Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Jin slid into a pair of slippers as Chasen walked into the bedroom.
Her eyes flipped up to see him, and she offered him a smile.
“Do you need the shower next? I am so proud of myself. I figured everything out on my own. Next time, I’m trying the tub,” she chirped in excitement.
His chocolate eyes seemed to go from milk to dark, then back to milk chocolate.
“Um … I wanted to let you know that when I left, it wasn’t because you did anything wrong,” Chasen said awkwardly as he fidgeted. Gosh, what am I doing?
Jin giggled. “I know that. Hunter told me already. He said you were just upset after hearing how I was treated.”
Damn you, Hunter. You forced me in here on purpose.
“Oh, he didn’t mention that to me. I didn’t want you to misunderstand.
” Chasen was completely out of his element and for once felt nervous.
At the same time, he was fighting to keep his beast reined in.
Her sweet-smelling scent was even stronger now.
And sadly, she seemed unaffected by his presence.
Jin smiled. “Everything’s good.” Her eyes widened and she skipped up to Chasen, standing on her tiptoes and whispering, “I think it’s time to break out the chocolate.”
Chasen watched as she bounded away from him and back over to the bag that had all the chocolate from their shopping trip.
He inwardly groaned. How could she make him feel this way?
When he felt her warm breath fan his skin, his insides went crazy.
This was insane. His body felt like it was no longer his but hers, and likewise, he felt like her body was HIS.
He needed to touch her and be close to her.
He took a few steps closer to her, very slowly, like a predator stalking its prey. He eyed the curves of her body as she bent down, digging through the bag. His eyes slowly wandered over her. He was so close, he could almost taste her scent.
“Jin,” his voice rasped, a bit hoarse and breathless. He watched her eyes flicker up to his. Her green gems shined at him, and the cutest smile spread over her face.
“Don’t worry. I was going to share with you.
You’re the one who took me to get them, after all.
” She giggled as she straightened up, a couple of smaller bags in her hand.
She was trying not to make eye contact for long, though, because when she did, she started feeling weird things that she couldn’t explain.
Looking back down, she offered Chasen a small bag. “Chocolate-covered potato chips.”
Chasen felt a warmth flood over him. She was staring at her shoes and holding out a small, white paper bag.
He looked at the adorable girl, a newfound appreciation for her forming deep inside him.
He wanted more, but he didn’t have to rush it.
This moment right here felt like everything to him.
A small smile rested over his face as he slowly reached for her.
Was this what the mate bond was like? Someone becoming precious and instantly irreplaceable in your heart?
He moved without thinking, his arms sliding around her, startling her.
He pulled her toward him and hugged her against his chest. He leaned his head down and whispered, “We must really be good friends if you’re willing to share your chocolate with me.
” He felt her tense body relax, not pulling away but leaning deeper into him. For now, this was enough.
She was shocked at first. She didn’t know why he was holding her.
But the moment she felt him hug her, she instantly relaxed.
It was like coming home after an exhausting day.
Her muscles melted against him, and his warm chest radiated heat over her body.
The minor chill she had from her damp hair was now gone.
All her thoughts were gone, and she was embraced in heavenly comfort.
She was safe … wanted. Her heart raced, and she shivered against him when he whispered to her.
How long had she stayed in his arms? Was it minutes? She lost track of everything. But he didn’t try to let go of her or step away, so she didn’t either. His warmth spread over her, making her feel like she was wrapped in a heated blanket.
“You’re so warm,” she finally whispered.
“Are you cold?”
“Not anymore.” The tugging started inside her again. She felt like her shell was starting to crack. His hand sifted through the soft strands of her hair.
“Your hair is still damp,” he said quietly, his tone low and gentle.
She took a small step back and smiled up at him.
“It’ll dry soon.” She immediately regretted stepping away from his warm embrace, shivering slightly from the loss of his heat.
It would be weird for her to walk back into his arms, even though it was what her body demanded.
He turned and walked away, leaving her standing there, unable to move as he opened a cupboard and pulled out something fuzzy and black.
He walked back and spread the blanket around her.
“Is that better?” he asked, offering a small smile.
“It isn’t as warm as you, but it’ll work.” The words just came out of her mouth. Inwardly she winced. It must have sounded really cheesy to him, but when she glanced up to meet his eyes, they were smiling back at her, as if he liked hearing what she said.
He reached around her and pulled her into his side as he escorted her toward the couch.
“Then I’ll keep you close until you warm up,” he said as he sat her on the couch, sitting next to her and pulling her into his side.
She never protested once, so he took it as a sign that she was okay with it.
Still, he didn’t want her to be uncomfortable.
What if she was nervous and didn’t know how to voice what she wanted?
“Is this okay?” he asked a bit nervously. He felt her snuggle into his side.
“Mm-hmm, thank you.”
She was thanking him. His chest tightened. He was selfishly fulfilling his own desire, and she was thanking HIM, which meant she was okay with this, too. He smiled and grabbed a remote that was on the end table, turning the television on.
“What do you want to watch?”
She shook her head and smiled. “I don’t know.
I’ve never really watched television. Not since I was little.
Best you pick something.” She felt his fingers tug her closer into his side, and she glanced up to see a mixture of emotions on his face, his eyes soft and sad.
His jaw was tense and clenched. “Hey,” she said softly, and watched his amazing chocolate gaze land on hers.
She smiled up at him. “It’s okay. You don’t have to feel bad. That isn’t my life anymore.”
“Jin.” He wrapped his other arm around her and leaned his head onto hers. It might have been a bit much, but he needed to hold her. “That will never ever happen again. I promise. You are safe here. If anything ever happened, I would come for you. You’ll never have to live a life like that again.”
He felt something wet land on his arm and he glanced down to see her crying. He was forcing himself on her too much. “I’m sorry, Jin. I shouldn’t—” He started to drop his arm away from her, but her hand landed on his.
“This is fine, Chasen. It’s comforting.” She moved her fingertips over his arm briefly.
“I’m really touched by what you said. We hardly know each other, but I believe you.
I do feel safe here, and with you.” She wiped her eyes and gave him a crooked smile.
“I didn’t come here to be protected, though. I came here to help fight.”
Chasen settled into the couch, tugging her more into his side, feeling confident that she was comfortable like this.
He leaned onto the arm of the couch at a slant while she laid at his side.
He smiled as he flicked through the channels.
“I know you came out here to fight, but I’m going to have to test out those fighting skills. I’ll need to evaluate you.”
“I don’t want to hurt you, though.” She yawned, feeling a wave of content exhaustion wash over her. She closed her eyes, intending only to rest them for a second.
A deep chuckle ripped through his chest. “Hmm, I wonder if you can. I’m not just a regular werebear. I’m a guardian. I’m also a very quick healer. It’ll be fine, Jin. And I won’t feel comfortable until I see your strength for myself.”
The way she was resting against him felt right.
It was enough that it calmed his feral animal down as he breathed in her scent.
A smile spread across his face when he noticed she had fallen asleep, still clutching her bag of chocolate.
He slowly removed the bag from her hand and placed it on the floor.
Then, very delicately, he positioned her more comfortably.
He looked at the tiny girl next to his large frame.
Somehow, it was perfect. She fit perfectly next to him, as if her body was molded to fit there.
He leaned his head down and brushed his lips against her forehead.
I’ll always protect you, my Jin. My mate.
Chasen opened his eyes as sunlight crept across him.
His arms were both asleep, but he dared not move.
He didn’t want to wake her. His emotions washed over him in adoration of the remarkably cheerful girl in his arms. He listened to her soft, rhythmic breathing, watching the slow rise and fall of her chest. Her tiny mouth was slightly parted, and her head was nestled into his chest. It was the first time he’d ever wished a moment would never end.
Being this close to her all night had fastened his mate bond to her.
What started out as a trickle now flooded inside him.
Everything felt more intense. The feeling that he had always known her was now there.
The desire to claim her and the need to love her.
Yes, the feeling of falling in deep was already filling him up.
He inwardly smiled at himself. He never understood the mate pull and how mates were instantly attached to one another, and how devastated they could be from instant rejection or betrayal.
He saw Hunter go through it, but he couldn’t understand it.
Now he understood it completely. If Jin ended up not wanting him, he wasn’t sure how he would recover.
In such a short time, she had secured a place in his heart.
This feeling would only get more intense once he marked her.
She was the piece of his life he never knew had been missing. Now that he knew what it felt like to find his other half, he could never go back to the way it was. He couldn’t go back to only being half of himself.
He caught movement out of the corner of his eye and glanced up, meeting with the gray eyes of his brother who had sat up on his bed, an arrogant smirk resting on his lips.
Chasen tilted his head to the side a bit and smiled.
He glanced down at Jin, then back up to Hunter, who nodded his head, smiling genuinely now.
I’m happy for you, Chasen.
Thank you, Hunter. I still don’t know what the hell I’m doing, but I’m figuring it out. Hunter … seriously, thank you.
Hunter grinned widely. You’re welcome.
Jin opened her eyes and peered around the room.
The sun was shining, and she realized she was lying in Chasen’s arms. It was then that she realized she had slept like that all night.
She saw Hunter sitting up on the bed. She lifted herself off Chasen and looked at him, smiling softly. “I guess I fell asleep. Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize.” Chasen smiled and rolled his shoulders, then stood up and moved his arms around to wake them back up again. He didn’t want her to apologize. That would mean it was a mistake. It wasn’t one to him, and he would love to fall asleep with her every night.
“Aww, look at you. You’re all stiff.” Jin frowned, and Chasen waved it off with his hand.
If she only knew how accurate that statement is, Hunter snickered in Chasen’s head.