The first thing I did when I entered Jude's room was shower. The heat of the water helped a lot with my tumultuous feelings. I could barely sort them out. The steady trickle of water reminded me of the Weeping Forest. I ignored the sudden helplessness I associated with the place. I pumped some body wash into my palm and soaped up my arms, trying to distract myself.

After soaking for a few minutes, I quickly dried off and moisturized. By then, I was half sleepwalking to the bed. I flopped onto the mattress, scenting Jude's clean cologne on the sheets. I forgot about slipping into dry clothes and wrapped myself in Jude's blankets, letting sleep greet me with open arms.

I was lulled awake when the bed depressed beside me. My groggy eyes took in the dark room and the dim light of the lampshade on the bedside table, illuminating Jude's face hovering over mine.

I gasped, sitting up. I almost smacked foreheads with Jude but he swiftly dodged. I noticed his hair was wet, with the soaked ends sticking to the nape of his neck. He was shirtless, only sporting a pair of modest boxers. He must have had a shower when I was knocked out cold.

"What time is it?" I asked, my voice raspy from remnants of sleep.

Jude glanced to the side, eyeing something over my shoulder. "Just after midnight."

"You only got here?" I asked tiredly.

"I had to finalise a couple of things before I came home. I also had to speak with a couple of people. I wouldn't have been able to sleep without helping them out first."

My sweet mate, always doing something for his Pack.

"I'm glad you're back." I hugged the sheets closer to my chest. His gaze dipped to my bare shoulders. I watched as he did a double-take, gulping.

"I didn't think you'd actually come. I know you're still mad. I'm so sorry Jude. Please know that I mean that." I met his gaze with all the sincerity I felt in my words.

His grey orbed glistened.

"Sometimes I don't know what to do with you Aella." He touched a loose lock of my hair that had fallen onto my collarbone. "I didn't think I would get my own Tinkerbell." He added, dragging his gaze along the bare curves of my shoulders. He breathed deep and exhaled a weak puff of air. "I had a strange obsession with Peter Pan as a kid, not the boy himself but his fairy friend. I guess I always liked the way she always sassed him back. She was a tiny thing, but she was Peter's little protector through and through."

"Agree. She was a feisty thing."

"Like you. You're always throwing shit at my face."

His remark stunned me speechless.

"What? No."

"Kidding. Only on occasion."

"Seems like you don't value your life Mr Slater."

"Mmm. Come here." He moved so his back was pressed against the headboard and his long legs were stretched out in front of him. I didn't need much more persuasion to scramble onto his lap with the sheets still wrapped around me. "You're naked." He stated, noticing my fists holding the sheets in place above my breastbone.

"I dozed off after a shower and didn't want to put on my robe."

He slid one of his thumbs across his lips as he lifted a teasing brow. "Are you trying seduce me Aella Spades?" His teeth dug into his plump lower lip.

"You're deluded. Really deluded." I rolled my eyes.

His palms cupped my hips, sliding me forward until our chests brushed each other. My thighs fell over his, keeping him close.

"If me being deluded has you in my lap, than I won't mind staying like this."

"You're crazy."

"Maybe." He whispered.

"Who would've thought Jude Slater was such a softie?"

He growled into the sensitive side my neck, making the spot hot with his breath. "I have a reputation to uphold Aella."

"I like all your versions." I admitted softly. His warm lips tickled my ear as he ran his nose against my cheek. "Don't be cute." His hands squeezed my hips.

I closed my eyes, resting my cheek against his chest. His fingertips drew languid circles across my spine, sending shivers along my skin. When he spoke again, his voice was a notch quieter. "I owe you an apology too Aella. I'm sorry for being short-tempered. I was just so furious with you putting yourself into danger like that."

"I know. I'll try to not give you a heart-attack, but I can't guarantee that I won't be a pain in the ass."

"I'm counting on it. Makes life a little more interesting for me."

I grinned, taking in his familiar scent. His hands slid up towards my waist before falling back to my hips with another gentle squeeze. He did this another two times before he shifted his hips. "Fuck, where are your clothes Aella?" He groaned, almost as if he were in pain.

"In the drawers." I reluctantly untangled myself from his warm body, but his hands clenched down on my hips with his fingertips dangerously close to the curve of my ass. His lips pressed against my forehead. I swayed towards him, feeling the smooth skin of his forearms.

Were his arms always this big? My eyes skimmed over the dips and lines of his arms. I watched, slightly intrigued by his reaction to me.

"You have a lot of little scars along your arms."

"What do you think of them?" He asked but he sounded distracted.

"They make you look badass." I laughed, pulling back so I could catch his reaction. He was smirking with a glint of mirth brightening his irises.

"I have other scars..." He confessed quietly.

"Really?"

"Yeah. They're lower, just below my belly button and just an inch away from my coc-"

"-finish that sentence and I'll put my hand over your mouth."

"Kinky." He flashed a quick grin that did nothing to calm the erratic beat of my heart.

I'm not sure what happened but somehow between then and now, his lips caught the rest of my laugh. I couldn't help the moan that escaped my lips as his tongue flicked the bottom of my lip. My hands vanished into his thick hair as he grabbed my ass, pulling my core against his arousal. My hips found a scandalous rhythm, rubbing against his bulge. His lips left mine for a brief second as he groaned, thrusting his hips into the cradle of my thighs. The back of his head hit the headboard as he watched me move against him in sensual rocks.

"Tell me again." He commanded, holding me still.

I examined his features, confused, and still so aroused.

"Tell you what?" I whispered, caught up in a daze.

"What you said before you left."

Understanding dawned. I offered my heart up again on a silver platter with a pretty bow for the taking.

"I love you."

Watching his expression soften right before my eyes had me brushing a kiss against his warm chest. I felt his hands cup my cheeks, gently lifting my gaze to meet his. "I love you too. Heart and Soul."

His gaze darkened, smouldering with invitation.

Once again, his palms slid down the slope of my spine until they were squeezing the globes of my ass.

"Do you like that?" He asked, his voice huskier than usual. "I can feel how wet you are against me Aella."

"Yeah?" I bit my lips, cupping my breasts and letting my head tilt back with ecstasy. He felt so good against me.

"Pinch those pretty pink nipples for me." He demanded, watching my fingers.

I did exactly as he wanted. He groaned, suddenly taking my hands and shoving them behind me where he imprisoned my wrists behind me with one of his hands. His mouth devoured one rosy nipple and I moaned, thrusting my tits into his face.

He took his time lavishing attention across the sensitive buds, biting, licking, and sucking over and over again. The scruff of his jaw left pink marks along the skin, leaving my tits throbbing for more of his tongue and teeth.

His lips placed careful pecks between my heaving breasts. Slowly, his lips took a detour and found mine in a hot kiss.

My thighs twitched as his fingers massaged the meatier curve of my ass.

I froze when his fingers slid down my ass and found my wet slit. A husky curse escaped his lips as he ran his finger along my drenched core.

"Do you want my mouth here?"

I quickly scrambled from his lap, pushing him down until his back hit the bed. He blinked out of his lust-filled haze, tracking me with confused but aroused eyes.

"I want to taste you first." I said, going for his boxers. Jude allowed me space to tug them off. His cock sprang up from the waistband of his boxers. I didn't waste time swallowing his length, flicking my tongue over the drop of pre-cum on the slit of his head. His body tensed beneath me as his hands gathered my hair into something that resembled a ponytail. His hips moved in shallow strokes against my tongue. His grey eyes seemed stormier as he watched me suck harder, licking his head with strong pulls. His head rolled back as a shudder rushed through his body. "I'm close." He rasped, increasing his tempo.

I slid my teeth against the throbbing veins of his cock as he tried to pull back, but I took his load, enjoying the groan that fell from his parted lips. His eyes squeezed shut from pleasure. His ears and cheeks turned pink, flushed from his orgasm. I licked him clean before he abruptly pulled me up by the ribs and pushed me into the mattress. His hips fluttered against mine until his mouth found my chin, peppering kisses along my jaw. "You're. so. hot." He nipped my jawline breathlessly.

I licked my lips, still tasting him on my tongue, "Take me Jude. I want to feel you."

"Soon. Let me see if you're ready, fuck, you're soaking wet." His voice hitched. His fingers circled my clit, and I shifted my hips in need. "Hold still." He flicked my clit again, making my core throb. I squeezed my eyes shut and focused on the soft strumming of his fingers. They teased the sensitive bundle of nerves until I was rolling my hips against the pads of his fingers.

"I'm coming." I gasped.

My body jolted as I felt the heat of his tongue slide up my pussy, sucking my clit into his mouth with a hard pull. I cried out, holding his shoulders to stop me from flying off the bed.

His tongue tasted and rolled my clit with exquisite attention, my body shuddered with release. Jude lapped up my juices until I was left strung out, trying to catch my breath as he planted feather soft kisses along my inner thighs.

"Okay?" Jude asked, pausing his journey from dropping kisses up towards my pussy.

"Mmm. Great actually."

"Good. I'm not done just yet." He moved onto his knees, sliding between my legs. His hands palmed my thighs until they gripped his hips. I felt the tip of his cock notched at my drenched entrance. I even felt the strain of his body against mine. This man was about to lose control. He was on the precipice of reaching nirvana, but he was waiting, watching me with care.

I grabbed his firm butt cheeks and urged him towards me. His gaze shuttered before he grabbed his cock. I watched in a daze as he dragged the glistening head over my folds until he was pushing into me.

Jude moaned, holding still. I felt myself stretch to accommodate his length.

A strained curse fell from his lips as his forehead planted between my breasts. His breaths were hot against my skin as he sank all the way in.

Every breath. Every twitch. Every noise.... I shuddered in pleasure as Jude moved his hips back and slid all the way back inside. Another tightly muttered invective escaped his lips.

"You feel so good." I tightened my core, taking him all the way. His hands gripped my ass, pushing me up and down his length to the steady pace he set. Each wet pull tore a breathless moan from my lips. "More. I want more."

His hands gripped me tightly as he increased his pace, slamming his pelvis into mine. His thrusts were swift but deep, it had me bouncing on the mattress trying to find purchase on something without severing the connection.

"Hold on." His lips trailed between the valley of my breasts, blowing hot air there. My body bowed into his touch, seeking his undivided attention. "You're so beautiful." He aligned our lips.

He thrusted hard, catching my gasp with his tongue. He fucked me to the rhythm of his own tune. His groans urged me on until I found myself spiralling into bliss. His name stained my lips as I felt him pound into me harder and faster. His hips stuttered for a brief second as muffled moan slipped from his lips.

He was close.

I was too.

His finger found my clit, circling it expertly. My thighs trembled. Jude sucked my neck, "Feel good?"

"I'm so close Jude."

"Hold on." He hissed, grabbing my thigh tightly.

I moaned when his hips hammered into me at a faster pace.

"I'm coming." My pussy clenched.

Jude fucked me until I saw stars.

I was the first to erupt. I cried out as his cock found my g-spot repeatedly. Jude wasn't far behind. His body stiffened as a wave of immense pleasure rolled through his body.

As our breaths evened out, I relished in the soft kisses Jude planted across the skin of my collarbone, up to my jaw and finally on my lips.

I pulled him closer, inhaling his scent as I swept my fingertips along the damp ends of his hair. His body was slick of sweat, mirroring my own. I felt his forehead drop against mine as he whispered across my wet lips endless devotions of love.

"Heart and Soul Aella. Heart and Soul." His words carved a place in my pounding heart.

I held tightly onto his shoulder blades, skimming my lips across the thunderous beat of his heart, sealing his words forever.

***

"You're making the wrong choice." Jude's voice rang out.

I paused. I knew I shouldn't be listening in to his conversation, but I was curious. Indecision had me lingering but I decided to move on. I had to get to the borders soon to start patrol.

It was a miracle that I could walk in a straight-line considering Jude and I had been busy the whole night.

I had been disappointed that his side of the bed had been empty when I woke up, but he had left a note in his neat scrawl.

Didn't want to leave you yet. Wanted to kiss you awake. I won't be long.

I grinned at the little note, tucking it away before I had to get up.

I was almost out the door before I heard Tess's voice.

"I want a duel with her."

"You're an absolute idiot if you do that."

Tess laughed. I could hear the offence in her voice loud and clear from where I was standing. "She won't last against me."

"She'll eviscerate you, Tess. Don't be too hasty with your decision. You have Zaine to think about. Will you really leave him alone without his mum?"

"That won't happen."

"Tess. You won't win against my Aella. You have your son to think about. Please think about him. Don't do the duel. You won't be the only one who suffers when you are defeated."

"You're choosing her!"

"There was never a choice there Tess. Aella is my mate. She owns me and I won't allow her to be hurt, especially by you. You're my friend but I won't hesitate to cut you off if you put my mate in danger."

There was a terrible, terse pause.

"Fine. No duel but you're making a bad decision Jude."

"Bye Tess." He said sharply, dismissing her.

I stepped into the shadows as she walked by with anger coiled tightly around her.

She turned the corner and I saw the shiny tracks on her cheeks.

I stepped away from the dark, feeling odd.

"You have a bad habit of eavesdropping into private conversations." Jude didn't even look surprised to see me.

"I didn't mean to."

Jude just raised a brow. Yeah, he wasn't falling for that.

"Come here." He demanded.

"Say please."

"Please."

I stepped towards him. He enclosed me against his chest, rubbing his prickly jaw against my head. "You've become a bit soft Alpha."

"I have you." He simply replied.

"And you love me."

"Yes."

The way he gave me his immediate reply made me swoon.

"You sore?" He whispered.

I peered up at his face, "I'm fine. I'm not a piece of glass Jude. I loved the way you were with me last night. I wouldn't change a thing."

He hummed in approval before taking my lips in a long, wet kiss that left me breathless. "Good. I wasn't finished with exploring you."

My thighs clenched as I took in his heated look "I can't wait."