Chapter 9 - Blair #3
I nod my head in agreement as he takes my hand in his, lacing our fingers together.
We walk in a comfortable silence on the way back to his truck.
A chilly breeze ruffles my hair, making me shiver.
He stops suddenly and turns toward me. “Is it okay if I hold you while I walk? It’s not as good as a jacket, but my body warmth would definitely help keep the chill at bay.
My instincts are riding me hard, and I hate that you’re cold.
” he posed it as a question but I can’t seem to fault his logic, some warmth right now sounded really nice.
“Sure, that sounds nice. Thank you,” I give him a warm smile as he picks me up and places me against his chest, his left arm going beneath my ass. I wrap my arms around his neck to help keep myself stable so I don’t fall.
As he continues his pace, I’m lost in thought.
Ruminating on all the information he has shared.
Fated mates… I was shocked to hear that demons had fated mates.
I wouldn’t have expected that little tidbit.
I honestly didn’t even think they had family units.
With each passing moment, my brain kept going back to the fact that he had a mate out there.
If he was on a date with me… Was it safe to assume that means that I’m his fated mate?
Or am I here to pass the time until he finds her?
Just thinking about the latter feels like a blade to my heart.
I rub my chest, hoping to dislodge the discomfort.
He clears his throat, breaking the silence. “Are you familiar with the concept of fated mates, Blair?” he asks gently.
I nod my head. “In a similar way, yes I suppose. My mother always told me I would find the one for me. That everyone has their one true love,” tears welled in my eyes, a small smile across my lips.
God, my parents truly had something special.
I wonder if they were fated mates? It sounds similar.
“My parents had that special kind of love. When they met, it was as if something clicked between them, and they were together until the very end. I always wanted a love like theirs, one that felt like magic. If that exists.” He nods his head as he cups my face with his warm hand, wiping away the tears that are running down my cheek with his thumb.
He leans his head down, our faces mere inches apart, “magic does exist, if you know where to look.” I feel the electricity between us, sparking me to life. “Can I kiss you?” he whispered against my lips, as he gazed into my soul. I nod my head, unable to speak.
He readjusts me slightly in his arms, pressed against his chest now as he closes the distance.
His warm lips caress mine, a shock running down my spine.
I gasp from the sensation, he takes advantage of my open mouth, deepening the kiss and running his tongue against the ridge of mine.
My hands wrap around his neck, holding me close.
A groan escapes him, “fuck, you’re perfect.
I’m going to keep you forever,” he whispers.
Unsure whether or not he meant for me to hear that, his declaration makes my heart thunder.
He continues the onslaught of his lips against mine, one of his hands roaming along my back now.
The slight pressure has me leaning into his strength and the heat radiating off him, keeping the fall chill away.
A moan escapes me, his body setting mine on fire.
A kiss was never like this before. I know I may be ruining the moment with him, but I have to know.
I pull back from him to create a few inches of space between us. The look of confusion and hurt dances across his features. “Did I make you feel uncomfortable or cross a boundary? I apologize if I did anything to upset you,” his tone coming out distraught and rough.
I shake my head no, touched at the thought of his concern for my boundaries. I raise my hand and gently stroke his cheek, as I gaze into his eyes. “Can I ask you something?” I murmured.
He nods his head yes. “Of course you can, anything,” his voice cracks.
I take a deep breath. “Have you found your fated mate yet?” I see his eyes go wide at my question, catching him off guard. Oh god, this is it, I steel my nerves for the inevitable answer.
“Yes, I have,” he rasps, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat.
A stab of pain and jealousy runs through me.
I try to pull back, wanting to create some distance between us, unable to handle being this close to him.
When I try to pull away from him, he wraps his arm tighter around me, pulling me into his orbit again.
“Why are you crying?” His voice is soft and gentle as he wipes away the tears I didn’t even know were falling.
“Why are you with me when you found your mate?” my voice breaks, as I try not to cry. “I’m not a placeholder,” I whisper, vulnerability entwined with my words.
I look at him and see the softness behind his eyes, “You aren’t a placeholder, you could never be a placeholder. You’re my fated mate,” he says quietly. I stare at him while I process what he admitted to me.
“What?” I whisper, not sure if I heard him correctly.
“You, Blair. Are. My. Fated. Mate,” his tone serious and brooked no argument.
“Oh,” my cheeks flamed from how silly and stupid I was being. I assumed way too much there with his statement.
The look on his face changes to worry when I am silent for too long.
“I am sorry to spring this on you. I meant to do it at a later time since I didn’t want to pressure you or make you think I was crazy.
But you asked, and I wasn’t going to deny it or lie,” he rambles off.
I rub his chest with my hand in soothing circles to calm him and myself down as well.
I give him a small smile and place my index finger over his lips, “It’s okay. Please give me a moment to process.” He nods. My mind is spinning out of control right now and going a million miles a minute.
Demons are real….
Magic is real….
Fated mates are real….
Did my parents know any of this?
Were my parents actually fated mates?
Was their death truly an accident?
And the biggest shock of them all… Apparently I’m fated mates with a fertility demon!
What a turn of events for me and my life.
I remove my finger from his lips. I pull back and look at him.
“I’m sorry for my reaction and assuming you were talking about someone else.
I jumped to conclusions and that wasn’t fair of me.
” I wince, realizing I made a mistake and hoping he can forgive me.
There is no excuse for how I behaved, but I wish my brain would give me a break and think things through before it threw everything out the window.
“I understand,” he murmurs, hurt in his tone.
I shake my head no. “No, it’s not okay. You were being vulnerable with me and instead I was being irrational. You deserve better from me,” I murmur, feeling like a complete and utter tool and asshole.
“I was being vulnerable with you, and your behaviour wasn’t okay.
I can definitely agree with that, but that doesn’t mean I don’t understand.
I’m sure you have been hurt before and you were just being defensive to protect yourself.
It happens. I still want you though, I still want to try with you. Nothing is going to change that.”
I nod my head in understanding. “Okay, that’s fair. In that case, where do we go from here, big buy?” Unease fills my chest, unsure of what will happen now. Afraid I took it too far and he doesn’t want me anymore.
I know this seemed somewhat rushed and a bit psychotic, but everything about this and him felt absolutely right.
I decided why not, might as well dive right in.
It’s not every day a demon comes into your life, and supposedly confesses to you that he is your fated mate.
Isn’t this what mom had always talked about?
The types of stories we read about together?
The reason I said no to Heath and left my old life behind?