The Mates of Monsters
Chapter 37

His voice remains calm, and I try to match his state. "I'm not a good person. I'm selfish and judgmental and-and my favorite part of this whole meeting is convincing everyone that I'm someone I'm not. I-I'm evil."

David wipes the single, rebellious tear from my temple before it slips into my hair. "You are not evil," he says and lifts me.

"I'm sure you thought so for the first week of knowing me."

"I thought I was the evil one for forcing you to come back with me when I knew all you wanted was to be rid of me."

I shake my head and find privacy in the palms of my hands. "I still see the look on your face when you caught me trying to escape. Goddess, David, I'm a fool. I'm nothing but a scared little girl pretending to be strong. All I wanted was for someone to love me, yet all I've done is hurt people who do."

"You may think you're pretending to be someone else out there," he says, referring to the meetings, "but that person is you, Brigette. You're good at this. You can be a brilliant Luna if only you realize it."

My arms snake around him as I lean in to hug him. I press my body against his strength and refuse to think of a world where he is not my mate. "I want to be good for you like you are for me. I want to be smart like you and selfless like you, as strong and confident. Everyone looks to you for answers, for approval, and you've managed to be a model Alpha despite your father leaving. You're brilliant, David. And it's crazy for me to say that I'm yours."

David breathes in, his chest pushing against mine, my body riding his wave. He moves away only slightly so he can see my face as he says, "We will be brilliant, okay?"

I nod promptly. "Okay."

"And you are mine?"

"For as long as you'll have me," I say, but he does not accept this answer. Instead, I hoist up and I tell him, "Until the end of my days."

"And I am yours, until the end of my days," he replies.

My fingers comb back his grown, thick hair. "I trust you."

He lowers me back down as his mouth comes to mine, kissing me deeply, sealing our promise. I feel the plush comforter underneath me as it plums around my body, and David looks me over for only a moment before resuming our kiss. My body rises and yearns to be against his my back arching as warmth pours from my chest down my stomach to my core. I knew once we started kissing-truly kissing-that the pace of our intimacy would be as impossibly held back as a tsunami roaring to shore.

He draws closer and pushes between my open legs, making me gasp. I'm desperate to kick my pants off and give my body what it's crying out for, but David reels back, making me believe his teasing was a mistake. I lay sprawled beneath his gaze, breathing heavy-hot to the touch. His hands find the ends of my shirt, and I help him by reaching down and lifting it up myself, but he slows me and says, "We have all the time in the world. I don't want to rush."

My hands let go of the fabric and wrap around my torso, partially relieved and partially disappointed. David grips my waist, squeezing, and says, "Please. Let me take my time with you."

I try to clear my head and move past the roadblock of my encumbering want. I shut my eyes and tilt my chin to the ceiling, stretching my neck and mentally ridding my desires with not much luck. When my eyes find him again, the corners of my lips droop, nearly frowning. How much time does he need? I'm sure I am ready to give all of myself to him, which seems hard to believe after I tapped out last night. Maybe he thinks I'm truly not ready, or maybe he really does want to savor these moments.

He kisses me again, and I try to tame myself, but the sense of him over me and the taste of his lips makes me fist the blankets; it's obvious he has more control than I do. I thought I would be the one ravished, yet the she-wolf itching under my skin whispers for me to let her take the reigns.

David breaks our kiss when he glances down at my hands sneaking up the front of his shirt. He reaches over his shoulders with his free hand and pulls it off, baring all for me to enjoy. He sits upright and I'm quick to follow, moving on top of him, straddling him as he rests against the pillows. My palms lay flat on his chest then ease over his defined muscle, my stomach flipping and my mind burning at the reality of sitting on him as I am. His bicep swells as he bends an arm behind his head, and he says, "You aren't making this easy." He breathes out and rests his other hand on my thigh. I twist and knot deep inside. "It's never been easy," I tell him with my eyes on his exposed skin. "A part of me has been waiting since the very moment I met you. I kept thinking: when will he have me? When will I give up and give in... entirely?"

David's eyes brand into mine though mine remain avoidant.

"We should start getting ready. I can hear Jeremy's voice in my head."

Both his hands grip my legs, painfully close. "There is still time."

My hair falls from behind my ear. My lip releases from between my teeth, and I can't fight my mouth from curving in shy delight. His touch refuses to move from my thighs, so I cover his hands with my own. "I have to get in the shower."

"And joining you in there would ruin my savoring, wouldn't it?"

"Probably," I mumble, nervous. "But I understand. We do have a lot of time, and maybe taking things step by step would be best."

"Go on, then," he says, removes his hold, and nods to the bathroom door.

I carefully move off of him and slide off the bed, landing on my feet. His gaze trails me into the bathroom, and he watches as I lean toward the mirror to check myself. A daring idea pops into my head, so I thoughtfully peel off my shirt and let it fall to the bathroom floor as if the door were closed and I were alone. I hear his weight shift on the mattress.

Next, I unbutton my pants, run them down my legs and step out of them, leaving me in nothing but my underwear. My entire body blushes. I meekly grab the door and connect our gazes as I steadily close it. David's unwavering attention and access are put to an end when the door clicks closed. Air pours from my lungs as I lean against the door, and this time, before I get in the shower, I knowingly leave it unlocked.