Marked

16 ~ The Kiss

Mazzel

What Jayden said couldn't possibly be true, could it? Recognizing your mate happened the instant your gaze connected with the other. My gaze had connected with Jayden's dozens of times, but usually the only feelings stirred up inside me were rage and regret.

"You're lying," I blurted out, my throat dry. "I know how the mating process works, and if we were mates, we'd know by now!"

"I'm the Alpha. The rules don't apply to me. The only way I can know if you're my mate is to spend time with you and get closer to you."

"Get closer to me? Sure," I responded skeptically, "In bed, I suppose?"

"When an Alpha meets his potential mate, his emotions go haywire. He has to rely on his senses and nothing else. First he marks her, and then he lets her come willingly into his bed to feel her dominance and to see if she's capable of handling him."

My heart started beating out of my chest as Jayden stepped closer.

"We both know that you're more than strong enough to lead a pack. you're beautiful, dominant, and you have me heeled like a damn cub at his mother's tit. No one makes me bend like this, but you."

Was he actually being submissive to me? His words were touching me in a way that made me want him to touch him everywhere.

What was wrong with me tonight? The Haze was becoming unbearable.

He could sense my physical need, but he also knew what I had been through tonight. He gently put his arms around my waist.

"Do you want more?" he asked.

Yes, I fucking wanted more. I was tired of repressing it, but this was the Haze, not me. There was a chance that he was my mate, but what if he wasn't?

As I began to pull away, Jayden must have felt my trepidation, because he eased up and gently put me on the edge of the bed, resting his hand on my face.

Without warning, he leaned in, and his lips found mine. Everything melted away, and my world became a sensory explosion of feelings, as every single one of my heightened senses went wild with stimulation.

It was everything I'd hoped for- My first kiss.

I was overcome with emotion, not only because of the kiss, but the club, the Haze, everything. As I broke down, Jayden just held me.

We fell back onto the bed, and I nestled into his body until the tears ran out. my mind finally shut off, allowing me to full asleep in his arms.

***

I kept my distance from Jayden for several days after the incident at the club. I needed some space to work through what had nearly happened to me, and since the Haze didn't care what was appropriate, it felt like the best decision.

But after that kiss, Jayden was all I could think about. I hadn't really gotten a chance to thank him after he brought me home that night, so now I found myself at his doorstep once again.

Before I could knock, he swung the door open.

"Mazzel." He grinned. "I thought I scented you."