I shake my head.“You’re not.This is your home.”
“Because you’re a shifter and we’re fated mates?”
I nod.
“What does that mean?Exactly.”
“Fern told you about shifters and fated mates?”
“Some,” she says.
“Well, shifters only have the one mate.We don’t look at anyone but them.I’ve never had crushes or wanted anyone before, and I never will.It will always be only you.Hell, I couldn’t even get hard before I smelled you, and I can’t come until I’ve marked you.”
“Marked?”
“Bitten,” I say, pointing at the base of my neck.
“Will it hurt?”
“No, it will feel good.And after, all other shifters will know you’ve been claimed.You’ll get some of my abilities, too.”
“Like what?”
“Heightened taste and scent.Better eyesight.An increased healing ability.”
“That’s so cool.”
I smile and relax as I lean against the kitchen counter.
“Is that…something that you might want?”I ask carefully.
She doesn’t answer right away, picking up a piece of apple and taking a bite.
“Maybe,” she says finally.
“There’s more.”I swallow.
She looks at me, waiting.
I take a deep breath.“The full moon is coming up in a few days.”
“Okay…”
“Shifters experience the mating heat every month on the full moon.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s this intense feeling, this need to mate.You’ll feel it, too.At least I think you will.”
“So, you’ll only want to have sex with me on nights with a full moon?”
I snort.“No, I want to have sex with you all the time.But on the full moon, it will be impossible to ignore.”
“Impossible?”
I realize how that sounds.“No!Not impossible.Jesus, I would never force you.Never,” I repeat.
She relaxes a little.