Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
She nodded. She wasn’t entirely sure her legs would hold her up, but she needed to seem agreeable. It wouldn’t do for her to disobey an order from her mate within seconds of their ceremony.
Molly rose on wobbly legs, shivering.
“Are you cold, Baby girl?”
It didn’t seem reasonable for her to be cold, but her teeth were certainly chattering.
Gavin released her hand, shrugged out of his suit jacket, and wrapped it around her.
“Thank you, Sir,” she whispered.
“You’re most welcome, Molly. I really like your name. Molly. So pretty. I’ve spent twenty years wondering what your name might be.” He cupped her face again. “I wondered what your skin would look like and your hair. Your eyes… You’re stunning in every way. You look like a porcelain doll with your alabaster skin, nearly black, sleek hair, and bright blue eyes.”
She couldn’t think of a thing to say, so she simply repeated herself, “Thank you, Sir.”
“Gavin, Little one. You may call me Gavin for now.”
For now? What would she call him later?
She was struggling to breathe. He was incredibly handsome, but so very large. His thick hair was brown. So were his eyes. His skin was tanned in stark contrast to her white skin.
Gavin slid a hand around her and pulled her closer, his fingers spread wide to encompass her entire back. His proximity was grounding. She would have expected to panic at his touch. Instead, it calmed her.
Suddenly he moved both hands to her hips, lifted her off the floor, and brought her up so they were eye-to-eye. He set his forehead against hers. He used one forearm under her butt to hold her up. His other hand splayed across her back again.
Holding her gaze, he said, “I know you’re scared, Molly, but I will do everything in my power to make sure you don’t stay that way for long. I promise to be everything you need from me.”
“Okay,” she whispered. She’d never been this close to anyone, but he was her mate. He would see her naked before this day was over. He would expect her to take him into her body. There was no way for her to control how much that one fact freaked her out.
He smoothed his hand up under her hair, cupped the back of her head and neck, and kissed her gently on the lips.
His kiss stunned her, but it felt nice. It felt…right. Maybe she truly did have nothing to fear. Except she knew that was a lie. What was he going to think when he found out she was a horrible cook?
No matter how often her mother tried to teach her how to manage a kitchen, she’d failed to put together even the simplest of meals. In the last few weeks, her mother had left her alone in the kitchen to prepare dinner for the family. Molly inevitably burned part of the meal. No two parts were ever ready at the same time, either.
She had no idea how women all over the valley and even the globe managed to put meat, vegetables, bread, and salad on the table at the same time. It baffled and concerned her.
“Mmm. You taste as good as you look,” he murmured against her lips. “And your scent… I’d heard from other Alphas that the scent of my mate would drive me bonkers. They were not wrong.” He moved his lips around to her neck and inhaled deeply.
Molly trembled. She liked his scent, too. Masculine. Woodsy. Strong. Was strong a scent? She thought so.
“Let’s go home,” he declared before easing her down his body until she was standing on her gold sandals. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a vial. “I’m going to put a drop of this under your tongue. It will put you to sleep so you won’t suffer anxiety as I carry you up the mountain.”
Asleep…
Molly wasn’t sure how she felt about this new detail. She’d rather be awake. But apparently this was part of the custom, and he had his reasons for sedating her for the journey.
“You’ll be safe the entire time, Little one. I promise. When you wake up, we’ll be home.”
“Okay,” she whispered. She wanted to be agreeable. No matter how panicked she felt on the inside.
Sure enough, a few seconds after the drop hit her mouth, she felt herself going limp, and she was marginally aware of him lifting her into his arms to cradle her against his chest.
Did he also kiss her forehead and call her good girl?
Chapter Two
Gavin was beside himself. He’d known from his brother Felix and all the others who had recently mated that his mate would bring him to his knees the moment he met her.
They were right. He was wrapped tightly around her tiny finger already. He would do anything for her. Forever.
It was the middle of the afternoon, and she still hadn’t begun to stir in his arms. He hadn’t put her down since arriving at home. He’d been rocking her back and forth and staring at her features for two hours.