Chapter 9

Chapter Nine

Elias felt a certain amount of relief as they stepped outside. It was good to know his mate wasn’t furious with him for not preparing for her arrival himself as though he had believed her to be the most important thing in the world. Leah hadn’t believed it either. They were on the same page. Now what?

Elias took a seat on one of the Adirondack chairs and leaned back. He inhaled deeply several times, hoping to clear his lungs or something. Every time he’d breathed his mate’s essence, he’d fallen deeper under her spell.

He’d needed to sit, and he could tell himself the fresh air would clear his mind, but it was a lie. It wasn’t working.

His Little firecracker stood at the railing in front of him, facing the view. It was funny that just a few weeks ago, his brother and father had stood in that same spot, blocking his view. Leah was not blocking his view. She was his view.

He didn’t care about the mountains, trees, valleys, or rivers. He cared about the stunning woman standing in front of him. Her glorious red hair was long and wavy and blowing gently in the breeze.

He couldn’t wait to tangle his fingers in the length of it. He had the urge to wrap it around his hands, pull her head back, and kiss the column of her neck up to her mouth.

Elias lowered his gaze to her slender body. The dress was pretty, but he hated that it was covering so much of her. Clothing was one of the biggest differences between the folks living in the valley and those living among the Alpha Protectors in the mountains.

Women in the valley were taught modesty. All females dressed in a way that hid nearly everything and gave away no secrets. Elias’s family and friends encouraged their women to toss that modesty to the wind.

Soon, he would unveil his pretty mate, and he would never cover her in so much material again. He’d heard of the layers of shifts she would be wearing under her dress. It was customary, but she wouldn’t wear shifts again. She would not wear dresses that extended to her ankles, wrists, and high on her neck.

Leah shook him out of his thoughts when she turned around. She was smiling.

He returned the smile, forcing himself to remain seated where he was instead of reaching for her like he wanted to.

“It’s so beautiful here,” she murmured as she crossed her arms and rubbed her biceps.

“Are you cold, Little one?”

She shrugged. “Why do you call me Little one?”

“It’s a common endearment among my people. You are little,” he pointed out.

She nodded slowly. “Compared to you, I certainly am, but that’s not what you mean when you call me that. You would call me Little one even if I were huge.”

He chuckled. “Touché.” He leaned back, watching her closely. He didn’t want to upset her. She needed to come to her own realizations to a certain extent. He knew his way of life —the way of life of all Alpha Protectors—was unusual to new mates. It was expected that she would be confused and probably disconcerted.

She glanced toward the house, still hugging herself. “Explain the nursery.”

He drew in a breath. “We treat our mates as though they are more precious than life itself because they are. As much as I tried to deny it for most of my life, I see now what my parents and friends have been trying to tell me. My instinct is to dote on you and ensure that nothing ever happens to you.”

“You could buy me a necklace or a bracelet,” she teased, though her voice was strained. “How does babying me show your affection?”

He rubbed his hands together, wishing they could get through this part and move on. He spoke carefully. “I’m a dominant man, Leah, far more dominant than anyone you’ve ever met in the valley. It’s in my nature. I crave your submission. It’s a silent symbol of your trust and faith in me. The deeper your submission is, the closer our bond will be. It will come on its own. You can fight it, and I expect you will, but eventually you will submit deeply to me. Nature will push you in that direction.”

“I was raised to submit to you, Elias.” She shuddered as if she abhorred the idea. “My mother taught me to cook and clean and take care of your…physical needs. I understand that part.” She glanced toward the house again and licked her lips.

He knew she was picturing the nursery.

“That’s exactly what I would expect your mother to have taught you, Little one,” he said gently. “It’s natural and expected in the valley, but the mates of Alpha Protectors submit on a far deeper level. You will not cook or clean in our home, Little one. I will do those things. It’s my job to take care of you in all ways.”

“Take care of me by feeding me and diapering me.” She shuddered again, her body stiff, her fingers white where she gripped her biceps.

“Yes, Little firecracker. I will not force you. I won’t need to, Leah. You will come to trust your body to my care on your own. I won’t force you to open your body to me either. We will consummate our union when you’re ready.”

She stared at him, breathing heavily, trembling.

He could scent her fear. He would do anything to stop it, but only time would ease her mind. He also knew it wouldn’t take weeks or months. It would take hours or days.

He lifted a hand toward her, taking a risk. “Come, Little one. You’re cold. Let me hold you.”

She was panting now, and she didn’t move for long seconds.

He was used to this standoff with her. If she denied him, he would not take it personally. He would simply wait for her.

His need to hold her, touch her, and kiss her was tremendous and growing by the minute. She was feeling the same thing. He was certain of it. It would eventually consume her and force her into his arms. This was how Fate operated.

“I’m scared.”

“I know, Little one. I know. Tell me what scares you most.” He continued to hold his hand out, palm up, encouraging her silently.

“I’m scared of losing myself. I’m scared that if I submit to you like you want, I won’t know who I am. I’m scared that you will enforce strict rules and not permit me to follow my passions.”

Elias nodded as he lowered his hand. He would try again in a bit. “All of your fears are normal and expected. I can only tell you that I will do my very best to make sure you are happy and know you are cherished every day of your life. I will show you how devoted I am to you by taking care of even your most basic needs. It’s how I’m wired. I didn’t understand it until today, but I feel this deep desire to hold you, rock you, feed you, and yes, change you when you need to eliminate.”

She turned her head to one side and inhaled as if she could draw in oxygen less tainted by him if she weren’t facing him. “You won’t force me?” she asked in a whisper.

“Never. Tell me about your passions.”

She turned back, brows furrowed. “I’m a painter.”

He sat taller and smiled. “A painter? How fascinating. What do you like to paint?”

“Mostly landscapes.” She nodded toward the beauty at her back. “I’ll be itching to paint this view. Will you let me paint?”

“Absolutely, Little one. Tell me what you need, and I will have someone bring it to the house. You can start painting tomorrow.”

She gave him the most dazzling smile that melted his heart and made him realize he needed to always be aware of her needs. “Really?” Her voice was doubtful.

“Really, Little firecracker. Let me tell you a story. One of my friends recently claimed his mate, and she is visually impaired. He made sure his home was filled with things he thought she would enjoy like earphones so she could listen to music and books. Guess what?”

Leah bit her bottom lip. It was so cute and so very sexy. She had no idea. “What?”

“It turns out she loves to paint.”

Leah’s eyes went wide.

Elias chuckled. “Yep. One day, I was left in charge of her and the other two Little girls who have recently mated in this area. They are devilish Little things when they get together. You will undoubtedly join their antics when you meet them.”

“What do you mean? Devilish?”

“Naughty. They plot against their mates on purpose.”

Leah gasped. “Why?”

Elias laughed. “Let’s come back to that part. It will shock you. What I’m trying to say is that those three begged me to let them go outside and paint on the back patio. I did because I’m a schmuck, and I didn’t fully understand how manipulative Little girls can be. Suzette and Jezebel taught Olivia how to paint. After that—after their mates got over the panic that followed their shenanigans—Damon bought Olivia all the art supplies she could possibly ever want. So, yes. I will make sure you have what you need to paint me beautiful pictures.”

Leah chewed on her bottom lip. “What if they aren’t beautiful? What if you don’t think I’m any good?”

He grinned. “You will never know. As your mate and your Daddy, I will always tell you your artwork is the most beautiful on Earth.”

Her breath hitched when he slid that word into the conversation. “Daddy?”

“Little girls who are mates of Alpha Protectors call their partners Daddy. It’s an endearment.”

She swallowed hard. Hopefully he hadn’t pushed her too far with that last tidbit of information. “You want me to call you Daddy?”

“When you’re ready.”

She shook her head as if pushing that last piece of information to the side. “You’ll really let me paint?”

He nodded. “I said I would, Little one. I won’t go back on my word.” He lifted his hand again. “Come.”

She hesitated before finally lowering her arms to her sides and shuffling forward. “I shouldn’t.”

“But you want to.”

“I should keep my distance. When you touch me, my brain will scramble. You have a weird spell cast over me.”

He chuckled. “I think it’s you who has a spell cast over me .”

She giggled for a moment before stopping herself, but it was long enough for the sound to travel to his cock and make him want her in his arms even more. Damn, this mating was ten times more intense than he could have predicted.