Read Online A Prideful Mate by Amber Kell - Free Book Online
Authors: Amber Kell
Tags: shifters, M/M Paranormal Romance
Ads: Link
MATE
Amber Kell
52
Chapter Six
Payce’s apartment was a wreck. They were escorted into the place by the same police officer that had helped with the exploded truck.
“You’ve got someone holding a mean grudge,” the cop said, giving a cool examination of the trashed apartment.
“Looks that way,” Payce agreed in a choked tone.
Kevin pulled himself out of his depression to notice that the slashing on the bed and couch, attributed to a knife, looked surprisingly like claws. He kept quiet because that wasn’t something you discussed in front of the humans.
Whoever was angry with Payce, wasn’t of the human variety.
Payce made a list of his damaged property for the police and his insurance company.
Gathering another small bag of his belongings, he followed Kevin back to his truck.
They stopped by the driver’s door where Kevin leaned against the door instead of unlocking it and getting in. “What do you want to do now?”
“What do you mean?”
“You don’t want to stay with me. Did you want me to take you to a hotel?” He’d drop Payce wherever he wanted to go. He needed to get back home and lick his wounds. As much as he’d rather stay and watch over his mate, he wasn’t wanted, and as much as he longed for his mate, he wasn’t going to beg.
“Is that what you thought I was saying?” Payce dropped his bag on the ground, wrapping Kevin in his arms. “I’m not saying I don’t want you for a mate. I just think we need to discuss what I’m going to do with my life instead of you planning it without me.” Payce placed a kiss on Kevin’s head. “Don’t give up on me, my mate. I just need time to adjust to belonging to someone.”
Kevin slid out of Payce’s arms. “I’ll give you all the time you need.” He couldn’t face the jaguar. “Come on, let’s get to a hotel and see if we can figure this out.” A PRIDEFUL MATE
Amber Kell
53
He’d stay with Payce until they discovered who was after his mate. Then he’d let the other man go. He couldn’t force the jaguar to want him. Words of love said while having sex didn’t count.
Payce entered the hotel, barely taking in the luxurious surroundings. He could feel Kevin’s pain through their mating link. His overtures were politely rebuffed and the sparkling shine in Kevin’s gold eyes was dull and lifeless.
He’d done that.
He’d crushed his mate.
Blinking back tears, Payce set his bags on the couch, sitting beside them.
“I’m gonna call my family,” Kevin told him, going out to the balcony doors.
Payce bit his lip, to stop from blurting out that he was already with part of his family.
He didn’t say it though. He’d lost that chance when he’d told Kevin he wasn’t at home in the mountains. He was still kicking himself over that one.
If he could go back in time and take those thoughtless words back, he would.
Kevin returned and gave him a weak smile.
“Tia said she’d talk to the boys and tell them I’ll be away for a few days. I’ll call them when they get off school.”
“Where do they go to school?”
“There’s a shared shifter and human school in town.”
“Really? The humans don’t worry about their kids?”
“Nope. There are strict rules and a shifter adult is in each classroom as room helper. We all donate a few hours a week and playtime is segregated so the shifter kids can play a little rougher. It also helps build shifter-human relations. You’re less likely to be prejudiced against shifters if you’ve been friends since kindergarten.”
“Makes sense.” He walked closer to his mate, the jaguar in him seeking his mate’s touch.
Kevin stepped back, pain flaring in his eyes. “Don’t,” the lion’s voice cracked.
“Don’t what? Don’t touch my mate. You might as well tell me to stop breathing. When I said I hadn’t planned on moving in with you, I didn’t mean never. I meant I hadn’t thought that far ahead. You immediately thought the worse, why?” A PRIDEFUL MATE
Amber
Amber Kell
52
Chapter Six
Payce’s apartment was a wreck. They were escorted into the place by the same police officer that had helped with the exploded truck.
“You’ve got someone holding a mean grudge,” the cop said, giving a cool examination of the trashed apartment.
“Looks that way,” Payce agreed in a choked tone.
Kevin pulled himself out of his depression to notice that the slashing on the bed and couch, attributed to a knife, looked surprisingly like claws. He kept quiet because that wasn’t something you discussed in front of the humans.
Whoever was angry with Payce, wasn’t of the human variety.
Payce made a list of his damaged property for the police and his insurance company.
Gathering another small bag of his belongings, he followed Kevin back to his truck.
They stopped by the driver’s door where Kevin leaned against the door instead of unlocking it and getting in. “What do you want to do now?”
“What do you mean?”
“You don’t want to stay with me. Did you want me to take you to a hotel?” He’d drop Payce wherever he wanted to go. He needed to get back home and lick his wounds. As much as he’d rather stay and watch over his mate, he wasn’t wanted, and as much as he longed for his mate, he wasn’t going to beg.
“Is that what you thought I was saying?” Payce dropped his bag on the ground, wrapping Kevin in his arms. “I’m not saying I don’t want you for a mate. I just think we need to discuss what I’m going to do with my life instead of you planning it without me.” Payce placed a kiss on Kevin’s head. “Don’t give up on me, my mate. I just need time to adjust to belonging to someone.”
Kevin slid out of Payce’s arms. “I’ll give you all the time you need.” He couldn’t face the jaguar. “Come on, let’s get to a hotel and see if we can figure this out.” A PRIDEFUL MATE
Amber Kell
53
He’d stay with Payce until they discovered who was after his mate. Then he’d let the other man go. He couldn’t force the jaguar to want him. Words of love said while having sex didn’t count.
Payce entered the hotel, barely taking in the luxurious surroundings. He could feel Kevin’s pain through their mating link. His overtures were politely rebuffed and the sparkling shine in Kevin’s gold eyes was dull and lifeless.
He’d done that.
He’d crushed his mate.
Blinking back tears, Payce set his bags on the couch, sitting beside them.
“I’m gonna call my family,” Kevin told him, going out to the balcony doors.
Payce bit his lip, to stop from blurting out that he was already with part of his family.
He didn’t say it though. He’d lost that chance when he’d told Kevin he wasn’t at home in the mountains. He was still kicking himself over that one.
If he could go back in time and take those thoughtless words back, he would.
Kevin returned and gave him a weak smile.
“Tia said she’d talk to the boys and tell them I’ll be away for a few days. I’ll call them when they get off school.”
“Where do they go to school?”
“There’s a shared shifter and human school in town.”
“Really? The humans don’t worry about their kids?”
“Nope. There are strict rules and a shifter adult is in each classroom as room helper. We all donate a few hours a week and playtime is segregated so the shifter kids can play a little rougher. It also helps build shifter-human relations. You’re less likely to be prejudiced against shifters if you’ve been friends since kindergarten.”
“Makes sense.” He walked closer to his mate, the jaguar in him seeking his mate’s touch.
Kevin stepped back, pain flaring in his eyes. “Don’t,” the lion’s voice cracked.
“Don’t what? Don’t touch my mate. You might as well tell me to stop breathing. When I said I hadn’t planned on moving in with you, I didn’t mean never. I meant I hadn’t thought that far ahead. You immediately thought the worse, why?” A PRIDEFUL MATE
Amber
Similar Books
