Warrior's human mate

Chater 14

Laila

I woke up to sunlight streaming through my window, its warmth a stark contrast to the dull ache spreading through my body. Stretching across my bed, I groaned as pain radiated from my neck, arms, legs—hell, even my feet and abdomen. Oh, man. I grunted again. Every inch of me hurt.

But the dancing… The dancing was so nice. A small smile tugged at my lips.

Then, like a stampede of wild elephants, the memories of last night crashed into my mind.

His firm grip as he pulled me through the crowd. That smoldering gaze. His body pressed against mine. The heat of his touch. The way his lips grazed my neck… how he lingered, teasing, just before brushing against my lips. My breath hitched.

What the f***k did I do?

Groaning, I covered my face with my hands. Stupid, stupid, stupid me. I should have never danced with him. Shouldn’t have taken that tequila shot. And I definitely shouldn’t have let myself hug him. Or kiss his cheek.

I’d spent so much time resisting him, keeping my distance, and now? Now I was unraveling. Where am I taking this? And the worst part? I left the damn date question open.

What do I even want now?

Was I really considering crossing that line—from harmless lunches to something deeper? Like lovers? Do I want to have s**x with him now?

A low groan slipped from my lips as a familiar warmth coiled in my stomach, then drifted lower. My body was answering the question for me, but my rational mind refused to give in so easily.

Shoo.

What do I do now? Say yes to the date? And then what? He kisses me? Where does that lead us?

How many dates before I end up in his bed… under him?

These were just questions swirling in my mind, but my imagination had already taken me there—his bed, his body over mine, his hot kisses trailing across my skin…

I sat up abruptly, shaking my head as if that could erase both the memories and the fantasies tangled in my mind.

What do I even want?

I chewed the inside of my lip, frustration simmering beneath my skin. Maybe a shower would help clear my head—give me an answer.

But as warm water cascaded over me, my thoughts refused to quiet.

Should I go on a date with him?

At the end of the day, I was just a girl. And it felt so damn nice to be pursued—to have a gorgeous guy like him paying attention to me, making me smile, taking me places, whispering compliments that made my heart stutter. He was charming and sweet. And my heart was not made of stone.

And God, the way he danced.

I hadn’t expected him to be so good. But he was. He could lead, twirl, move with me instead of just swaying on the spot like so many others. I hated that. I craved a partner, someone who felt the music with me. And last night… last night, I had loved every second of it.

Maybe that was the final c***k in my resistance—the last drop tipping the scale.

So now, the real question… Should I hook up with him? And if I do—how many times?

And then what? I was leaving in less than six months.

Wah.

Sure, my body might be fine with something casual. But my heart? That stupid, reckless thing? It had a habit of getting attached. Of falling too hard, too fast. And then what? I’d go home heartbroken?

I groaned, pressing my forehead against the cool tiles.

This was pointless. I couldn’t predict the future. I was overthinking everything, spiraling until my temples ached from it.

Maybe… maybe I just needed to stop thinking.

Okay, okay. Chill.

I can go on a date and see how it goes.

Wah, who am I kidding? It’ll probably be just like our lunches—easy, light, fun. Spending time with him had never been difficult. In fact, it was effortless. He made me laugh, made me feel at ease. And beneath all that charm, there was depth to him.

So what exactly did I think would be different?

Was I planning to test him during this date? Test him for what? That all those big, bold words he had stated to me were true? Some of them were practically lifelong promises. There was no way to prove that.

Wah.

I groaned again, frustration curling in my chest. So many questions, and still—no answers.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to step back mentally. Okay. I’ll see him today. I’ll pay attention—to him, to myself. If I feel that spark, if I truly want something more, I’ll say yes to the date.

That thought settled something inside me. A small flutter stirred in my stomach.

But deep down, I already knew the truth. That spark had been there for a while now. I was just doing a damn good job resisting it.

Okay, okay. Take it easy. Just chill.

I exhaled slowly, willing myself to relax, to shake off the tension coiling in my nerves.

***

He picked me up right at two p.m., perfectly on time.

And, damn, he looked good.

Fresh, relaxed, effortlessly handsome in his dark blue tee and lightly torn jeans—like last night’s outing hadn’t affected him at all. Meanwhile, I winced at my own reflection in the car window. Puffy eyes and dark circles. No makeup to hide them since we were heading to the pool. It was all on full display.

So, did I want to look good for him now?

Oh, just shut up, I scolded myself, irritated by my own spiraling thoughts.

When we arrived at the swimming pool, we split off into separate locker rooms. But nothing prepared me for what I saw when we met again.

Him. In just swimming trunks.

Heat rushed through my body.

D.amn.

His physique was obscene—all sculpted muscle, strength, and impossible perfection. I barely glanced his way, but the image burned into my mind, refusing to leave. A six-pack and strong chest. Thick, powerful arms. Even his back and legs were defined, every inch of him a testament to whatever brutal training he endured for work.

Jeez, couldn’t he at least have a beer belly? Something—anything—ugly about him?

This wasn’t fair.

I didn't dare to look and openly drool over him. I was not ready to show my physical attraction to him.

I needed a distraction. Without hesitation, I stepped to the edge of the pool and dove in smoothly. The cool water wrapped around me, chasing away the heat threatening to consume me. Good. This is exactly what I need.

But even as I swam, my mind clung to the memory of his body. Not helping.

We spent the next two hours swimming and unwinding in the hot tub. Thankfully, the pool wasn’t crowded—just the way I liked it. But today, being near him wasn’t easy. Every time he moved, I caught myself watching—stealing glances as his muscles flexed in the water, as his body shifted and moved so effortlessly.

And it was driving me mad with lust and desire.

Stupid hormones. Stupid attraction.

As I sat beside him at the edge of the pool, my thoughts drifted back to the question. The date.

I chewed the inside of my lip, my nerves twisting tighter.

Wah. I hated feeling like this—so anxious, so uncertain.

Maybe I just needed to rip off the band-aid, get it over with. The faster it is done, the faster I could relax again.

Because overthinking? It was only making things worse.

"Okay. Ask me the question."

I finally said it out loud. He held my gaze a moment longer, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

"What question?"

He smirked, teasing me.

I refused to ask it myself. Too proud for that. He had to be the one to ask me out. So I narrowed my eyes at him instead.

"I’m counting to five, if you don’t ask, my answer is no."

I challenged him, arms crossed. Okay, maybe threatening a guy isn’t the best way to get a date, but… I.diot. What was I even doing? I should’ve just stayed proud and silent, let him make up his own mind. If he changed it—so be it. I didn’t want to sound desperate.

At the end of the day, I was a waste of time for him anyway. I was leaving. He was staying. Or maybe that was the perfect setup for him? Ugh. St.upid, romantic me.

Maybe I should just say no.

But then—he reached for my hand, gently wrapping his fingers around mine, his other hand settling on top. His touch was warm, steady. His gaze locked onto mine, and I was biting the inside of my cheek.

Jeez, couldn’t he be ugly?

"Laila," he said, his voice smooth, steady. "Will you do me the honor of going on a date with me?"

His lips curved into a confident, expectant smile.

I furrowed my brows. Why did that sound like a marriage proposal?

"I was not expecting your question to be like that... " I said, with a deep frown.

Still, after a beat, I exhaled. "But okay. Yes, I’ll go."

His smile doubled in size.

"Yes! Awesome!"

He cheered, his excitement so genuine that I couldn’t help but smile back.

Well, s**t. I just agreed to a date.

I blamed it on the fact that I hadn’t had one in two years. That had to be it.

But then my brain went into overdrive. So… am I doing this for fun? A casual fling? Friends with benefits?

What if I fall in love?

No. Never. Not for a playboy. No way. I’m smarter than that.

I could keep this casual. Just something to pass the time while I was in the States. No strings attached. I could do that. Right?

Butterflies and anxiety churned in my stomach. A deep, unsettling instinct told me this wasn’t just a casual, meaningless decision.

"You’ve been so nice to me all this time," I admitted, my voice quieter now. "You’ve done many things for me. I feel like I… owe you."

I did feel guilty.

He had given me so much of his time, attention, even money—paying for lunches, taking me places—while I’d done nothing but throw sarcastic remarks at him and overanalyze every move.

Was guilt a dumb reason to go on a date?

Wahhh. I’m overthinking this again.

"Don’t feel like you owe me anything," he said simply, his voice light. "Just enjoy your time with me. And let go."

Then he smiled. Oh, man. That smile. How was any girl supposed to stay immune to that?

"Yeah, easy to say, hard to do."

I replied, my brows furrowed.

"Well, in that case, you owe me ten dates."

He winked with a mischievous grin.

My eyes widened. "Haha, very funny."

I scrunched my nose at him.

"Okay then, be ready tomorrow at four p.m. We’re going to dinner."

He flashed a confident smile.

"Isn’t that a little too early for dinner?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"If we start early, I get to spend more time with you."

He wiggled his eyebrows, grinning like a devil.

I narrowed my eyes. "You have such a smooth tongue, mister."

He chuckled. "What’s wrong with giving a girl some nice attention?"

"Everything—if your only goal is to get her into bed."

I tested his reaction, watching him closely. Was I just another conquest for this playboy?

His smile faded, replaced by something more serious.

"Laila, I don’t just want to have s**x with you."

His voice was steady, as if trying to convince me.

I folded my arms. "That’s even more suspicious."

He groaned. "Why?!"

His frustration was almost endearing.

"When was your last relationship?" I challenged.

His brows knitted together. "Five years ago."

He shrugged, as if that wasn’t a big deal.

"Exactly." I pointed at him. "That’s the answer to your why."

He squinted at me.

"What?" I smirked, enjoying this too much.

"You… are… annoying."

He scrunched his nose, looking adorably exasperated.

I threw my head back and laughed. "Ha-ha-ha!"

The next second, his strong arms wrapped around my waist, lifting me effortlessly. I squealed, clinging to him as he strode toward the pool.

"No—don’t you dare—!"

Too late. In two steps, he was at the edge, and before I could protest further, he jumped in, taking me down with him.

I surfaced, coughing out water between laughter. "You i.diot!" I splashed water at him.

With a wide grin, he splashed me right back.

We kept at it, laughing, dodging, soaking each other, until I decided to really get back at him. I tried to jump on him, aiming to pull him under the water.

Of course, it was useless. The guy was a literal mountain of muscle—completely unmovable.

Defeated, I huffed and swam away, pretending to be disinterested. But inside, I knew—he was getting to me, little by little. And that? That was dangerous.

I drifted to the shallow edge of the pool, resting my elbows on the side as I let my body float lazily. James swam around, his gaze constantly finding its way to me. It was starting to make me feel... seen. I started to feel like a prune and noticed how hungry I was getting.

With a quick movement, I jumped out of the pool and sat on the edge, dangling my feet in the cool water. James followed, standing right in front of me. There was something in his eyes—something that I couldn’t quite read.

"Since you said 'yes' to having a date with me, I want to try something," he said, his voice soft but serious.

He took a step forward, standing between my legs. His height gave him the perfect position, his face now at my eye level. He placed his hands beside me on the edge of the pool, trapping me in place. I could feel the heat radiating off of him. Why do I feel suffocated all of a sudden? It was as if the air had been stolen from the space around us.

He looked deep into my eyes, and I felt a spark of tension building between us. His gaze flickered—first to my eyes, then to my lips, and back again.

"Stay very still," he commanded, his voice low and slow.

Oh.My.God. My brain short-circuited, my thoughts scattered in every direction. Time itself seemed to freeze. His lips were getting closer, and I knew exactly where this was going.

His head tilted slightly as he moved in closer, and I couldn't even bring myself to think the word in my head. His eyes stayed locked on mine, then flickered back to my lips, teasing me with every movement. My heart rate spiked, thudding in my chest. He was so close now, I could feel the heat of his body against mine. Butterflies erupted in my stomach as my nerves flared.

He seemed... unsure.

What? I blinked in surprise. This cocky, confident, ridiculously handsome man was looking at me with a hint of hesitation. Was he... afraid? Was he afraid that I would pull away?

The thought made me smirk inwardly. I had him second-guessing himself? Had I knocked him off his game that badly? No, I didn’t like the sound of that. I wanted him bold, not unsure. But despite that, he didn't seem weak. The way he commanded me to stay still had a power to it that sent a shiver down my spine.

Relax, Laila.

I took a deep breath, holding it, my mind spinning as he closed the distance between us. He was so close now I could feel his breath on my skin. His lips parted slightly, and in that moment, everything shifted. The line between us—friends and something more—was crossed.

Then, his lips brushed against mine, soft and warm. I closed my eyes and gave in.

Mmm... His kiss was so gentle at first, his soft lips making me melt. I parted my mouth, letting him meet me halfway. His tongue slid into my mouth, dancing with mine, and my entire body hummed with a rush of sensation.

He’s a damn good kisser.

Of course, I should have expected that. A guy with his experience would know how to make a kiss feel like it was the only thing that mattered in the world.

I groaned inwardly, pushing away any thoughts of his past, of whatever baggage he might carry. No. Just enjoy this moment.

But I couldn’t help it. Every nerve in my body was alive, electrified by the feel of his lips on mine, the way he kissed me with such intensity.

It felt so good. Too good.

James

I couldn't stop smiling after yesterday. In my opinion, taking her dancing was a total success. I replayed every moment of the night, savoring the way I got to feel her close to me, the way her skin felt when I touched it, the way she let me in. Of course, I had to take a cold shower afterward. Twice. But it was more than worth it.

And today? Today we were going swimming together. Another chance to see her beautiful body in something less than her usual armor. Maybe, just maybe, she’d say "yes" to the date. I was hopeful.

When I picked her up, she looked tired. I didn’t sleep much either, but my werewolf healing helped me stay in shape even after sleepless nights. But when she stepped out of the wardrobe, she looked absolutely magnificent.

She wore a black one-piece swimsuit, which covered her chest and kept things modest. A little disappointing, sure, but the side cuts and open back made up for it. She looked so d.amn s.exy. I had to look away, or I was going to embarrass myself with a b***r. She barely glanced at me before diving into the pool, her body slicing through the water like a mermaid.

D.amn, she was s.exy.

I couldn’t deny the pang in my chest. I wanted her to check me out, to show some sign that she was attracted to my body, but no—she was as indifferent as ever. It was like I was just another guy, a regular dude with a beer belly or something.

We swam and relaxed in the hot tub for a while, but I couldn’t stop thinking about when I should ask her out. Probably at the end of the day, when we were parting ways. That seemed like good timing. To my surprise, she started the conversation. The fact that she agreed to go on a date with me was honestly the happiest moment I’d had since I first met her. I was practically buzzing with joy.

Despite all her teasing, all her pushing me away, I had made a breakthrough. She liked me. There was hope. For us. We could build something real together. Although, I could tell she still didn’t believe me when I said I wanted something more than just fun. Then what did she expect from agreeing to this date?

She was still being her usual frustrating self, and I wanted to bite her—so I did the next best thing. I threw her into the water.

As I watched her float there, I thought about when I should kiss her. I wanted to kiss her right then and there. Would she slap me if I did it now? Or would she give in? There were only three other people in the pool, and the thought of that kiss was almost unbearable.

So I went to her.

"Stay very still," I ordered softly.

I wasn’t sure if she would pull away or if she’d be mad, but surprisingly, she didn’t move. She stayed there, as still as I asked her to. And for a moment, I silently prayed she wouldn’t back out.

I leaned in, and finally, my lips met hers. My heart was racing, screaming with joy in my mind. She didn’t pull away. Instead, she responded, parting her lips on her own and deepening the kiss. I didn’t even have to ask for permission. It was everything I’d hoped for.

Wow. This was real.

I couldn’t believe how good it felt. Her sweet taste lingered on my tongue, and the sparks from the kiss shot straight through me, turning into a heat I couldn’t control. I’d kissed a lot of girls, but this? This was different. This felt real. She tasted sweet, and her soft tongue dancing with mine sent electricity straight to my d.ick.

Of course, I was getting hard.

Maybe kissing her now wasn’t the best idea, but who the hell was I kidding? This was the best kiss I’d ever had. I'd waited torturous weeks for this moment. I couldn’t believe I’d managed to hold my desires back for so long.

Now, I felt like I’d been wandering alone in the streets, lost and broken—and finally, I found my home. In her. Something warm and sweet filled the hollow spaces in my chest, and I didn’t want it to end.

But eventually, I had to pull away. My lungs screamed for air. I broke the kiss, panting, and rested my forehead against hers, still tingling from the sparks of the kiss.

It was just a kiss. But it was the best one I’d ever had. How could this be possible? The bond is one wicked thing.

I pulled away and finally looked into her eyes. She was studying me, her gaze lingering as if she were trying to decipher something in her mind. It was easy to read her moods from her face, but the depth of her heart? That was another story.

"Why are you… why are you panting?" she asked, her voice curious.

I was still catching my breath, but I noticed she was breathing completely normally.

"I'm breathless after that amazing kiss," I said, flashing her a smile.

She frowned, clearly puzzled.

"Why?" she asked again.

I frowned. Didn’t she need to breathe after a kiss?

"Well… you know… I need oxygen after that kiss."

She kept frowning.

"Your reply doesn’t make sense."

Her frown deepened.

"What do you mean?" I asked, confused.

"No. What do you mean by ‘I need oxygen after the kiss’?" she asked, furrowing her eyebrows.

"Well, you know... kissing until my lungs are screaming for oxygen, then breaking the kiss to catch my breath."

God, why do I feel so st.upid explaining this? A sense of dread started to creep into my gut. Her face softened, but she still seemed to be processing what I’d said.

"What?!" she sputtered, half laughing. I bet if she had a drink in her mouth, it would’ve been all over my face by now.

"Is that how you kiss? Who taught you that?"

She laughed out loud now, her head thrown back. And yeah, the view was amazing, but I couldn’t fully enjoy it because I felt like such an i.diot.

"I’ve never heard of anything like that!" she added, still laughing.

I stared at her, dumbfounded. What did she mean she’d never heard of that? Isn’t that how everyone kisses? Suddenly, I felt like I didn’t know anything about kissing. Something I thought I was an expert at—now, I wasn’t so sure.

"Oh, yeah? How do you kiss, then?"

I asked, trying to save face.

She looked at me, her expression steady.

"Like a normal person," she replied, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "I breathe while kissing. It’s just stupid not to breathe while kissing."

She frowned again.

"I’ve never met a person who didn’t breathe while kissing. Yeah!" She shook her head, as if it were the most bizarre thing she’d ever heard.

I felt like a complete i***t now, and my wolf was sulking in my mind. She was probably picturing me as some immature kid. I could feel the weight of her judgment.

"Who even does that? Kids, maybe?" she added, a teasing smile playing at the corners of her lips.

Yep, I was the stupid kid in her eyes. Fantastic. I thought with a touch of sarcasm. She’ll never take me seriously. I’ll always be the fool to her, no matter what I do. My wolf whimpered, and a painful tightness gripped my chest. The urge to stick my tongue out at her was strong, but that would only reinforce the image of me as a childish i.diot.

"Well, yeah? How about I kiss you until you’re in such a frenzy that you need to catch your breath?"

I was playing with words now, but it was all I had to save face. Without warning, I attacked her lips again.

She was caught off guard at first, but quickly followed my lead, her mouth opening as our tongues met and danced. I could feel her smile against my lips, and it annoyed the hell out of me. I was determined to wipe that smile off her face, so I kissed her harder. I kissed her like I was making love to her—her face, her mouth, her tongue.

Now I was breathing while kissing, and it felt strange, but it allowed us to keep going longer. We didn’t need to stop. I forgot about everything around us—time, the people in the pool, the lonely years I spent without her. It was just me and my mate. Her lips, her tongue, her body in my hands.

Her arms wrapped around my neck, pulling me closer, and she tugged on my hair. I groaned, the buzz of desire and lust coursing through me. I wanted more, needed more. I could smell her arousal now, and it only made things worse.

But at the same time, I could do this forever. Ten minutes? I’d lost track of time. I heard a few murmurs from the other people in the pool, making comments about us needing a room. I chuckled, but broke the kiss. We should probably get a room. But I knew Laila wasn’t ready for that yet.

"Okay, so I need to catch my breath now," she said, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips.

Ha! Who’s the winner now?

We left the pool, and I drove her home, still floating on the high of that kiss.

"Okay, so I’ll pick you up tomorrow," I said, flashing her a grin.

"Where’s the rush?" she teased, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

"You might change your mind if I wait a day longer," I said, raising an eyebrow.

She laughed, a sound that made my heart soar.

"Aww, you’ve started to get to know me," she cooed, and I couldn’t help but puff out my chest in pride.

"That is so nice!" she added, and my heart nearly burst. Best.Compliment.Ever. I grinned, I’m so going to nail this.