Page 64 of He Claimed Her Heart

Hisreaction was perfect. He stepped slightly back and took my hand. He placed it on his chest. “You may touch me wherever you want. That’s part of the process of getting to know me. I don’t mind it at all. The fact that you were able to say it, well most of it, was more than I could ask for. May I ask for the same favor? I promise not to touch anything that you don’t want me to touch,” Drake pleaded with his eyes as he waited for me to answer him.

I looked at himand I was spellbound. He wanted the same thing. How could I deny him what I wanted to do. “Of course, you may. Just remember, no one has ever touched me before. So, go easy on me. Okay?” I pleaded as I brought my hand up to his cheek.

“I promise,” was all Drake said before his lips brushed up against mine in a soft, sweet kiss. Then, it turned into full on passion. In one swift motion, Drake lifted me up and gently placed me on the bed. “Now, where were we?” Drake asked as he started his soft assault again. He started peppering me with kisses down my neck towards my shoulder. As his hand started moving lower, I took his hand and placed it under my t-shirt on my stomach. Drake raised his eyebrow at me. I nodded my head that it was alright for him to have his hand here.

Drake slowly moved his hand under my t-shirt. He wasn’t sure howhigh he could go so he moved his hand to my back. He hit the scars on my back, and he stopped everything. “What’s on your back? I know you had some scars, but this feels different. May I see?” Drake asked with concern dripping from his voice.

“Um, sure,” I slowly sat up andturned around. I pulled the t-shirt over my head so he could see my back better. His hand moved to my back, and he slowly traced each and every one of my scars. Then, he started kissing each one.

At first, I didn’t understand it what was going on until he said, “I’m so sorry your mother did this to you. I’m sorry you had to endure this pain alone.”

“Drake, it’s alright. I didn’t endure it alone. My dad and Tom helped me. They’re the ones who put ointmenton me and helped me heal. I’m okay now,” I cooed trying to soothe him.

“Here, let’s get your shirt back on,” Drake said in a sad tone. He pulled the shirt back on over my head and laid me back down. His whole demeanor changed after he saw my scars. It was like I was broken in his eyes. “Let’s get some sleep. Hmm?” he said as he wrapped his arm around my waist with my back to his chest. “Good night, Bree.”

“Good night, Drake.” I repliedsoftly trying to hold back tears. What just happened. One moment, were in the moment and then it’s like I’m a leaper. My mind wouldn’t shut off, it kept going on.

Sleep was not going to come easily for me tonight. I laid there for a while. Drake was softly snoring. I was able to wiggle out of his hold and go to the bathroom. When I came back, he hadn’t moved so I went back to my room. I sat in the chair by the window wrapped in a blanket. I couldn’t help but think about what went wrong and how could I fix it. I didn’t know how. I cried softly so I wouldn’t disturb Drake in the other room. Sleep finally came as I cried myself there.

I awoke the next morning to Drake softly rocking me awake.“Bree, it’s time to wake up. Wake up honey.” Drake said in a sing song voice.

“I’m awake. What time is it?Good morning,” I mumbled as I began moving my arms and legs regaining a sense of feeling in them.

“It’s six in the morning love. Why did you come in here? I woke up and you were gone?” Drake pouted as he helped me unwrap myself from the blanket.

“I was having trouble falling asleep. You were sleeping soundly, and I didn’t want todisturb you. So, I came in here. You needed your sleep,” I answered truthfully as I came to stand in front of him.

“Why couldn’t you sleep last night?” Drake asked me with a hint of sadness in his voice.

“My mind wouldn’t turn off.I guess it was all that hormonal stuff. And then when you found my scars and then when you shut down on me. It hurt me. It made me feel like I wasn’t good enough for you,” I replied as I tried to walk away from him.

“What?! No!I … I didn’t know how to respond to the scars. I didn’t want to make a big deal over them and yet I guess I did anyway. It hurt me to see them on you. I wish I could take away some of your pain, but I can’t,” Drake lamented as he held my face in his hands. He looked into my eyes. “I’m so sorry for shutting down on you last night. Please forgive me.”

“I forgive you, but please talk to me. If we areto become one, we need to understand what the other is thinking and feeling until the bond is complete. I … it really hurt me last night. Please don’t shut me out again. I don’t think I could … I can’t …” I couldn’t finish my statement because the tears began to fall, and Drake pulled me into his chest.

“Shush. I’ve got you. I am so, so sorry. I promise I won’t shut down like that again. I won’t shut you out again. You are too precious to me. Let me spend the day making it up to you. Let me … wait. Did you say until the bond is complete, so are you saying what I think you’re saying?” Drake stuttered as it dawned on him what I said in the beginning.

“Drake,did you hear what I said?” I questioned him outright.

“Yes, honeyI did. I will not shut down or shut you out again. We need to talk and express our feelings until the bond is complete. I am sorry for hurting your last night. Please allow me to make it up to you today. Do you forgive me,” Drake asked on bended knee.

“I already said I forgive you. Yes, I will allow you to make it up to me today.Now, what are we going to do? Are we going to train or what?” I demanded as I stood in front of him with my hands on my hips.

“I have some making up to do, so I say skip training this morning. What do you think?” Drake cooed as he placed his right hand behind my neck and the other around my waist.

“I’m not sure. Are they expecting us at training this morning?How late is it now? If it’s too late, then I say skip training this morning and go straight to making up,” I explained as I watched his eyes light up at my last statement.

He checked the time on the nightstand. The time read six fifteen in the morning. “Well, we are officially fifteen minutes late for training. I for one do not feel likerunning laps this morning. So, my vote is for making up,” Drake exclaimed with a wolfish grin on his face as he reached out for me.

“Remember, the scars are from my past, they don’t hurt anymore. I’m alright. Come here my tall, dark, and muscled man. I need to feel your body next to mine. May I please?” I asked as I started moving my hands over his chest towards his face.

“Like I said last night, you may touch me wherever you like,” Drake responded as he crashed his lips to mine in a heated passion-filled kiss. It didn’t take long for Drake to pick me up. I wrapped my legs around his torso as he carried me towards the bed. Drake placed me on the bed and moved to hover over me. He placed all his weight on his forearms before descending on the bed with a wicked grin.

Drake settled on the bed next to me so I could easily explore his chest and anything else I wanted. The dips and valleys of his muscles had me captivated. I enjoyed playing with his chest. It was so comforting and soothing for me. He started his slow and soft assault of my body. He started peppering my neck with soft kisses before he moved his hand under my shirt. He started exploring my stomach and moving upward when he froze.

I noticed his eyes glazed over and his body went rigid. I didn’t moveor do anything until he relaxed. “Bree, I need to go handle a situation. Meet me for breakfast at 8. Okay?” Drake hesitated momentarily like he was waiting for me to answer him.

“Alright. I will. Be carefuland stay alert,” was all I could say before he gave me a quick kiss and was off to get dressed. I got up and started getting ready for the day. After my shower, I decided to dress in business casual not knowing what Drake had planned. I met up with Dad and Tom for breakfast at 8, but Drake was nowhere to be found. I was told that he was still handling a situation. He would be back shortly. Dad noticed that I was kind of sad this morning but didn’t say anything about it.

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