Awakening (2 book series)
Awakening – Following Fate Chapter 147

"I'm never letting you go. You can hate me, push me away, curse me out, fight me, and tell me you don't want me, but I'm not ever going to leave you. I'm always going to be a step away, making sure I'm here to take care of you. Forever..... I was wrong. You're not going to get rid of me, no matter what you say or do." Jasper's voice drops to a low intimate level, and it seems weird that we are staring at them like this. Tension sparking between them and little electrifying pulses signal through the air as the mate bond kicks up the s****l need between them. I turn away and motion for Colton to come to me, to give them space and he sighs before getting up like an obedient puppy dog.

"I don't like you." Carmen pouts at my brother, but her venom has subsided quicker than the speed of light. Her voice is softer, her gaze no longer amber and her posture has deflated a lot.

"That's progress. It was 'I hate you' a week go. I see that as a positive step." Jasper leans in closer to bridge the difference in height and slides his arms around her properly, pulling her into him in a hug even though she doesn't return it. She struggles a little, but nowhere near the venom she had a few minutes ago and I can see her caving now he's touching her.

I remember how that went. When the bond was so strong that a mere touch can mess with your mood and your head and weaken the strongest resolve. Meadow was aiming for that when she tossed her over their like a wet rag.

Carmen doesn't really want to reject him. She's doing what she does and pushing people away, being fierce so they can't hurt her. There's a little vulnerable girl inside who just wants someone to stand up and fight for her, because no one has. She wants to be loved without conditions, and maybe my brother is exactly the person who will do it. He's stubborn for sure and realizing he wants her in his life, he won't give up at all. He's someone who sticks to what he feels.

"I might dislike you for years yet. You'll get fed up and leave." She murmurs and I tug Colton's hand and try to pull him towards the breakfast room to give them some more space. Meadow is nowhere to be seen anymore and I mentally high five her for throwing Carmen into his arms and kickstarting a real conversation between them when overpowered by the feel of one another.

"I'm going nowhere. I swear. I'll follow you for an eternity, even if you keep me at arm's length and never say a nice word to me. I'm hopeless when it comes to you and we both know this isn't curable. You're mine, carmen, and I'm yours."

"Let me go, I have things to do." Carmen turns away from him, wavering and getting scared of it, but his hold never loosens, and Jasper follows her face with his. He can see through it and I relax knowing that he knows her better than anyone now and he will replace a way to break through that wall.

"She's caving." Colton nods their way and wraps his arm around me, tugging me into his chest so I end up cuddling him as he leans against the door frame. Watching from a distance yet not leaving until we see where this goes. "She was doing that before we even got here. I could feel it. She just needs that little extra push."

"I'll let you go and get back to work on one condition." Jasper pushes his forehead against hers and even though she's refusing to move her arms from her side or hug him back, I see the way she slumps into him with that intimate touch. "What is that?" she plays along, no longer fueled by anger.

"You let me give you a goodbye kiss. Being this close is making me crazy and I miss that first kiss we had way back when we imprinted. I want to feel that again." He breaks into a devilish smile, all good looks from our father, dimples, and a twinkle in his eye. Mr Confident comes from nowhere and slides right in. Jasper knows he isn't on the losing side anymore. I bet every sense he has is tuned into her emotions and he knows she's already his. The joy of the bond.

Carmen doesn't respond. Her silence is unusual, and she turns her face to the side to avoid his eyes again. Her fingers twitch as though she's contemplating a response, or maybe trying to replace the will to say no. Jasper takes that as encouragement, and without hesitation, let's go with one arm, to catch her chin between his fingers and tugs her mouth to his before she can refuse.

I stiffen and wait for the chaos to ensue because she can be a volatile wolf on a good day and pouncing on her with a kiss could end in violence, but nothing erupts. Instead, a sweet and gentle kiss on her lips leaves her completely still and as we pause and wait with bated breath, Carmen leans back towards him and kisses him back. A fluid, unhesitant response pulled out of her by experiencing the intimacy form him again. She's lost in the bond.

I almost leap out of Colton's arms with joy, but he hauls me back and yanks me backwards with him into the adjoining room. Pulling us out of sight and giving them privacy.

"We know what happens next. We don't have to watch it." He shrugs at me and continues pulling when I try to strain back to see. I want to know they are taking it further, for sure.

"You know how prickly she can be. I have to make sure she doesn't still send him off with a sarcastic brush off and ...."

Colton silences my words with a kiss of our own, catching me in his arms and yanks me into him, so I am fully under his control. Lip to lip as he plants the most seductive kiss on me, he has in a while, and I become Jell-o in his arms. Using his own gifts of prowess to bring me back under his control.

We kiss for what feels like long minutes, tongues intertwined, hormones hitching and then a link breaks into my mind and kills the moment dead. Using the pack link so we both get the message loud and clear. I swear, there are times I really do not appreciate Meadow.

Chica, those two just hightailed past me on the way to Jasper's room, looking like they're in the haze. Mission finally accomplished. We can celebrate a new mateship by dawn. Carmen finally broke.

I gasp in surprise, suddenly filled with warm enthusiasm and do a little jump and yay, before planting another kiss on Colton's mouth.

"Thank god. Can we now go back upstairs and get back to what we were doing? The haze sounds appealing." Colton picks me up princess style without waiting for a response and elicits a giggle from me at his impulsiveness. Bouncing my palm on top of his head and kissing him lightly on the nose while shaking my head at his naughty antics.

"Lead the way, lover." I giggle as I am hoisted higher, and he doesn't wait around for a change of mood. Or more interruptions.

Meds, take Carmen and Jasper off any duties for a few days and leave them to get everything out of their system.

Colton's reply makes me snort laugh, knowing fine well this is not for their benefit but his. I think the one who needs to get a lack of something out of his system is the mate of mine who's hauling my a*s upstairs faster than a rocket.