Marabella
I fall asleep waiting for Jonah to return home. I have no idea what time it is when he returns but I feel someone’s hands touch me, nearly making me jump out of my skin when arms scoop me up off the sofa. My arms flail out as panic sets in, thinking I am falling off the couch when his scent hits me.
“It’s just me,” Jonah whispers gently, and I turn in his arms to squint at him in the darkness. This feels nice. I feel safe. But I can’t let him know that.
“I was comfy, and I can walk, you know?” I protest.
I feel kind of embarrassed that he is carrying me. Jonah ignores me before he places me in a bed, and I realize I’m in his room. His scent is overwhelmingly strong in here, but comforting. Sitting up, Jonah pushes me back down, climbing over the top of me and laying beside me.
Does he know that he put me in the wrong room? Although I prefer the couch over the spare room.
However, we have never slept in his room here together. It has always been one boundary that has never been crossed. I am now confused, and his closeness is getting to me. “Ah, Jonah?” I whisper.
“Hmm,” is all he says while he lays down, getting comfy. He reaches over, gripping my arm and manhandling me to wrangle me under the blankets. Tucking me in and moving closer.
“Your mother tried to ring you; I accidentally took your phone,” Jonah says, tucking me flush against him and spooning me. I sigh, giving in to his warmth and comfort as his arms wrap protectively around me. I relax and lay down; Jonah wouldn’t hurt me. Never.
“Did you answer it? She tried ringing your phone too,” I tell him, yawning. I am still exhausted and being cocooned in Jonah’s arms makes me feel even sleepier.
“No, figured you would ring her if you wanted to speak to her,” I nod.
Jonah always got me. He always has my back. He understands me like no one else ever did, and listens without judgment.
“I will probably have to go home tomorrow,” I sigh heavily.
Time to face reality. Time to go back to my comfortably familiar misery.
“You can always stay here with me,” he offers.
I shake my head, knowing I can’t possibly do that. I have to go home eventually. Then, Kora and I need to decide what we want to do about Kyan, and if we can still leave now that we have found our mate.
I always planned to go rogue. I wanted to go rogue, but I also didn’t want to risk going in heat while rogue. That could end in disaster, and I would be out in the open. Too many risks, so I need to think this through properly.
Getting comfortable, I jam my feet between his legs. I can’t even remember the last time I shared a bed with someone, probably when I was younger and used to climb in with Eziah when there were storms.
I hate storms, they always make me want to hide away under the bed covers, or in a cupboard, anywhere where I would be free from the noise, and the howling wind. They have always freaked me out, like the end of the world was coming, or maybe I shouldn’t have watched so many doomsday movies as a kid? Jonah shrieks when my cold feet touch him.
“Your feet are like ice,” he squeals, and I go to move them away. “Put ’em back, I didn’t say to move them,” he says, and I jam them back between his thighs. Ah, that feels nice. Despite having socks and gloves on, I always have cold feet and hands.
Jonah laces his fingers through mine and snuggles into me. “Ah, that’s better,” he mumbles, burying his face into the back of my neck. And I won’t lie… This feels amazing. For the first time, I feel like nothing bad will get to me.
“So, will you stay here, or am I taking you home?” Jonah asks.
“No, I need to go back. Where did you go?” I ask him.
Jonah sighs and rolls on his back. “To speak with Kyan,” he mutters, threading his hands through his dark blonde hair.
“Did he tell you what his text message meant?” I ask.
Jonah growls softly. “Yes, I know what it means, but I can’t tell you,” he says.
Kora whines loudly in my head. Does this mean Jonah would lie to me too? Shaking my head, I untangle my fingers from his and chuck the blanket back.
What is it with everyone and keeping secrets? Can’t I be trusted to know? It’s my life, and my own mother has lied to me my entire life. She knew Kyan was my mate and said nothing; Kyan knew I was his mate and said nothing because he didn’t want me! Now Jonah is going to keep secrets from me too?
I get up and pluck the blanket off, feeling frustrated and broken. I am tired of everyone keeping me at an arm’s distance and out of the loop when this is my life too. Yet everyone just treats me like I am a puppet on a string, and I have to go along, without having my own thoughts, or say in the matter. No, I am just a nobody and always would be.
“Where are you going?” Jonah asks as I climb out of the bed.
“To sleep in the guest room!” I mutter, trying to hide my hurt from him.
His words sting, I didn’t expect Jonah to tell me everything, but I also didn’t expect him to admit knowing something and refusing to tell me. Especially when what I asked was directed at me.
It is bad enough that my parents and mate had lied. Can’t I have one person I can trust, just one person in my corner? Or isn’t that something I didn’t deserve, either?
“If you won’t tell me and want to lie to me, fine, but don’t do it to my face. I expected better than that from you,” I snap at him when I feel his fingers wrap around my wrist.
He growls and rips me back on the bed.
A shriek leaves me at his quick movement, only to find myself laying back down beside him, with him hovering over me. His firm body is only inches away from mine, his scent consumes me. He looks me straight in the eyes, his brows now furrow.
“Don’t run from me without letting me explain,” Jonah growls, laying back down on his back and pulling me with him. Propped up on one elbow, I peer down at him, and Jonah pats his chest with his hand, wanting me to lie on him.
“Mara, I have never done anything for you not to trust me, so please just lay back down; I want to tell you.” He tugs me down on him when I don’t move, tucking his arm around me and pulling me closer and not letting me escape him.