Chapter Sixteen
GRACE
Noah’s reaction to their bond was better than Grace expected. So far, he was the perfect boyfriend and gentleman. She couldn’t get enough of him. Being apart from him physically hurt.
Once they shared their first kiss, Grace was sure that she couldn’t resist him even if she tried. No wonder their parents did everything to stay together. Rationality and self-preservation meant nothing if they had to be apart.
What was the reason to live if they weren’t allowed to love each other?
The thought of losing Noah was unbearable. She would go mad and destroy everything if something happened to him. Grace was absolutely sure of that.
Being this dependent on someone to be happy scared her. She couldn’t prevent this irrational detachment from the other beings and the world if there wasn’t Noah in her life. As a hunter, she was taught to put innocent lives first and protect them with her life if she had to. As a mate, her heart told her that no one was innocent if something happened to Noah.
No one was more important than her mate.
Maybe, with time, the overpowering need to protect him would subside. At the present time, anything or anyone that could jeopardize her mate’s life would be destroyed. Her angel side was fearlessly protective. Her werewolf was possessive by nature. She was doomed in trying to control the overwhelming feelings that assaulted her.
Noah’s acceptance of their bond had triggered her protective side. His searing kisses had awakened a hunger in her. As much as she tried to control her desire, her body and soul craved his touch.
How were they going to behave when Grandpa returned home?
Without him here, spending time with Noah in the attic wasn’t suspicious to the other students. With Grandpa home, he would know why they spent so much time together. That was awkward. Would he force her to marry Noah before they could consume their love? Would Grace want to marry him when she had so many plans for the next years of her life? She had a career she wanted to pursue. Once the mate bond was established and her desire tamed, would she regret giving up her dreams to stay with Noah? Did she need to give up everything to be with him?
They had so much to talk about.
Smiling, Grace looked at Noah and raised her foot,sliding it up Noah’s leg. He ignored her attempt to break his concentration from what he was reading. Her teeth nibbled on her lower lip, and she moved her foot higher up his leg.
“Is the book more interesting than me?” she asked.
Noah peeked over the page, and his arm secured against the back of the sofa. Dropping the book on the table beside him, his other hand moved to clutch her foot. “Are you bored?”
“No.” She giggled with the movement of his fingers on the sole of her foot and removed it to the safety of her corner of the sofa. “I just wanted to look at you.”
“If you’re bored, we can do something else.”
Grace smiled mischievously and mumbled, “I’m doing exactly what I want.”
Noah leaned forward and narrowed the distance between their faces. “What’s that?”
“Being with you, here, while reading and teasing you.” She moved closer and pursed her lips to kiss him.
His lips caressed hers, and he drew back. “Let me finish this chapter, and I’ll give you my full attention.”
Grace chuckled. “Your full attention might alert the others that something is going on here.”
“I can’t do anything about you being ticklish,” he flirted.
“As if you don’t like that I’m ticklish.”
Noah kept his lopsided smile, cleared his throat, and resumed reading.
Grace frowned, displeased.
Noah continued to read.
“We can close the door,” Grace proposed.
He raised his eyes to look at her and shook his head.