he didn’t shy away from taking advantage of that.

He saw the exact moment she realized what she was doing. The clarity was right there in her eyes. Her breath hitched, and her cheeks turned crimson. As she pulled away, he caught her hand midair and gently tugged. She stumbled forward with a gasp. The fork clattered to the granite countertop.

“Tolliver…” she whispered.

He pulled her between his legs and cupped her nape. “Tell me to stop, and I will.”

She swallowed hard, and with his acute senses, he could hear her pulse racing. But she didn’t move or tell him to stop. Her eyes flicked to his mouth, and he was lost.

His head dipped, and the air seemed to charge with electricity. He was close enough to feel her breath against his lips. The tension between them coiled tighter as if the air itself was holding its breath, waiting for them to make contact. When they did, he swore he heard fireworks.

Tolliver deepened the kiss, pulling her closer, and she moaned. Her hands were splayed on his chest, and her fingers curled into his shirt, spurring him on. His hand lifted to tangle in her hair as he practically devoured her. Just when he was about to take things further—maybe take her right there on the counter—he felt her pushing against his chest. Her entire body was tense. As far gone as he was, he managed to pull himself back and tear his mouth away from her.

“Tolliver, we can’t…” she panted. “I can’t do this.”

He instantly let her go, giving her space even as his chest tightened. The last thing he wanted to do was push her. He had to hold on to the last thread of his patience. “I’m sorry. Ishouldn’t have done that,” he murmured. “It’s just… sometimes I’m confused. We’ve been sleeping together for weeks.” Granted, they hadn’t had sex the last week because Laila seemed to be avoiding him like the plague. “You seem into it when we…”

“I am,” she said, her face turning red. “I mean, Iwas, but we should stop.”

“Why?”

“After all this,” she waved her hand, “the situation with the kidnappings and me having to stay in Bellefleur, we’ll go back to our separate lives. I don’t want to get…” She took a deep breath, struggling to find the words.

“You don’t want to get attached?” he helped.

“I guess.”

“Would that be such a bad thing?” Because he was already attached. Hell, he didn’t know how he’d go back to life without her.

“It would. I don’t trust you, Tolliver.”

Her words hung in the silence between them. They echoed in his mind, taunted him. He couldn’t do it anymore—continue trying to win her over, only for her to still see him as the man who walked away from her. Her admission hurt, but he sucked it up because perhaps he deserved it. Wiping a hand over his face, he said, “I left because I thought I was doing right by you, Laila.”

Her eyebrows snapped together. “What?How could breaking my heart be right for me?”

Chapter 18 - Laila

Laila couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Her mate rejected her because he thought it was the right thing to do. It was insane and ridiculous. She stepped back from him before she lost her temper and hit him with something. It was too bad their amazing evening had taken such a bad turn. She’d been enjoying her date—the only one she’d had in ages—until the miserable topic of their breakup arose.

Tolliver snagged her wrist before she could walk away. “Please, hear me out.”

Every muscle in her body was taut as she reluctantly turned back to face him. Could she stomach hearing anything else? “Look, let’s just forget about the past,” she said.

“How can I when it’s standing in the way of my future with you?”

His words hit her harder than she would have liked, and her eyes flickered up to meet his. He had been hinting at wanting them to get back together, but he’d never said it outright until now.

“Yes, Laila, that’s what I want,” he confirmed. “I want us to be…usagain. I never stopped loving you.”