Nick’s POV
Fuck that was hot. I’ve never seen her acting this badass and it turned me on. Goddess, she was perfect.
I watched her until she was out of my sight.
I turned back to Jacob and saw his eyes were following her as well.
My blood started to boil again.
They were in here alone in the middle of the night. She wasn’t wearing much, and he saw what only I was allowed to see. He touched her. He touched what was mine.
His eyes came back to me, and he frowned.
“Listen here, Jacob,” I growled. “I know you want her. But she is mine and you are not getting what you want. So back the fuck off.”
He smirked and got up.
“You are right,” he nodded. “I do want her. She was mine long before you came into the picture. And I am not backing off. I will fight for her because she is worth the fight.”
Nate started clawing for me to let him out.
Kill him. He growled. He wants to take my mate from us.
“You are not going to win,” I said through my teeth.
The only reason that I was not strangling the guy was important to Aria. If he was any other guy he wouldn’t be breathing anymore.
“We will see,” he said and walked to the cupboard.
He took a glass and poured whiskey into it.
Every part of me itched to kill the fucker but I forced myself to turn around and walk out of the kitchen.
We need to mark her. Nate growled.
She is not ready, Nate. I said back.
I didn’t want to push her. I know it was too soon. But my need to mark her was only growing when I saw other males wanting what’s mine. I will have to talk to her about it. Soon.
I walked into the room and slammed the door shut. Three pairs of eyes landed on me. I guess our argument downstairs woke up Gabriel and Annie.
Aria was sitting on the bed with her arms crossed over her chest. Her shirt had risen slightly, and I could see the soft skin on her belly. Her bare legs were on display and inviting me to touch them. Fuck.
“Annie, couch, now,” I growled.
“No way, man,” Gabriel said.
I turned to look at him and narrowed my eyes.
“Nate is pretty pissed off already,” I growled at him. “Don’t add to it.”
I turned back to look at Annie who still hadn’t moved.
“Annie,” I said slowly. “Now.”
My whole body trembled with the need for my mate. There was no fucking way I was sleeping without her. If Annie didn’t move, I would move her myself.
She looked between Aria and Gabriel and shrugged. She moved the covers off her and got out of bed. Aria sighed and lay down pulling the covers up.
“Good night,” I said and turned off the light.
I walked to the bed and got under the covers.
Aria was laying on her side, facing away from me.
I pulled her to my chest and wrapped my arm around her. I reached under her top to feel her skin on mine. I could smell him on her, and it was driving me crazy.
She grabbed my hand and stopped me.
“What are you doing, Nick?” she asked and turned her head toward me.
“I need to get his scent off of you,” I said, nuzzling my nose into her neck.
She sighed and let go of my hand.
My hand finally touched her smooth skin and sparks erupted all over my body. This was like a drug. It will never be enough. I made sure to cover every area that fucker touched with his hand.
I rubbed my nose up and down her neck and she moved her head so I would have more access. I smiled and started placing small kisses on her neck while rubbing small circles on the exposed skin under her belly button.
She tasted amazing and I was in heaven.
She pushed herself closer to me, giving me access to her beautiful face. I started kissing up and down her jaw and moved my hand on her thigh, giving it a small squeeze. I could feel her heart beating fast.
My dick was painfully hard, and I wanted to rip her clothes off and bury myself in her.
I had to stop before I actually did that. Right now, I didn’t even give a shit Gabriel and Annie were in here. All I saw and felt was her.
Gathering all my willpower, I stopped kissing her and moved my hand up and around her belly, pulling her even closer to me.
“Sleep,” I whispered in her ear and kissed the top of her head.
She nodded and let out a small, quiet breath.
I smiled and closed my eyes, breathing in her wonderful scent.
Goddess, this girl was going to be the end of me. She had me wrapped around her little finger and she didn’t even know it. There was nothing I wouldn’t do for her.
She fell asleep quickly and she snuggled up against me even more. But even though she was right beside me, I barely slept all night. Every time I fell asleep, I dreamt that somebody was taking Aria away from me. She was in my arms but then somebody ripped her away. I kept waking up and reminding myself that she was here. I breathed in her scent and touched her skin to try and calm myself down, but every time I fell asleep again, I had the same dream.
I was so relieved when Gabriel woke up and suggested we go downstairs. I kissed Aria on the forehead and got out of bed.
Gabriel and I got dressed and left the room quietly.
Those dreams are not coming true. Nobody is taking her away from me. I would kill them first.
Aria’s POV
I was awoken by somebody shaking my shoulder.
“A,” I heard a voice say. “Wake up.”
I opened my eyes and saw Annie standing beside my bed.
“Five more minutes, Annie,” I mumbled and closed my eyes.
“No, A,” she said. “Everybody is downstairs already. Get up.”
I turned to lie on my back and grunted. I opened my eyes to look at her.
“Why so early?” I asked.
“It’s not early. It’s 10 am,” she said and threw a towel at me. “Go shower and come downstairs.”
I sat up and rubbed my eyes. I was so tired I could sleep for days.
I dragged myself out of bed and went to the bathroom to shower and brush my teeth.
I put my hair up into a messy bun and put on a pair of jeans, a hoodie, and sneakers.
When I walked downstairs everybody was eating breakfast.
“Hello, badass,” Cassie said with a smirk.
I raised my eyebrows and sat down next to Nick who immediately put his hand on my thigh.
Memories of last night flooded my mind and I blushed. I didn’t know what happened. I didn’t know how I let it get that far. Gabriel and Annie were in the room, for Goodness’ sake. But I was melting in his hands, and I didn’t want him to stop. Ever. His touch was addictive. I will always need more.
“Why am I a badass?” I asked and poured myself a cup of coffee.
I didn’t feel like eating. My appetite hadn’t been that good the last few days.
“For putting these two in their rightful place last night,” Cassie said and pointed at Jake and Nick.
Both of them rolled their eyes and I chuckled. I was right. Nick’s growls did wake up the whole house.
“I don’t even know where that came from,” I said and took a sip of coffee.
“I always knew you were a badass,” Annie said with a smile.
“Thank you, Ann,” I laughed.
“Are you done?” Jake sighed and looked between the three of us. “We were just talking about leaving and trying to find Patricia.”
I stiffened and gulped. I knew that finding her was the main reason for this trip, but I somehow managed to push that thought to the back of my mind.
“You are coming with us?” I asked, surprised.
“Yes,” Jake said. “I am not leaving you. And neither are Cassie and Blake. We just got you back, Minnie. Gabriel said we could stay at his house. So, we are going back with you.”
I stared at him, not knowing what to say. I was happy they were coming with me. But on the other hand, I didn’t want them to get hurt because of me. It could be dangerous.
I opened my mouth to speak, but I was interrupted when Nick placed a bowl filled with cereal and milk in front of me.
“Eat,” he said sternly.
“I am not hungry,” I said with a frown.
“I wasn’t asking, love,” he said and turned to the rest of the group.
I sighed and picked up a spoon.
“I don’t want you getting hurt because of me, Jake,” I said and started eating. “It could be dangerous.”
“We are coming, Minnie,” he said sternly. “You can’t do anything about that.”
“Okay, I have to ask,” Annie said, interrupting us. “What’s with the nickname? Why Minnie?”
“Sometimes when she sleeps, she does that wiggly thing with her nose,” Jake said and smiled. “Like a mouse. And she is small. She is Minnie Mouse.”
I could see Nick tense up. His grip around my thigh tightened.
“I am not small,” I complained.
“You kind of are,” Gabriel said with a smirk. “I guess I got all the height.”
I rolled my eyes at him and frowned.
“That is so cute,” Annie said. “I totally like that nickname for you.”
“So, what is the plan?” I asked, changing the subject. “When are we leaving?”
“Tomorrow,” Gabriel said. “Cassie, Blake, and Jacob will pack, and we leave early in the morning.”
“Okay,” I said and continued eating.
“I need to talk to you,” Nick said quietly, leaning toward me.
I looked up at him and nodded. I was finished with my breakfast, so I stood up and placed my bowl into the dishwasher. Nick was waiting for me by the door.
“We will be right back,” he said and took my hand in his.
He led me to the bedroom and closed the door behind us. He placed both of his hands on the door, his back turned away from me.
“You and Jacob slept together?” he asked quietly.
“What?” I said, surprised.
“Did you have sex with him?” he growled.
“No, Nick,” I sighed and I saw him relax a bit. “I slept here a lot. But I never had sex with Jake.”
“Good,” he said and finally turned to me.
I saw anger, pain, and fear in his eyes, and it broke my heart.
I walked over to him and wrapped my arms around his waist. His arms circled around me immediately.
“I hate seeing you like this, Nick,” I said quietly. “What can I do to make you stop worrying?”
“There is one thing you could do,” he said and cupped my face. “Or at least think about doing it soon.”
“What?” I asked.
“You could let me mark you,” he said, his eyes darting to my neck.
I gasped slightly. I didn’t think about that. I knew it would have to happen sooner or later, but I never gave it much thought.
“I know you are not ready yet,” Nick continued. “But just think about it, please. My wolf needs to mark you. Even more when there are males around who want you.”
I couldn’t think of anything to say so I just nodded.
“Does that mean you will think about it?” Nick asked me with a small smile.
“I will think about it,” I said quietly.
“Thank you,” he whispered and leaned in.
His soft lips touched mine and sparks flew all over my body.
I kissed him back and pulled him closer.
He wrapped one of his arms around my waist and groped my hair with the other one, deepening our kiss.
I could do this forever. I could kiss him, taste him and feel him all over my body forever. And even then, it wouldn’t be enough.
