Jezebel's Lion(33)

“Okay. Sleep.” He moved them down the bed and into the covers. Jezebel moved out of his hold and lay as far from him as possible.

“Goodnight. Morning,” she mumbled.

Brandon lay there watching her until he knew sleep had finally claimed her. He turned toward her and closed his eyes letting himself sleep. He hoped the morning would be better.





Chapter Nine



Jess’s body ached all over, and it wasn’t the good ache she was starting to get used to from being with Brandon. No, this ache was painful. Her body felt battered and bruised. She lay with her head resting on Brandon’s chest and her leg thrown over him. Her body rested against the warmth of his side. One of his hands rested on her butt, and the other rested between her thighs over her pussy. Jess looked up to see his eyes closed and his breathing even. Brandon looked different in sleep. Strands of his blond hair fell over his face, and Jess stared at his perfect face. He really was handsome, with strong manly features. Brushing the strands from his closed eyes, she knew what she wanted. Jess just had to tell him.

Needing the bathroom she groaned as she eased off the warm bed. Her legs felt like jelly, and every muscle protested. She did her morning business, and as she washed her hands she stared horrified at her reflection. Purple bruises were around her neck, and her left cheek had a nice purple bruise while her right had a gash down it. Jezebel had a look down at the rest of her body. She looked like one big purple and blue bruise. Her parents were going to freak. Jezebel had no idea what she was going to tell them or what she could tell them. Sighing she hobbled back to bed snuggling into Brandon.

Brandon’s arms wrapped around her. “Morning, sweetheart. How are you feeling?”

“Sore. I just looked in the mirror and down at myself. I have no idea what I’m going to say to my parents. I’m one giant walking bruise.”

“What do you want to tell your parents?”

Jess sat up, and he followed. “I want them to know the truth. If you expect me to move in and other things, they need things explained as why I’m leaving when I haven’t been with you for long. I’m their youngest child and only daughter.”

“We can tell them if you’re willing to take me as your mate.”

She nodded and hugged her legs to herself. “I’ll move in and be your mate, but you have to give me what I deserve first. You have made me realize that I deserve to be wooed. I want more than to be mated in just your people’s eyes. I want a fiancé and a big wedding. I’m not saying I want it all now, but I do want it.” She let go of her legs and knelt over him. “I deserve to have the big princess dress and have my father walk me down the aisle to my waiting man. Again, I’m their only daughter.”

Brandon nodded. “I can give you that.”

“I won’t give up my best friends either. I can’t. I could never just desert them. They have been my closest friends for as long as I can remember. It wouldn’t be right for me to get a boyfriend, mate, whatever, and then stop being friends with them. I promise no more sleepovers, though.” She sighed. Brandon deserved that. She could still be friends with Travis and Zeck and have no sleepovers. “I still want to go to college. I want it all. I deserve it all.” She stroked his cheek as he stared at her. “I don’t want it all this moment. I just want to know you’ll give it to me eventually. I started this relationship telling myself to enjoy it and take what I could. That when you got rid of me like I thought you would to tell myself I at least got to have you and enjoy my time with you. I should be lucky a Pride was willing to be with me in the first place. The more I’ve been with you the more you’ve shown me I’m worth more than what I thought of myself. That’s why I’m saying I’ll move in with you after Christmas if you woo me. We have only been together for a week. It has been the best week of my life. Give me time to at least to get used to the idea of everything you have told me and what I saw last night. Christmas is Wednesday, and if what you’ve told me is all true then we have a long time to be together. Please.”

He groaned. “Will you see me every day?”

Jess straddled him and wrapped her arms around him. “Every day, I promise.”

His forehead rested against hers. “You’re right. You do deserve everything. I had wanted to give that to you. Jezebel, I don’t ever want you to think you have to settle and just take what you can get and be grateful for anything. You deserve to be wooed, and have your big wedding, and I want you to go to college. I’ll even pay for it myself. I want you happy. When you’re happy I am.”