Fated Mate

“Just because I’m sick day in day out doesn’t make me a weakling, neither does the fact that I’m a woman.” She was gentler than she meant to be.

“Correction, girl, and no, it’s not that. You should be in pain.” He ran his fingers through his hair, releasing more strands of hair and making them fall across his forehead.

“What?” She ignored the girl statement and focused on his confused rambling.

“When I tried to get out of your hold, you shouldn’t have been able to hold me down, and your legs…” He was looking even more confused, then he smiled, raking his hand through his hair again. “I guess I’m more tired than I thought.”

“Didn’t you sleep last night?” The question sounded ridiculous, of course he didn’t sleep. I kept him up with my screaming. She felt guilty.

“Hey, I like watching you sleep, it sooths me.” He sat next to her, stroking her face, his gentle eyes piercing through her, his smile still there.

“Before or after I started screaming?” She knew he was just being kind to her, but the bags under his eyes gave him away.

“Lee, it’s not your fault you have nightmares.”

“They are mine, so yes it is. I’m the Grinch of peaceful sleep!”

He sighed. “You are impossible! When you get something stuck in your head it’s impossible to get rid of it. You are so stubborn!”

She smiled. “So we’ll agree to disagree, again.”

He laughed and leaned into kiss her, then stopped and stared at her. “I hope you’re not planning to attack me once I kiss you?”

She laughed and raised her left hand to her head. “Scouts honor.” His lips curved into her favorite smile, and she caught her breath. She was sure one day it would stop her heart. “You need to sleep. You don’t look so hot.”

“And yet you can’t keep your hands off me.” He kissed her. She could feel he was still smiling. She was about to go back on her promise when the phone rang. He pulled away and answered the phone.

“Hi, Ann…”

Damn! Lee stood up and headed to the bathroom.

“She’s headed for the shower…”

She closed the door and turned on the cold water, she needed to cool off the heat that was burning inside her.

****

She came back to the living room and found him fast asleep on the couch. He looked so peaceful, even more breathtaking with his face so relaxed. This was the first time she had seen him asleep, usually she was the first one to go. She stood there and watched him sleep, his chest moving up and down with each breath. This perfect man had become a vital part of her. How did I survive without him after our fight? Oh, how could I forget, my demons kept me company.

She pulled her books from the shelf and placed them on the living room table. She wanted to be close to him, watch over him as he slept, just like he did for her for the past month. She sat on the floor next to the couch and opened her books.

Ash grunted, and then stretched out, his leg landing on the edge of the table with a thud. She stifled a laugh, not wanting to wake him. She changed positions and sat on the other side of the table, facing the couch he was on. She wasn’t going to chance that heavy leg landing on her.

It was dark outside. She was glad she had put a few hours into her studies, she would have kept on, but her stomach was grumbling. She’d eaten the late breakfast Ash had made, but that didn’t satisfy her hunger.

She stood up and went to the fridge, hoping there was still a couple of steaks left. There were only two left. She put them on the grill then put a packet of raw fries in the oven. She watched as the meat sizzled on the grill. The red meat looked appetizing, it sang to her as it cooked, alluring her with its song. She was tempted to grab it and shove it in her mouth. The thought made her mouth water.

Ash grunted, breaking her gaze and her fantasy.

She shuddered. She couldn’t believe she was contemplating eating raw meat! She opened the fridge and took out a beer, then walked back to the living and sat on the floor against the couch. She listened to Ash’s heavy breathing as she gulped down the beer, hoping one or both of the two would keep her distracted from the meat.

“Lee?” Ash spoke in a sleepy voice. She was relieved he was awake.

She put the bottle down and turned to face him. “Hey there, sleepy head.” She smiled at him.

His face lit up when his vision finally focused on her. He smiled her smile. “I could get used to this.”

She moved on her knees and bent over him, leaning on the couch for support. “Get used to what?”

“Your face being the first thing I see when I wake up, and the last when I go to sleep.” He lifted her by the elbows and pulled her upper body over his. “I want to get a closer look, mi amor.” His voice was soft.

“Was that French?” The words barely got out, her breathing had quickened.

“No, Spanish. The language makes all the love words sound sweeter.”

She didn’t respond, her attention was consumed elsewhere.

He starred into her eyes, keeping her locked in place with his gaze. She could feel her heart racing; it was getting even more difficult to breathe. He pulled her closer, lifting her lower body with his leg and placing her between his thighs on the couch. It was getting even more difficult for her to stay sane.

“That’s better.”

He locked his lips with hers and pulled her down. He kissed her, not as he usually did, it was soft, light, like he was taking his time making sure he got as much as he could from each kiss. She could feel her insides tighten. She pushed her hands under his shoulders, pulling him closer as she pushed herself against him. He put his hand under her shirt, and placed it on her bare back. His warm hand on her skin aroused her. She pulled away and buried her face in his neck, breathing in his sweet scent. The clothes suddenly felt like a huge barrier between them.

“Lee…” his sweet voice whispered in her ear.

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“We aren’t going to do this, not now.” There it was, the buzz kill!