The Masked Stranger

Chapter 9

A few hours later

James P. O.V

“Did we have to buy so many clothes?” I complained as Jade made me carry everything into the Manor by myself.

“Considering the fact that we had to buy me a whole new wardrobe, yes we did.”

“Okay but why am I carrying everything?” I asked her.

“Consider it payback for making me leave this house wearing garbage clothing.”

“What's wrong with my clothes?”

“Nothing for a guy, but if you haven’t noticed, I’m not a guy with mediocre fashion sense.”

“Trust me, I’ve noticed. I’m noticing right now.” I stared at her wearing the new clothes she wore out of the store, a short sleeve knee-length white and blue floral dress with blue sandals. The dress hugged her figure more at the top before it got more loose at the bottom.

"You know if you take a picture it'll last longer." She says, winking at me, pulling me out of my trance. I looked away, a light blush coating my face.

“Whatever, I wasn’t even looking.”

“Wow, are you a rotten liar! It truly baffles me how bad you are at lying.” She said before helping me set the bags on the table in the kitchen. Her hands brushed against mine, which caused my wolf Jayden to lose his freaking mind, howling over and over like he was on c***k.

“James, what should we do now?”

“Huh umm well we could do this.” I grabbed her hand and pulled her close before picking her up bridal style.

"You know I can walk by myself, and, as a matter of fact, I actually enjoy walking myself." She said sassy.

“Well that’s great, but I’m still going to carry you.” I said to her, just as sassy.

“Well, you suck. You’re such a pain.” She replied.

“Maybe, but I seem to recall someone last night after I left saying that she likes me despite how weird I am. Sound familiar at all.?” I looked her in the eyes quizzically.

“I have no earthly idea what you’re talking about.” She looked away towards the ceiling.

“Oh now who’s the rotten liar!” I said with a smirk.

“Shut up, nobody asked you. But out of curiosity, how did you hear me?”

“I’m a werewolf. I have excellent hearing, plus I stood outside your door for a minute thinking about how awesome you are.”

“Jerk, if you heard me, why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because I didn’t want you to think I was weird.”

“Huh? You are exhausting.”

“Yet you like me anyway.”

“Don’t use my own words against me. I do like you a lot.”

“In a friendship way or?”

“Maybe or maybe in a romantic sense. The point is, I like you and I want to be around you a lot. Do we have to put a label on it?” She looked down, blushing slightly.

“Yes we do, because without it, I’m not entirely sure where I stand with you and that’s something that scares me. I like you, Jade, but I’m not going to put myself in a situation that makes my heart ache. So, yeah, we do have to put a label on it, you may not think so, but for my peace of mind we do.” I said after setting her on the ground. “If you don’t want to put a label on it, then let me know at what points to back off, because without that label I’m not going to make a move, because you wouldn’t be mine to make a move on. That is a dangerous game that I don’t want to play. You are the only girl I’ve ever, l felt this way about, so I’m sorry if you think I’m being clingy or doubting you, but this is just the kind of person I am, and I’m not going to completely change a part of me, so please don’t ask me to because I wouldn’t ask that of you. I’ve lost so much in my life that I’m unwilling to lose a part of myself too.” I looked down at the floor and closed my eyes.

“I was just joking around but look at you, way to just pour your heart out to me.”I looked up at her, and she grabbed my hands.

"James, I would never ask you to change yourself or to lose a part of yourself. I don’t know what you’ve lost in your life and, quite frankly, I don’t care what you’ve lost. I care about you and I want to be with you regardless of things you’ve lost, because if there is anyone in this world who understands loss, it’s me and, so, no matter what you’ve lost, it won’t change how I feel about you. Which is why I would never ask you to give up a part of yourself, because I genuinely care about you more than you might realize right now.” Tears fell from my eyes as I looked at her.

“Now look who is pouring their heart out!” We stood there hugging for a long time.