Chapter Thirty-Five

Claire

Claire watched as Axel walked out of the back door, and she waited a few seconds to turn toward Aunt Demetria, who poured herself a glass of wine and stood by Claire as she washed the dishes.

She lifted a light brow at her. "You look like you need one of these," she said, offering over her glass.

Claire pursed her lips. "I'm only eighteen. You're a bad influence."

She chuckled. "Seriously? You're the only eighteen-year-old I know that would turn down liquor."

Claire placed a plate on the drainer and turned to grab another one. "Doubt it. Now, are you going to tell me what's going on with you and Kerry? Or are you going to act like nothing is going on?"

Demetria sighed and leaned her hip against the countertop. "I'm a phenomenal actress, so obviously, I'm going with the latter."

"Come on. I know you want to talk about it," Claire said.

She huffed. "Since Axel already told you, I'm supposedly his second chance mate or something." She made a face and took another sip.

Claire finished the last dish and dried her hands on a towel beside her. "Yeah, the same exact thing that Axel and I are—mates. So why are you so gung-ho on me being with him, but you're avoiding your connection with Kerry?"

She glanced into the distance, a look that Claire couldn't read on her face. "It's different for me. I have my reasons that you don't need to worry about. We'd never be happy—"

"You're not attracted to him?" Claire asked.

She tucked her blonde hair behind her ear. "I didn't say that. It's a bond, so yeah, of course, I'm attracted to him. It's just—nothing I can talk about right now. Are you two still staying the night? I made up the spare room for you."

Claire suddenly felt her nerves twist inside of her. She hadn't thought about the sleeping arrangement since the night before. Now that it was here, it had her stomach turning somersaults.

Aunt Demetria's smile widened. "You're blushing—"

"I'm not," Claire said, sliding her palm over her ponytail, debating on whether she needed to reconsider the wine or not. Reaching forward, she grabbed her glass and finished it off.

She coughed, covering her mouth to keep it inside, while Aunt Demetria laughed. "It'll be fine. Just because you're staying in the same room doesn't mean you have to do anything," she said, putting her wine glass in the sink. She turned to look at Claire. "Unless you want to."

Did she want to? Claire wasn't sure what she was ready for or not. Most of the girls in her graduating class had given away their virginity earlier than Claire even thought about it.

"Aunt Demetria, you know I've never …"

"Had sex?" she asked, turning to lean against the counter.

"Yeah. And he has to mark me before we can …"

"Have sex?" she said, hiding her smile.

"Yes. It's part of their pack's traditions. Out of respect for your mate, you have to be marked before that."

"Are you more scared of the marking or the sex because that's a lot at once. No one will blame you for wanting to wait. And if he does …" she said, curling her fingers into a fist. "I'll take care of him."

Claire chuckled, but deep down, she felt an urge to do it, from something inside of her, something she'd never felt before. "I think I'm scared of both. How am I going to hide a mark from Dad, and the other is just a completely different ballgame."

Demetria walked over and put both palms on Claire's shoulders. "You don't worry about your dad. He'll come around, okay? And if you're ready, do it. My room is on the other side of the house. I won't hear a thing—"

"Stop," Claire warned with a smile. "Thanks, Aunt Demetria. Thanks for letting me stay here and for understanding. Thank you for everything."

She kissed Claire's forehead and plucked a hair from her head. "Ouch," Claire said.

"I'll be taking that. I'll work on your bloodline this week. I'm doubtful they'll be any written proof with anything your father has, but blood never lies."

Claire rubbed her head but turned her attention toward the back door.

"I'm going to go get the boys. I'm letting Kerry sleep on the couch because I do have a heart, no matter what they say about witches. You can put your things in the spare room and take a shower … together, or alone, or whatever you like."

Claire didn't wait around for Aunt Demetria to call the boys inside. She knew Axel would sense her anxiety, so she grabbed their bag by the couch and disappeared into the spare room. She gathered her change of clothes for the night and nervously looked around at the full-size bed. Besides some of Aunt Demetria's weird decorations and bedroom furniture, the room was bare. Biting her lip, she tucked her hair and took a calming breath.

The door behind her opened, and she turned around quickly, swallowing her nerves. "Hey," Axel said. "My dad called and said the kids were out hunting the lycan—what's the matter?" he asked, stopping to stare at her.

"Nothing. Why would anything be the matter?" she asked.

He eyed her suspiciously and glanced around the room, his dark gaze finally landing on her. "You're nervous. What are you nervous about?"

Claire picked at a string on the comforter behind her and slid her palm over it. "I'm not. I was just getting my clothes together to take a shower—"

Axel stopped in front of her and cupped her jaw with his palms. "Claire," he said in a breathy tone. "Your heart is beating out of your chest. What's. The. Matter?"

Claire sighed, defeated on hiding her nerves. "I’m nervous about tonight."

He lifted both brows and stroked her bottom lip with the pad of his thumb. "Yeah? What about it?"

She swallowed and widened her eyes, praying he'd take a hint, so she didn't have to explain herself. When he didn't, she hid her face with her palms. "I'm nervous about sleeping in the same bed as you. I'm nervous about what could happen, and the worst thing is … I want it to happen."

Axel's dark eyes turned a honey color, and the smell of his skin or cologne hit her quickly, forcing her belly to warm as Claire watched his throat move as he swallowed. "Claire … all you have to do is say it. If you're ready, you are; if you aren't, you aren't. No pressure."

But there was pressure, not from him, but from her own emotions. She needed him like water after a long workout, and it only grew the longer she was around him. Clair stepped forward and slid her palms down his deltoids and to his tensed biceps.

"I'm afraid it'll hurt, and I'll wake up the entire house—"

"We could go outside if that's what you are worried about. I can make us a spot in the bed of my truck," he said, stroking her jaw. "And if you're worried about something else, then tell me. I'm not pressuring you. I'd be happy just to hold you tonight."

Claire nodded slowly, her gaze dropping to his full bottom lip and the way his tongue slowly slid across it.

He chuckled slightly and pulled her flush with him, his strong palms holding her steady when she felt like she'd float away. "Why don't you go take a shower first? You need to relax."

She nodded and grabbed her clothes from the bed. "Good idea."

Claire hurried down the hallway with her clothes, passing by the living room where she noticed Aunt Demetria's shadow in the kitchen. She turned the corner to go ask her if she had any tips on first-time sex when she noticed Kerry had her trapped against the wall and was kissing her brains out.

Claire's mouth dropped open, and she slowly backtracked from the room, not wanting to interrupt them while they were … busy. She made it to the bathroom and shut the door, resting her head against the wood.

"You've got this," she mumbled, closing her eyes. "Take what you want for once, and stop being afraid."

That feeling inside of her heightened, and she turned to take her shower, preparing for a night with Axel that she'd never forget.