Chapter 6

Fed Up and Frustrated

I wake up, alone in the bed where he never joined me - no surprise. I walk into the living area to see Jase curled up on the couch with his phone beside him.

I remember him staying up late, making calls, but I hadn't thought about him sleeping in here. I would have given him the bed. It is his room after all.

I tiptoe over to the coffeemaker, and I quietly use my stealth training to start the brewing without waking him up. Fortunately, the coffeemaker is just as quiet as I am.

The dark blue shirt of his that I'm wearing dangles loosely, falling just below my ass, hiding the essentials. This is the second shirt of his I've had to wear since we got here. I'm hoping my aunt took it upon herself to buy me some clothes, considering I can't leave the room while looking like this. Everyone here would think something's going on, when clearly there's never going to be.

I huff as I stare at his wonderful body stretched out. My heart pounds as my eyes rest on his bare chest and sculpted abdomen. He looks even better than I imagined. I'm sure that will fuel my new fantasies of things to never come.

His phone buzzes beside him, and I jump as it rattles my ears. I look around, trying to decide if I should hide or not, but his eyes catch mine as I turn back. He lets a small smirk escape, and then he pulls the phone to his ear.

"This is Jase," he murmurs through a yawn.

"Just letting you know we're heading out to check on the ambush area. We're sending in the drones first, Sir."

Why are they telling him?

His eyes widen a little, and he walks out to the balcony before shutting the soundproof door.

Well fine then.

He's so fucking hard to understand. First, he acts like he's going to kiss me, and then he avoids me like the plague for the rest of the night. He's shifting gears so fast that my motor is ready to blow the fuck up.

"Hey," he says while walking back through the door.

"Hey," I murmur in a grouchy manner while grabbing a cup from overhead. "Want some coffee?"

"Coffee would be amazing. Thanks," he sighs out as if he's hiding something from me.

I turn to face those pale, secretive eyes, and then he walks toward me like he's finally going to do something to put me out of my misery. His hands squeeze my sides, and my head tilts back so that my lips are ready for his, should he man up.

Instead, he smirks again while pushing me to the side, and then he pulls a spoon out of the drawer behind me while grabbing his cup of coffee and the cream.

Damn asshole.

I swear I could get naked and spread my legs right in front of him, and he would still deny me. I knew I wasn't as pretty as my mother, but damn, you'd think he find me at least a little bit attractive. I may not be worship-worthy material, but I'm definitely fuckable.

He drops his glass to the ground as he spews coffee all over the cabinets. I roll my eyes while hopping down and pulling out a towel to clean up the mess.

"It's not that damn hot," I huff out while kneeling down to start wiping up the spill.

"Oh yes it is," he says with an air of mystery, his hand clasping his throat as if he's choking.

He drops to the floor to start picking up several pieces of glass, and we finish at the same time. I hear the clanking as he drops the shards into the trash, and then I walk off to toss the towel in the laundry just as someone buzzes the box beside the door.

He swishes over to answer it, but Aunt Angelica walks in before he can even say anything. Her gift comes in handy, and it works a hell of a lot better than mine... especially when breaking in.

She smiles as she struts toward me with several bags, and I sigh in relief when I see she has brought me some clothes.

"Singleton has excellent shopping. Go change, and I'll take you for breakfast."

"Sure," I mumble while offering Jase a half glance.

He smiles and then walks away, leaving me only with my aunt and my insecurities.

"I'll see you after while," he says while returning to the living area with a shirt on to hide his incredible body.

I frown when I realize I don't want him to leave, and he offers me a sweet smile before joining us.

"I have to go make some calls and work out some detailed stuff, but I'll grab you a phone while I'm out, and I'll meet up with you later... if that's okay?"

I stifle my goofy grin, and then I shrug casually while trying to show some dignity.

"You don't have to meet up with me later. I'll just see you when I see you. I'll probably stay with my aunt and uncle tonight so you can have your own space," I murmur with my deceptively cool composure. I don't want to look pathetic.

Since you obviously don't like being around me.

He looks hurt by my words, and my aunt disappears from the room like the traitor she is, the front door shutting as she leaves me alone with Jase.

"I'm sorry you feel that way," he says softly, his eyes looking directly into mine.

"Feel what way? I just said you needed your own space. That's not really a feeling," I chuckle out while turning away to escape the awkwardness.

"That's not… That's not what you meant though, was it?" he asks through the bedroom door the second I shut it.

I rifle through the bags of clothes, realizing my aunt is a total bitch. All of these clothes are skimpy, slutty, and down right seductive. This is shit my mother wears, not me, damn it.

"I just offered you your space. I'm not sure how I could have meant anything other than that," I mumble out through a huff of distaste while trying to figure out which ensemble is the least ridiculous.

"Can we please talk about you staying here instead? I'd rather not be in here alone, considering we're supposed to be doubled up. It could get me into trouble."

At least now I understand why he invited me to stay. He needs to keep his damn hands to himself if he doesn't want me.

I'm so sick of the hot and cold shit. I want to feel his lips on mine. I want to feel his body pressed between my legs, and I want to feel him inside me so deep that it makes me feel connected.

"Fuck it," I hear him murmur before the door bursts open, and I gasp as he jerks me to his body and his lips find mine for the first time.

Oh damn he tastes better than he smells.

My legs wrap around his waist as the kiss deepens and his tongue slips between my lips to start its exploration. His hands slide up the back of my shirt to my bare center. I moan as his erection digs into me through his pants, and then I feel the bed pressing against my back as his lips continue to tangle with mine.

Without hesitation, I rip his shirt over his head, and my hands find that incredibly sculpted body I've only ever seen. Our breaths exchange as his body grinds against mine, and I try to use what little bit of my gift I can control to undo his pants.

It works, and I can hear rather than see his pants sliding off as his boxers become the only thing separating us. I breathe out a harsh breath when I feel the head of his erection almost breaking through, and then he rips open my shirt to expose my bare chest.

I gasp as his mouth finds my right breast, and his tongue dances mercilessly against my nipple before he moves over to show the other one some attention.

Finally, I feel his hand running over my sex, the wetness finding his fingertip before he slides it in. He moans as he feels what it would be like to be inside me, and then he jerks his boxers off to return to me.

Angling my hips, he hovers over me - suspended, his eyes gauging mine as if he's concentrating. His thumb finds its way to my most sensitive area, and he begins making circles with it while staring at me, watching my back arch involuntarily as my breaths raggedly find his face.

Damn it. Fuck me already.

He surges in suddenly, almost violently, and my breath hitches as my whole body becomes his to own. I've never felt this good before, and it's not like I'm virgin.

I've never felt so inexplicably powerful, hungry, needy, and fulfilled from one simple joining. He pulls back just barely, and then he thrusts in deeper, my body quivering around him as the girly gasps continue.

"Damn it," he whispers in a near prayer-like manner.

"What?" I gush out when he slams in again, and my hands grip tightly to him for fear he's about to abandon me.

"I just… you feel so fucking good," he murmurs before his lips find mine, and then suddenly, the drawn out thrusts become punishing, surreal, and incredibly intense as his body melds itself with mine at a wicked, sensational pace.

His firm abs run up against my skin, and his bare teeth - no blood bringers - scrape across my shoulder. My lips press against his chest, and my passion pours freely from my mouth as I consider bringing out my blood bringers and ending my celibacy for my blood drought.

"Do it," he breathes pleadingly. "Take my blood."

My teeth bear down, but my blood bringers remain sheathed as he continues his surreal, forceful thrusts that force my body to do things it has never done before. I've never felt so connected with anyone, and it feels too incredible to soil with the blood need.

His grunts grow louder each time he slams into me, and then his lips envelope mine again while he jerks my hips to meet his vicious bashing. I moan, and my breaths become harder to find as I near the moment of release.

I clutch his back too tightly, and then he surges in again, finding an angle that becomes my undoing, and I cry out my release with a shrill squeal as he thrusts in one last powerful time and fills me with his warmth.

His body collapses to mine, and he pulls me tightly into his arms before rolling onto his back.

"Holy fuck that was… incredible," I gush out while trembling, feeling his smile against my forehead.

"I'd say epic," he chuckles out while letting those soft lips find mine again.

I smile against the kiss, and then I pull the sheet over us as I snuggle into his cool body.

"Care to order room service?" I muse, a vixen's grin playing on my lips, but he huffs out a breath instead of joining me in my smile.

"I really do have some work to tend to. I feel like a jerk now," he sighs out while loosening his grip on me.

Oh shit. He already regrets it. Damn it. I'm so fucking stupid.

"Oh," I murmur shamefully while withdrawing from our contact. "I should probably get dressed to go out with my aunt anyhow. I'll talk to you after while," I say while swallowing hard against the growing knot in my throat.

"Aria, it's not like that. I sincerely don't want to leave after we just… well, after the most incredible morning I've had, but I have to."

"Sounds like regret to me," I whisper to myself while walking into the bathroom.

I turn on the shower, hoping it will wash away my humiliation and shame. Maybe once I get out of here, I won't have to see him again. I should have just left with Aunt Angelica.

The door opens, and his lips consume mine the second I turn around. His hands slide over my bare body as his erection presses against my stomach.

Damn he's so confusing.

"You know you're very frustrating," he murmurs against my lips. "I've been dying to do that since I met you, and now you're acting as though I didn't ever want to."

I pull back slightly to stare into his pale eyes carrying so many mixed signals.

"If you wanted to do it, then why didn't you?" I counter, my interrogation skills surfacing.

He smirks, and then he pulls me tighter to him as he grips me by my waist.

"Well, for one, there're always people around. For two, I wanted to take you out on a real date first. I don't want a casual fling with you, and I'm worried this has blurred that line now."

Oh.Uh-oh.

"Um, I don't really… date … to be honest," I hesitantly release.

He smiles as he picks me up, and I feel the water pushing against us both as he steps into the shower with me.

"You do now."

Oh damn. Yes I do.

His lips take mine once again, and the shower tries to clean us both of the scandalous thoughts spreading through our minds. My hands slide up his bare back, and I get ready to offer my body to him again as the steam rises to hide our dirty shower.

"So did the two of you ever… well, you know?" my sweet, filtered aunt murmurs through her girly squeal.

I roll my eyes as the human waitress brings our brunch out.

"A lady never tells," I sardonically release while stifling a grin.

"Oh please. You're Araya and Hale's daughter. There's no way you're a lady."

I laugh a little louder than I had meant to, and then I shake my head as the curious eyes leave my blushing face and return to their companions.

"Well, yes, we did, and then we did again. Happy?" I chuckle out while secretly screaming like a foolish teen on the inside.

She grins salaciously while shoveling in a piece of pancake, and then she leans back in her chair.

"Did you blood-"

"Of course not," I interrupt, swatting away the unfinished question. Even though I really wanted to for the first time in my life. "It's too dangerous. If he found out I was a descendent of an… well, you know, then he would be required by law to turn me in."

Our whispered conversation is too low for anyone else to hear, but I still get chills, like there is someone listening in.

"So about the whole power thing," she adds very cautiously. "Care to explain what that was?"

"I already told you I don't know. Did you tell Mom?"

"Not yet, but she's going to learn about it from someone. It should be from one of us."

I sigh out while leaning back in my chair. Then my eyes catch the dark hair shimmering in the sun. Butterflies ruffle around in my stomach, frenzied with excitement when I realize it's Jase. The butterflies turn into spoiled goods when I see the very, very attractive girl joining him, kissing him on the cheek in a hello fashion. They're apparently friendly.

They sit down in a corner not too terribly far from us, but they're far enough away for me to hide behind the groups between us.

My heart sinks as my bottom lip tries to fall in my lap. I can't believe this. I'm so fucking stupid. No wonder he was in a hurry to get out of there this morning. She's fucking hot, and I'm just Aralia.

"What's wrong?" Aunt Angelica asks as she turns to follow my broken gaze.

"Oh damn," she sighs out. "It could just be a business meeting."

"With a girl that looks like that?" I scoff.

Her perfectly pale hair goes well with her pale eyes, and she laughs as he says something she finds funny. I roll my eyes while slouching in my chair. I feel ridiculous enough in this low cut shirt and skintight leather my maniacal aunt bought me. My damn midriff is even exposed to add to my humiliation. Now I've fucked a guy who couldn't wait a solid two hours before finding his next bed-buddy.

I realize I didn't want to date, but that doesn't mean I didn't want him to be mine for at least a few days before moving on. I wasn't going to crowd him or try talking him into something more. I can't have that.

"She's not that pretty, Aralia," my aunt coaxes.

"You know you've always been a terrible liar."

She turns back to me, and her head tilts to the side. "She's doesn't have a tenth of your beauty, and you know dern well I'm not lying about that," she scolds.

Sheesh.Dern?Really?

"Still can't say damn ?" I laugh teasingly.

She frowns lightly before rolling her eyes. "My mother frowns upon that sort of language, and my dad always did too. I can't help it. Anyways, like I said, you're far more beautiful than she ever thought about being."

I roll my eyes once more while huffing out and staring at the sight that proves me a fool.

"You're just a little partial since you're my aunt."

"I'm not partial, I'm honest. Here, I'll prove it."

My eyes pop open as she motions for a guy to come over to us. His eyes teem with excitement, and I slump down even farther as my cheeks go bright red.

"Do you think my niece is hot?" she bluntly asks, and I cough on the water I just sucked down the wrong pipe.

" Very ," he seductively releases, his letters very drawn out to emphasize his point.

"More so than that girl sitting in the corner with Jase Ericson?" she pries, and now I just want to slap the fuck out of her.

Damn you!

He looks over his shoulder, and then he tilts his head from side to side as if he's carefully inspecting the other prospect.

"Definitely hotter," he says with a goofy grin as he turns back around.

"Thanks, that's all," she says dismissively, and he almost pouts as she ushers him away like she's shooing a fly.

I stifle my laughter while shaking my head.

"You're so fucking embarrassing."

She laughs at my humiliation, and then she shrugs.

"Told you. Besides, I don't see how you made it out of the room with that on. If he's a man, then he should have been completely hypnotized."

The tight shirt does well to emphasize my breasts, and the leather pants shape to my ass like a fitted glove.

"He didn't see me before he left. I didn't want him to see me wearing this. As I said, you're embarrassing, and this outfit you chose is torturous. What the hell? You dress like a lady. Why did you buy me old school hybrid clothes?"

She laughs louder, and I use my hair to cover my face when it draws Jase's attention. She does the same while trying to suppress her laughter. I look through the strands of my dark hair to see him turn back around, and I lean back up just as Uncle Grayson walks over.

"What's so funny?" he asks while kissing his wife on the cheek.

"Nothing, dear," she lies while clutching his hand.

I want that. I can't have that with a full blood, so why am I stressing over Jase?

He takes a sip of her drink, and then he sits down to let his eyes fall on me. He starts coughing, and the soda spews from his lips as he has a small shaking fit. I'm sure this whole damn restaurant is sick of hearing us giggle, choke, and spew at this point.

"Something wrong, Unc?" I muse with a devious smirk.

His eyes cut to Aunt Angelica, and she giggles out her laughter while shrugging.

"When you said you bought our niece some clothes, I didn't know you meant you only bought some of the clothing. Where's the rest of it?" he growls in distaste.

"Oh good grief. She's no more revealing than Araya. I think Aria deserves some attention."

"Not that kind of attention," he admonishes while pointing to me, and this time Jase's eyes catch mine when he turns around to investigate.

Oh shit. Damn it.

"Please stop fighting over my wardrobe like I'm a child," I whisper as Jase rises from his seat.

His date follows his lead, and her arm loops through his as they walk toward us.

"Fuck my life," I mumble, gripping my head while lowering my eyes to the table.

Damn. That did sound like my mom.

"What?" Uncle Grayson asks innocently, and I scoot as close to the table as I can in an effort to hide my showy attire.

Very casually, I use my hands to mask my cleavage, and I pretend not to notice Jase and his latest victim getting closer - even though the corner of my eye hasn't disengaged yet.

"Hello," he says very softly when he reaches us, but I'm not brave enough to look up.

This is mortifying. Why would he do this to me?

"Hey C… I mean, Jase," Uncle Grayson says in a stutter, as if he confused him with someone else.

I still refuse eye contact, and I can feel his smile, though I don't know why he finds this amusing. One second he says he wants to take me on a real date, the next he's taking another girl on a real date. I'm such an idiot.

"Jase," Aunt Angelica offers. "Would you like to join us?"

My eyes cut to her as Jase pulls a chair dangerously close to mine, and his girlfriend sits down beside my aunt.

"Actually, I'd love to. I didn't realize you were dining here," he says with his formal full blood manners rearing their head.

"Obviously," I murmur under my breath, and Uncle Grayson stifles a grin when he hears it.

I'm surprised he's not choking him over the table, but then again, he doesn't know Jase and I fucked twice this morning.

I see a twisted grin emerging from Jase's lips, and I finally sigh out while leaning back in the chair to reveal the shirt that is sure to humiliate me. Jase's drink spews from his mouth, and my uncle ends up wiping it from his own face while laughing behind the napkin.

"I had that exact same reaction," he chuckles out, and I roll my eyes while crossing my arms over my bare waist.

"Well, I told Jase this sounded like the fun table," the girl's pretty voice releases, and the air she has tainted sours in my mouth.

Bitch.

Jase lets a snicker free, and she elbows him in the ribs. He shrugs innocently, and then he starts to speak.

"I suppose I should introduce my-"

"Actually, I need to go. I forgot I had to call my mom, and I know she's probably worried," I interrupt while leaping from my chair before he can rub her in my face.

"Holy shit," he murmurs while staring at my pants that are suctioned to my body, and I scowl at him as I rush away.

Worst brunch ever!

I don't care if everyone sees me running. I dash out, knowing he can't keep up, and I quickly disappear into the crowd on the city streets. I instantly start looking for the closest bar, and I dive into the first place that has the doors open and whiskey in view.

"Whiskey, make it a triple… or a quadruple," I murmur while unloading the weight of the morning from my shoulders.

The bartender chuckles while pouring my glass full, and then he winks at me.

"It's on the house," he says when I pull out my cash.

"Why?"

His eyes motion behind me at all the gawking men pouring into the bar.

"Because you just bumped my morning intake by fifteen bodies," he says while giving me another perverted wink.

Gross. Never again will I let Angelica shop for me.

"What's your name?" a guy asks while flopping down beside me.

"Aria." I keep my eyes on the glass of amber retreat, ignoring the cool body beside me, only keeping an eye on him with my peripheral.

"That's cute. So, you're a hybrid?" he asks while grinning salaciously.

"Can't tell?" I ask while turning my falsified eyes to meet his pale ones.

"Now I can. Damn, you're beautiful."

"Yes she is," a voice says as cool arms slide around my waist from the back.

I huff as I smell the sex and candy invading my nose, and I lean away from the soft lips pressing against the back of my head.

"Stop. I'm sure your important thing to do today might get upset," I grumble while sipping on the strong liquid that isn't working fast enough.

A guy moves for him to sit down, and he pulls my stool closer to him so that my body slides between his legs.

"You're so sexy when you're jealous, but I suppose I've drug this out long enough. I was trying to introduce you to my sister," he says while snickering softly.

My cheeks heat up, and my whole body burns with embarrassment as I drop my head to the bar.

"Oh damn. You're such an ass," I mumble into the smooth wooden surface that muffles my declaration of humiliation.

He laughs a little harder, and then he pulls me up so my lips meet his. I can feel him grinning behind those incredible lips, and I shake my head while slapping his arm.

"Jerk," I mumble.

He laughs again, and then he pulls me from my seat.

"Let's go finish brunch with my sister, and then I want to have some fun with you in that outfit. By the way, your aunt will forever be my favorite person if she bought you more of that."

I laugh involuntarily, and he bends to kiss the top of my head while I roll my eyes.

"She did, but I'll make it my mission to go shopping today. I don't like the eyes on me."

"Mine?" he asks sadly, and I grin like a fool at his puppy dog eyes.

"Theirs," I sigh while pointing backwards at the goons drooling over me.

He frowns as his arms wrap around me possessively, and then he starts ushering me out of the bar.

"True, but you seem more like you in this than in the other clothes. You seem more… I don't know… not so timid. You act like you're ready to take what you want."

"Really? I ran out of brunch with my tail between my legs instead of straddling you right in front of the girl I thought you were dating," I scoff.

He grins bigger, and then he jerks my hips to his body.

"See. You said that out loud instead of just thinking it," he murmurs against my lips before pulling me in for a deep, incredible kiss.

Oh damn he tastes so good.

"What do you mean just thinking it ?" I ask while pulling back.

He smirks, and then he brushes my hair from my shoulder while looking down into my eyes.

"I mean, you pause after someone says something. I can tell you're thinking one thing, but then you say something to avoid conflict. I'd rather hear what you really want to say as opposed to what you think I want to hear."

I stifle my foolish grin while getting lost in the incredibly sexy full blood holding me in his arms. He's making me break all my rules. I've never once gotten jealous like this before.

"Let's get back so I can apologize to your sister," I huff out while letting my hands slide down his chest.

"Let's, and then we'll move out tonight. That's why she's here. She's a general with the United, and she just came to tell me about something her team found in the battle grounds."

Crap. I really wanted another night here with him. Now we'll be separated, and who knows what idiot captain I'll end up with.

"As it turns out, you'll be under your uncle's rule, and your aunt and her team will be joining us," he adds to squash my worries.

"I'm going to be working with my uncle… and … what? Us ?"

He smiles a little bigger, and he kisses the top of my head again as we walk into the crowds not far from the restaurant.

"Yes, us. I've been put with you and your uncle and aunt. We'll be heading out about eight or so, and we'll go investigate a scene. You'll be the tracker… the solo tracker," he continues, his grin only growing as my stomach flip flops again.

"Well that's nerve racking. This is a little too high profile for me."

"Don't put yourself down. You're a hell of a lot better than any of the other trackers I've met, including Hedin. So, for now, just prove me right."

He speaks as though he had something to do with this, but he's just a lieutenant. It's still cute how he brags on me though.

"So, does it suck that your sister outranks you?" I tease.

He shrugs, a secretive grin coming to his face once again.

"Not really. I've got her beat on everything else."