Red Hot
Ch. Five: Declarations

{ VALERIE }

As soon as he was released he came over and whisked me away back out of the tent but this time away from the house.

"Alpha Trace Johnson." I acknowledged with a very low bow once we were alone...low enough for my head to be on the same level as his very private parts.

I looked up at him through my lashes as I took my time rising...I knew what I was doing. I want him to think about me going down on him.

"Mmm, I didn't think it was possible to have my title said in such a sexy manner."

"Oh...do you like hearing me call out your name Trace?"

"More than I should admit." He smirked.

"Duly noted."

"You're being bad." He pointed out with an accusing smirk.

"I'm good at being bad...speaking of, I caught you watching me Mr Johnson...was I able to arouse your jealousy?"

"As arousing as you are in general Red, I have to admit that I was able to contain any jealousy...this time."

"Hmmm I'll have to work harder next time." I said knowing I hadn't really done anything to purposely make him jealous.

"Harder, to make me jealous?"

I nodded, "you promised repercussions...I was having a good time thinking of punishments from the Big Bad Wolf."

"Is that so...well Red, I suppose I'm
Going to have to come up with something else to consume your thoughts."

"I'm sure you'll think of something." I smiled now.

He smiled and nodded, "at any rate...I should apologize to you Valerie."

"And what exactly are you apologizing for?"

"Being a bad host and escort for the evening...I left you alone when I should've been by your side throughout the night."

I rolled my eyes and smirked. He was obviously switching things up from flirty to being more cute.

"You left me with my sister and her friends... I was hardly alone."

"Even still I'm not one to abandon people...for which I am sorry."

I stopped us walking and look at him. "The only thing you should feel sorry for is that I've been here for almost an hour now, this is the second time we've been all alone...and yet you still haven't kissed me."

He smiled and turned to face me.

Even though I'm in heels he's still a head taller than me, proof as he pulled me into a hug and rested his chin on the top of my head.

I had to admit I wasn't expecting it...and as simple as it sounded, it was exactly what my body had been wanting.

Not the hug itself, but rather...his touch.

And the fact that he'd pulled me in close causing me to smell his amazing cologne...that just made it even better.

He then proceeded to move his hands up as he locked eyes with mine, his hands were rough as they now cradled my face.

I placed my hands against his firm chest and began to close my eyes as I knew he was finally about to kiss me now.

But he tilted my head down ever so slightly and placed the sweetest kiss upon my forehead.

I was more than a little let down and actually hung my head in shame, a guy has never turned me down the way he had. Here I was, basically throwing myself at him and he wasn't feeling it.

I was so ashamed.

This was not at all how Harper had made it seem.

She said Mates were intense, and everything would go quick and it'd be hot and heavy...maybe I was right earlier and Trace doesn't want a human as his Mate but doesn't know how to turn me down without full on rejecting me?

He pinched my chin gently inbetween his thumb and forefinger and brought my head back up so that I would look him in the eye once more.

"Valerie, you were made to be a Luna, do not ever hang your head for anything."

"Easier said than done when a hot guy doesn't even want to kiss you."

"Is that what you think?" He asked.

"Honestly I'm thinking you don't like the idea of having a weak human mate of your not attracted to me physically...-"

He shook his head and sighed, "you think I'm not attracted to you?" He asked with a slight smirk. "You are the most strickingly captivating woman I have ever had the pleasure of meeting...and tonight, in this dress...you are absolutely tantilizing...you have no idea how you call to my wolf, or how difficult it is to keep him at bay around you...even now."

His words were pretty, but they were just that...pretty words, and I've always been more an actions individual.

"More than any of that though Valerie...You are my Mate, not just some weak human so don't ever think of yourself as weak again because the fates wouldn't pair me with anyone simple or weak."

I held quiet as he continued on. "The reason I don't want to rush things along physically is because your not just some piece of ass to me, and at the risk of sounding like a broken fucking record here...you are so much more to me, you're my mate Red not some one night stand, you're so much more special to me than all of that...and I want you to know that always." He said as he stroked my cheek now, "Yes I want to kiss you, and if we're being completely transparent, I kind of want to ditch this party altogether and have you all to myself too...but you deserve more than that."

I didn't know what to say.

"Look Valerie...I don't want to just steal your kisses, I want to earn them...I don't want to take you away from the party when I want everyone to see you and show you off in a way that you should be shown off... " He said before he simply continued. "So please don't for one second question your radiant beauty or your amazing charm...rest assured that I want you just as much as you want me."

"Cocky much." I sounded.

He merely chuckled,"I probably want you even more than you want me now that you mention it...But I need you to see that you are so precious to me and you mean so much to not only me but also my wolf...and I refuse to show you less than what you deserve."

"Thank you..." I said growing even more embarrassed now, as he said...we were being transparent, so may as well be as open with him as he's being with me. "You probably don't want to hear this but, no other guy has ever made an effort to get to know me in the way you are trying...they merely took what I offered."

"We all have pasts Valerie, myself included...and I'm sorry if any of the men in your past made you feel less than you are...but you are MY mate now and I want to know you in every way possible."

There was something in the way he'd called me his that had turned me on more than anything he'd done tonight.

This man was impossibly too good and therefore I voiced that very thought. "Y-You are too good of a man Trace Johnson."

"I can assure you I'm not, but for you I will damn well always try my hardest to be."

And there was my opening once again to bring it back to my flirty mood. To be honest I don't like when things get too heavy.

"And what if I don't want a good man...what if I want a Big Bad Wolf?"

_________

{ TRACE }

The moon Goddess had to cursed me with the most seductive female on the entire fucking planet.

My wolf was clawing to come out.

She was toying with him,

He knew we could be the Big Bad Wolf that our Little Red was asking for.

But I don't want our relationship to be just about sex...as much as I'd like to pleasure her every second of every day...As my mate, I also want to know her on an emotional level. And show her that I'm nothing like the assholes before.

Then again, that isn't to say I couldn't show her just how much I actually AM attracted to her.

I took ahold of her hips and pulled her body against mine once again, but my dick was harder this time (at the thought of having sex with her) and I knew she could feel it through my slacks and the thin fabric of her dress.

"I look forward to getting to know you Little Red." I said as I gently bucked her head up with a crooked finger and this time placed a kiss on her cheek and also whispered. "All of you."

Her breath hitched and her arousal was practically spilling out of her now. I let her go and stepped back to look at her better.

"Now how about I take you in and introduce you to everyone."

"Or..." she countered cooly. "I believe the invitation mentioned accommodations set up for me for the duration of the weekend, as the new Alpha...maybe you can show me where I'll be staying?"

I smirked, of course she'd put me in an even more difficult position.

"I'd love to Ms Carson...but unfortunately as this party is partially for me, I can't just leave even though I'd love nothing more than to spend the entire night with you getting to know you as best as I can."

"Well do you at least know where I'll be staying?"

I smiled and nodded, "You will be staying in my apartment...as my personal guest, formality dictates that I have you housed at my own private home...but as I mentioned earlier, currently it is undergoing renovations."

"How long have you been working on your house?"

"A little here and there throughout the years...but there's a tradition that the next Alpha's home is built when he takes on the title."

"So your father just gave you the title?"

I shook my head, "not quite...he passed away."

"Oh...dammit... I'm so sorry to hear about your fathers passing." She sounded genuinely apologetic now, "I shouldn't have pried."

I tried to brush her comment away. It was still a sore subject for me and everyone knew I hated to talk about it...but my little mate didn't know that, nor would I fault her for it.

"It's alright, we're mates and I like that you're taking an interest in my life."

She nodded, "May I ask...when did he pass?"

I could hear the caring tones in her words and my wolf calmed down, my own evasions toward the topic were all but gone now.

"Going on two weeks now." I admitted more emotionally than I had intended, having to clear my throat to cover the cracked sound my voice had made.

Then she moved and gently wrapped her arms around my waist as she rested her head just above my heart.

I could have stood like this forever, in her tender embrace.

"I'm so, so sorry Trace...And here you are having to do all of this extra stuff just to be presented as the new Alpha."

She had been the only person to see the presentation exactly as I had. "...I can't help but feel like this is all so disrespectful...this presentation ceremony, almost like we were celebrating his death or something." I admitted. "Like we're glad he's gone."

Then I sighed and shook my head, "The presentation was going to happen regardless, I have to be acknowledged by the council members and presented by them offically for the pack to also acknowledge me as the rightful Alpha...and the presentation is traditionally done with a party to celebrate and welcome the new Alpha and I know that...it's just, I never really put too much thought into it until it was my own father who died and me having to take his place."

"You didn't ask for this Trace, and like you said...it would've taken place regardless...so don't beat yourself up over this." She said before moving to look at me, "And under construction or not...I would really like to see where Alpha Trace Johnson spends his nights."

I rolled my eyes and smiled, "I can take you by tomorrow...but for tonight, can we please go back in there so I can dance with you as an excuse to hold you again and then we can get you settled into the apartment tonight."

She smilled, "Trace Johnson, again you are being a good man...and the Big Bad Wolf doesn't need excuses to take me into his arms." She winked before walking away from me once again.

I let out a small growl and followed behind her, allowing her to stay two steps ahead of me so I could simply watch her walk