Claimed, but not by my Mate

Chapter Fourteen

Braize’s POV

When I woke in the middle of the night James wasn’t with me. I sat up, keeping the sheets around me and looked around. I spotted him out on his balcony, looking into the night. I got up, taking a shirt from beside the bed and sliding it over my head. It fell to mid thigh when I stood to go join him.

“You should be sleeping,” he said before I even managed to close the glass doors behind me.

“Why aren’t you?” I asked, wrapping my arms around his waist from behind. He sighed and turned, wrapping his arms around me in turn. He leaned down and kissed me gently, playing with the hem of his shirt.

“I like you in my clothes,” he murmured against my lips.

“Do you?” I asked teasingly, leaning up to brush my lips against his, smiling.

“Mhmm,” he said and picked me up suddenly, setting me on the railing.

Usually I would have been terrified but with James arms wrapped tightly around my waist holding me up I felt safe. James was placing butterfly kisses down my neck and I moaned, winding my hands in his hair. He pulled away from my neck and leaned his forehead against mine, his sweet breath fanning against my face.

“Why are you up?” I whispered, my gaze holding his.

“I just couldn’t fall asleep. I finally have you as my mate safe in my arms and it just seems unreal.”

“But it is,” I whispered, a smile spreading across my lips. He smiled back but it didn’t reach his eyes.

“I know and I’m glad, I just have this feeling that something is going to go wrong.”

“Don’t think that,” I scolded. He laughed lightly and played with a stray lock of hair, twirling it between his fingers.

“Marry me Braize,” he whispered. I froze, I didn’t know what to say but before I could he continued, “I know it’s soon but I want you to be mine, in every way possible. All the wolves know already but I want everyone to know and marrying you is the perfect way to do it.”

“James, I love you, but no, not right now. Things are just too chaotic right now. I already feel like we’ve rushed things and I don’t want to rush it further,” I explained, planning to continue my reasoning but he shushed me with a quick kiss.

“I completely understand but I will ask you until you say yes. You’re not ever leaving me again.”

“I hadn’t planned on it,” I whispered. He kissed me, smiling through it as I did the same. He picked me up, bringing me back into the room and setting me on the bed.

“I love you,” he whispered against my lips as he hovered over me.

“I love you too,” I replied. He smiled and rolled off me, pulling the blankets around us. I cuddled into his chest, inhaling his sweet scent.

We talked through the rest of the night, sharing childhood stories and dreams. We grew closer in that one night, learning things we never knew about each other. We were surprised when we noticed dawn approaching and James brought me out onto the balcony to watch the sunrise.

After dressing, we made our way downstairs. No one else was up yet and I started breakfast for everyone when I entered the kitchen. I had placed James’ plate in front of him and was about to walk away to continue breakfast when he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me toward him, kissing me lightly before. I shot him a confused look but he had already returned to eating his food, eyes not meeting mine.

Before I could ask Kelly came in with a large smile on her face. She pulled me into a hug. “Welcome to the family Braize.”

I laughed and hugged her back. “Thank you Kelly.”