Still sniffling a little, Chiara pulled back. She pressed her palm against his cheek.
“And you’re going to be the best dad I can imagine. You’re brave and strong. And you believe in people. You make me feel like I’m—like I’m so much more than I ever thought I was. Not the exhausted call center drone who can barely summon enough energy to watch TV, but a bold woman who takes risks and follows her heart.”
“No,” he murmured, gently shaking his head. “That’s not me. That was never me. That’s all you.”
“You see me for who I really am, then.” She shook her head in awe. “You’re the only one who ever did. That’s a bit sad, maybe, but I can’t really blame my friends.”
“I like the real Chiara. No—I love her. More than anything in the world. You’re my mate. I’ll always see the real you.”
He felt the truth of his words inside his heart. The mate bond had only just started to form, but the connection between them was real.
Through the golden light that connected them, he could catch glimpses of emotion: the depth of the pain her father’s words had caused, the eternal self-doubt. But there was also the incredible strength that had made her forge ahead regardless, trying to find an answer to her questions.
“Mate.” She said the word slowly, as if she was tasting it on her tongue. There was warmth in her eyes again, the sadness banished. “So... how does it work?”
“There’s already a bond between us,” Jared explained. “It’s been growing slowly. Once we are truly bonded, it’ll be indestructible. But it won’t happen unless we both truly want it. You can’t force love, or trick it.”
Chiara nodded, a thoughtful look on her face. “Do you want it, then?”
He reached out for her, framing her face in both of his hands as he gazed into her eyes. “I do. More than anything in the world. I want to soar through the sky with you on my back. I want lazy mornings in bed. I want to be surprised by new hair colors, and fall in love all over again every single day I wake by your side.”
“I want that too.” Her eyes were gleaming. “I want to see what it’s like to build a home with you. What adventures we’ll get up to together. And I want to see you become the best dad I can imagine.”
“A part of me has always been afraid that I might mess up. That I can’t give kids what I’ve always missed,” he admitted very softly. “But not anymore. I feel like together, we can do anything. You make me believe in myself.”
Her hand rose to cover his own, her fingers warm against his skin. She leaned into his touch, and finally he gave in and pulled her into a kiss once more.
She melted against him easily, all of her luscious, soft curves fitting just right against him.
And then her mouth opened for his. He forgot everything but the taste of her, the sensation of her gorgeous mermaid hair soft as silk against his cheeks, and the scent of crushed grass and flowers all around them.
Chapter Seventeen: Chiara
“I want it,” Chiara breathed when he finally drew back. “I want you, just you. My mate.”
Very gently, he pushed her down into the carpet of wildflowers. Not far away, the ocean of clouds was still rolling against the lower end of the small valley.
It felt as if they were all alone in the world, far away from the dark dragon who had hunted them, surrounded by the serene beauty of this tiny valley.
It was only she and Jared here. Only the two of them.
At his touch, she felt all of her earlier worries melt away.
The fact that neither her dad nor her friends had believed her had left wounds she’d tried so long to ignore. But now, for the first time, she felt the painful memories fade away.
Perhaps, if she had a chance to introduce her dad to the shifter world, they could make up and forgive each other.
And perhaps she could find new friends. People like Ginny, who could appreciate her for who she was, and who wouldn’t try to turn her back into the desperately unhappy call center agent with her boring, unfulfilling life.
Because for the first time since her encounter with the werewolf, she felt utterly at peace. Jared had done that. He’d seen her, the real her—and he still loved her.
And he’d showed her his own wounds...
She ran her arms over his broad shoulders, pressing herself closer as he kissed her once more. Despite his strength, he moved slowly and gently, and she loved him even more for that.
If she asked him to wait now, he’d draw back. He wouldn’t rush her—even though she could feel him against her thigh even now, his erection hard as a rock.
There was no doubt at all that he wanted her desperately. And no doubt either that he’d never push her into it.