"Dawn…", George murmured and lifted his head to look at Dawn. They were so close that their noses nearly touched.
Dawn stared into his eyes that were getting darker by the second and she forgot how to breathe.
Commander George was even more handsome when he was this close. And she still couldn't believe it. Just yesterday she was swooning over him as he carried suitcases out of the car. She was thinking about him as some untouchable celebrity, yet now she was almost sitting on his lap, their hips were connected and his arms were around her and her heart was beating in her throat.
George wanted to take this slow and to get to know Dawn so that he doesn't repeat the mistake he made with Marcy. However, he could pick up the scent of Dawn's arousal and she was so adorable with her red cheeks and those delicious lips he certainly wished to devour. Was there a need to wait?
George cupped her cheek with his palm, and he pecked her lips once, twice… every kiss was a bit longer and it stirred him to get closer, and the fact that she was kissing him back was the best thing ever. Without further delay, George deepened the kiss, greedily taking everything Dawn had to offer.
Dawn melted into him as his tongue explored her mouth and his sweet flavors seeped into her system.
His hand slipped under her blouse, and she jolted when addictive sparks prickled her skin low on her back. She knew where this was going, and it's not that she was not willing, but she remembered something important.
"Wait… wait…", Dawn called between kisses and George frowned when she inched away while pulling his hand out of her blouse.
He didn't like it. Why was she pushing him away? Is this the moment when she rejects him? It happened the last time. Marcy kissed him, and then she rejected him.
Dawn took two deep breaths to stabilize herself before saying, "Are you OK? I mean… is your body fine?" He was lying on the bed without moving. She saw him on security feed last night and even this morning. Sure, one day in bed without food for a werewolf is not much, but the mental and emotional damages were unknown.
George studied her expression for a few long moments before responding, "My body is fine and my wolf welcomes your proximity."
He was about to dive for another kiss when Dawn put her fingers over his lips and asked, "Don't you want us to go to the packhouse? Or if that's not fine, we can go to my apartment?"
George removed her hand from his face. "Why?"
Dawn was not sure how to respond to this. Didn't he know why? Marcy was right there, in the room next door!
"Because… Marcy is here…", Dawn said in a small voice while pointing at the door.
George's hard expression eased.
"She can be in the room across the hall or across the ocean. Why would I care where she is?"
With that, George's hand landed at the back of Dawn's head, and he pulled her for another kiss.
Dawn was swept away in another kissing frenzy, and she felt his hot palm on her waist when she remembered one more thing.
"Wait… wait…"
George groaned in protest. "Now what?"
Dawn bit her lower lip guiltily and looked to the side. "The tray. Let me keep it on the side." It was right there on the bed and if she and George were about to do what she thought they were going to do, that tray will be tossed on the ground and make a mess she would need to clean later.
Dawn kept the tray on the table and turned to see George's frown directed at her.
"Is something wrong?", Dawn asked.
"I don't know. You tell me.", George said dryly. "Is there some other condition I need to fulfill before I can claim my mate, or are those just excuses to keep me away from you? If you are not willing, just say so. There is no need to…"
"Is that what you are thinking?", Dawn interrupted him.
George closed his eyes and exhaled sharply. "I don't know. What should I think? Tell me."
Dawn's heart cracked when his insecurities splashed on her through their mate bond, reminding her that just yesterday his bond with Marcy was broken, and it seemed that he was broken also.
She looked at him and for the first time, she didn't see the powerful and domineering Commander George. He was just George, her mate, who fed her and wanted to know things about her, and he was impossibly handsome. In addition to that, he was scarred in ways she couldn't imagine, but she knew that she had the power to make it better.
Dawn reached for the hem of her blouse and pulled it over her head. Next, she unbuttoned her jeans and shimmied out of them while being painfully aware that George was observing her keenly.
Dawn released a slow breath and met his gaze.
"No excuses, George." She looked down on her body that had only a blue lacy bra and matching panties to cover her private parts. "This is me. No matter what you think that's going on, never doubt the fact that I am your mate, and I am yours. This is yours."
George could feel her sincerity that dispersed the dark clouds from his mind.
He pushed himself off the bed and in one swift move he removed his t-shirt.
Dawn's eyes widened at the sight of his muscle-packed torso, and she swallowed a mouthful of air when she realized that he was less than a step away from her.
This was the first time for them to stand so close in front of each other, and Dawn realized how tall he was, and how broad his shoulders were… he looked like a mountain.
George's hand went up in slow motion and he run his thumb over her lower lip. "Dawn Shaw, from today onward, you are mine. As your mate and your partner, I will take care of you. That's a promise."
Dawn was not sure if she heard him right. "Shaw? That's not my name."
George's lips lifted into a smile. "It will be after I mark you." His hand moved to Dawn's left, and he touched with the tips of his fingers the base of her neck. "You will carry my mark, and you will carry my pups. Mine."
Dawn's heart was beating so violently, that she thought it will come out of her chest.
Shaw. George Shaw. Dawn Shaw. She liked it.
He will give her his last name, his mark, and his pups… their pups. Dawn could feel arousal swelling within her at the thought of them making babies.
