Change of Heart

her.
    88
    Change of Heart
    by Mary Calmes
    Crossing the room, I dropped our parkas on the wingback chair as I passed it and then sank down onto the couch that faced a loveseat. I didn't want to lie down because I was afraid to fall asleep. I had to be ready to leave as soon as Crane joined me.
    The click of the door behind me was expected; the man was not. I thought it would be Eva back with the tea, but it was Logan carrying the steaming cup.
    I stood up, hands in the pockets of my jeans.
    "Sit." He smiled gently. "I just came to bring you this."
    I cleared my throat but didn't sit. "Is Crane ready to go?"
    "Shouldn't you be asking me if you and Crane can go?"
    "Unmated reahs do whatever they want."
    "Is that right?" His eyes narrowed, and I felt my mouth go dry. "You don't have to observe any of the rules of hospitality?"
    I did, and we both knew it. "Fine. Can we go or not?"
    "You can do whatever you want, but when you're fully conscious, I would like to talk to you."
    Probably my surly tone had made him sarcastic. It was my own fault. "You didn't answer my question," I pressed him.
    "You can go whenever you want."
    That was clear.
    "Alright?"
    I nodded.
    "Can I sit with you for a minute?"
    His voice was like a caress.
    "Sure."
    89
    Change of Heart
    by Mary Calmes
    He moved fluidly for such a big man, his body graceful and powerful at the same time. I was sure that people watched him constantly, utterly spellbound.
    I took the saucer and cup from him and sat back down. It was surprising when he took a seat beside me and not across from me. Even more interesting that he didn't talk to me, just stared at the fire. He was actually just going to sit with me.
    When I felt my eyes getting heavy, I asked him if he was going to be missed downstairs.
    "Drink your tea."
    I sipped it because I wanted to and not because I was ordered to. He was definitely a semel, used to demanding things instead of asking for them.
    "Look at me."
    I lifted my head, and he stared deeply into my eyes. I could barely hold his gaze.
    "Do you have any idea how badly I want to hold you down and mark you?"
    I couldn't breathe.
    "I've never felt anything like this."
    Me, neither, but I wasn't going to share that with him.
    "You don't want me. You just think you do," I said slowly, staring into his golden eyes.
    "I know myself well," he assured me as he stood up. "And you're going to be mine."
    I was flushed with heat, and my eyes were riveted to him as he got up and headed for the door. I was so confused. He made wild declarations and then left me. What was that?
    "Wait."
    90
    Change of Heart
    by Mary Calmes
    He stopped right before he closed the door behind him.
    "What?"
    "How can you just say stuff like that and then leave?"
    "How can you want to leave?" he countered, his tone sharp.
    We stood there, staring at each other, and I realized that there was no air in the room at all. When he left, he slammed the door behind him. It was a mistake to stay a second longer. I had his permission to leave; I just needed to find Crane and go. Grabbing my parka, I was almost to the door when it opened and I was faced with Christophe Danvers.
    "I thought I saw you," he said, walking forward.
    "I need to go." I tried to maneuver around him.
    He lifted his hands, blocking me in. "What are you doing here, Jin?"
    "I met you and Domin, so I had to come up here to meet Logan as well."
    "And is he your mate?"
    I couldn't answer him because I wasn't sure myself. While I had never had a reaction like the one I was having to anyone else in my entire life, I wasn't ready to say for certain that the man was my mate. I needed time to think, to process, and I definitely needed to be left alone so I could do that.
    "Jin?"
    I withdrew to the fireplace, leaning my forehead against the ice-cold marble mantle. I was freezing and overheated at the exact same time.
    91
    Change of Heart
    by Mary Calmes
    "Listen, maybe I should take you home. This might not be the best time for you to—"
    "Don't touch him."
    I lifted my head and saw Christophe beside me, his hand frozen in mid-air, Logan beyond him, standing by the open door.
    "Did you hear me?"
    "Logan," Christophe began, turning away from me.
    "Get out."
    "Logan, I'm here for the party," Christophe chuckled, moving toward him. "I can't just leave. My sister's going to be your yareah, after all."
    His eyes were flat as he closed in on Christophe. "Your sister and I are done. You know that."
    "Logan, you can't," he gasped, suddenly