Chapter 27
Jamie fought his return to consciousness. He was so cozy. His bed felt especially soft and warm this morning. He rubbed his cheek against the mattress and froze when the mattress moved. What the hell?
“Good morning, sleepyhead. Wait, scratch that. Good evening,” Aiden murmured from underneath him.
Jamie’s body heated. He pushed himself up on one arm. Yep, he was lying on top of Aiden on the sofa. A very cozy, very pleased Aiden.
Jamie moved to climb off, but Aiden tightened his arms around him. “No, stay. Please.” He had added the last word seemingly as an afterthought. “Lie back down. I mean if you want, that is.”
Jamie lay back down with his cheek against Aiden’s T-shirt-covered chest. He shivered when Aiden’s fingers combed through his hair.
He nearly groaned. His fingers felt so good. “Are you feeling better?” Jamie mumbled.
“Yeah.” Aiden’s voice was thick. “I sleep better when you’re right here, next to me or on me. I can watch you better. Make sure nothing…”
“I’m not helpless,” Jamie said in a quiet voice.
Aiden’s fingers halted. “I never said you were. I just can’t help worrying after what happened.”
Jamie hummed in acknowledgement. He didn’t agree with it, but he understood Aiden’s need to protect. It must have become stronger since he’d started shifting.
Aiden’s fingers scratched Jamie’s scalp in the most pleasurable of ways. Jamie couldn’t stop a moan from escaping at the motion.
They were silent for several moments before Aiden finally spoke again. “You know, recently I’ve been getting this sharp pain in my chest whenever I think about what happened to you when my father”. —he choked out the last two words—“took you.”
Jamie tightened his arms around Aiden. “It’s OK. I’m fine.”
“I know. But what you went through… I need you to know he’s going to pay. I’m going to have to kill him. I’m going to have to become a monster to kill the monster. I just don’t want you to hate me.”
What? Hate him? Jamie pushed himself up so his face was inches from Aiden’s. Aiden’s eyes drifted away from his as if he couldn’t bear to look at him. That wouldn’t do at all. Jamie placed a hand on Aiden’s cheek and forced him to look back at him.
“You need to know that no matter what you do, I could never hate you. You won’t turn into a monster. You don’t have to be one to kill him. You’re a good person. You’ve always been.”
Aiden tried to turn his head away, but Jamie held tight to his face. He leaned in and pressed his lips to his mate’s. “You’re my good person.” He kissed him again, his lips less stiff this time. “I’m going to help you kill him.” When he kissed him this time, Aiden took charge.
Aiden grasped onto the back of Jamie’s head and held his mouth to his. He licked into Jamie’s mouth.
Before Jamie could register what was happening, Aiden had rolled them so their positions were reversed with him trapped under his mate’s warm body. Aiden tugged his chin down and once more kissed him like his life depended on it. Jamie’s cock strained against the zipper of his jeans. He knew Aiden was rock hard as he grounded against him. No, no, he had to stop. He didn’t want his first time with his mate to be a rushed affair on a sofa. He placed a hand on Aiden’s cheek and pushed him back slightly.
“What’s wrong,” Aiden panted. His eyes were all pupil. “Did I do something wrong? Are you not ready? It’s OK if you’re not.”
“No, no, no,” Jamie stuttered. “Just not here. Let’s go into the bedroom.”
“Are you sure?”
Jamie tugged Aiden’s hand toward his mouth. He placed a kiss on his palm. “Yes, I’m sure.”
Aiden leaned down and licked at the seam of Jamie’s lips, then rose up on his arms. “Good, let’s go.” He pulled Jamie to his feet, and they rushed down the hall.