Kane woke up a bit confused as to where he was. He blinked a few times as his eyes adjusted and he slowly took in his surroundings. It all came back to him, he had spent the night with his mate. At the thought of her his arms instinctively tightened around her delicate little waist. Though she was not where he had tucked her, she had somehow managed to replace her way to sleeping on top of him, not that he minded of course. Her head resting on his chest as her soft hair cascaded down over his shoulder. One hand was splayed across his chest while he felt her other trapped between their bodies and their legs were tangled together. From his position he couldn’t see her features, but judging by her soft rhythmic breathing she was sleeping peacefully. Not wanting to disturb her, but wanting a better look at her, he gently started to shift into a sitting position. Using the headboard as a backrest he sat up. Her brows furrowed and she buried her face deeper into his chest, but settled down and relaxed when he stopped moving. He ran his fingers through her hair brushing it from her ear. He got a better look at the scar that was across it, it was jagged and rough, someone tried to cut off her beautiful tips. How could someone do that to her? A wave of anger surged through him, he buried his nose in her hair to draw her scent to him. If he asked her how she got it, would she tell him? What would she say? How many more secrets did she have? How much more pain did she go through? He did not want to know….he had to know.

There was so much about her that he still needed to uncover, her past was a puzzle and he was slowly putting it together. He just wasn’t sure he’d like the image when he was done, what happened in her past to make her who she was today? He started mulling over the things he did know about her. She’s hostile! Yes, but after last night’s revelations I am starting to understand why!! She is guarded! Again understandable!! No parents! That’s fucking bullshit! The first people that were supposed to protect her, supposed to keep her safe, failed to do so. They turned away from her, abandoned her. Yet she was not left entirely alone, she said there was nobody, but someone terrified her, her reaction to his raised voice was not from being alone. Someone taught her to fear another’s anger, he tried to block out the memory of feeling her trembling body against his, the smell of her fear. She didn’t want to burden a doctor with her knee! Someone told her she was a burden and she didn’t matter, and someone tried to cut her beautiful tips off, he refused to believe that she did that to herself. What did she call herself? A freak! They forced her to hide the most special things about her, but she is not a freak, she is perfect, she is beautiful and most importantly she was his. Someone hurt our mate! Yes someone did and when I replace them that someone will pay!! With their life! Ky growled. Yes they will!

He was lost in thought tracing the fingers on her hand that he didn’t notice her starting to wake up.

“You growl too much” she croaked groggily, she thought it was different that he growled but it never scared her, she just accepted it as part of his personality. Who was she to judge, maybe he just liked growling, got his mood across and no words needed to be spoken.

“I’m sorry little mouse, I didn’t mean to wake you” he squeezed her tighter, he didn’t even realize he was growling. He thought it was funny how his growling never seemed to scare her, she called him on it every time.

“Did you sleep well?” He asked trailing his fingertips up her arm, causing tingles to spread and goosebumps to form.

“Yes, did you?” She replied, nodding her head, causing her hair to fall in her face. He tucked it behind her ear, enjoying the feeling of her still pressed to him. He was glad she didn’t seem to be interested in breaking contact anytime soon.

“That’s good, I slept extremely well.” It wasn’t a lie either, he slept better that night than he had in months.

“What do you want to do today?” He asked

“I have some pieces that need to be finished” she mumbled, she knew she should get off him and move away, but she couldn’t help it she enjoyed the feeling of his gentle caresses and the way his arms protectively stayed around her. She snuggled closer to him, the no touching rule was definitely out the window.

“No, you are taking the day off. We agreed on this last night” he said, correcting her. The smile that spread across his face when he felt her snuggle more into his arms could not be denied.

“No you agreed I said nothing” she argued with him

“And what caused you to say nothing then, if you didn’t agree” he was intrigued by what her answer would be

“The naked man that crawled into my bed with me; might have been a bit distracting,” she casually replied. A deep laugh rumbled through his chest as he held her tighter to him.

“I am not naked” he defended himself “Not entirely anyway”

“But you are not clothed either” she stated, laughing. She had a point, his fingers brushed her side lightly and she released a squeak when she squirmed. Is that a ticklish spot he just uncovered?? He could use that to his advantage.

“So you are not going to take the day off?” He asked and raised his eyebrow. She stretched out her legs, knowing she had to get her act together, she was already late in opening up shop. As much as lying around in bed all day was appealing, she knew she couldn’t, she already stayed in his arms longer than she should have.

“No, too much to do” shaking her head, she begrudgingly sat up, moving off of him and stretched her back. Perfect time for an attack, he started tickling her and she squealed trying to get away from him. She fell back on the bed laughing and wiggling to get out of his grasp.

STOP!” She screamed out in laughter.

“Not until you agree to spend the day with me” he said unrelentingly.

NO!” She squealed louder and rolled onto her stomach, so he continued his attack.

STOP…..PLEASE….STOP!” She begged in between fits of laughter.

“Agree” he continued.

I HAVE TO PEE!” She gasped.

“Then you better agree,” he repeated.

FINE….FINE....fine I’ll spend the day with you, just stop” she agreed and he stopped tickling her.

“Good, now go pee” he grinned and he smacked her bottom. She released another squeak and glared at him.

“You are a bad bad man” she said, her laughter still dancing in her eyes.

“Maybe, but the game has begun little mouse and I just won round one” He leaned back against the headboard and laced his fingers behind his head a triumphant grin on his face. She narrowed her eyes then threw a pillow at him and walked out of the bedroom towards the bathroom.

She did her business, washed her hands and began brushing her teeth, last night he was kind and caring, compassionate, but this morning he began the game he said they would, she didn’t know the rules, didn’t know how to play, this should have scared her, it did scare her, but it thrilled her more, she looked at herself in the mirror. She looked rested, the bags that had taken up permanent residence under her eyes had all but vanished. Her blue eyes stared back at her, shining bright, the amethyst starburst dancing. Has her eyes ever danced before? She didn’t know, most of the time they just stared back at her hollow and vacant, but she saw a glint, an unrecognizable glint. She turned the shower on and waited for it to heat up before she stripped off her clothes and stepped under. The warm water soothed her muscles. She poured a quarter sized amount of shampoo into her hand and slowly massaged it into her hair letting the scent of orchids fill her. She lathered up with an unscented body wash and stood under the water as she rinsed herself from the suds. A little conditioner in the same orchid scent, a quick rinse and she was done. She wrapped a towel around herself and started to towel dry her hair. She threw her dirty clothes in the hamper, she would have to do laundry tomorrow. She looked around for her clean clothes and it hit her, she had not grabbed any. Fuck!!

What the fuck am I gonna do? She stared at the bathroom door, almost willing her clothes to just manifest on the bathroom floor. DAMN IT! Pacing back and forth in her small bathroom rubbing her temples. I have no clothes, they are in my bedroom!! So go get them! I am naked and wrapped in a towel! So, did he not just start the game? What does that have to do with anything? March your towel covered ass into that room and get some clothes on! Right in front of him? Why not? He already won round one, take round two! She looked at herself in the mirror, could she do that? Yes you can! Could she just walk into her bedroom, with him naked in her bed and get dressed in front of him. What else are you gonna do, stay in the bathroom forever? Her subconscious was right, she couldn’t stay in here she would have to come out eventually. You have that just stepped out of the shower sexy wet look, put your big girl panties on and go make him drool! Where the hell has this side of her been? Ok, with one last look in the mirror, a mischievous smile slid onto her face. I’ll take round two!!

She tightened her towel, stood taller and started to walk towards her bedroom. The butterflies in her stomach were fluttering and her heart was beating fast. She took a couple deep breaths to calm herself down and she walked into her bedroom. Kane was scrolling through his phone when she walked in.

“Have you thou-“ He completely lost his train of thought when he saw her. Her wet hair hung around her shoulders and she was only wearing a towel. His breath caught in his throat, dropping his phone he sat up straighter, he couldn’t stop staring at her. She moved silently to the dresser and opened the top drawer and pulled a pair of panties and a bra out. They were midnight blue in colour. After slowly and skillfully sliding her panties under her towel, she removed it. She stood there with DON’T TEMPT ME written across her bottom. Kane swallowed hard and tried to suppress a groan when he saw the side of her left breast when she slipped on her bra and clasped it closed in the front. A small smile danced on her lips, and she opened another drawer, she could feel his eyes moving over her body watching her movements, she liked the feeling of him watching her, she liked his eyes on her body. She could see him in the bottom half of the mirror on her dresser. She had his full attention, his eyes were dark and he looked about ready to pounce. She never dared to be this intimate with anyone before, the feeling that was coursing through her body felt good. She took out a smokey grey flowing shirt, she slipped her arms through the arm holes and lifted the shirt over her head allowing gravity to take care of the rest.

Kane watched her slow movements as she skillfully slid her panties under her towel. When she dropped the towel Ky freaked out and it took everything in him to stay rooted to the bed. He hungrily took in every move, every motion of her body. He trailed the scar from her left shoulder to her right hip and made a mental note to ask about that. He dared not speak right now, not a whisper. If he breathed it would shatter this perfect moment. He caught the glimpse of a tattoo on the right side of her rib cage, a simple script Volare liberum Papilionem and a small butterfly underneath. Fly free butterfly! Seemed very fitting. She turned slightly when she slipped her bra on and he got a small glimpse of the side of her left breast, he groaned, listening to his reaction seemed to give her more encouragement, making her braver, bolder. The shirt she chose flowed over her body like a soft smokey grey liquid and landed an inch shy of her hips. He watched it cover her body, taking away his view of her skin, he wasn’t even mad he could watch that all day. She lifted her hair out from the confines of her shirt and let it slowly cascade down her back. His jaw clenched and twitched as he watched her bend over and grab a black pair of cargo pants out of the bottom drawer. She stepped into each pant leg and ever so slowly slid them up her smooth creamy legs, he was having trouble controlling his breathing. It was ragged coming out in heavy puffs. With an even slower movement making sure her back was to him so he got the full show she pulled them over her bottom and did them up. She grabbed a pair of socks and slowly walked towards the door with the natural sway of her hips, the flowy grey shirt swished around her exposing just enough skin to tease the eye where the bottom hem did not quite meet the waistband of her pants. She paused at the threshold and glanced over her shoulder with a mischievous smile on her delicate lips and a glimmer in her eyes.

“Round two goes to me” and she disappeared into the loft. He fell back on the bed running his hands through his tousled hair.

FUCK!! Are you trying to kill me?” He called after her.

Taking clothes off is sexy, but that was a whole other level of sensual. She knew what she was doing, she knew he saw her, knew he was watching her, knew how to move, when to move. How much to show and what to hold back. His little mouse had secrets, and that was one he rather enjoyed seeing, and would enjoy seeing again. If she only knew she shared her bed with two beasts would she have done that little show? He fought hard to maintain control, Ky was losing himself. Mate! Ky! Mate tease! Ky calm down! Mate, tease me! KY! You are not forming complete thoughts! You saw! I did see! You saw mate! I did see her! You saw mate do! She seemed very pleased with herself! Mate! I WANT MATE NOW! CALM DOWN KY! She won this round, but round three will be ours!! This seemed to have calmed Ky down, his eyes flashed blue and a wicked grin spread across his face. Mate!

After taking a few….dozen deep breaths he stepped out of her bedroom. She stood on the far side of her kitchen facing the bedroom door. She looked up at him over her coffee cup.

“Fresh towels are in the bathroom” still with that same smile on her face. He narrowed his eyes at her and heaved his broad chest, the image of her reverse stripping still making his imagination run wild.

“That was dirty!” He said,

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. I was just getting dressed” she batted her eyes at him innocently. Taking another deep breath.

“If that is the way you want to play, then round three WILL go to me” he smiled wryly at the look of shock on her face and walked into her tiny bathroom and shut the door hard.

Oh Fuck! I’m in big trouble! Oh he’s gonna eat you alive! Why did I listen to you? Cause you’re crazy!? Maybe he’ll forget! Not likely, that will be playing through his head for a long time! Oh that’s helpful! Don’t blame me, you little sex kitten! You told me to put clothes on in front of him! Yeah! Make him drool, not make him horny, you did that all by yourself! What am I gonna do? Oh honey! You should be more concerned with what he’s gonna do? Her subconscious was right, the ball was in his court now, what was he gonna do? Maybe she went too far. She doesn’t even know why she did it. But it felt good, she felt good when she saw his reaction to her. For the first time she felt beautiful and wanted, and she did it at his expense. Oh Fuck! I am a terrible person, I went too far! This is why I don’t have friends cause I am an idiot and just screw everything up. Stupid, stupid girl what was I thinking. I wasn’t thinking that was the problem, I never do!! Her mind was rolling these thoughts and her breaths started coming out in sharp gasps. She pressed her hand to her stomach, and when she felt her own skin, her hands started to shake. I can’t wear this, why do I even own this. I…. I…. I have to get this off!! Her mind was pulling her in so many directions she couldn’t focus on a course of action, she was starting to panic, her arm moved carelessly that she knocked her mug to the ground causing it to shatter, her heart beating so loud she heard his thunderous footsteps coming towards her.

Oh god! He’s gonna be so mad! What did you do you little bitch? She saw him coming towards her, fear flooded her, her mind telling her to run but her feet felt glued to her spot. How dare you make this mess! Don’t just stand there, clean it up!! The hit came down and Dax hit the floor. She cut her arm on a shard of the coffee cup. CLEAN IT UP! He screamed at her. Her blood mixed with the remaining coffee and ceramic shards, tears falling down her cheeks and a hidden memory played before her eyes….

She was eight standing in the dingy little kitchen and she had just broken a glass plate, her father in front of her glaring daggers at her stupidity. “What did you just do? You stupid little bitch you will pay for that, don’t just stand there, clean it up” he seethed at her “I’m sorry papa” came her weak little reply. “You’re sorry? You’re sorry? Not yet, but you soon will be” SMACK! He backhanded her across the face then. “CLEAN IT UP!” He screamed at her, his eyes seeming to glow red with his unbridled hate for her. SMACK! Another hit across the other cheek. “I’m sorry” “You stupid waste of space” SMACK! “I’m sorry” she scrambled to clean up the shards, cutting her hand in the process. “Look what you did now?” SMACK! He backhanded her one more time, her little body crumpled to the floor. “CLEAN IT UP!” he screamed again. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry” she repeated these words over and over again…..

Fuck! Kane had smacked his head off the shower head for the third time since he started his shower, his very, very cold shower. He loved his mate with every fibre of his being, but he hated her shower. It was too small, this is something he will have to take care of as well. If she were a wolf, she would already be living with him and this would not be a problem, if she were a wolf she would already be marked and they would have mated already, but she is not and he has to do the whole human dating thing. It has its downfalls, but it is very predatory in nature, how males and in some cases females stalk their prey waiting for the right time to strike. Thinking back to the way Justine looked at him, he shuddered. Yuck! Ky was disgusted by the thought. But he was a predator as well, and he enjoyed stalking his prey, his mate. But what he will enjoy more, is when he catches her. He was in the process of rinsing his hair when a cold feeling entered his body and he heard the commotion in the kitchen. He quickly turned off the shower and listened, thuthump, thuthump, thuthump, the beating of her heart was erratic and intense. She was panicking, he was out of the shower in a second and then the smell hit him. The rich coppery metallic smell of her blood. A towel around his waist he ran out of the bathroom.

He ran into the kitchen and the sight he saw stopped his blood cold. She was crumpled in a pile on the floor, her eyes shut tight and covering her ears. “I’m sorry” on an ever repeating loop exiting her mouth, and tears still free falling down her delicate cheeks. She had a dish towel wrapped around her arm and her body shook. The kitchen floor displayed the broken mug, the coffee and the blood. He ran to her side and when he touched her she flinched away from him, releasing a muffled scream. This hurt his heart, this hurt Ky’s heart! Mate is scared of us! Ky whimpered in his head. No, she is scared of someone. Someone still has a hold of her and when I replace them they will not be able to hold anything! He reached out one more time, praying to the Moon Goddess on the strength of the mate bond he scooped her into his arms and sat her on his lap. She stiffened and struggled a bit at first and then collapsed into him. Her body shook and she buried her face into his neck as she released her sobs, still repeating “I’m sorry” over and over again. He held her tightly to his chest, rubbing small circles on her back letting her get it out of her system. He didn’t want to shush her, he didn’t want her to stomp it down, she needed to get it out and she would calm down when she was ready. Until then he will sit wrapped in a towel on her floor holding her tight. Making sure she knew that she was safe. She would whisper sorry and he would whisper that it was ok. No one would ever hurt his little mouse like that again, he would make damn sure of that.

After the last of her tears had fallen and her breathing settled into a less ragged rhythm, though still shaky, he felt her start to relax against him. Keeping her held to him, tucked safely in his arms he dared to ask

“What happened little mouse? What terrified you?”

“I broke the mug” her voice trembled as she spoke. He nodded his head and looked over at the mess on the kitchen floor and though it might seem insignificant to him, the ramifications of it had impacted her greatly.

“It’s ok, we will get it cleaned up, after we deal with your injured arm” he stated.

“Bu-“ she started to protest but he cut her off

“You are more important, the mess will wait” he said firmly, she hesitated unsure, and started to protest once more, and he shook his head at her, she was more important than some damn mess.

They stood up and Kane tightened the towel around his waist.

“Let me get dressed” it was then she realized he was only in a towel, and that his skin was cold to the touch. Her face flushed at the thought of knowing that only a towel separated him from her.

“Why are you so cold?” She croaked out.

“After your little….show this morning, I found myself in need of a very cold shower” an amorous grin played on his lips as he remembered how her shirt floated down her body.

“Oh! I’m sor-“ he cut her off, and she looked down at her feet, she clenched and unclenched her fists nervously. He placed a finger under her chin and pulled her face up to look at him. She only slightly flinched away from his hand this time….Progress!

“You have nothing to be sorry for, little mouse. I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it”

After he had his pants back on and she was sitting on her kitchen counter, Kane started tending to the cut on her arm, he had carefully unwrapped the dish towel and cleaned the blood around it. It wasn’t deep, but he was sure it would leave a scar. He didn’t like that, it would be just another reminder to her, another demon she would have to live with. Something told him she had enough already.

“You must think I’m stupid” she said looking down at her lap.

“And why would I ever think that?” he asked, trying to mask the anger that flashed in his eyes. He could never nor would he ever think she was stupid, she was perfect.

“For earlier” she whispered,

“On the contrary, if this is about the mess, then I think you have gone through something traumatic in the past and you are trying your best to live with the demons that run wild in your mind because of it” he finished bandaging her arm and he looked at her. He could not place the look he saw on her face, shock maybe, surprise, no it was shame. She was ashamed of her behaviour over the mess, he watched as her fingers trailed over the scar on her ear, he has watched her do it a few times seems to be when it involves something she is uncomfortable with. Tread carefully! Ky cautioned. He brushed the hair from her face and took her hand in his kissing the palm.

“You have nothing to be ashamed of, little mouse, you have to be the strongest little warrior I have ever met. But even warriors have bad days” But something in her eyes told him that might not have been what she was referring to.

He wrapped one arm around her backside while his other slid her legs open so he could stand in between them, pulling her closer to him causing her legs to spread wider and her breath to catch. Her hands flew to his bare chest at the sudden movement. He controlled his breathing as the feeling of her hands on him were sending wave after wave of electricity through his system. He leaned into her, into her body into her touch, his smokey grey eyes turning darker and darker as he fought to control himself.

“If this is about your little….temptation” remembering the words written on her bottom and the flush that crossed her features told him that is exactly what this was about. “I thought it was quite brave, and fully endorse it happening again though if it does, I am not so sure you will be able to make the escape, it took everything I had to keep me in that bed, I’m not sure I’ll be able to do it again” his lips were inches from hers, he looked down at her lips dark pink and slightly parted, they were ripe, luscious and inviting, his for the taking. He sucked in a sharp breath when he saw her tongue lick the bottom one. He forced his eyes away from her lips to look back into hers. “But I will not kiss you until you ask me to”

“But you want to” she whispered, a seductive smile spread across his face.

“If you only knew the things I want to do, that flush would never leave your beautiful face.” His lips lightly brushed over hers barely touching, promising, but not kissing. Her fingers spread over his chest, taking in the feeling of his skin, the heat rising under her touch, jolts of electricity flowing up through her arms. His body hummed at the gentle caress of her hands on him.

“I will not ask you” she whispered again, a gleam in her eyes. He pressed harder into her and she fought to suppress a moan. His hand cradling the back of her head, his lips brushed her jaw and moved down her neck. His teeth gently grazed her skin as he moved, when he reached the tender part between her shoulder and her neck, she let out a moan and he smiled, moving back up to her face.

“Are you sure?” He pulled her off the counter and placed her gently on the ground. “Because you almost did!” a wickedly sinful grin on his face, he let her go.

“Round three goes to me” and he walked away. She sucked in a deep breath to calm her fast heartbeat and steady her nerves.

“You are a very bad man” he chuckled as he walked back into her bedroom to retrieve his shirt.

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