Seventeen

His smell was even stronger this morning and as I tried to stretch I felt something hard beside me. I leaned into it for warmth and felt something on my stomach pulling me flush against it.

I slowly opened my eyes and noticed it was an arm around my stomach and that Caden was the source of heat I just snuggled against. I pushed against him and thank goodness for my alpha strength because instead of me going backwards he did. I heard a thump before a groan and a few curse words.

I saw Caden sit up as I did.

"That is not how I was expecting to wake up the first time with my mate." He rubbed his face and groaned again.

"I told you I would hurt you if you did anything to me."

"Then I guess that's fair. I was warned."

I rolled my eyes and fell back against the bed. I actually really loved having his arms around me. To think I just loved waking up with his smell. It just felt right... more than right.

No! I screamed at myself and my wolf growled at me. She's already accepted Caden, she wants to be marked and mated, yesterday already. Actually, the first day we were here.

He sat on the edge on the bed, "I didn't mean to do that. I was completely asleep. It was accidental."

"I guess I make bad decisions when I'm tired, because I guess I knew that could happen."

"Or maybe it was a good decision," he smirked and I punched his arm before curling back up in bed.

"Still tired?" He asked and I shrugged.

"Sort of. But I don't know why. I slept in yesterday."

"Yeah but we didn't get to bed until after three this morning."

"Three?!"

"Yeah. We started eating at eleven."

No wonder I was so tired even though I slept in. "I didn't know it was that late."

He laid down on the side of the bed, "Yeah."

I yawned. That means I didn't even get four hours of sleep.

"Lay back down, go back to sleep. You're still tired."

I noticed he had bags under his eyes and he was blinking slowly, "So are you. You're barely keeping your eyes open." Why he always spoke to me with demands rather than comments or suggestions was annoying.

"I'm fine. Go back to sleep. I'll wake you in a few hours if you'd like."

"Caden, you need more sleep than me." I hate that he kept pushing me to when he needed it. I didn't want him to be all businesslike, but he kept treating me like he had to protect me, or care for me. Which he didn't.

"Blake. I'm fine. It's nice to know you care though," he smirked and I jabbed his arm again. I barely even touched it though. I was too tired. He grabbed it and pinned it beside my head as he hovered above me.

He looked over every inch of my face before whispering, "How about we both sleep for a few more hours?"

I thought about how much I liked being in his arms and knew it wasn't a good idea, but the way he was looking down at me, I knew he wouldn't let me go. I nodded, "Fine."

"I can't promise I won't hold you, but I can promise it won't go any further." He said forcing his eyes away from my lips.

I nodded.

"Would it be too much if I just started out holding you? Or do I have to wait until you're asleep?" He asked quietly with almost a nervous edge.

"Might as well start now," I knew he was shocked and he pulled away. "Caden, that meant yes."

"Yeah but-" I moved closer to him with my back against his chest and put his arm over my stomach. It hurt his wolf for me to constantly reject little things and although I didn't know the guy, I didn't want to hurt him. "Blake are you sure?"

I nodded, my eyes already closed again and I felt him relax, holding me closer to him. I sighed realizing how comfy this was and felt him snuggle his face in my hair before resting it in the crook of my neck.

"You really do amaze me sometimes," I heard him whisper in my ear before I fell back to sleep.