Falling For My Cruel Mate
Chapter 82

"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want too." I give her a sad smile as she shrugs and hands me another dish to dry.

"Theres not much to talk about. I didn't know them and they were- Ajax said they weren't good people. I believe him."

"Yeah, I believe him too."

"So then he told you?" Her blue eyes peek down at me as she rinses off the last dish in the sink.

"He told me that your father was abusive and your mom did nothing to stop it." I sweep the towel over the last dish and place it carefully on the rack with the others that were ready to be put away.

"Was that it?"

"Is there more?" I turn to look at her, my curiosity peeking. Was Ajax still hiding part of his past from me? Siren had interrupted us before we could continue with that conversation, the night of my party.

There was a short pause. Her eyes moved all around the room, refusing to meet mine. I've never seen Cipher act so nervously. Maybe this topic is making her uncomfortable.

"You should ask him."

My mouth opens to form words but I cut myself off at the sound of Ajax and Sam laughing. The door closes and their laughter gets closer.

"I almost kicked your ass." Sam stumbles into the room as Ajax gives him a playful shove.

"In your dreams."

"There's no way in hell I dream about you." Sam scoffs and pulls open the fridge. "

I dream about beautiful women feeding me grapes and mass-"

"Shut up." Ajax smiles as he sneaks past Sam. His eyes lock with mine and the smile that takes over my face is uncontrollable. His skin glistened with sweat, his shirt draped over his shoulder as if it were a sweat towel.

"How was training?" I ask as the space between us diminishes. His gorgeous eyes have a twinkle of light in them, a rare sighting. It's always been hard to decipher his emotions. He wasn't exactly an open book.

"It was the same ole thing. I kick Sam's ass and he tries to save his ego by creating a false scenario where he almost beat me." His smile is replaced with a playful smirk as he steals a glance at Sam over his shoulder.

"I really did almost beat you!" Sam chokes out as he shoves one of the left over pancakes into his mouth. I giggle has his cheeks puff out and enlarge due to him shoving more left over breakfast into his mouth.

Ajax chuckles and grabs a hold of my wrist. "Come on." He tugs on my wrist lightly, leading me away from our closest friends and into the living room.

"Wha-" My question is cut short my his plump lips crashing down onto mine, swallowing any words that were prepared to escape. His large hand slides its way up my arm and to my neck, pulling me closer and holding me in place while his arm wraps around my waist.

My hands rest lightly on his damp chest as his kiss devours me. I replace myself becoming breathless and craving more of him just as his lips disconnected from mine. His eyes, a few shades darker, dig into mine. They searched for a few moments as I tried to regain my breath. He's so close to me that every time I inhale my breast rub up against his muscular chest.

"What was that for?" My voice is light and airy. I feel as though this is a dream. What if I'm just drifting away on a cloud and none of this is real? For all I know I could wake up in my room and replace myself a cold and unforgiving Ajax. How did he become so sweet? So... loving?

"I missed my girl, that's all."

My fingers curled their way into the hair that laid at the nape of his neck, scratching lightly and tugging at the soft strands. I couldn't tear my eyes away from him. I could stay like this forever, drowning in his ocean. "I missed you too." I whisper lightly, my brain barely even processing the words that were spilling past my lips.

I don't know if the mate bond had kicked in at full force but everything seems so different. It felt as though we were actually meant to be together. Being intimate like this with him felt so natural. I haven't questioned my feelings for him and it's strange. I'm not even quite sure what exactly I feel for him. Theres an obvious attraction and maybe a slight infatuation. All I know is that he's changed. We've changed... and I like it.

Eventually we make our way back to Sam and Cipher who were arguing about who could do the most cartwheels. They were so random and strange, but it brought so much warmth to my heart. I missed being like this, light hearted and care free with my friends. They bickered for a good thirty minutes before taking it outside. Naturally, Cipher kicked his ass and Sam just pouted and complained the whole time.

"The wind is throwing me off!"

"It's so cold my hands are going numb."

"I tripped over my shoe lace!"

"I shrieked because I thought I saw someone behind you not because I was falling. I swear!"

I giggled and laughed at all of his lame excuses and nearly peed my pants when

he screamed like a little girl. Eventually he gave up and ultimately blamed the weather for his failure. Classic Sam. We were outside for a good hour, Ajax headed in a bit early to turn on the weather channel. I could feel my heart rate rise as Sam and Cipher walk up the few short steps to the door.

I'm not ready to go back inside. The chilling wind blows strongly shaking the naked trees and snapping a few brittle branches. I had a feeling in my gut that the weather broadcast would be completely different from this morning. We are definitely going to get more snow than predicted.

I'm not ready.

I stood still in my place. A few minutes go by before Cipher and Sam emerge from the house. Their curious gaze on me. Cipher retrieved her purse and Sam was stuffing more food into his mouth as he stood beside her.

"Why are you still standing out here?" Cipher asks, her blue eyes take in my appearance and she checks our surroundings in a very protective way.