The Girl He Marked by Laila Callaway novel Chapter 3

Axel's POV.

For two blissful weeks, Grace and I live our lives. We don't talk supernatural or future or full moons. They're like forbidden topics that we have both silently agreed to avoid.

We celebrate her eighteenth birthday. I shower her with presents. She complains that I've spoiled her and spent too much, but I can see how happy she is with all of her gifts.

I give her a lot of birthday orgasms. We both want to take things further, but we decide against it. Not until Grace is ready for me to mark her, and neither of us is ready to discuss it yet.

We get to be Grace and Axel, the cute couple in the sixth form who fell in love after only a few weeks of knowing each other.

We go to Luke's garden party and have an amazing night. We get drunk and fool around in the trees. Rory accidentally disturbs us, finding me on my knees with Grace's legs over my shoulders and my head up her dress.

Grace can't look Rory in the eye for days afterward, despite Rory's insistence about laughing it off.

Jeanette lets me start staying over at the house. She even lets me share a bedroom with Grace, much to the delight of her younger siblings, who take it upon themselves to barge into Grace's room at unexpected times.

That's why, when Grace suggests that she stay over at mine on Saturday night, I think nothing of it.

She's saving up for her own car, so I pick her up and drive us back to mine. I don't mind being the driver all of the time. I like looking after her, it makes me feel useful.

She's wearing the gold pendant I got her for our one—month anniversary, and the promise ring I got her for her birthday.

This morning, I went for a run with Rory and Xaden whilst Grace caught up on some of her physics work.

My parents are out when we arrive home, so we take up our usual position on the couch. We watch a film and Grace is uncharacteristically quiet. Sure, we don't often talk during a movie, but sometimes she makes a comment or suggests something.

She remains silent even when it ends, and I try to find something else for us to watch. In the end, I switch off the TV and turn to her.

'What's wrong You're quiet.'

Grace chews on her bottom lip. I reach over and pull it free from her teeth, taking the opportunity to run my thumb over her soft skin. Her pale blue eyes meet mine and I can see how nervous she is.

'I, um, I want to have sex tonight,' she says quickly, letting the words out in a rush.

My eyes nearly pop out of their sockets and my mouth drops open like a cartoon character.

Here I was panicking, thinking she didn't want to be with me anymore, or that she'd finally decided that she can't see past the whole werewolf thing and it's over. I really was not expecting sex.

Grace's cheeks are the color of her hair as she stumbles over her words, obviously determined to get them out.

'But I was panicking because I didn't know how to tell you and then you asked what was wrong and it just kinda came out. Rory made me get a wax with her, which, by the way, fucking wrecks. And she told me to wear this—'

Grace quits her rambling to lift up her jumper, revealing her breasts, pushed up and presented beautifully in a lacy white bra.

She's wearing the white lingerie set.

Moon Goddess, give me strength.

I can't take my eyes off her boobs. They look amazing and I just want to touch them, kiss them…I open my mouth to reply, to try and reassure her.

That's when the front door opens.

Panic grips both of us as we realize my parents are home. Grace hurriedly pulls her jumper down and sorts herself out just as my parents walk into the kitchen.

They look over at us on the sofa and greet us.

'What's up with you two' Mum asks suspiciously. 'You look like you've seen a ghost. Have you been watching horrors again'

Grace chuckles nervously. 'Guilty.'

I give her a sideways smirk.

Look at my little mate, lying to my mum.

'Honestly, you're going to give yourself nightmares!' She exclaims dramatically. 'Watch something nice. Isn't there that new romance movie on'

Grace starts talking to my mum about some new film, but I tune out. I can't believe what my beautiful mate has said. I want our first time to be special, not on some random Saturday after spending the evening with my parents.

I always thought I'd get my parents to go out for the night and we'd have the house to ourselves. I would make the effort to either cook something or we'd go for a romantic dinner.

At the back of my mind, I hear my mum talking about having fish and chips for dinner.