Forced To Love You

But I Don't Know You

After reading through a Cosmo magazine about how to feel comfortable having sex with a new partner, I fell asleep on the couch. The lights were still on since I couldn't get up to turn them off. I didn't even notice Christian walk in. It was until he started to lift me off the couch that I woke up.

Christian pushed the blanket off of me as he lifted me off the cushions.

I pushed on his chest, waking up abruptly. It took everything I had not to just jump out of his arms. No matter how hard I wanted to. "Put me down."

"I'm just carrying you to bed."

"I don't want to sleep in the bed. I'm fine on the couch."

"Blair, don't be absurd. You'll be more comfortable in bed."

I narrowed my eyes at him. It seemed like he didn't notice. Either he didn't notice or he chose to ignore it. I wasn't totally sure. "As long as I don't have to sleep with you."

He set me down on the bed. "Well, this is my bed so..."

My narrowed eyes practically turned to slits. "I am not sleeping with you."

"Blair-"

I moved onto my knees and tried to make myself appear taller and closer to his height. "No. Not happening. Either I'm sleeping on the couch or you are."

He rolled his eyes. He stood beside the bed and took off the watch he was wearing. He set it on the nightstand before he put his hands on the bed around me, leaning in enough that I could smell the cologne he was wearing. "You're my mate, Blair. Eventually, we're going to be doing a lot more than just sleeping in the same bed. You might as well get used to things as they are now."

"Mate? What the hell are you talking about?" I had no idea what he was saying. His words felt like a foreign language. Though I had a feeling it was partially because my brain didn't want to comprehend anything he was saying to me. I wanted to block it all out so there wasn't even a chance that it could happen.

He sighed. "Yes, my mate. It's sort of like a soul mate. We're bonded for life."

My bad mood and anger turned more into confusion as I thought about how crazy all of it sounded. There was no way we could be bonded in any way. I had just met this guy. There was no way there was some soulmate bond between us. "But I don't know you."

"I don't know you, either. But now that you're here, we can get to know each other better."

I shook my head. "This is crazy. I-I have no idea what any of this means. I can't do this. I can't stay here." I turned around, fully planning to get off the bed and walk out of the room. I knew it was against the doctor's orders to walk on my bad foot but I was so freaked out that the thought never even crossed my mind. I would have done it, too, if Christian hadn't grabbed my wrist and stopped me.

He pulled me back. The motion was gentle yet firm enough to get his point across.

I turned back around and stared at him, unsure of what he was going to say or do.

"Blair, don't go. You have to stay. I need you... to stay." I couldn't tell if his words were panicked because he wanted me to stay or if it was because he needed me to stay. Either way scared me and I wasn't sure how to take it.

I pulled my hand out of his grip and I pushed myself backward until I felt the edge of the bed. "I'll only stay if you sleep somewhere else."

"Blair-"

"Please." I wasn't asking too much by wanting to be in a different room than him. He was a total stranger. Everything he was saying was freaking me out. I wasn't going to sleep comfortably if I knew he was nearby.

Even a room away felt too close.

He held my gaze for several seconds before he sighed. "Alright. But I'd like for us to talk more tomorrow. I should probably explain things to you."

My heart started beating faster at the thought of learning more about him. If what he'd said so far was crazy, I couldn't imagine what more he had to tell me.

I watched him leave and waited until he was out of the room completely before I took a breath. My chest felt tight and tears sprung to my eyes. I was freaking out and I knew for certain that I wasn't going to be around when he planned to talk with me the next day.