He eased his hold on her wrists but didn’t let them go. He gazed into her eyes. “Worst case, my brother will ask me to live with another clan. I’d hate to leave him but he’s smart, and has discovered he has more support than we believed possible. He knows I’d have his back if he needed me, regardless of where I go.”

She finally had something to say. “That would suck to lose your home.”

“It would but he might need me to leave for the good of the clan.” He ran his tongue over the tips of his fangs. “Then I think about the up sides of tasting your blood to see if you’re my mate. Want to hear them?”

“Yes.”

“I’d get to keep you if you’re my mate. You’d be mine, and that wouldn’t suck. Well, there would be some sucking involved, but only the kind that would have us both panting and pleasured.” He leaned closer, inhaling. “I could become addicted to you. Not a bad thing. You’re alone in the world, so you could live with me without having to leave anyone behind. There would be no guilt on your part to start a new life.”

“That’s true.”

“No Vampires or Lycans would dare come hunting for you here. I’d hang their heads and bags of their ashes on the walls of our den.”

“That’s kind of disturbing.”

He laughed. “You wouldn’t feel that way if they came to kill you.”

“I agree.”

“I’d know you were always safe because I’d make damn certain of it.”

“You’re such a badass.”

“I can be, and you motivate me.” He sobered. “So, are you willing to take the risk? I will mate you if your blood reveals that you’re my mate—and I’m certain you are, Jadee. Hit me with your questions. I know you that well. You’ve probably got dozens of them.”

She might get to stay with Lavos. He’d be hers. But they barely knew each other. It had to be a sign of insanity to say yes. It would almost be like marrying a stranger, if her thoughts on what a mate was were correct.

“Jadee? I’m not a patient man. Right now, I’m not even all man. My Lycan side is raising hell because it senses you’re mine.”

“How many mates do you get?”

That seemed to surprise him. “One.”

“You wouldn’t cheat on a mate? And to be clear, that’s the actual definition, not the politician one of ‘it’s not sex unless my dick is inside a vagina’ bullshit.”

“You’d be it for me, and if you even look at another man, I’ll kill him.”

“Would you be looking at other women?”

“No.”

She chewed on her bottom lip, trying to think.

“Faster, Jadee.”

“Don’t rush me.”

He closed his mouth and growled.

“You’re impatient. I got it. It’s hard to think when you’re naked and on top of me.”

“Are you attracted to me?”

“You know I am or I wouldn’t be in your bed.”

“Do I frighten you?”

“Would you ever hurt me?”

“Never.”

He said it with such vehemence that she believed him. He looked offended that she’d even ask. She took a deep breath. It caused her breasts to brush against his chest. He glanced down, and she did too. The view of them so intimately pressed together made her want to touch him again, but he kept hold of her wrists. She could probably jerk free but didn’t try. He wanted to bite her and was waiting for her to decide if he could. He got points for at least asking. He seemed the type to just take what he wanted but he was leaving it up to her.

“Can we get to know each other a little better?”

“Lorn wants you gone tomorrow morning. And he does lead this clan. Time isn’t something we have a lot of. We need to figure this out before then.”

“It’s like marriage, right?”

“Without divorce.”

“That’s a big decision to make on short notice.”

“I missed you the second you were gone. Did you miss me?”

She wasn’t going to lie. “I thought about you all the time.”

Lavos licked his lips and glanced at her shoulder, then held her gaze again. “You’re the bravest human I’ve ever met, Jadee. You’ve got such courage.” He grinned. “You killed a Vampire with an ice pick and an axe. What’s so bad about a little bite compared to that? Say yes and let’s find out if we’re mates. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain if I’m right. We’ll have each other.” He grew serious. “Aren’t you ever lonely? I am. We know we’re good in bed together and I’m so drawn to you. I think we could make it work, and we’d be happy.”

She had a feeling he’d be winning most of their arguments if they did end up being mates. The whole pinning her down while naked and talking in that sexy, raspy voice worked. She wanted to take the leap by letting him bite her.

She took another deep breath. I’m not a coward. “Do it.” She tilted her head to give him more room. “Now I’m almost afraid I won’t be your mate. You’d make a hell of a salesman, sweetheart. You have me sold on this insane concept.”

He didn’t laugh at her attempted humor. He released her wrists and suddenly lifted off her. “Get on your hands and knees in front of me.”

She was starting to suspect he was always going to be surprising her. She’d expected him to just bite, not get off her and demand she change positions. “Okay. Can I ask why?”

“I don’t want it to hurt when I bite you. Trust me. This is going to be pleasurable.”

She sat up and eyed his fangs. They looked painful. Just like everything else on the man, they were big. “Yeah. Good luck with that.” She rolled, going onto her hands and knees on the bed. “Don’t expect me to always be this compliant. I’m kind of in shock so I’ll do it your way.”

Lavos chuckled and adjusted his legs on the outside of hers. She tossed her hair over one shoulder and looked back at him as he stood on his knees right behind her ass. He reached between them and gripped the shaft of his cock. He adjusted and she moaned at the feel of him entering her. She was still wet and ready to take him. He released himself and came down over her, falling forward. His arms braced his upper weight so his chest didn’t slam against her back.