An Unacceptable Mate

Chapter Five

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I perched on the centre of his expensive, burgundy, leather couch, looking at the television screen but not seeing it. I couldn't get him out of my mind.

Jake clattered around in the kitchen having promised a marvellous hot chocolate to relax the nerves. Though the only thing I wanted rid of was the guilt.

    "Here we go," he announced, handing me the full mug.

I smiled. "Thanks."

The whipped cream mountain was dusted in chocolate sprinkles and dotted with marshmallows. Jake smirked at my wide eyes and then sat next to me, our thighs brushing.

  "So, I reckon we should put this evening behind us and start again like it never happened," he told me, eyes a little nervous for the first time. I probably looked overly stressful with him as my capital thought.

    "Sounds good to me," I agreed, giving him a playful nudge and then lifting the hot chocolate to my lips.

He pressed a few buttons on the control until his selected film started up. Of course, he'd chosen a rom-com and so I was sure to quickly lose my interest. The lights dimmed with another control at his command, we both sat back and relaxed.

At some point, most likely very shortly through the movie, I nestled into Jake, resting my cheek against his chest. He'd changed into a soft, black sweater that hugged his muscular chest snugly. My eyes slid shut and I was falling into a dream.

    "They won't accept you as mine," he whispered into my hair, one hand rubbing the length of my back as he held me against him. "You are in such danger, but I swear that I will risk my all to keep you alive. This is my fault, Charlie. I want to protect you."

My eyes stung with tears, arms tightening around him. I didn't know where we were, but it was cold and the taste of oak enveloped my taste buds. A forest? "Is it worth turning your back on your family? Your own kind? Am I truly so important?"

He exhaled deeply, moving his lips from the top of my head to my temple. I tilted my face back to gaze up into his amber eyes. "You are everything to me," he assured sincerely, minty breath on my face. His thumb caught a tear rolling down my cheek. "Never doubt that. I will always choose you over my bastard kind."

My lower lip trembled. "Acera."

A smile pulled at the corners of his mouth and then he leant closer to brush his cool lips along my jaw affectionately. "My mate, I love it when you say my name."

My legs wobbled at the intensity of his words and touch. "You have ten times the effect on me that I do on you," I asserted breathily.

He paused to search my eyes. "You're wrong."

    "Charlie?" Jake called gently, placing his hand on the side of my face.

My lids fluttered open to find a pair of sparkling blue eyes. "Sorry, I didn't realise I was this tired," I admitted ruefully.

A smile slid along his features. His fingers travelled down my side to rest on my hip. "You can sleep if you want. I don't mind at all."

But I did. Jake's arms were not the ones I wanted to dream in.

  "No, it's ok. It won't happen again," I promised, turning my head to find the television.

He buried his face in my neck, chuckling. The cuteness of his action caught me off guard, causing my insides to squirm excitedly. "I'm not as strict as you think, Charlie. Relax. Sleep. Do whatever you want. I'm happy enough just to have you here."