Red Hot
Ch. Nine- Sleeping Beauty

{ TRACE }

I waited until I heard her breathing even out once again and knew Valerie had fallen back to sleep, but I was wide awake and I knew I wouldn't be getting much sleep.

No it wasn't an issue with sleeping next to her, despite how tempting she is...it really is so damn comfortable to have her so near me.

No, as I lay here and desperately look at her I couldn't help but just relish how in awe I was.

She was real.

Valerie.

My Mate

My Everything now...she is here with me, right by my side sleeping peacefully in my arms.

It was comforting to have my mate so close...and tortuous knowing I couldn't be with her fully.

'Mate'

I sighed as my wolf whined. We both wanted to be with her in every way possible...mostly mated...but that would come to us eventually.

For now we want her to grow use to us.

In all honesty...It's actually quite a strange thing having a mate.

There isn't exactly a rule book on how things are suppose to go, only vague outlines that everyone had a mate out there, you'll find them and then your pull should begin to form, with each action your pull strengthens until you mark your mate and you're bonded from that point. Love and protect them, and if you're an Alpha you present them as your mate and they become your Luna and that's pretty much it.

But there is so much more to having a mate.

And to be frank, it's all pretty fucking confusing.

Yes they are your mate, but unless they've been in your life all along, you know nothing about them.

I'm still so new to all of this mate and Alpha stuff...and yet it's like someone had suddenly pressed fast forward.

I'd only gotten the chance to speak to this woman on two separate occasions (granted tonight was an all night sort of deal) and already I knew in my heart of hearts that all I wanted to do was protected her at all costs and make her happy for the rest of her life.

This complete stranger, someone who's just stumbled into my life I now held in a higher standing than even my own siblings...and I love my siblings. I'd do anything for them but for Valerie...there isn't anything I wouldn't do for her.

I stayed in the same position just looking at her like some weirdo... but I couldn't help it.

I wanted to see and remember every part of her lovely face...without her makeup I could see she had a small gathering of freckles that dusted the bridge of her nose and fell onto her inner cheeks ever so effortlessly.

Her lashes were long, and fanned over the same rosy cheeks.

She had a full pouty bottom lip and a mischievous top lip that even when sleeping gave the appearance that she was plotting something sneaky.

I smiled. And resisted the urge to lean down and kiss her as I didn't want to frighten her or disturb her sleep.

For the rest of the night I just marveled at her with actual adoration and genuine love.

"How can someone so beautiful be destined for me?" I whispered into the early morning.

My heart raced a little as she stirred a bit at the sound of my voice, but remained asleep.

The fates had been more than kind to me when choosing Valerie as my mate, I was lucky to have found her as well...but more so, Lucky that she accepts me and what I am despite her only just finding out about me and our world.

As the sun rose higher in the sky I watched as the light touched her breathtaking face and I could see more clearly now her bare face was visible.

Right now she wasn't sexy and enticing...she was radiant and so adorably captivating.

Then her earlier comment came forward.

"When you dream of me...dream of me from before, not like I am now."

She didn't like herself barefaced and dressed down...and while I may be a bit biased here, I'm more than certain I'd think she's beautiful in any light...done up, dressed down...either way it was still her, still Valerie...vulnerable and real, no matter how much she tries to hide it.

I knew I was being creepy just staring at her like this and the longer I did so, I risked her waking up and catching me gawking at her like a perv.

Then I'd really fuck shit up between us before we've had a chance to try and be together.

I moved to leave and as I reached the door I gave one final look back and exited the bedroom as I closed the door behind me.

I knew sleep wouldn't come, not this evening...or rather, this morning.

I took a seat on the sofa and decided to get some work done on my laptop...the less work I have waiting for me at the pack house, the more time I can spend with her throughout the day...because like it or not, I'm still the Alpha of this pack first and foremost and I can't simply put that on hold even if my mate is in town for a limited amount of time.

Since breakfast seemed to be of importance to her, I knew I wanted to take her out for breakfast.

It'd give me the opportunity to see her in yet another setting, but I also knew I needed to get out of this suit I'd worn to mine and Ryder's presenting and wanting to make the best impression, I knew I'd have a shower and clean up for my mate.

_____

'Mate could be awake.'
'She'll wake up alone.'
'Mate will think I abandoned her.'

"Shh." I sounded as I rinsed the shampoo from my hair. "Be cool." I whispered now and shook my head at the irony of how "uncool" it'd be for someone to hear me talking to myself.

I understood my wolfs eagerness to be back with our mate, but I knew I'd need to be on my game with Valerie...she is sharp as a tack and dangerously gorgeous...both things I knew she'd use to to get her way...and something tells me Valerie Carson isn't use to being told No.

And to be quite honest, I don't think I'd be strong enough to play this game with her for very long, as clearly...I was already crumbling into an eager and impatient being just being away from her.

Forehead kisses, hugs, and handholding would definitely not be enough here pretty soon.

But I needed to hold off, I knew if we worked up to what we both wanted, it's going to be so much better in the end.

I was so lost in thought that I legitimately jumped a little when the light knock on the bathroom door sounded.

"Trace?"

'Mate.'

"Uh...just one second." I said

'Told you she would wake without us.' My wolf sounded snarky now.

I shook me head, now clearly wasn't the time.

I killed the water and grabbed my towel, wrapping it around my waist and moved to open the door.

Clearly she knew I'd been in the shower as she would've heard the water going.

I took a deep breath and opened the door.

"Good morning." I smiled as I pushed my soaked hair back in place (as a couple pieces were springing forward now.)

She groaned, "sorry...I really have to use the restroom."

"O-oh...my bad." I said as I moved to let her in and I stepped out...I should have known to use the guest bathroom but force of habit had me taking a shower in the en suite attached to my bedroom...also, if I was being honest with myself...i didn't want to be too far away from her, even if it was only the other side of the apartment.

She finished up and washed her hands before she exited and closed the door behind her and sighed, "sorry, that came out rude...I just really wanted to be asleep still...and also I didn't want to just roam around your place in search for another bathroom." As she made her way back over to my bed.

I smirked, turns out my mate adores her sleep, and I get it, she'd only been asleep for a little while.

She snuggled under the blanket and let out a contented sigh before she looked over at me, "You look sexy." She said boldly. "Were you just standing there so I'd see you?"

I shook my head casually, "my clothes are in there since I was taking a shower."

She smirked, "my bad." She said echoing my earlier statement.

"You should get more sleep, you haven't slept very long."

"How would you know how long I've slept?" She asked knowingly.

"Because my wolf is keeping me from sleeping knowing you're here with us." I confessed.

"Maybe I should leave then...I'd hate to be the reason you're losing sleep."

I shook my head now, "not to sound too forward Ms Carson, but now that my Wolf's found his mate, there's no way he's going to just stop worrying about you."

"So that's all you and your wolf want then?" She asked. "You ONLY want to protect me?"

I immediately picked up on her seductive suggestion.

"I can think of a fair few more things my wolf and I want to do with you Ms Carson." I responded as I looked at her fully.

I heard as her heart beat picked up ever so slightly in excitement now.

"One of them being...to feed you." Let me get dressed, and we can go out for breakfast."

I watched as her disappointment turned into a cute smile, "I could eat."

__________

{ VALERIE }

After he'd closed the bathroom door behind him I got up from the bed and went over to grab today's outfit.

I knew I'd need the bathroom's mirror so I guess I'd have to face him without my makeup once more...but a good sign, considering he'd seen me without my makeup and didn't immediately ask me to go home.

I sighed heavily, "what does it matter?" I asked myself in a frustrated fashion, I didn't know why I was so damn pressed over a guy seeing me without makeup. "He's already seen me without makeup."

A single knock sounded, interrupting my one sided conversation. "Valerie?"

"Uh...just getting dressed, one second." I answered, sighing at how awkward I suddenly felt and wished I could be cooler or at the very least calmer.

"Okay...uh, take your time." He said.

I smirked as I realized he sounded just as frazzled and unsure as I felt. But of course I wouldn't take my time and have him stuck in the bathroom until I was done.

So I grabbed my jeans and top and quickly started getting dressed and decided to just go with the flow.

"I'm done." I replied and he walked out of the bathroom and back into the room.

"I don't get it." He said as he shook his head now.

"What's wrong?"

He looked at me and smiled, "I don't get how you can look better each time I see you."

I smiled, "you're so cute." I said in response without thinking and blushed in embarrassment as I realized what I'd said.

He grinned, "can't I at least be hot, cute sounds like what you call a puppy."

"I don't think I have to tell you just how attractive you really are." My cheeks still heated from how honest we were being.

"Well you know what I think?" He asked.

I looked at him, curious as to what he'd say next and if it'd make me blush even more.

"I think you're stalling from us eating." He said as sat on the bed to put his shoes on and I stepped into some flats and collected my belongs so as not to leave them strewn everywhere.

"Why would I do that?" I asked almost appalled by the insinuation.

He shrugged, it only made him seem cuter.

"I don't know...I know some girls don't really like to eat in front of guys."

I rolled my eyes, "well that's not me, To be honest...nothing comes between me and my food."

With this mornings conversations alongside last nights I was quickly learning so much about him and felt more comfortable than ever.

"Hey...so I know we're both new to this whole Mates thing...so how about a proposal?"

He looked at me, "I'm listening."

"Not to get all heavy but I understand that Mates are pretty serious."

"To say the least." He added with a barely there smile.

I nodded, "so without trying to rush all the marriage and family talks...I think we should maybe figure out what we're most comfortable with right now."

"Well I'm good with any sort of touch you're willing to allow me." He replied honestly.

My heart was racing with excitement now...it was exactly what I wanted to say. "Alright then Mr Johnson...all that being said, I want us to just be able to act on our feelings without worrying about what everyone else will think..."

"You're talking about sex." He said with a slight sigh.

I shook my head, "I was talking about hugging, holding hands, and kissing, also calling or texting each other whenever just because we can and we were thinking of one another...but now that you mention it, sex would be nice."

"I just don't want it to feel like it's a planned thing." He said, "you're my mate Valerie...I just want everything to be special for you, and I never want you to walk away from me feeling worried that anything that happens between us was just for a hookup."

I was touched.

"So we'll get there...just promise that if things do get hot and heavy you won't just pull away or anything unless you're truly not ready for us to have sex."

"Can I ask why?" He wondered.

I sighed, "I-well...okay so I'm someone who responds to touch...well, every since I was a little girl...my parents could say they loved me but I felt their love more when they hugged me...so to take that touch away hurts ten times more than if they were to say the didn't love me...it makes me feel..."

"Rejected." He finished.

I nodded. "So I just feel like if we were going at it and things turned sexual and you pulled away I just know I'd feel like you were pushing me away and it fucking sucks being turned away from someone you're beginning to give your heart to."

"I swear to you Valerie, your heart will always be safe with me, if you so choose to give it to me."

I smirked, "we'll get there."