Fighting for her Mate

8

Ellie stood on the back porch when she heard the men arrive. She waited, her mind going through a rollercoaster of emotions. She missed Caleb so much lately. He refused to spend more than a few hours at a time with her. She was tired of it. For so long she’d given him the chance to handle this on his own and she was done.

His scent surrounded her and she couldn’t stop the jerk of her heart and the way her animal pushed under the skin, wanting to get closer to his. Wait your turn, girl.

She knew what he would do—hold her, kiss her, and probably be on his way. Not tonight. The moment she felt him nearing her, she started down the back porch stairs.

“Ellie?” Caleb called out behind her.

She said nothing, her wolf begging for her to turn and recognize their mate. To spend time with him. She missed him, dammit.

She shoved a strand of hair behind her ear and focused on the trees ahead of her. He was still walking behind her. She could sense his confusion, but she didn’t stop.

Far from the house, she stopped at her favorite spot—a slope that lowered to a thick grass patch around her favorite tree, facing a small pond. She stood, waiting for Caleb to catch up.

“Ellie, what’s going on?”

He stopped beside her and she finally glanced up to meet his gaze. God, how she loved this man. It killed her not to be living with him. Not to be making plans to have babies and to enjoy their life together. This had to stop.

“Why did you come tonight?” she asked softly, the words sticking to the back of her throat.

He frowned as if he didn’t get her question. “To see you. Why else? It’s been too many days and I miss you.”

She nodded but sensed he held back. “And?”

“To make sure you were safe, okay?” he added.

She turned to face him fully. “This needs to stop. This whole seeing me once every few weeks and then I have to ask my brothers how you are. I have to wonder if you’re alive.” She took in a breath to lower the anger rising with her panic. “I wonder if you’re okay. If you need help, if you need me.” She shook her head and glanced deeply into his eyes. “It’s not me you should be worried about.”

“I’m always worried about you,” he said. “You’ve been hurt before. I haven’t forgotten and I won’t let it happen again.”

She shook her head. “Caleb, let me help you. Together we can—”

“No.” He grabbed her hands in his. “I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you while you tried to help me win this war.”

She jerked out of his hold and took a step back, hurt and anger pushing words out of her mouth. “So you’re okay with this?” she threw at him. “This half-life we’re living where I don’t see you and we barely speak?”

“Ellie.”

“No, Caleb. It’s my turn to say no.” She tried to get him to see her point. “Do you not understand that I can take care of myself? I’ve been training, I’m good. No,” she rephrased. “I’m better than good. I can kick ass.”

He shook his head. “I won’t risk it. You’re too important to me.”

“What about what I want and how I feel?” She stepped away from him. “Don’t my feelings count? You’re important to me, too.” She gulped back the lump growing in her throat. “I don’t want to sit by while you deal with this alone. I’m your wife!” She growled when she didn’t see his features soften. “Mates are supposed to handle these situations together.”

She took another step that pressed her back against a tree. He took advantage of that and shot forward, pressing himself to her front and holding her captive.

“I’m sorry, beautiful.” He raised a hand, gliding his fingers down the side of her face in a touch so soft, she almost thought she imagined it. “I love you more than my own life. I’ll never stop worrying about you.”

She opened her mouth, ready to argue, but he stopped her with a kiss. It started off fast, his mouth pressed hard on hers and his tongue dipped, curling over hers. She should fight the desire to give in, to let go and stop the argument, but she couldn’t. She’d missed him so damn much.

With a soft sigh, she opened wider for his invading kiss. The scent of the woods and earth filled her senses. She loved it when he smelled like he’d been rolling in mud. It drove her wolf wild. His hands came up to tug at her T-shirt, the material almost tearing with the force he pulled. He shoved it above her head, the immediate breeze raising goose bumps over her skin and making her n*****s tight.

Their lips separated for a nanosecond while he glanced down at her breasts almost overflowing her bra.

“I will never tire of looking at your gorgeous body.”

She licked her lips, the taste of him bursting to life on her tongue. “I’m not going to be dissuaded with sex.” Who was she kidding? She’d quit the discussion for s*x with him any day. His head came down, his lips attached to the base of her throat. Electric tingles raced to her p***y. She raked her nails into his hair, pressing him to her chest as he glided to her breast.

“You smell so f*****g good,” he growled into her breast. The vibration from his rumble added to the desperation tensing her muscles.

“Caleb, please,” she finally choked out. The words traveled up her sandy throat to come out a bare whisper on her dry lips.