Page 29 of He Claimed Her Heart

He continued to kiss me for a good five to ten minutes until the alarm went off again.He muttered some choice words before he turned the alarm off for good. “We need to get up and get going, but I don’t want to,” he stated with a pout on his face.

“I know. I don’t want to get up either. Today is going to be a difficult day. But you’re going to be there to help me get through it, right?” I questioned him as I looked into his eyes for an answer.

“As much as I am allowed to be with you, yes,” he stated. “Now,let’s get up and get ready. I’ll meet you in 20 minutes for breakfast?” he contended as we got out of bed.

“Yes, I will meet you in 20 minutes. Where am I meeting you?” I asked him as I stood on the bed so I could look him in the eyes.

“How about you meet me in my suite,” he snickered as he grabbed me around the waist and twirled me around the room.

“I can do that. See you soon,” I cooedas I gave him a kiss at the door before, he left. I ran back to the bathroom to start the shower. I retrieved my outfit, toiletries, and accessories I would need for the day. I went back into the bathroom and showered. I brushed my teeth, applied my makeup, dried, and fixed my hair, and got dressed. Then, I went back into the walk-in closet and finished packing my suitcase, which I never really unpacked. I was ready to return home.

We had breakfast and then we went down to the SUV to leave. It was there that Drake introduced me to my protection detail. “My what? Protection detail?” I stuttered as I looked at them standing there.

“Yes, my love. As long as we are dating, I will provide you with a protection detail. I know you can defend yourself. ButI would prefer to know that someone else is there to protect you as well. It would ease my conscious. Please do not fight me on this,” Drake pleaded as he looked at me.

I looked at Drake to the detail to Drake again. I jumped into Drake’s arms. “Thank you so much for thinking aboutthat. No one has ever been that thoughtful,” I gushed as I gave him a kiss.

“You’re welcome my love. Now, I believe we must leave, or you will be late for a meeting with your Alpha,” Drake announced after he helped me into, the passenger seat of his SUV.

CHAPTER 6

So Many Alphas, Only One Me

We left Drake’s territory shortly before 7 AM. I knew what awaited me. If I didn’t know then I would have because my cell phone started to light up shortly after 8 AM. First it was my dad followed by Edward informing me of the emails he was getting. Then, Angela sent me a few stating she would be over tonight to help me get ready for the banquet and how excited she was for me. Alpha Bennett rounded out the group with four text messages.

Each time my phone pinged Drake looked over at me witha curious expression on his face. Each time I would only shake my head as I read each text message. I groaned at a few because they said the things over and over again. This was going to be a long day. I was starting to get a headache.

“Are you alright,” Drake asked me as I started torub my temples.

“The text messages keep coming and some are saying the same things. Others are just pissing me off. This is going to be a long day. Do we have time to take a ten-minute break? I need to stretch my legs and maybe use the restroom?” I inquired as he reached for my hand.

“Yes, we can take a ten-minute break. We left a few minutes early, soit won’t hurt our eta. Where do you want to stop?” he asked me.

“It doesn’t matter to me. Wherever you want. It can be a truck stop, rest area, ora fast-food restaurant. As long as I can get to the bathroom and walk for a few minutes, it doesn’t matter to me,” I replied as I put my phone back in my jeans pocket.

“Alright, let me see whatyour protectors prefer,” he announced as mind linked them for an answer.

Within five minutes, we were stopping at a rest area. It was a beautiful mountain top rest area with vending machines and a scenicview of the valley below. Drake opened the passenger door for me, and we walked hand-in-hand to the restrooms together. My protective detail hung around outside while I went inside to use the restroom. I took my time and splashed some water on my face. I must have taken too much time, because Drake opened the door and called out, “Bree, is everything alright?”

“Yes, I’m just splashing water on my face and collecting my thoughts. I’ll be out in a minute,” I replied.

“Okay,” he said as he closed the door.

I walkedout of the rest room to some worried faces. “What? I just wanted to … never mind. Sorry, I forgot I’m not alone anymore. Please forgive me,” I pleaded to my detail.

They simply nodded. Drake wrapped his armaround my waist and pulled me close to him. He inhaled my scent to calm down. “Don’t scare me like that again, please,” he pleaded with me.

“I’m sorry. I just wanted a few minutes to myself. I didn’t realize how many minutes I was in there,” I said as I sighed in his touch. I buried my head in his chest relishing the warmth and safety of his embrace.

“I forgive you. I was just worried … you were in there for over six minutes. I’m sorry I panicked. Let’s go this way for a few minutes, hmm?” Drake cooed as he led me away from the mainstay of people.

We took a path that led to a picnic table. We stopped andDrake leaned against it holding me. I didn’t want to sit since that’s all we’ve been doing for the last hour or so. I stood between his legs enjoying the comfort he was giving me. I just enjoyed running my hands over his muscles. Great googly woogly that man is built like a mountain of pure muscle. Swoon.

I backed away from him slightly and began stretching, much to his dismay. “Come back and let me hold you,” he pleaded in his best whiny voice.

“I need to stretch for a few minutes.I usually do not sit for long periods of time. I’m stiff and sore,” I replied as I continued to move my arms and legs in different movements. He must have liked what he saw because his eyes lit up.

“Bree, as much as I am enjoying watching you stretch, we need to get back on the road. Come on baby. Let’s go,” he said as he held his hand out tome. I reluctantly took his hand, and we walked back to his SUV. We got back on the highway towards home.

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