Fated Mate

She turned his head to face her, but he kept his eyes down. “They were jealous of the beautiful magical hours of long lovemaking I had with you.”

He raised his eyes and looked at her. “You are going to insist on sugar coating it, aren’t you?”

She huffed loudly. “You know, you’re driving me crazy.” She dropped her hand. “And another thing, what did you mean by ‘heard Steve’, you weren’t in the diner?”

He cleared his throat. “Yes, I was, you just didn’t see me.” His eyebrows creased, he bit the inside of his lower lip, glanced to his right and then stared back at Lee.

“No, you weren’t. My line of vision was only blocked when Steve jumped me, and thirty seconds later you appeared.” Lee watched him carefully, she was sure that was a telltale sign of him lying.

“How about we agree to disagree, just for tonight? We can continue this argument tomorrow. You need to sleep.”

“In other words, you are not going to tell me the truth anytime soon.”

“No.” He shook his head slightly his lips curved in a crooked smile.

“You are really starting to irritate me.” Lee gave up, but she was going to find out the truth one way or the other. She slid into bed and got comfortable on the pillows. He covered her up then stood and sat on the chair next to her bed.

Lee watched for a while as he sat there gazing at her, his eyes warm-if she dare say-loving. She understood him coming to apologize but what she didn’t get was why he was still here. He’d made it very clear he didn’t want anything to do with her.

“Ash, why are you still here?”

“What do you mean?” He leaned on the bed, careful not to put too much weight on it.

“You made it very clear you didn’t want anything to do with me. I just don’t understand why you’re still here.”

“I only said that because I felt embarrassed and guilty.” He lowered his gaze, his lips pressed in a hard line.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

“Why?”

“Because I took advantage of you.”

Lee chuckled. “Are you serious?”

“There is nothing funny about me taking advantage of an under-aged drunk girl.” He sounded pissed.

“I was fully aware of what I was doing, Ash, there is nothing to feel guilty or embarrassed about. And I’m not under aged, I’m eighteen, remember?”

“You were only a few hours into the age. It was still very wrong of me.”

Ash was hell bent on taking on all the blame. It was better not to argue with him; it was just another thing they’d agree to disagree on.

“So the diamond pendant on a platinum chain was more than a birthday present?” Lee couldn’t help but giggle.

“Yes.” His lips relaxed in a sheepish smile. “Speaking of which…” He reached into his pocket and pulled something out. It was a diamond pendant.

Lee wanted to sob. He got me another one!

“You dropped this in the diner.”

She sighed in relief. She had forgotten all about it. “Thanks. Put it in the drawer.”

He moved closer. “It will be much safer around your neck.” He lifted her head gently then reached behind her neck and clasped it. She felt as if its monetary value was choking her.

She reached for the clasp but he held her hand. “I know expensive is not your taste but it’s mine. You can take it off in the morning, but for now it stays where it is.”

That was an order, not a request. Her rebellious side wanted to challenge but instead she nodded. She didn’t want to offend him but first thing in the morning it was going into her shoebox.

“Then I need to get you something.” Her eyes were slowly shutting.

“Why?”

“I lied to you and you had more to drink than I did, so you were the drunken one.”

“You could barely walk straight!” The spark in his face was back as he smiled.

“I was fully sober before you kissed me. The staggering was a remnant of the kiss-way more intoxicating than the beer.”

He chuckled. “I’ll try to kiss you in low dosages from now on.”

Her eyes flipped opened. She felt like her heart jumped to her throat. There was going to be a next time! “I’ll hold you to that.” She spoke slowly trying to hide the excitement in her voice.

Ash saw how happy the possibility of him kissing her again made her. That’s all he wanted for her from now on, for her to be happy. He would make sure of it. It was his new mission in his never-ending existence.

“You said you owed me, so does that mean I may have anything I want?” Ash asked moving closer to her, taking in her sweet scent. For a meal, her distinct scent was appetizing and as a lover it made her even more enticing and arousing.

“Anything.” She yawned, sleep was taking her. Ash traced his fingers over the side of her face, it was too hard for him to resist touching her. She looked so very gentle and fragile when her lips parted slightly as she yawned and her eyes fluttered shut sleepily.

He kissed her forehead, then her fingers. “I’ll call it even if you go to sleep now.”

“That doesn’t count,” she whispered.

His laugh was warm. “Okay, I’ll collect on my debt tomorrow, when you’re rested and fully awake.” He kissed her forehead and settled into the chair.

“Don’t sit there, get comfortable. It will be hours before they get back, if they come back.”

He hesitated. His brow frowned. Lee smiled; he looked so cute when he was worried. “I might hurt you. I’d rather sit here and watch you sleep.”

“You won’t, if it will make you feel better, you can be my support. These pillows will hurt me any way.”

He hesitated but stood and climbed into bed. He moved behind her and carefully removed the pillows except for one. He placed it on himself before he placed her shoulder on it. He put his arm under her head and then carefully pulled her in an embrace and cradled her. It was the most comfortable she’d been in weeks. She intertwined her fingers with his, and fit neatly into the arc he had formed behind her. It didn’t take long before she drifted away.