Mate (Bride, #2)

by Ali Hazelwood

“And I’m not going to say that I can fend off whoever comes for me. However, if I know about a threat, I can prepare and take care of myself—” “I will take care of you,” he says roughly.

“They probably already suspect you’re with me. We just want to give them proof.” “Why would they suspect it?” His stare is level. “Because with me is where I would keep my mate.”

In my ideal, remarkably unremarkable future that will never be, I’d go to a job I love, come home, make dinner for someone whose face was in my head and heart all day long, and spend the rest of the night watching boring TV shows with them.

“No one ‘lets’ me do stuff or go places,” I point out tiredly. “That’s not how it works, Koen.” “If you were mine, it would. And clearly, you fucking should be.”

I think he might want to know everything that’s in my head. I think he could shake every thought I’ve ever had out of my skull, rummage through them for years, and still not be bored.

“If today was my last day, I’d be happy to have spent it with you.”