The One He Claimed by Cooper

Chapter 20: Say the Words

Chapter 20: Say the Words Sophie

Alpha Hunter is doing strange things to me and Hedda isn't helping. I can't believe I leaned into his touch. But the electric tingles, the feel of his warm skin against mine, made me crave to have him touch me all over.

"Back to your earlier question," he says, refocusing on our discussion. I like that he's not pushing me to mate, not pushing for me to allow him to put his mark on me. It reminds me a bit of how Alpha Calvin took his time with Amelia on her birthday, talking to her and getting to know her. It feels like Alpha Hunter is doing the same with me.

"You gave me a couple of hints. First, I heard you and Penny talking before she left. I didn't understand what she meant at the time, but it fell into place later. You knew who I was, which meant that we'd met before. I've been to a lot of packs, so that didn't really help, but you also know who Owen was. That, combined with your conversation with Penny and me realizing that you were talking about being close to home, helped me to figure it out," he says. It doesn't seem like enough to have figured out who I am.

"Do you always pay such close attention to things?" I ask, curious.

He shrugs. It's a nonchalant gesture, but somehow, watching the muscles in chest and shoulders flex and relax, is very **y. My fingers twitch with my desire to touch him. 288 Vouchers

"I try. I can't always stay on top of everything, but I do the best I can. I've learned to trust my Betas and my G**a though to follow up on things that I can't. However, with you, my mate, I will always pay close attention," he says, focusing his attention on me. His gaze is intense and I know that he means what he's saying, which reminds me...

"Your Beta female gives you high praise," I say. I don't mean for it to come across that way, but even I can hear the jealousy in my words.

He sets his fork down, leaning forward, his gaze intensifying even more. "Kinsley is my Beta's mate. They've had a rough time, like she said. It's not my place to talk about their struggles, but she mentioned it, so I'll tell you this. When she and Lucas were first mated, she didn't trust him at all. She wouldn't let him touch her, wouldn't look him in the eye, and barely looked the pack members in the eye. She stopped eating, to the point that I finally had to step in so she wouldn't starve herself to death," he says, and I gasp. She looks so healthy now.

"What she said to you was the truth, just like with your sister, and every other female whose claiming I've been to, I step out of the room while the woman is claimed. Because Kinsley saw me do that, I was one of the only people she could look in the eye, one of the only people she trusted to make her feel safe and protected. She and Lucas have been mated over a year now and they're only just now starting to come together."

He reaches out, taking my hand. "I don't want that for us. I don't want you to fear me, to fear my touch or have it remind you of a terrible, traumatic moment in your life. I want you to seek out my touch, seek me out when you need or want comfort, to feel confident that I would never, ever allow anyone to hurt you, 21:23

Chapter 20: Say the Words

288 Vouchers

embarrass you, or make you feel anything less than the strong, confident woman and Luna that you are."

"What do you propose?" I ask, wondering how he intends to accomplish that.

time, I lean into him willingly,

I want to make love to you, I want to put my mark on your neck,

but I don't pull

night, the night of my sister's party?" I ask

"I do."

at him. "I was so excited about finding my mate. I had such fairy tale dreams of what it meant to find him, to

holding it against my cheek. "You make me feel like the

it too cheesy to say I want to make all

Say

watching as he smiles, his grey eyes t**g in the moonlight. "Much, much too

make it any less

288 Wouchers

you come sit

can feel the heat of my blush.

You did mention something about making me as uncomfortable as you are. Having you in my lap would definitely do that," he says, and I can see the challenge in

over us. And maybe he'll do something about

h**y,' I scold

start acting like an Alpha

counters.

using as a seat. He taps

that is now pressed against my thigh and hip. His warm arm wraps around my waist, and he scoots me closer, urging me

Say the

288 Mouchers

with his hand, taking a piece of pork, sliding it through the mashed potatoes and puts it up to my mouth. I open my mouth and he puts it in, getting

me.

I have a very strong desire to lean forward and kiss

want to with me, Sophie. Tonight, and every night, I hope,"

I put the food into his mouth. Instead of wiping the mashed potatoes off his lips, I lean in, watching him as I slide my tongue over his lips to lick off the potatoes. He surprises me by swallowing quickly and sliding his tongue out to touch mine swirling his tongue around and drawing mine into his mouth. Our lips