Strangers to Mates

Chapter 9: Marking

We were sitting at the table having lunch. I'd been thinking about meeting his parents ever since he brought it up. We'd be having dinner at their house on Wednesday then Friday I'd sign the documents making me part of the pack and then I'd meet the pack. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. I now that by the time I'm officially part of the pack I will have been here two weeks already but it still seemed to be coming so soon. And then there was his parents. From what he's told me his mum seems really nice and I'm not as worried about meeting her, even if I still am a bit nervous about it.

"Can we go to the mall?" I suddenly asked.

"Sure but why?" He said looking up from his food.

"I want to get a dress. Nothing super fancy, but I wanted to look nice when I met your mum." I confessed.

"You don't have to. You could show up in what ever and I know that they'll still love you anyways way." When I didn't say anything he continued, "but if you really want to we can. We can head out when we're done eating."

"Okay sounds like a plan." I agree happily finishing my food.

We walked into the kitchen, putting the dishes in the dishwasher like we did most the time. Neither of us really liked washing the dishes so we tried to put everything in the dishwasher but the few things we couldn't we washed together. It almost made it better, our joined effort. I went upstairs and grabbed a hoodie to throw over my tee shirt and shorts. We head out to his truck and he takes us to the mall. We spent most our time browsing before I finally started looking for a dress. I ended up buying a solid dark forest green dress that stopped right above my knees. But we also ended up buying a few movies and Raymond got a new hoodie, which I intended to steal after he'd warn it a few times. It was close to dinner time when Raymond suggested,

"Why don't we have dinner at one of the restaurants that are here in the mall."

"Sure." I asaid and with that we walked into the closest restaurant, I think Raymond was started to get really hungry.

Like mum used to say, male wolves and their hunger, it never seems to end.

We were seated the second we walked in and moments later a male waiter came to take our order. I had to admit that he had that boyish cuteness to him but he was nothing compared to Raymond in looks. I remembered the first time we had ate out together and some girl had flirted with him, well we didn't have much more luck today. Except this time instead of your waiter flirting with Raymond, he was flirting with me. Holy crap, no one had ever flirted with me before, all the guys in my old pack sucked and they knew to stay away from me because they annoyed me so much.

"Why what can I get the beautiful lady to drink." he said with a wink.

"Um, I'll uh just have a water please." I asked timidly.

I really wasn't used to this kinda thing, sure Raymond had calls me beautiful among other things but it felt weird hearing someone else say it.It didn't feel right.

"Of course, anything for a pretty face. Sure there's nothing else I can get you." I felt like he was hinting at something and it took me a moments to realize he was talking about his number.

"Uh, no. I'm fine thank you" I say politely.

I swear it was like Raymond was invisible as he hinted at something like that.

I could feel the anger Raymond was feeling through the bond. He was pissed, I knew he was super possessive, it took me two whole days to convince him to let me hug Chris and Chris already had a mate. I decided to order a drink for him since I knew that if he opened his mouth he'd say something that he'd regret later. Well he might not regret it but I would for him.

"He'll have a water too" I add nicely before he leaves with a wink in my direction.

I turned to Raymond once the waiter was out of sight and place a hand on his arm. He calmed down but was still very tense. He was breathing heavily trying to keep his wolf in. I could feel everything he was feeling through the mate bond, the possessiveness, the anger towards the guy, and many other similar things. I moved my hand up to the side of his face and he instantly turned his face into my hand.

"I want to kill him" he mumbled, with now closed eyes, his words so threatening but voice so calm.

It was funny, he sounded so serious yet my touch made him look so peaceful, they didn't go together, making it quite funny. I knew he was enjoying my touch, he loved that I was warming up to him and accepted him, that I wasn't fighting it any more. Even though I wasn't really much in the start, it was hard enough then but even harder now. He was still so mad, it radiated off him, but without that guy in sight it was fading slightly.

"But you're not going to right?" I ask like I'm talking to a four year old.

"Only if he doesn't touch you." he mumbled again.

I smiled slightly, even though I would prefer if he didn't kill anyone the thought of his protectiveness still made me feel all warm inside.

"Your sweet, but I won't let anything happen. You don't have to worry." I say caressing his cheek with my thumb.

"I'll try." he said right before the waiter came back with our drinks.

He set them down on the tables, pulling out a notebook to take our orders. Of course Raymond knew I was going to have the same as on our first date so he spoke up before anyone else could say anything.

"I'll have the burger and fries and my girlfriend will have the same" he said, emphasizing on the word girlfriend.

Raymond was glowering, daring the guy to flirt with me again. He did the smart thing turning without another word and went to place our orders. Raymond sat back, clearly pleased with himself.

"I could have ordered myself." I said turning to face him.

Why did we always end up in U shaped booths?

"Well you ordered my drink so I thought I'd return the favor." he excused grinning like he was the smartest guy around.

I rolled my eyes but rested my head on his shoulder. Urge, now I was getting hungry too. I swear Raymond's hunger was contagious, whenever he was hungry I was too.

We sat like that for a while before the waiter, who I still didn't know the name of, came with our food. I pulled away hungry and ready to finally eat but felt cold without the warmth of Raymond connected at my side. I saw out of the corner of my eye that Raymond was glaring at the waiter, daring him again, while I just quietly thanked him then he left, probably scared of Raymond. I knew Raymond could be as scary as hell when he wanted to, I think he was even a little proud of it. I'd learn that his father sometimes did that to put wolves in their place when misbehaving, and had taught Raymond that that was the way to do it. I didn't think Raymond agreed all that much, depending on what's happening, but I knew that he was glad he could do it now.

We chatted as we ate and Raymond glared at the waiter each time he tried to come near our table. I tried to convince Raymond that it was his job to make sure the customers didn't need anything else but Raymond didn't bother listening to my reasoning, continuing to glare when the time came. When Raymond finally singled for the check our waiter brought it over so Raymond could pay. He handed me the final recite but I felt another piece of paper taped to the back. I didn't look at it till we left.

God was this a habit of ours or something? The waiter gave me his number just like that waitress had given hers to Raymond. I crumpled it up, tossing it in the trash before stuffing the recite in my pocket. As we drove back home with our bags I flicked through music stations finally deciding on a slower song, I'd never heard it before but it sounded pretty good, I liked it. It ended just as we pulled up in front of the house again. We got out and Raymond helped me with the bags, there weren't many but of course he took them all, causing his hands to become full.

We stopped in front of the door and didn't move for a second until Raymond asked slyly,

"Can you unlock the door, the keys are in my front pocket."

I swear he did this on purpose, taking all the bags so he'd have a reason to ask me to put my hand in his pocket. I shook my head, trying not to smile at how smooth he could be sometimes. I thought it was hilarious even if it made me want to glare at him in a playful manor.

I took a couple steps closer to him so that I was right in front of him and slowly slipped my hand in his pocket, grabbing the keys and pulling them out with my hand. I turned toward the door slowly again, unlocking it and walking in, shutting it after Raymond had passed me. I turned around to find that he already went up stairs, most likely to put the things away. I sighed before heading up myself. I saw him in the bounce room, stacking the movies with the rest. He still had the other two bags with him so I'm guessing that this was his first stop.

I sat in the center of the bed, my back to the door, and try to message my neck, for some reason it was seriously tense. Okay so maybe not for 'some reason'. I'd been stressed with finals and my birthday so I'd been tense and stressed the past six months. When I learned that Raymond was my mate, most of my tenseness went away but I still hurt from the constants of that stress.

I didn't realize that Raymond had come in the room, till I felt the bed dip. He was sitting right behind me and took over the messaging, and I let him right away. My hands fell down into my lap and I closed my eyes, caught up in the amazing feeling. He was so fricken good at this, God. I felt my knots slowly disappearing. He moved his hands from my neck to under my shirt and up to my shoulders where he continued to message my back. I felt him lean forward and place kisses up my spin and I just melted, leaning into his touch. He left a fire behind and I wanted more, I wanted to burn. I quickly turn around and brought his lips up to mine. He kissed me back right away, no second thought, pulling me onto his lap so that I was straddling him.

His hands were on my waist pulling me into him and mine were tangled in his hair. He broke away from the intense kiss and kissed down my neck. I felt him stop close to bottom of my neck and suck on my skin. I moaned, the touch doing things to me that drove me insane. I knew it'd leave a mark when he didn't pull away right away but I couldn't complain at the moment. When I felt his lips brush over the spot where he was suppose to mark me I was suddenly at conflict with myself. I knew I wasn't going to reject him so it'd be nonsense for him not to mark me, it made some sense that I stopped him the first time he tried, we had just met, but now I couldn't think of a reason for him not to. Except the fact that I was scared. He hesitated, almost waiting for me to say yes. And believe me, I wanted to and I would have instantly if my fear wasn't holding me back.

He brought his head back up and faced me when I didn't respond. He was starring deep into my eyes like he was trying to read them, trying to figure out what was holding me back. And it didn't take him long to find it, the fear was clear in my eyes.

"I won't do it unless you let me. I'm not going to force you." he said softly.

"I do. Want you to I mean. It's just..." I trailed off at a lost of words.

He lowered his head back down to my neck but his eyes never left mine. He was waiting for me to stop him, I could see it in his eyes. He gently kissed the crook of my neck and whispered against my skin,

"Can I?"

"Yes." I breathed out the word almost silently.

I could tell from his words and actions that he doesn't want to hurt me and he'd be as gentle as possible. I trusted him.

He kissed the spot a few more times before I felt his canines sharpen and brush against my skin. And with that he bit me. I chewed on my lip keeping myself from yelling out. After a moment the pain turns into pleasure and the fear turns into satisfaction as my wolf purrs in my head. He gently kissed the new mark making it go slightly numb, making me almost forget that it had ever hurt. He looked up at me, concern clear on his face. I was so drained that I just wanted to sleep then but I knew if I let myself Raymond would think he did something wrong. Sure the marking process was suppose to make you tired but I knew him. I nodded at him, lightly smiling, to let him know I was okay.

"Will you message my back again?" I suddenly asked grinning stupidly at my change of topic.

It's not that I didn't want to talk about what just happened, I just really wanted him to message my back again, it had felt so good.

"Sure." he said with a half smile.

I eased myself around in his lap so he could get to my back better. Once he started messaging my back I closed my eyes again, smiling at the amazing feeling. I started to fall asleep in his lap and groaned in protest when he stop to move me under the blankets. My eyebrows scrunched together and I frown slightly but they instantly disappear when I felt him lay beside, wrapping his arm around my waist.

That was it. I'd let him do it, I finally let him mark me. I was his and he was mine. There was no turning back now.

Thoughts alike flooded my mind as I fell asleep.