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TO Euphemia, even if this was only a one-night stand, she didn’t have a single regret. Though she had no evidence to back it up, she was convinced that she was the first human woman Zelaide had ever slept with.
Euphemia took pride in that. And she hoped he would never again want for another woman, Beast Blood or human. She wanted to be the only woman for him for life.
That might be an unobtainable dream though.
In her eyes, the Beast Blood sleeping beside her looked incredibly youthful. She was young too, but his chiseled jawline, supple lips, stunning eyes, long eyelashes, and impeccable body were sure to attract all sorts of women over his much longer lifespan.
Why have so many left this handsome and innocent man alone? She wondered as her eyes lingered on his strong chest. But I don’t want them to look at him! I want to be the only woman Zel wants… The only person he sees.
“Why are you crying, Yumi?”
Euphemia’s eyes widened when his thick thumb rubbed her cheekbone. She hadn’t even realized she was crying. Silver glowing eyes searched her face.
“You woke up, Zel?”
“How could I not wake up when you’re cryin’? Did it hurt that bad…?” Zelaide reached out and rubbed her waist.
“No…it didn’t. That’s not it. You made me happy, Zel.”
“Happy? You cry when you’re happy?”
“I do. So make me cry some more, won’t you?” Euphemia’s emerald eyes wavered in the dull morning light.
“…Dammit!” Zelaide’s brows drew together before he wrapped his arm around Euphemia and rolled her on top of him. “Please don’t make that face… I don’t know what to do.”
“That’s simple. Please stay with me forever. Also…if it’s not too much to ask…I hope you won’t go out with other woman… I know I’m being selfish.”
“Go out? Go out with them where?” Zelaide asked, confused.
“Not like that. Going out with someone is human slang. Let me think of a better word…um…courtship? Dating? It means becoming a couple,” she tried to explain.
“A couple…coupled together… Like being mates?”
“Well…I guess you could put it that way,” Euphemia said, not really sure what being mates meant or entailed for Beast Bloods.
But I still can’t reveal that Yumi’s my mate yet. She’ll be in even greater danger if the enemy learns that she’s my lifeline. She sucks at lyin’, so it’s better if she doesn’t know. We have to let the world think we’re still just a client and bodyguard.
“Zel? Why are you scowling?”
Long white fingers trailed a path along Zelaide’s forehead.
“Do you regret it? Sleeping with me,” Euphemia asked softly.
“I do…and I don’t. That’s all I can say for now. But, Yumi, know this…I won’t go out with other women.”
“Really?” Euphemia peered down at the Beast Blood’s chiseled face from atop his broad, rock-solid chest. Two silver glowing eyes were transfixed on her face.
“Really. So don’t…”
“Don’t what?”
“Don’t look so pained.”
Zelaide put his big hand behind Euphemia’s head and pulled her in for another hot, passionate kiss.
Without thinking about anything else, Zelaide surged forward and made love with Euphemia after seeing her for the first time in over a week. He longed to see and feel her the entire time he was locked up. Every time he thought of her he couldn’t sleep and was tortured by longing. The torture he had experienced during the day was easier to handle than the yearning.
Memories of her vividly filled his mind during the night, eating away at his mind and body. He had heard stories of Beast Bloods who died after being separated from their mates, and he realized this was why after experiencing it himself.
But even the torture of being apart was still sweet. After all, he believed all his desires would go away after embracing her once.
Go away? Ha. I’ve only become a thousand times more attached.
Bitter regret gnawed away at Zelaide.
Euphemia was now imprinted on his every cell. Now he could never be the one to leave her. He wanted to always keep her close enough he could reach out and feel her warmth and breath. Go out with another woman? Absurd. He was forever hers and hers alone.
This is…what it means to have a mate…?
Zelaide embraced Euphemia as he recalled the ancient instincts and memories existing in his genetics. He buried his nose in the nape of her neck. The thick scent of his mate filled his nostrils.
Yumi is mine. I’m Yumi’s. I need to dedicate my all to her. I want to. My body, heart, mind, and life are hers.