by Moxie North
Of course she did. It was about giving them both time to figure out that their feelings were real. He knew that Faye found him attractive. He could tell by all the signs her body gave off. The easiest was when her pupils dilated when she looked at him. He could sink into those eyes for the rest of his life.
And now he could.
As he thought of that, something settled inside him. He could. She was his forever.
His animal let go of the grip he had on him. His claws retracted; the whiskers and teeth sliding back under the surface. He could even feel his spots fading.
She was his and he was hers. It settled in his heart and a warmth crept over his spine and settled into his blood.
Gideon could feel her fear and he had to fix it. It wouldn’t ever be something he would tolerate.
“Faye, look at me.”
Those beautiful eyes crept up to his and immediately searched them for answers. She was looking for him and he could see the relief in her eyes that she’d found the man she was looking for. He knew his animal might have frightened her. He couldn’t wait to show her a full shift.
“I’m sorry if I scared you,” he started, using his words cautiously.
“I wasn’t scared of you. I was scared for you.”
Gideon didn’t expect that. “Why? There was no danger to me.”
“You could have hurt one of them, even though they would have deserved it, it could have been bad for you. I didn’t want you to get in trouble for slicing and dicing some stupid reporter.”
“I hope you can believe that I would never risk my freedom that way. I was angry that they startled you, and especially that they came out of nowhere. Even my team is outside beating themselves up. They wanted to come in to the restaurant but I wouldn’t let them. The area was clear; the paparazzi drove up in a van. There must have been a dozen of them in it. It would have been hard to anticipate that.”
“I’m not so worried about any pictures of me. They got pictures of you while you were half-shifted. Isn’t that bad?”
“It’s not ideal. But at this point I’m going to say, fuck them. That doesn’t matter to me anymore.”
“It doesn’t?”
“Not even close. They can turn those pictures into fucking billboards and I wouldn’t care. There’s only one thing I care about right now.”
He saw her hesitate; he didn’t want her to be confused by this. Plus, he was worried she’d say he was faking it.
“Faye, I heard the call,” he told her.
“The call?”
“The mating call.”
“For who?”
Gideon couldn’t stop himself from laughing. “For you, Faye. Nobody else but you.”
“B-but how?”
“These things happen when they are meant to. You reached for my hand. For whatever reason, the fact that you chose to touch me was it. I can’t believe in all the time together it had never happened. But it was something that simple.”
“I don’t understand. How can everything change so quickly?”
“How fast does it take to fall in love?” Gideon asked her.
“Love?”
“Faye, you are my mate. My only mate. There’s a reason I couldn’t let you go. Why I didn’t want you to live apart from me after we met. I can’t take credit for the flu, but maybe the universe made that happen.”
“Well, then the universe is a jerk!” Faye said emphatically.
“It wasn’t ideal, but it was what we needed to get to know each other. You know about Kindred and their mates, don’t you?”
Gideon wasn’t sure if she was the type that had found the Kindred so fascinating that she learned everything about them, or the kind that thought they would never need the information so they just ignored the details.
“I know that once you are mated and claimed, that’s it. There’s no going back.”
“That is exactly it. I knew there was a reason I felt so connected to you. Doesn’t that make you feel better knowing that you having feelings for me was for a reason?”
Faye chewed on her lower lip. “But you deserve better,” she said quietly.
Gideon wasn’t having any of that. “You listen to me, Faye Dixon. I’m your mate. Me, Gideon. That means in all the world, you are the one woman who was meant for me. I don’t get a second chance because the Great Mother picked you for me. I already knew you were something special. Now, I would kill for you. I want nothing more than to take you home and claim you.”
“Claim me?”
“It means doing the one thing we both have been thinking about for days.”
“Huh, that’s pretty assumptive,” Faye said, blushing to her hairline.
“Faye, you can’t hide that from me. And I don’t want you to. I love you. I know for a human that isn’t something you normally say easily.”
“Gideon, most humans actually avoid saying that word. It comes with too many problems.”
“Not for us. Faye, you are the only one I will ever love. I’ve never even been in love before. It’s you. From this moment on we are together.”
Faye started shaking her head and he didn’t think that was a positive thing.
“Gideon, I can’t,” she started.
“Can’t what?”
“I can’t be what you need! You need someone else.”
“There isn’t anyone else. Whatever you are, whoever you are, that is exactly what I need, Faye.”
“How do you know?”
“I know because no matter what you need, I’ll be that man. I’ll go to the ends of the earth to make you happy.”
“You want that? Every day?”
Gideon shouldn’t have been surprised that Faye wasn’t believing him or jumping up and down. She needed more and that was okay. His mate needed his full attention and devotion. He’d give it to her.
“Every minute of every day. Faye, there’s nothing in my heart or mind now that doesn’t revolve around you. You know I think you’re sexy. I’ve been trying to hold it back from you.”
“Those kisses were holding back?”
“You have no idea. I spend my nights thinking about you naked. I imagine making love to you in the bath, the shower; I like the idea of water. I wonder how many positions it would take to use the entire couch.”
“That’s a big couch,” she said seriously.
Gideon smiled. “It is. That’s what I think about when I’m supposed to be working. I think about taking you to every sunny beach in the world so I can buy you bikinis to wear.”
“I would never wear a bikini!” she gasped.
“Even if I spent every moment telling you that you’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen? That I will only ever have eyes for you?”
“I don’t think even then,” she admitted.
“We’ll work on that. But do you believe me that you’re my mate?”
“How can I be sure? Just because you say so?”
“Faye, do you think any Kindred would ever say the words to anyone on a whim? There’s only one time we say it, when it happens and changes our world. I’m so happy right now. More than that. I’m happy and I’m scared. I’m also horny and excited.”
“That’s a lot of things at the same time.”
Gideon didn’t know how to make her understand. He didn’t know if the words would ever be enough for her. So he did what he wanted to do in the alley. He kissed her. This time he pulled her onto his lap, pulling her legs to straddle him.
He heard her gasp, but she leaned into him. Gideon deepened the kiss. Faye only hesitated a moment before kissing him back. He knew that she wanted him. They would be explosive together.
“Faye, do you believe me?” he asked, breaking their kiss.
“I, I’m not sure. I know that you know, or are supposed to know without a doubt. I just can’t imagine being that sure about something.”
“I knew you didn’t want to pursue this because you were afraid of getting a broken heart,” he said.
“No, I was afraid
that you’d feel guilty. I can live with a broken heart, but I wasn’t sure if you could live with the guilt.”
“No need for guilt. There’s no possibility that this can go bad. Fifty years from now I’ll love you more than I do today. No one will come along and turn my head. You are the one that did that. My mate.”
“Gideon, it’s overwhelming. What do you want me to say?”
“Say you’ll come home with me. Let me prove to you just how serious I am. Do you need me to tell someone? Show you that I don’t care if I have to shout it from the rooftops? I’ll call my mother and my father. I’ll tell them they need to issue a press release letting everyone know that I’ve found my mate.”
“You can’t do that!” she gasped.
“Why not? This is it. The deal is done. I’m yours.”
“You can’t be mine,” she moaned.
“Why not? Don’t you want me?”
“I do, darn it, I mean, you know I do. But you’re… fancy. I’m totally not fancy. I don’t know how to do what you do.”
“Do what? What is so difficult about my life?”
“You run companies, more than one! You’re rich; you are part of a hugely successful Clan. I’m a mail clerk, for crying out loud. I live in a studio apartment and want to work with animals.”
“You can continue to work with animals. You just do it living with me. If you want to change the apartment, feel free. I’ve never really personalized it. Gut it and start over if you want.”
“I’m supposed to not work? I have bills to pay, tuition.”
“My money is now your money. Pay off your tuition, quit work, and finish school. You can fast track and finish early. Or if you want to pursue something bigger, do that.”
“Just spend money that isn’t mine willy-nilly?”
“It is yours. I’ll make all the arrangements tomorrow. Get you your own credit cards. We’ll have your apartment moved.”
“So you’re telling me that being a mate means I get a hunky man and I basically win the lottery?”
“Well, I do have to say I’m glad you put me before the money.”
“I don’t want the money!” she said slapping at his chest.
“Then don’t take it. Doesn’t mean I’m not going to spend it on you. I’m going to spoil you rotten.”
“Then what?”
“What do you mean?”
“An hour ago I was trying to figure out how to move back to my apartment tonight. Then we get chased, and now this! Now I’m supposed to try and shift gears again and just go back to blindly going along with this insane fairy tale?”
“You don’t believe me.”
“I don’t. I just can’t.”
“Faye, you’re sitting on my lap. You can feel my cock. Do you think that I’m not attracted to you?”
He watched her squirm. “No, I don’t deny that. Although I can’t imagine why.”
“Because the first thing I noticed about you was your ass.”
“I’m sorry?”
“Your ass. You bent over and I looked and saw a plump ass that was shaped like a fucking peach. Then you stood up and I will admit my eyes went to those tits of yours. Just big enough to bury my face in.”
“Sweet lord,” she whispered.
“Then I saw your eyes. I remembered thinking that they looked like caramel, then I smelled you and you smelled just like that. Sweet and toasted.”
“I’m a dessert?”
“Dear god, I hope so.”
“I’m confused. I really don’t know what to say here.”
“You know one thing. You know that I want to make love to you. You know that if you let me and I claim you, you’ll have a mate mark just like mine. A matching mark to prove that it’s only me for you and you for me. There’s no better way to convince you.”
She hesitated, her eyes searching his. He hated that she wasn’t sure. He wanted her to be so sure of herself that she assumed that she had to be his mate.
Rolling down the window, he called over Tucker and Anson. Both men were standing at the window and Faye tried to move herself off his lap. He held her as the men stood practically at attention.
“Tucker, Anson, I want you to be the first to know. Faye is my mate.”
He turned his attention to Faye as he spoke; he wanted to see her reaction.
“Congratulations! This is wonderful news!” Anson said, the joy in his voice was impossible to fake.
“Sir, this is astonishing. I’m so very happy for you. And you, Ms. Faye. You’ll make an amazing mate,” Tucker added.
Faye blushed and dropped her eyes before murmuring a small thank you.
“We will be heading back to my apartment. I don’t want to go over what happened tonight until tomorrow. We’ll debrief then. I apologize for not listening to you. I’m not used to this kind of attention. I’ll take your advice more seriously next time.”
“Yes, sir,” Tucker said and both men went back to their posts at the doors.
Reaching for Faye’s chin with his hand, he turned her face back to his. “Do you think I would tell my trusted bodyguards if this wasn’t real?”
“I…”
“Fine, hold on.” Gideon picked up his phone and dialed a number. He put the phone on speaker and waited, his eyes on hers. She was staring right back at him now, some of the weariness gone from her gaze.
“Hello? Gideon? Do you know what time it is?” a deep voice answered.
“Hey ,dad, sorry for the late call, but I wanted to tell you something. I heard the call.”
There was silence on the phone as Gideon kept his eyes on his mate.
“Holy shit! Allegra, wake up! He’s found her! Our boy has a mate!”
Gideon watched Faye’s eyes get huge and he grinned. “Dad, her name is Faye Dixon. She works at Thayr. Or at least she did. I think she should quit.”
His mother’s sleepy voice came on the line. “Oh, my baby boy! You have a mate! It’s that girl, isn’t it? The one from the papers. Well, it all makes sense now why you went to help her. The Great Mother always knows what she’s doing and don’t you think those Crones weren’t involved, they always are.”
“I know, mother. She’s the most beautiful woman in the world. I can’t wait for you to meet her.”
“You tell us when and where, then we can start planning her presentation ceremony. Oh, I love to plan a party! Are you going to get married first or just the claiming? Oh, listen to me; you probably don’t want to share that. But you can tell me later. I’m going to call your sister, she needs to know.”
“Fine, tell her she better get her butt back here to meet Faye, pronto.”
“She’ll be on the next flight, I’m sure,” his mother said.
“Congratulations, son. We couldn’t be more proud. Tell that mate of yours that she is most welcome to the family and our Clan,” his father added.
Gideon saw Faye’s eyes start to well up. “I’ll do that, dad. I have to go; I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Goodnight, son,” both of his parents called out.
Gideon hung up the phone and reached up to brush a tear away from Faye’s cheek. “Do you believe me now?”
“Your dad said I was part of the family,” she said softly, her voice hiccupping as she spoke.
“Yes, our family is good sized. Lots of grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. That doesn’t even include the Clan. Once you believe me, you’ll become part of Clan Othala.”
“I can’t remember ever having a real family. Never.”
“Faye, you are going to have more family than you could have ever imagined. Let me take you home.”
He watched her take a deep breath then she let it out slowly. “Okay.”
Chapter 26
Gideon had moved her back to her own seat and then knocked on the window. That was apparently some sign to the two men outside that it was time to go.
They got back in the car and without a word started driving.
Gideon tucked Faye under his arm.
His other hand was holding her head to his chest. She could hear his heartbeat pounding under her ear. It was something to hold on to that was real.
Gideon had decreed her his mate. Her. Faye Dixon. But she hadn’t believed him. She wasn’t meant to have a fairy tale ending. This wasn’t Cinderella; she wasn’t ever going to get her ball. She would have been happy just with the mouse friends.
Then he told his guards that she was his mate. Kindred held their mates and the proclamation of those mates sacred. But telling the hired help could have just been a trick to get her in the sack. She felt bad just thinking it, but the thought was there.
But when he called his parents, she thought she might just die in the back of the car. They sounded so happy. They didn’t care that she was a mail clerk. They’d seen her picture and didn’t say she wasn’t pretty enough, or cultured enough. No, they were the perfect parents; happy that their child had called to tell them that he had found the woman he was supposed to be with forever.
They treated it like it was set in stone. No questioning him on whether he was sure or not. No subtle digs that maybe he should keep looking. Just joy. Faye didn’t know that parents like that existed.
How did they expect a lowly human to accept the offer of unconditional love, practically unlimited money, sex on tap, and a full family to boot? Who got all that in the course of a few minutes?
And that casual way Gideon had offered up his life to her. She didn’t know if there was any kind of precedent where a human turned down a Kindred mate. You’d be stupid just to think of it. It was the ultimate promise. One that could never be rescinded. There was no divorce amongst the Kindred. The only thing that separated mates was death. Even then, those left behind always seemed more happy than sad because they had the time with their mates in the first place.
It wasn’t like Faye had some great life she wanted to keep. Everything she did was to better her life. She imagined a day where she had a better home, maybe a car, and didn’t have to count every penny. That was what she had been striving for.
Now Gideon waved his magic wand and made all those things happen. How did one accept such a gift?