Awaiting Fate by J. L. Sheppard Page B

to see her had demanded it. The desire pierced through him, forcing him to undermine his will. Although he knew she needed time and had vowed he wouldn’t destroy his chance with her, he couldn’t stay away.
    The few hours a day he spent with her weren’t enough to soothe his need. After the first night he watched her sleep, he couldn’t find the strength to stop. It was destiny’s fault, but he couldn’t blame fate because he’d been given the best gift of all—someone to share his long existence with. The only solution had been to watch her sleep. It gave them both what they needed: her time, and him, peace.
    Tonight as he watched her sleep, his fragmented mind was in shambles. He couldn’t believe what he’d done to her, his gift, his mate. He led her in an alley, pressed her against the wall and held her there as he demanded answers. All the while his anger whirled around them, unable to shield her from it. His control lost, gone along with his mind. The first time he’d lost control in more than four hundred years.
    Jocelyn was right to have made him wait. It seemed he hadn’t waited long enough. The moment he sensed she pushed him away, rage began to bubble. At times as easily as it began, it ebbed. All he had to do was use his gift to read her. In the alley, he thought he’d find fear, instead he found desire. That was all it had taken to soothe him.
    His Olivia desired him and had been hot to the touch because she craved him. Although she hadn’t said as much, he’d felt it. Now, he’d always know. He’d never forget.
    If only he’d read her before she pushed him away, he wouldn’t have lost control.
    Then when she was opening up to him again, that damn mortal had asked her to dance. The man, too stupid to realize Cain would kill him for even glancing at his mate, was beyond intoxicated, desire had gushed off of him and that desire had been for his mate. Even now, it made his blood boil just thinking of it.
    You think I’m stupid, she had asked him and his heart nearly stopped. For that brief moment, he thought she’d admit she knew she was his, but she hadn’t. Because she didn’t know or just refused to admit it, he still didn’t know.
    To top off the night, he’d licked her! He had actually licked his mate’s neck before pressing his lips against hers. He knew she enjoyed it, but that didn’t make it right. Licking his virgin mate in a bar to control his demon? The most selfish, inconsiderate thing he’d done in his entire existence.
    I’m losing my fucking mind .
    It was getting late, and regardless of how he wanted to continue to hold her in his arms, he’d already committed one too many selfish acts. Olivia needed a bed where she could sleep comfortably.
    One arm under her legs and the other behind her back, he rose, carrying her, then materialized in her room and laid her in bed. As he pulled away, her nails lengthened, tearing his shirt. He tried to pry her nails away, but she wouldn’t let go.
    She wants me to stay. A smile spread across his lips. Although he wanted nothing more than to sleep with his mate wrapped around him, he couldn’t and wouldn’t. She was his, but she was a virgin. Waking with him in her bed would probably scare the crap out of her.
    With her hand still firmly grasping his shirt, he pulled it off and let her hold it. Still, he couldn’t summon the courage to leave her. He’d been less than a gentleman that day and wouldn’t blame her for leaving him again but couldn’t fathom waking to find her gone. That fear was overwhelming, earth shattering and undeniable. He’d be destroyed more so than he was already, so instead of heading to the spare bedroom, he lay on the small loveseat in her room. It wasn’t big enough for his six-foot-five frame, but it would do.
    He laid his head on the armrest facing her, so he wouldn’t lose sight, his legs dangling over the other end. Exhausted because he hadn’t slept in days, with his eyes still locked on her,