Winning Layla (#2)

Chapter 4

I stare at the ceiling as I try to get my head together. Not only did I have s*x with Nash, but he marked me. I can feel myself start to panic as I think about the mate bond. Nash will now be able to feel every emotional or physical experience I may go through. The same with me. The mark also tells every male that I am claimed as his.

"Layla, there is nothing to worry about," Nash says, breaking through my thoughts. He grabs my hand and runs his thumb along my knuckles before turning to face me on his side.

"What are you talking about, Nash?"

"I know you're panicking and I want you to know I'm here," he explains.

"This was a mistake," I tell him. He blinks at me before throwing his head back and laughing. I'm instantly fustrated with him. I rip my hand from his and stand up from the bed.

"Babe, what are you doing? Get back in bed," Nash orders as I walk to my old wooden dresser. I open the top drawer and pick out a pair of underwear, jean shorts, a long sleeve baseball tee, and a bra. Before I can turn back around, Nash has my body pinned to the dresser. He places his head on my shoulder to calm me down, but I shake him off.

"Get off me," I demand.

"No. Not until you talk to me," Nash says, turning me around and tightening his arms around me.

"I don't want to talk. I want to shower and start my day. Is that okay with you?" I ask sarcastically.

"Only if that shower includes me. Now, what's your problem, Layla?"

"I told you my problem and you laughed at me. You acted as if what I said didn't matter," I explain.

"I want you to think what just happened was anything but a mistake. Do you have any idea how long I have wanted to share a moment like that with you? Trust me, it's been awhile. Do you know how many nights I have laid awake and thought about you? Or how many times I've fantasized about something like that. What just happened has topped every fantasy I have ever had," he says, his face soft. He pulls me to his chest, burying his nose in my hair.

"I'm sorry. Don't be angry with me," he says. I smile up at him in reassurance. He kisses my forehead a couple times before pulling away and leading me to the shower. After the water warms up, Nash washes my hair and body before cleaning himself. We spend part of the day indoors, making love and cuddling up on my couch. After eating lunch, we head to Nash's house up the mountain by the pack house and he convinces me to spend the weekend with him.

* * *

Two Days Later...

I watch through the windows as Rush walks across the street, headed this way. I move away before he can see me and place the books in my hands on the counter by the cash register. The store is usually filled with people on Mondays, but today has dragged.

After leaving Nash's house this morning, I headed to my place to check my mail and messages on my answering machine. When I arrived, I was surprised to see that my voicemail was full of messages from Rush. I didn't call him back, but instead deleted everything on the machine. I then went about my day as if nothing had happened.

Before I can get to the stock room in the back of the store, I hear the door open and Rush as he enters. Seconds later, I hear his footsteps come up behind me and stop.

"Layla?"

I close my eyes at the sound of his voice.

"Layla?" He asks again, his tone quiet. I open my eyes before turning to face him. When I look up at him, my breath catches. His eye is a light shade of black and blue and his lip is busted. I can feel my eyes water as I relive what happened to cause this huge, gaping whole in our happy remains of siblinghood. I will the tears away before putting on a fake smile.

"What do you need, Rush?"

He's silent for a moment. "I wanted to talk. Say I'm sorry. What I did was wrong on so many levels and I would never hurt you. You know that," he says.

And bring on the tears.

Big.

Fat.

Tears.

"But you did. I had bruises on my arms from you. Not just that, but I will always have the memory of you screaming in my face. Hell, I don't even know if I trust you anymore. I know Nash certainly doesn't," I tell him, recalling a conversation from earlier. Nash had somehow convinced me to talk about how I felt about what happened. Nash also ordered me to stay away from Rush and avoid any further contact. I already know he won't be happy about the current situation.

I come back from my thoughts when I hear a women's voice from behind Rush. I crane my head to see a short blonde wearing a pair of white shorts, black flip flops, and a Led Zeppelin band t-shirt coming towards my brother.

"Rush, honey, did you talk to her?" She asks him in a gentle, curious tone.

"I was actually in the middle of that," he looks towards me again, "Layla, this is my mate, Sage. Babe, this is my sister," he introduces.

Did he just say mate?