Liam waited for Amelia's apprehensive gaze to meet his before saying, "I don't want to talk about my past, but I can promise that right now, it's only you, and it will be only you in the future. When we return to the Dark Howlers pack, you can ask my brothers and my friends to confirm that you are the first female I brought home."
"Your brothers?" She asked. Evanora told them that werewolves live in packs, but they don't call other pack members brothers and sisters unless they are blood-related.
"Three of them. We are close, and they know everything about me."
"Won't they lie for you?"
Well, Liam couldn't deny this. Liam and his brothers were tight, and if one of them was in trouble, the other ones would commit murder and hide the body without any questions asked. Lying was nothing compared to that. But he was confident that his brothers will dote on Amelia. After all, Liam was the last one of the four to find his mate, so his brothers (and their mates) will look at Amelia like a treasure. However, Liam had a feeling that if he told her that, she wouldn't believe him, so he decided to keep it short.
"When you meet them, you can make a decision about their character."
Liam placed a light kiss on her lips, and he frowned when she didn't kiss him back. "I am not playing, Amelia. The Moon Goddess made us mates for a reason." He pecked her lips again. "It's only you." His next kiss met her stiff lips, and he pushed down the irritation that mixed with helplessness. He found his mate, and they should be all over each other. Why did he need to grovel now? He didn't do anything bad!
"Amelia", Liam called while searching her eyes for an opening for him to get in and crumble those insecurities… and then it hit him: she was insecure. Silly witch.
Liam realized that this required a different approach.
As much as the timing for a conversation was off (and he was not much of a talker anyway), Liam reminded himself that Amelia was a witch, and she was sensing their bond differently. He heard about James' troubles. Based on that, Amelia could feel the attraction, but it was not to the point of a done-deal how Liam was experiencing it. He needed to assure her that she was THE one for him and that he won't betray their bond.
"I have no choice but to love you.", he said.
"Why?" She asked, and Liam felt that this was progress because her tone was less clipped.
"Because you are made for me. You are everything I ever wanted."
Amelia thought how that was a bunch of rubbish. He didn't know anything about her. "Really? Why don't you tell me about it?"
"I know that you are smart and hardworking. You love lilac and coffee, and this here…" Liam caressed the spot under her armpit, grazing the side of her breast, and she gasped. He smirked victoriously. "…that right there is a sensitive spot that turns you on."
Amelia was irritated by his confidence. Was he playing with her? "And what makes you think you are right about any of those?"
"You analyze the situation and ask for explanations, even in a situation like this one." He glanced down to make a point that they were both naked. "The scent lingering in your hair tells me that you were working on a potion before we met, and you would probably still be there if Evanora didn't tell you to accompany guests. There is a painting of lilacs on your wall and fresh lilac in the vase, as for the spot…" He chuckled when he caressed that sensitive area again, and she squirmed under his touch.
Amelia realized that Liam was not an airhead. He was observant and analytical, and it made sense except for one thing. How can he say that she loves coffee when… "I never drank coffee." Witches drink herbal teas.
"You will love it.", Liam said without missing a beat.
"What makes you think so?"
"Because we are mates, Amelia. We love the same things because we love each other, and I love coffee, and I love you. You can ask me for a thousand reasons why I love you, and I will give you a thousand and one, but none will explain this burning desire to be with you, to touch you, to make you happy. We feel the same, and once I mark you and the bond between us solidifies, you will be able to sense my emotions and my sincerity."
He nuzzled her nose with his and continued. "I can't wait to take you home. Everyone will be jealous because my mate is the most beautiful woman in the world. I will show you around proudly and beat up any guy who dares to look at you wrongly. Every night you will collapse to sleep after screaming my name, and I will wake you up in the morning with breakfast; it will be my special scrambled eggs with toast and coffee. I will spoil you, and you will allow me to do it."
Liam pecked her lips again, and he smiled because her lips moved in response. Yes! Liam scores!
He wanted to kiss her again, but Amelia tilted her head to avoid him. He wondered if he imagined that she kissed him back, but then he heard her speak.
"Promise me that I will be the only woman in your life, and you won't look at any other female."
Liam's brows came together. "That... I can't promise."
"What?" Amelia hissed and started wiggling under him. But his body pressed on hers, his legs were entangled with hers, his hold on her wrists was solid, and she couldn't budge. Amelia groaned in frustration. Should she buzz him with magic? But no matter how angry she was, she didn't want to hurt him. Not unless it was necessary.
"How dare you…?"
He swallowed the rest of her question with a kiss. It was supposed to be a gentle kiss, or maybe a passionate one, but she bit him, and the sharp pain which came with metallic taste told him that she drew blood, but he didn't pull back.
"Daughter", he spoke into her lips.
Amelia's eyes widened in shock, and she forgot how to breathe. She imagined women, mistresses, maybe even a wife or a harem, but… a child?
Amelia was not sure how to deal with that. Can she raise a child of her mate if she was not the mother?
"You have a daughter?"
Liam smiled bitterly. "I might. I mean, we will unless all our pups are boys. I come from a large family, and I always thought that when I find my mate, we would have a bunch of pups. I will love them all equally, boys and girls, so I can't promise you that I won't look at other females because I won't neglect our daughters."
Amelia frowned at him. "You were ambiguous on purpose."
Liam didn't deny it. "I love to see you jealous. It means you don't want to share me, and I feel the same about you."
Her eyes landed on his lips which were red because he was bleeding. The stream of red disappeared in his neatly trimmed beard that was making his sharp jawline more prominent. But the guilt she felt for hurting him spoiled the joy of his handsome visual.
