Whispers of Hope- Book # 3 (Mated Hearts Series) Complete

Chapter 6 (Zach)

“Whispers of Hope”

Chapter 6 (Zach)


I had to take a deep breath when Marissa brushed by me in order to refrain from going after her and kissing her into submission.  My wolf howled in excitement at the idea of kissing his mate, but now was not the time.  I had to keep my control.

So instead I turned my attention to Jake.  Taking more deep breaths I centered all my anger on him.

“You” I said with my tone dropping a notch, “Better keep your hands off of her” I all but growled.

Jake crossed his hands over his chest and narrowed his gaze on me.  I was the one with alpha blood running in my veins and yet he wasn’t backing down.  Instead he was growing more defiant.

“I am going to ask you this one more time, and you better think about it really hard and be very sure before you answer Zach because what I do from here on out will be based on your answer.“  

I just glared at him as I awaited his question. Irritation was prominent due to the fact that he was daring to challenge me.  

Is. She. Your. Mate?” he asked saying it slow and pronouncing each word very clearly.  The whole time he asked the question he never once took his steely grey eyes off of mine.

Closing my eyes I had to bite back the yes, yes, yes that wanted to jump out of my mouth.  I wasn’t ready to make that type of announcement.  I may know the truth in my heart but I was by no means ready to publicly declare it.  

“All you need to do Jake is stay the hell away from her, you got it?” I sneered while clenching and unclenching my fists that I held at my side.

Jake shook his head at me.  “That is not an answer to my question, Zach.  Is she your mate?” he repeated with a hard stare as he waited for my answer.

Not able to bear his strict scrutiny any longer I turned my head in the other direction.   “No” I bit out staring down the hall.

For a moment there was long silence.  

“Just to confirm” Jake said pulling my gaze back to his.  “Marissa Combs is not your mate, correct?” he asked arching his brow in question.

“That’s what I said dammit” I bit out harshly and turned from him needing to get away before I did something that I would regret like punching him in the face cause right now his nose crunching under my fist is sounding pretty damn appealing.

As I shoved the door open Jake called out to me again.

“Zach“ he said.  I froze and slowly tuned my head to glance back at him.  “So no mate makes Marissa free game”  he added with a smile.  “See ya around big guy” Jake finished as he turned and sauntered down the hall.

Using more force than necessary I pushed the door open to the gym.  Marissa jumped at the abrupt sound and dropped the book she was reading to the floor.

“Crap” she said.  “Bipolar much?” she mumbled as she bent down to pick up her book.

I closed the door more quietly and just stared over in her direction. She sat back down and opened her book to start reading again.  Lifting her hand she pushed back a few stray strands of loose hair that was hanging in her face to behind her ear and it was endearing.  I had this crazy urge to go over to her and push back those hairs myself.  I wanted to be the one to touch her face and caress her cheek.  

“You take a picture it might last longer” she quipped without looking up at me.  

Shaking my head I walked further into the gym and took a seat on the bleachers several feet down from her.

“I don’t need a picture when you’re right here in front of me” I answered back.  I let my book bag loudly drop to the floor beside me and intentionally turned in her direction making myself comfortable.  From there I just sat back and stared at her.  If it bothers her so much then this ought to be fun.

As if on cue her head lifted and she turned in my direction.

She huffed and slammed her book shut.  Standing up she pressed her hands on her hips and narrowed those bright emerald green eyes on me.  

“What is your deal Zach?” she asked with a gentle fury burning in her gaze.

Dang, there is just something so sexy about a female with fire running through her veins.  I stood up to meet that burning gaze of hers and a light chuckle escaped my lips.

“You should know” I told her taking a step forward bringing me just a little bit closer to her.  I inhaled a deep breath and her scent of raspberries and summer rain reached my nostrils playing havoc with my body.  My wolf wanted to come out and claim what was his.

“What I know is that you are not the same Zach that I fell in love with three years ago.  You have changed Zach, I don’t know you anymore.” she said while taking a step back away from me.

I tried to fight it but a small growl slipped from my chest because she was moving away from me, my mate was trying to put distance between us.

“I’m only new and improved baby, that’s all thanks to you” I replied casually taking another step forward.  My eyes were locked with those shimmering green jewels and I couldn’t look away even if I had wanted to.

She started to vehemently shake her head.  “No.  Oh, no” Marissa said  taking a step back again.  “I had nothing to do with turning you into an egotistical jerk who has issues with keeping his teeth to himself” She replied.  “That was all you buddy.”

I snorted in response and took a larger step forward.  We were so close now that I could reach out and grab her if I wanted to.  But it wasn’t quite time for that yet.

“I rather like this new me Marissa  See..” I said while lifting my head to rub at my chin thoughtfully, “See, this way, I don’t get hurt.  This way I can control my emotions and protect my heart.  This way, you can’t break it again” I told her taking my voice down a notch.

Her eyes widened and a small gasp escaped her lips.

“You, you don’t understand” she replied with her voice breaking a little.  She took another step backwards and this time her back met with the wall.  She froze knowing there was no where else for her to go.

“And you see Missy, that was where our problem began.  You didn’t think enough of me to make me understand, now did you?” I accused her.  I took another step forward so that I was now standing right in front of her.  The space between us was minimal and I could feel the body heat radiating off her in waves.  It felt good, too damn good.

“I couldn’t Zach, I couldn’t tell you why we had to leave and I didn’t think that we were coming back.  It was just better to break it off clean” she said with her voice holding a slight quiver.

 I leaned in close to her ear steadily breathing in her sweet scent.  Not able to stop myself I lifted my hand and tousled her hair around finger.  It was so soft that I had to close my eyes and concentrate on holding on to my control, because it was hanging by a very thin thread at the moment.

“You never gave us a chance” I whispered at her ear.  It was undeniable that my voice had gone husky being this close to my mate and I’m sure that my eyes were reflecting the obsidian black of the wolf.

“I couldn’t” she said on a whimper.  “I, I just couldn’t” she repeated sounding defeated.

Lifting my head up just enough so that I could stare into her eyes I said, “You should of” and before she had the chance to protest I brought my lips crashing down to hers.

At first she squeaked but in seconds she was right there with me.  Needing this just as much as I did.  This was a kiss filled with a passion and urgency.  I had her backed against the wall and she couldn’t escape me now.  I had to show her that she belonged to me and only me.  I licked at her bottom lip wanting entrance to that sweet warm mouth of hers.  At first she refused me.

With my lips still pressed up against hers, I gutturally ordered, “Open Missy, let me in.”

At first she hesitated and then eventually her small mouth opened just the slightest.  With that I pressed the advantage and pushed my tongue into her inviting mouth.  One stroke against her tongue and I groaned.  It was as sweet as I remembered, honey.  That was what her taste always reminded me of.  Warm, sweet honey.