The Claiming Curse

Chapter 4

*Connor*

Narrowing her eyes at me, it’s kind of adorable how intimidating she thinks she's. “Fate, my dear Becca. I’m taking meeting you as a sign that maybe, just maybe we were meant to cross paths. What do you say, grab a cup of coffee with me? A bite to eat, or maybe go for a run?”

A run? Smooth numb nuts. I can’t believe I just asked her to take a run, such a wolf thing to say.

“Well, I want to take her for a run. I want to run her body hard.” Cooper growls like a smartass. He’s now filling my head with images of just how detailed he wants to get. I realize that I’m staring at her lips as Cooper continues the mental image slideshow. She blushes under my gaze, and by goddess if it’s not the most beautiful thing in the world.

“Oh,” she hesitates for a second, but a small smile pulls at the corner of her mouth. “I’m sorry, I can’t. I’m on my way to work and I hate being late.” She slowly pivots and starts to walk a bit more casually down the steps.

“Where do you work?” I ask.

“Wolf It Coffee Co. I’m a baker there.”

No friggin way! I love that place. The original one is in Paisley City. When I was at alpha training, we used to go there all the time. The owner Jake is a great guy, and his coffee is out of this world. “Well, funny story, I was actually headed there myself.” I wasn’t but who needs to go to class when I could spend the day with my mate. She smiles looking over her shoulder at me as she turns down the next landing. Her hazel eyes sparkle up at me as she bites on her bottom lip. f**k, this woman is killing me already. It's been what, forty-five minutes at the most.

I return the smile, apparently, she’s more smitten by me then she lets on because her reaction makes her trip over her own two feet. Her eyes grow big as she starts to fall. I react so fast that I almost surprise myself, before I know it I have her in my arms. The second our skin touches it feels like fireworks exploding all over my body.

Goosebumps appear on her skin, and I can tell she feels something. The sight of her body reacting to me has Cooper trying to come to the surface to claim his mate and trust me I’m doing everything in my power to will him to the deep depths of my mind. It’s just so odd, one moment I feel like I sense her recognizing the pull and the next I don’t. So, I have to play this as if she's human. “You just love falling for me, huh.” I can’t help the smirk on my lips, but I don’t want to embarrass her, so I just keep talking. “It’s Tuesday, that means it’s crumb bun day. I love that they started putting extra icing on them, it’s my favorite.”

“That was my idea,” she chirps.

“Well, it was a damn good idea.” We reach the exit, and she carefully pushes the door open that leads out to the street. “So do you mind if I walk with you since we’re both headed that way anyway?”

“Oh, I guess so,” she says nervously. As we pass through the door, we’re hit by pouring rain. “Gosh I had no clue it was supposed to rain like this today,” she yells loudly over the construction noise across the street. I glance up the street, spotting a cab, I wave my hand and let out a loud whistle. The cab pulls up so fast I have to jump out of the way to avoid getting soaked.

“Come on,” I say motioning for her to get in the cab.

“I can walk. It’s only five blocks.”

“Becca, seriously. It’s pouring.”

With a reluctant nod, she rushes towards me, and we both climb in.

“Where to?” the cabbie asks.

“Wolf It Coffee Co. Barrow and W Fourth, please”

“You got it, I love that place,” the cabbie grins.

Being this close to her is absolutely f*****g killing me. I can feel sparks firing between us and I can see it’s affecting her. I want to scream “MATE,” but we’re in a cab and I don’t think I’ll be able to stop myself from taking her. My emotions are everywhere, and my s*x drive is on high alert. I’m trying so hard to school them. I can’t help but stare at her, and I can’t help but notice she's trying hard not to look at me. A little smirk appears as she shivers from the cold.

“Thank you, for hailing the cab. I’m freezing, which would’ve made walking suck.”

“Well, the gentlemen in me would give you my jacket to help with that chill of yours but it's just as wet as you are, so I’m afraid it won’t help.” She chuckles at the realization. I got a laugh, okay keep up the small talk you got this Connor, but she beats me to it….

“So, what are you studying at school?” She asks as she fiddles with her fingers on her lap.

“Business, International Affairs and American History.”

“Interesting. What year are you?”

“I’m a senior, you?”

She looks up and answers, “Junior.”

“So, can I ask a silly question?” she simply nods. “When we bumped into each other earlier today you looked really sad, is everything okay?”

“Oh, ummm no, I mean yes. Ugh, yes everything is fine. It’s just that I was thinking about my brother.” Becca nervously rubs her hands up and down the front of her jeans. Closing her eyes, she takes a deep breath and collects herself. Something tells me there’s a story here, but I don’t want to push my luck and have her stop talking.

Before I know it, the car is coming to an abrupt stop. “That will be seven fifty,” the cabbie says. After we peel ourselves from the window that separates us from the driver. I pull some cash out, slide it through the slot and we step out onto the street, grateful that it has stopped pouring, I take the opportunity to take Becca by the hand and walk toward the entrance of the store. She looks down at our joined hands and for a second, I think she’s going to pull away, but she doesn’t. That alone makes my day, baby steps.

“Sorry I’m late Rein,” Becca calls out as we walk inside. Reluctantly, I let go of her hand and I watch as she shuffles behind the counter to get to work. Looking around for a good spot to sit, I pick a table in the far corner. I’ll have a great view of my mate and extra points because it’s near an outlet. Pulling out my laptop and some pack work I need to get done, I settle in because I’ll be damned if I leave here without asking her on a proper date.