Chapter 17 17
POV LOIS
I thought about the twins. And then the Moon Goddess said it was done.
What did I do? Did I think of Emmanuel first? I remembered thinking of both—of both of them.
I set the cup down and stood up, rushed to the living room and grabbed my suitcase and bag. Emmanuel stood at the door.
He looked like he had no intention of letting me leave, and his expression was… beautiful. I stared at him longer than I should have, feeling heat rise in my cheeks.
“If you think it’s a mistake, then accept me. The mistake will fade, won’t it?”
What was he saying? How could I be so stupid as to accept him?! This was a mistake!
“Once I put distance between us, this will go away, Emmanuel. I have to go. Move away from the door, please.”
He stepped aside, but when my hand touched the doorknob, his did too. That simple contact made my body crave more, and he immediately leaned in, like he’d been summoned. He got too close and I stopped breathing, trying not to feel drawn to him.
Trying.
It didn’t work.
How could I resist when it had already felt impossible before? Now it was truly impossible.
I didn’t want to reject him. If I did, I could hurt him. But if I didn’t… I knew this would end terribly.
I was too weak—my body was already giving in, and my mind wasn’t helping, choosing Emmanuel’s side, choosing this.
This Alpha wanted me as his mate; rejection wasn’t in his plans, and clearly he didn’t want to be rejected either.
But this couldn’t be happening. It had to be a mistake.
“Lois, don’t go.”
His voice…
“Don’t come closer, Emmanuel.”
“Accept me.”
“I can’t!”
“Kiss me.”
What? What?!
Why was I leaning toward his lips? Why was I the one moving? My body seemed to need it, obeying his request instantly. “Lois…”
That shift in his voice sent a wave of heat through me, my legs trembling; his hands warmed my skin, and mine received that heat greedily. How was I not kissing him already?
Moon Goddess, this is a mistake!
It can’t be!
My lips… fell into the trap of his, and while his mouth devoured mine, his hands undressed me. He was in a hurry—and so was I. We ended up naked right there by the door. My fingers wrapped around his cock, remembering him from that day.
My first time.
Touching him again, finally—no longer relying on memory. I held him in my hand, traced him from the tip to the base, tried closing my fingers around him but they didn’t meet. He burned in my palm, and I grew wet instantly.
He pressed my body to the door and a moan escaped me when his lips closed around my nipples. He latched on helplessly, his hands cupping my breasts while my eyes fluttered shut, my breath desperate and shaky.
He took my body, and I melted.
“Emmanuel…”
He was addictive—I remembered that now. I lived it again.
“Emmanuel…”
His hands slid down my thighs, then to my ass.
It was different this time—there was a spark that couldn’t be imitated. This wasn’t desire anymore; it was a powerful need.
He lifted me in his arms and carried me to his bed.
This was his room. It smelled like him completely.
I wanted to go insane—I was in his room.
My head spun every time he touched me, kissed me, looked at me.
If I didn’t stop this now, I might not be able to reject him later. But right now, my willpower was gone. I’d given in to my wants, to this overwhelming instinct that told me he was my mate, even if there was no explanation.
What if it wasn’t a mistake?
I had to be careful—if Emmanuel marked me, I wouldn’t be able to get rid of him.
I felt his lips on my neck, down my chest, back to my mouth, and then he smiled.
That devastating smile.
“Accept me, Lois. Or reject me right now so you can go, if that’s truly what you want.”
He was clever. How could I reject him at a moment like this, when I couldn’t even think straight? My desires were in full control, and trusting them was dangerous—they were tied to this new bond.
“Lois…”
He pulled away—he was playing dirty. But I understood. He was using every weapon he had before I left. It was his only chance.
And I wanted him desperately. Part of me wanted him to take me, and deal with the disaster later.
“I’ll leave. We won’t see each other again.”
How could he want acceptance if I was leaving?
“Then don’t leave me suffering. I’ll go insane if you’re far away without giving me an answer. I could really lose my mind, Lois. Reject me, then. You can do that—since you don’t want to accept me.”
“Even if I accept you, I’ll still be far away, Emmanuel.”
But I couldn’t reject him.
“What if you try not to go crazy, and I leave you without an answer until this goes away? I can’t accept you, but I don’t want to reject you either. This is going to pass.”
“What if it doesn’t? What if it never does? Why would it be so terrible to have me as your mate?”
The conversation shifted—he was serious now. And he was perfect. With the little I knew about him, I could easily say that. Anyone would want an Emmanuel—not just because he was an Alpha.
“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to hurt you, but you don’t understand—this is a mistake. It’s going to pass.”
“Do you really believe that?”
“Yes! You’ll see—it’s a mistake!”
“If you’re so sure, then accept me, leave, and wait for it to pass. You say it will—then accept me and let the mistake resolve itself, Lois.”
Well… I didn’t know. But it was a mistake. I would be far away, and this had to fade eventually.
“If I do it, we leave right after. This sex scene won’t happen, and the bond won’t strengthen. Is that okay with you?”
I thought he’d choose sex, that he’d refuse. But… he agreed.
Against all odds, he agreed.
I wanted the fun option—the one where I rejected him for now, we had sex anyway, and later he insisted.
That’s how I imagined things would go. But I underestimated Emmanuel.
Why could I never predict what they would do?
They always surprised me.
“I… Emmanuel, I consider myself worthy of being your mate, and I accept you, Lois.”
I took a deep breath.
How had I ended up in a mate bond with such a specimen? Not even in my best dreams—and I used to dream damn well.
“I… Lois—” I never thought I’d say these words. It felt impossible after being rejected.
“—accept you as my mate, Emmanuel.”
So that distance could do its job and undo this.
W-We had done it.