Big Bad Wolfie

...Jason's POV...

She does not look happy.

Not one bit.

She's been asleep for barely a few minutes and she already looks in pain.

She told me not to worry about it. She's obviously afraid to sleep because she doesn't want to face her dreams.

Could they be that bad?

All I want to do is go up to her and scoop her up in my arms.

But she wouldn't like that.

Not at all.

So I settled for sitting by her bedside and watching over her.

She's unconscious and there's no one around. I can act as tender as I want to towards her.

I rested my elbows on the bed and sighed, "you've got some real baggage up there don't you?" I commented under my breath.

I was staring at her, and I noticed a little scar on her neck. She has a few of them in other places too. One tiny one under her right eye, and a lower one on her left cheek.

In the dress that exposed her shoulders that I saw her in while she was trying on, I noticed some there too. I couldn't tell how deep they are, but they're not small. That's for sure. My heart skipped a beat.

My mate has scars on her beautiful skin, quite a few, and those are just the ones I've seen. How could someone so young and beautiful get into a position to get so hurt?

I watched her shoulders, that are now covered in fabric and strands of her colorful hair, intently.

Maybe if I could just, take another look. Maybe I could put my mind at ease if I saw them again and they're not that bad.

My hand itched to move closer.

But what if they are that bad.

I stayed still for a second.

'They're not,' I heard Ki growl.

I heaved out a breath of air. He's probably right.

I still found my hand inching closer to the fabric covering Maria's shoulders.

Maybe if I just -

Maria's groan in her sleep stopped me in my tracks.

She can't be waking up yet, she hasn't gotten nearly enough sleep. I stood stock still and waited a few seconds.

To my relief, she didn't stir any further.

Other than to rub her cheek against my outstretched hand.

My throat constricted.

Woah.

She sighed, and whatever turmoil that was going on in her mind before, seemed to subside. She rested her head on my hand and leaned into my touch. And I certainly had no plans on pulling my hand away, so we stayed there, for I don't know how long.

***Maria's POV***

My eyes peeled open.

Only to land on a pair of silver cloudy ones in front of me.

Inches in front of me.

Attached to a face and body that are also lying only inches in front of me.

A shirtless body.

"AH!" I jumped when everything really sunk in.

I slept with Wolfie!

Unfortunately, before I could really process much else, my butt slipped from the edge of the bed, and I went tumbling down.

I hopped back up without wasting any time. I found the son of a biscuit resting on his forearm with a, rather judgmental - if I do say so myself - eyebrow raised.

"What the heck are you doing in my bed?!" I screamed at him.

Before he could respond I tacked on, "You better freaking be wearing pants! I swear to —"

"Of course I'm wearing pants," he rolled his eyes.

Relief filled my entire being -

Don't lie, you know it wasn't your entire being, something deep in my psyche chastened.

... I don't know who said that, but it wasn't with my permission.

After the fact, I immediately looked down and started patting everything down to make sure I'm wearing pants.

I'm fully clothed.

Just the way I left it.

Thank the goddess.

And lucky for him.

'Cause if I wasn't, I would have ripped his throat out. Mate or not.

Done with my brief analysis, for now, I looked back up at him with narrowed eyes, "Answer the question."

He chuckled and shook his head while readjusting so he was upright and leaning back on his hands. "This is my bed," he told me, first of all. "I took it, along with everything else in this house, so it's mine. I can sleep in it if I want."

I rolled my eyes, "Well, you couldn't have, oh I don't know, picked another one for tonight," I told him, shaking my head with a look of annoyance. "And if not, maybe put on a shirt," I gritted out.

"And sacrifice my comfort?" He asked like it was the most ridiculous thing I could have brought up.

"You're lucky I even have pants on, I normally sleep without them."

That made every fiber of my body freeze, but I tried to push it away.

"Besides..." He continued.

His voice came out differently this time.

And it reeked havoc on my body.

It was more husky and gruff.

Dark.

"I liked sleeping next to you." His hand reached out, and I didn't even move to swipe it away. I just watched, suddenly mesmerized, as his hand neared the exposed skin on my arm. It got there, and he glided his hand over it lightly. And I swear, he might as well have dragged a lightning bolt against my skin because, the amount of electricity that it left in it's wake was brain numbing.

When the sparks of electricity subsided, it was followed by fiery heat, then icy cold, and it stayed there for quite some time. Even after his hand fell from my arm.

He didn't even have to look up at me to meet me eye to eye from his sitting position on the bed.

And jeez, he really does have gorgeous eyes.

And abs.

And arms.

And... I'm getting carried away.

But his musclesssss!

Okay, I'm done.

I heard his dark laughter, "You're staring again."

I rolled my eyes before meeting his, "Am I suppose to be embarrassed? Don't act like you don't do the same thing," I crossed my arms.

He chuckled harshly again, "Listen, I know you think you're the center of everyone's universe," he said with distaste.

...No I don't.

"But I don't stare you up and down for minutes on end," he told me with a subjective brow raised.

I just stood there silently like an idiot. My arms grew tighter around my torso and I could feel my teeth digging into my bottom lip.

I wasn't just imagining catching him sneaking glances my way was I? Or - or when I would feel him stare into the back of my head...

No.

The looks were real, I know they were. They triggered my talent and I saw them with my own eyes.

He's just trying to get in my head. Make me feel embarrassed.

But jeez, it freaking worked for a few seconds.

I rolled my eyes even harder, "Don't worry, I know very well I'm not the center of anyone's universe," I put on a strained smile, "Especially not yours."

I headed to the door for a dramatic exit and pulled at the handle.

Locked.

Well, that ruined it.

I heard Wolfie's strangled laughter from behind me.

I huffed in exasperation, "Why do we have so many doors that lock from the outside?! This is ridiculous!"

He snorted, "Don't worry, I have the key."

I held my hand out, "Well, can I have it?"

"Mmmm, what's the magic word?" He smirked, dangling the key in front of him.

"Go to h3ll."

"No, that's three words."

I gave him the ultimate eye roll, "Please," I gritted out.

"Sure."

He didn't make a move to come closer.

"Come and get it."

Oh...

... I do not like the look in his eyes.