“You could try,” Rafe replied calmly and sipped his wine, gaze still out on the trees. In leopard form Naomi would give him a good chase but he only had to force a command on her mind to make her stop if he felt inclined to end things quickly. But he wouldn’t give chase that night as he knew she wouldn’t leave and said as much. “You knew you would have to see me eventually as nights continued to stack up with you under this roof.” Naomi could have left after that first night, silently slipping out while he and Aislin slept and made her escape from the city as well. But she hadn’t. A part of the woman beside him wanted a place to rest, needed the safety, and needed people to fill the void she now had in her.
“You’re a guest, Kitten. I won’t force you to stay nor make you speak with me. I merely felt it was time to greet you and offer you my full hospitality for as long as you need it.” Another drink of wine, another moment passing without moving from where he stood or looking at his guest. There was no need to make her look at him, knowing she would do so when ready whether it was that night or three weeks from now. Rafe could be patient when he knew he would get what he wanted in the end.
There was also no need to point out the details of his hospitality as the shifter would know enough from their past time together. Lodging, protection, and a place in his bed if the mood struck them again and she hadn’t suddenly become clingy. He could also soothe her pain for a night with a simple touch or build walls within her mind to fully block out the worst of her memories of her lost pack. Rafe wouldn’t offer any of that but wait to be approached when his wounded leopardess was ready for help in healing.
“You’re a guest, Kitten. I won’t force you to stay nor make you speak with me. I merely felt it was time to greet you and offer you my full hospitality for as long as you need it.” Another drink of wine, another moment passing without moving from where he stood or looking at his guest. There was no need to make her look at him, knowing she would do so when ready whether it was that night or three weeks from now. Rafe could be patient when he knew he would get what he wanted in the end.
There was also no need to point out the details of his hospitality as the shifter would know enough from their past time together. Lodging, protection, and a place in his bed if the mood struck them again and she hadn’t suddenly become clingy. He could also soothe her pain for a night with a simple touch or build walls within her mind to fully block out the worst of her memories of her lost pack. Rafe wouldn’t offer any of that but wait to be approached when his wounded leopardess was ready for help in healing.
