Matrix raised his brows, surprised how easily she seemed to come to terms with their situation.
“It is what it is, right?” Veruca let out a little huff but leaned her cheek against his chest, nestling in.
“It is what it is,” he agreed, dropping a kiss on the top of her head. “I know you will miss Lucy, but Gunninng is not that far away.”
Pain exploded in his jaw when Veruca raised her head sharply, ramming her skull into his face.
“Ah!” she cried, clutching the top of her head. “What the fuck are you babbling about?”
“What do you mean, what am I babbling about? I thought it would make you happy to know that your new home is near enough to visit your friend.”
Chapter Sixteen
Rue rubbed her ringing head as she tried to unravel what Matrix was saying. She’d been so startled she’d jerked up and accidently headbutted him like a cantankerous billy goat.
“Hold still,” he ordered in a tone that should have put her on edge but instead did the opposite. It shot a spike of heat straight down her spine, making her shiver.
It didn’t matter how many times she reminded herself that alpha males were bad for her, she couldn’t help the magnetic pull Matrix had over her. The way he’d carried her, the way he held her…all of it. He made her want to roll onto her back and show him her belly.
In more ways than one.
Matrix ran his big hand over the top of her head, his callouses catching a few of the curls as he checked her out.
It was weird having someone make sure she was okay. Usually, Lucy would fetch her an ice pack, but that was generally because Goose had inflicted the injury in the first place. This was different. The headbutt had been entirely her fault, yet Matrix treated her as though she were the victim. She felt off-balance.
“You should be all right,” he murmured, his breath warm where it puffed against her forehead.
“Of course, I’m all right,” she said, trying to laugh off the knock to her noggin as if it hadn’t rattled her cage and made her insides go topsy-turvy. “Next time don’t surprise a gal like that.”
Matrix tightened his hold around her when she went to slide off his lap.
“Stay.” His hand clutched her hip, keeping her in place.
“Okay,” she whispered before she could help herself. “I mean, no. I should go and…” Rue looked around the room and noticed the shoes she’d kicked off earlier sitting by the door. “I should go and pick those up.”
Matrix raised an eyebrow, letting on that he didn’t believe her for one second.
“I didn’t expect you to be the type to run.”
Those words set her into action.
“I don’t run from anything,” she declared, staring him straight in the eye as her finger drilled into the center of his chest.
“Not even me?” he asked, his voice innocent yet goading.
Rue snorted, looking anywhere but the blue eyes that were taunting her. She knew exactly what he was doing and was too smart to fall for it.
“Say it.”
The words caught her off guard. Startled, she glanced up to meet his eyes burning into her.
“Say what?” The question popped out, but deep down, she knew exactly what he wanted.
He didn’t have to say it. She just somehow knew that Matrix wanted her to acknowledge the bond between them. Something she was in absolutely no way ready to do. He had another think coming if he thought giving her the sexy eyes and his rumbly voice was all he needed to tame the beast.
She was made of sterner stuff—easily. She was not a pushover and never would be, which was why this thing between the two of them needed to be doused before it became an inferno. Past experience had taught her valuable lessons. First, never cut your own bangs. Second, she knew her strong personality would never work with someone so alpha—an absolute no-go. Hard fucking stop. She’d been taught this lesson over and over again from high school, through college, and beyond. The last time she broke this rule, it required changing gyms and a restraining order for Todd to take a hint, buy a clue, and leave her the fuck alone.
It served her right for ever dating anyone named Todd.
Rue shook away the memories and steeled her spine to holdfast against temptation just as Matrix lowered his face. With that small shift, his tempting mouth became close enough to kiss if she simply sat up just a little bit. Worse, his insanely delicious sent wafted more strongly with him being even closer to her nose, which twitched to catch just a whiff or two more of the cologne. She wanted to rub her face in it.
Rue blinked, barely remembering why she had to stay strong when he was practically right there for the kissing…and touching if she wanted.
“Why do you gotta look like that?” she whispered, knowing that wasn’t what she meant to say out loud, yet having no control over her lips.
Matrix chuckled, the vibration in his chest calling her to lean into him even more. Even though he was padded with muscles, big and delineated, he made the most comfortable chair she’d ever sat in.
Rue struggled internally with the need to smooth her palm across his chest and settle in for however long he’d let her use him as a lounger.
“You know you want to,” he urged, his voice low and panty-meltingly smooth.
She startled at his words again, worried for a moment she’d spoken out loud.
“Say it.”
Rue’s brow crinkled at the glare she sent him.
“No.”
Matrix let out a weary sigh, patting her hip. “Why not?”
Rue bit her lip before she could blurt out the bratty response on the tip of her tongue. She was pretty sure he’d laugh in her face if she used the argument “because.”
“I can wait for you to admit what is happening between us,” he said, the words heavy with disappointment. “For now.”
Chapter Seventeen
Matrix knew instinctively that the more he pushed, the more Veruca would fight him. Part of him enjoyed the fire that burned in her eyes, but the last thing he wanted was for her to constantly be on guard.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked as she pushed a handful of curls behind her ear, revealing to him the large gold hoops adorning her ears once again. “Stop it.”
“Stop what?” he asked with a frown.
“Looking at me like that,” she huffed, wiggling her fingers at him.
Matrix bit his lip to keep from smiling at her adorable order.
“How would you like me to look at you, Veruca?” Watching carefully, he noted the flare of heat in her eyes when he said her name again.
“Don’t look at me at all,” she shot back quickly, her jaw tight as she looked around the room. “I think it’s time for you to go, don’t you?”
“That’s not going to happen.” Matrix clucked his tongue and settled back on the couch a little heavier. “You can ignore what’s happening, but it won’t go away. There is no way I could leave you to go through this alone. We’re together from here on out, Veruca.”
“But—” she squeaked, casting him a panicked glance before her eyes shot to the door.
“If you go out that door, I go with you,” he warned when she looked as if considering it. His hand reflexively tightened its grip around her hip.
“I can’t do this.”
Matrix eased off at the whisper from his mate. There was something in her voice that he hadn’t heard before and it sounded like fear.
“Hey.” Keeping his voice soft and his touch light, he tipped her chin up so she looked at him again. Not only did he like her gaze on him, he needed to see her expressive eyes to figure out what she was thinking.
There was no way she didn’t feel the connection, which meant that it was probably their link and the intimacy that came with it that was triggering her instinct to run. Either way, the last thing he wanted was for her to associate him with fear. As her mate, it was his duty to slay the things from her nightmares, not be one.
“Noth
ing more must happen right now besides this,” he promised, cuddling her close.
Rue eyed him skeptically for a moment before relaxing in his hold.
“There now.” Matrix patted her on the hip, ignoring the temptation to touch his mate in ways that she wasn’t ready for.
“This is my worst nightmare,” Veruca mumbled as she rubbed her temple in a circular motion.
“Does your head ache?” he asked, watching her closely for the not-so-pleasant side effects of the mating heat. Her cheeks were pinkened, but there were no signs of a fever that he could see.
He’d been there when K’hor’s mate had collapsed, her body beginning to shut down after their mating had been prolonged for longer than it should have been. Juniper had initially complained of a headache and dizziness, which had worsened quickly before their eyes.
“What?” she asked, her hand dropping away. “No, my head is fine.”
Matrix waited a moment for her to continue before he realized that was all she was going to say. He frowned. Weren’t females supposed to be chattier than this?
“Don’t give me that look, mister,” Veruca chastised with a thump to his pec.
“Did you just hit me?” he asked, unable to hide his amusement at her tiny tantrum.
“Believe me,” she scoffed, a smile teasing her lips—the first smile he’d had directed at him, “if I had hit you, you would know it.”
“I know that you’re not ready to acknowledge this yet.” Matrix caught her fingers and lifted them to his lips for a quick kiss. “But it can be dangerous for you to hide things from me. I understand why you don’t trust me,” He stopped talking and placed a finger against her lips when she moved to interrupt him before he continued. “Yet. I know you don’t trust me yet, but it will come soon. For now, this will have to do.”
Veruca lowered her brows. “What will have to do?”
“Us being together like this,” he said with a healthy pat to her curvy hip. “I know that you’re not ready to take us to the next step, but for me to leave you now would be harmful. To both of us. I’m not going to push for more than you’re willing to give, but this,” he emphasized with a squeeze of his hand, “is not negotiable.”
Veruca was silent for a moment, her expression showing how much she wanted to argue before she dropped her eyes back to her lap. Twisting her fingers, she let out a heavy sigh.
“I really wish I could say I didn’t sign up for this, but that’s actually what I did,” she said, letting out a sad chuckle.
Matrix didn’t know what to do other than nod. She seemed to be working things out in her head, and he didn’t want to interrupt things before she came to the only conclusion possible.
That she was his.
“You know what I don’t understand?” she asked abruptly, startling him. “Well…other than pretty much all of this,” she finished with a snort.
“What don’t you understand?” he asked, hoping it was something easy that he could answer for her.
“I don’t understand how this whole mating thing decides who should be together? I mean—” She stopped and looked him up and down for a second. “You’re not really my type.”
Matrix couldn’t keep his mouth from falling open at the blatant lie. Not only could he feel her lust through their link, he wasn’t blind. Her nipples were harder than the ore they mined and had been poking against her top, tempting him to finger the nubs, since he’d sat down.
Once he was over the shock of her lying to his face, he began to chuckle, his scar crinkling as he laughed.
“What? Don’t believe me?” Veruca tipped her nose in the air and gave him a look meant to make him feel small.
Instead of being offended, he was intrigued. He had expected his ancestors to bless him with the perfect mate, and they’d done so without fail. She wasn’t going to accept his claiming without him proving that he was the mate for her, which he had absolutely no problem doing. In fact, the chase she was giving him was something he hadn’t known he needed. It made him feel slightly feral. Willing to do whatever it took to prove to his mate that he was the one for her.
Chapter Eighteen
Rue swallowed hard and winced at the loud gulp that followed.
“No,” Matrix said, capturing her chin in his fingers so she was forced to meet his gaze.
Rue narrowed her eyes at the touch but didn’t pull away. She could have if she wanted to, but that was the problem. She didn’t want to.
“No what?” she asked, confused. It seemed like every little touch, even the innocent ones, managed to scramble her brains.
“No, I don’t believe you,” he answered, pinning her under his watchful blue eyes. “Would you like to know why, Veruca?”
No.
“Fine,” she said with a roll of her eyes, determined to keep things light and easy instead of hot and heavy. “You know you’re hot. Shocker. Just because I find all of…” Rue trailed off as she took Matrix in—again.
As if the first time wasn’t enough.
“Ahem,” Rue said, clearing her throat. “Just because I find you attractive doesn’t mean that we’re a match made in Djaromir heaven.”
Rue barely held back the moan that threatened when Matrix dipped his head and nuzzled behind her ear. She leaned into the contact, her eyes closing at the sensuous rasp of his beard tickling her.
“You find me more than attractive,” Matrix argued, his lips hot against the skin she bared to him with her head tipped to the side.
“Huh?” she whimpered as her eyes rolled back as he zoned in on the crook of her neck. “What are you doing?”
“I’m giving my mate what she needs,” he explained, dropping a sucking kiss onto her skin. “I’d assume since you never read the orientation literature, you’re also unaware of the Djaromir claiming marks?”
Rue leaned back, reluctantly pulling away from the man driving her crazy.
“Say that again.”
Matrix gave her a smile, but this time she didn’t want to punch him in the face. The cockiness that seemed to seep from his pores had mellowed since their first meeting.
“Claiming marks,” he repeated. “Do you know anything about them?”
Rue shook her head, unsure if she wanted to know.
“Eventually, I will commission gold bands to be wrapped around here,” he said and stroked her arm just above her bicep. “K’hor’s mate compared them to the wedding bands worn on Earth. They will be carved with the symbol of our city and my designation, showing to everyone that you belong to me, just as mine shall show that I belong to you.”
“Cool,” she rasped. The little moisture in her mouth had dried up quickly as he’d stroked her arm. Her insides felt hot and jittery under the attention like she’d had one too many energy drinks.
“Claiming marks, however—” He paused to lick his lips, and Rue felt ready to crawl out of her skin.
“Yeah?” she replied dryly and swayed forward, transfixed like a cobra enthralled by a snake charmer.
“They’re much more personal.” Matrix gathered her hair in his big hands, carefully lifting it away from her neck.
Rue shivered as the air kissed the bared skin. The cooling sensation was welcome, considering she felt warm and achy the longer they were this close. When Matrix leaned forward and ran his nose down her neck, she fought the urge to stretch out farther to better present him with her neck as an offering—barely.
“How much more personal?” she asked. She was tempting fate and knew it, but no longer felt like she gave a damn.
She’d already buckled into this roller coaster, so she might as well throw her hands in the air and enjoy the ride. Right? Tilting her head back, she gave him a path to not only her neck, but the exposed cleavage of her tunic.
Rue watched his bright-blue eyes darken to a deep sapphire as they took in her offering.
“Much more personal,” he answered huskily with a deep timber that made her squirm in his lap. “Would you like for me to show you, Veruca?”<
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“Yes.” The word flew out before she could stop it, but she had no regrets.
Matrix didn’t hesitate to take her up on her offering. Without giving her a chance for a take-backsies, he kissed her. Actually, it couldn’t be described as mere kissing. No, his mouth was on hers, and it was owning the fuck out of it. She practically swooned under the onslaught of his tongue, lips, and even nibbles from his teeth.
Rue could only moan and open wider. Both to admit his demanding tongue and the roaming hand that worked its way between her thighs where she now writhed on his lap. Minutes? Hours? Who the hell knew how long she’d clung to him as he devoured her? All she knew was that she wanted more.
When she finally managed to tear her mouth away, it was only to let out a shriek of surprised pleasure as one of his thick fingers penetrated her soaking pussy.
While she was lost in his distracting kiss, he’d been busy putting his wiggling hand to work. Right down the front of her thin leggings and lace undies until he reached her honey pot. She watched his forearm flex as he moved inside her carefully. Each surge plunged deeper than the one before. Her muscles clenched the intruder, and her insides grasped at the callused finger as it glided in and out a few times.
It was almost enough to send her over the edge.
“So good,” she groaned, and she pushed impatiently at the material that was stretched tight around her waist and his arm. It took a bit of maneuvering, but with Matrix’s help, she soon had the stretchy fabric over her hips, past her ass, and around her thighs. Wasting no time, Rue covered his hand with one of her own and humped and bucked on the digit, marveling at how amazing one simple finger felt.
“So wet,” Matrix moaned, his lips somehow finding the magic spot under her ear that drove her crazy.
Miners of Djaromir: Matrix Page 9
