Her mouth parted slightly.
No sound came out.
So I kept going, because if I stopped, cowardice would crawl back into my throat and choke me.
“That place where I would mark you, if you ever wanted me to, is here.” I touched two fingers to the side of my own neck, just where shoulder met throat. “A mate bite. It joins the bond completely. It lets us feel each other more clearly. Protect each other. Find each other.”
Her eyes followed my fingers.
The pulse in her throat jumped.
Mine answered like an i***t.
“I would never do that without you asking,” I said quickly. “Never. Martha, I swear to you, I would cut my own hand off before I took that choice from you.”
Her gaze snapped back to mine.
The anger was still there.
Good.
It should be.
But under it, something else moved. Fear, ye
