Chapter 12

Putting my fork down, I brought Jason's hand up to my mouth, sweetly kissing it. Smiling at me, I could tell that he was searching for what I was up to. Moving my plate to the side, I crawled over the counter. Jason's eyes were wide, only getting wider the closer I got. "What are you doing?" he whispered, nose to nose with me.

"Showing you how much you mean to me," I responded. Shock was evident in his face. Pressing my lips to his, it took him a moment to comform to mine, but he responded quickly. Wrapping his arms around me, he dropped my into his lap.

He feverishly was kissing me, squeezing my butt, and pulling on my hair. His chest was heaving, his breath staggered. I could feel him hardening beneath me. Moving down, biting and sucking on my mark aroused me even further. "Wait," his breathless voice said.

"What's wrong?" I asked, equally as breathless.

"Nothing's wrong," he started, "but I don't think we should do this now."

Puzzled, I wasn't really sure how to answer that. "Really?" I felt more disappointed than anything. "But...how come?"

"Oh, baby. It's not that I don't want to, because I do."

"Is it me?" I started panicking.

"No, sweetheart, it's not you. " Smoothing the hair from my face, he wiped the stray tears that fell. "I want us to take our time; really, truly wait for the right moment." Nuzzling my nose, he was trying to reassure me. "Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to take you right here, right now, every which way, but I want to savor you. Every inch of you."

Laying my head on his shoulder, I was disappointed, but I understood his point. Shifting around a little, a rumble came from his chest. "Sorry," I shyly said. "What should we do now?"

"It's getting late, why don't get some sleep, and start fresh tomorrow?"

"Sounds good."

Trying to slide off his lap, he looked at me funny. "What're you doing?"

"Going up to bed?"

Standing up with me in his arms, he smiled. "What makes you think I don't want to carry you?"

"You know, Jason, you don't have to carry me all the time. I do have legs." To prove my point, I kicked them out a couple times.

"I like carrying you," he protested.

Sighing, I couldn't resist his pouty face. "Alright, let's go."

Running us upstairs, we went into his room. "This isn't my room," I remarked.

"Yes, it is. We share this room," he replied back.

"Not tonight, we don't." Silence. "You said you wanted to take your time with me, so this is how we take our time."

"Dakota--"

"No, Jason. You're right. You marked me, and I wanted that. But I do agree, we should slow down. Because I want to savor you as much as you want to savor me." Before he spoke, I put my finger to his lips. "We'll know when the time is right."

Walking away from Jason made me physically sick. All I wanted was to cuddle up next to him, and drift off to sleep together. But, he had a point. I was marked now, so at the very least unmated males would stay away from me. My biggest want was for Jason to woo me, show me the world; make me truly feel like his queen.

Goodnight, Jason. Until tomorrow.

Jason POV

As I lay here in my empty bed, I wonder how Dakota feels. She knows how I feel about her, but she insists on being in a different room. Since I feel as sick as I do, I can guarantee that she feels just as awful as I do. My stomach feels like its in knots. Goddamnit, I should have just taken her when she wanted me to.

Rolling over, seeing her side empty hurts my heart. I know she wants to be with me, and I her, but she can't get past her own guilt. All I want to do is make her mine, treat her like a queen, and give her all the things in life she denied herself. I can smell her in the pillow.

Goddamnit, Jason.

Dakota Mayfield, what have you done to me?

Dakota POV

Something's wrong. Why is my pillow soaking wet? Why am I soaking wet? Getting up, I stumble, sleepily towards the bathroom. Flicking on the light, my hair is soaked to my head, and my clothes are dripping. Why am I burning up? What's happening to me?

Jason. I have to get to Jason.

Walking out of the bathroom, a sudden pain hit my stomach. Dropping to my knees, I clench my stomach for dear life.

"Jason," I wheeze, but then I fell all the way to the floor.

"Dakota!" Jason exclaimed. "Dakota, baby, talk to me."

"I'm so hot, Jason," I whispered. "My whole body hurts."

"Oh shit." Picking me up, we went towards the bathroom. Sitting me on the floor, he started to fill the tub.

"What's happening to me?"

"You're going through your heat. Don't worry, we'll put you in the tub for awhile. Should stave off the fever, for now."

When the tub filled, he lowered me into it. The cold water seared my skin; it felt like knives were cutting me all over. "Jason, it hurts," I groaned.

"I know, baby. But this is the only thing I can do right now. I won't lie to you. It will get worse before it gets better." Draping a wash cloth on my head, he looked worried. "We'll get through this, I promise."

After about an hour of being in the tub, I started to feel a little better. Occasionally, Jason would drip water from the wash cloth on my forehead. Most of the time, he didn't move. Ever kneeling at the tub side, making sure that I was okay.

"How do you feel?"

"A little better. I feel less feverish."

Grabbing a towel, I started to get up. "Hey, hey. Wait a sec, honey. Let me help you."

"It's okay, Jason. I'm not an invalid," I snapped. Taking the towel from him, I wrapped myself up. Extending a hand, I made it over the tubs edge. "Sorry, I didn't mean to snap."

Kissing me, he smiled. "It's okay, it's a symptom of the heat." Placing the back of his hand on my forehead, "The fever seems to have gone down. Come on, let's go to bed." Not even realizing it, Jason was only in his boxers; I felt a rumble in my chest. Chuckling, he wrapped his arm around me, "Come on."

I could smell my own sweat emanating from my bed. "Gross," I whispered.

"You can sleep in my bed. I'll sleep on the couch," he offered.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

Heading into his room, he let me wear one of his t-shirts which was practically a dress on me. Tucking me in, he kissed my forehead, left to go downstairs.

The rest of the nights sleep was generally peaceful. I just missed having him next to me.

Jason POV

My poor baby. A female wolf's heat is no joke. It can be very crippling; I needed every ounce of control not to take her. Seeing her in pain hurt me more than she knew. All I wanted to do was ay with her, and help her get through this. But if I lay with her, then there will certainly be no controlling the outcome.

I can feel her upstairs; she feels better. Calm has come over her which tells me she's sleeping soundly now.

I'm glad she feels better; it makes me feel better to know that she's evened out.

Maybe now I can catch some sleep.

~the next morning~

Waking, I feel better; not 100%, but better.

I wonder if Jason is up yet. Turning over, I see its only 7am; I'm never up this early. Pants, I need to find pants. Opening a drawer, I see his boxers. Slipping them on, I head downstairs. I don't hear anyone else, I suppose no one else has come over yet.

Smelling Jason, I go for it.

Already in his office? He must not have slept much.

Knocking, I hear some shuffling around; I'm going in.

"Good morning, honey," Jason said, looking up from the desk.

"Good morning, Jase." I go around the desk, running my fingers through his disheveled hair.

Patting his lap, I sit down, and takes me into his arms. "How do you feel?"

Shrugging, "I feel way better," I lied.

"Did you get any sleep?"

"I got some," he said, tucking my hair behind my ear. "What about you?"

"I did too; it was alright." Peering at his desk, it looked like he was doing work. "I'll let you get back to work." As I started to stand, he pulled me back down.

"It's alright, I was done anyway. How about we get some breakfast?"  Nodding, he carried me from the office to the kitchen, plopping me on the island. Grabbing egg, bacon, and pancake mix, he got to work on our breakfast. "If I start the eggs, and bacon, will you make the pancake mix?"

"Of course." Going by the box instructions, I mix it all up, and hand the bowl to Jason.

Thes smell of breakfast made me kind of queasy. I'm hoping that if I eat that my queasiness will go away. Just watching Jason in the kitchen makes me happy; he makes me happy. I can't believe that I'm the mate to this beautiful, wonderful wolf. He sees my worth. Something I've never been able to see.

"Ready?" Jason asked, pulling me from my thoughts.

"Oh, yeah, it smells good." My face was probably a shade of green from my nausea. Please stay down, breakfast.

Jason dug in immedately; typical hungry wolf. He was more than halfway finished, when I was taking my second bite. It was hard for me to swallow the first bite. Stomach pain shot through me; don't let Jason see.

"Are you alright, babe?"

"Hmm, oh, I'm fine," I lied.

Side-eyeing me, he knew that I was completely full of crap. "Dakota, baby, what is it?"

Unable to hold it anymore, I got up, and ran to the bathroom, vomitting everything I had eaten, and then some. My stomach felt like it was being twisted, and knotted together. Trying to stand, I was dry heaving. My muscles were clenching, and my head was spinning.

"Oh, Jesus." Jason was rubbing my back, and holding my hair. "Why didn't you tell me you felt poorly?"

"Because I didn't want to make you feel badly. I wanted today to be a good day."

Sadness hit his features, "Baby, come on. Let's lay you down."

Right when Jason picked me up, his parents walked into the house. "Jason? Dakota?" Diedre called.

"We're in here, Mom," he answered, opening the door more.

"Oh, no. What's wrong?" Immediately, she came over, feeling my temperature. "Jason, she's burning up."

"She's in heat," he responded.

Anthony stepped forward, "Marked her already?"

"Yes, Dad. I have to take her upstairs."

"When did it start?"

"Late last night."

Diedre came running back with an icebag for my head. "Dakota, honey, how do you feel?"

"My whole body hurts. I feel hot."

"Jason, take her up. I'll find more ice packs, and bring them up."

Running up, he laid down on his bed. Anthony was in tow. "I'm right here with you."

"Jason," Anthony said, "come here."

As Jason move away, a serious pain racked through my whole body. "Ahhhh!" I screamed.

Spinning around, Jason came racing back. "What's wrong?"

Breathing deeply, the pain was subsiding. "The pain was so bad."

Anthony stepped into the room. "That's that then. You won't be able to leave her side now."

"What? Why?" I asked.

"The further he moves from you, the more pain you will have."

"Dad, did you call me over to see what would happen?"

Shrugging, his intentions were innocent enough. "I just needed to see how bad it was."

Rumbling came from Jason, "It's alright, Jason. Don't get angry with your Father."

Diedre came running in with ice packs in hand. As she put them down, my skin felt like it was searing off. "Here, honey. This should help some."

"Ahh!" I yelped. Jason's hand was getting the brunt of my squeezing.  "How long does this last?"

Diedre and Anthony looked at each other, "Probably another day or two," he answered.

"Shit," I whispered. Hearing Jason giggle at my cursing made me smile. "I want this to be over."

Jason's Mom came to the other side of the bed, and squeezed in next to me, stroking my hair. "Don't worry, as long as Jason stays near you, then the pain should ease."

When the landline rang, Anthony went to get it so Jason could stay with me.

" Alpha Mayfield, how are you? Take it easy, Devon. She's fine. Don't take that tone with me, pup. Do not disrespect me!"

"I better go stop your father before someone gets hurt," Diedre remarked.

"Let me talk to my brother," I suggested. She nodded and bounded downstairs to get the phone away from Anthony. "Devon probably feels my pain."

"Devon really shouldn't be speaking to my Dad like that though. He won't stand for it."

Next thing, Diedre comes in with the phone in hand. "Here, honey. Talk to him."

"Devon, it's Dakota."

"Dakota, are you alright?"

"Well....I'm in heat."

"You what?!"

"Please don't yell. I have a headache."

"Well, goddamnit, Dakota. What am I supposed to think?"

"He is my mate, after all."

A frustrated sigh came from him. "Moving a little fast, don't you think?"

Jason took the phone from me, "Listen, Mayfield,  you don't get to dictate when I mark my mate!"

"She's still my sister!"

Ripping the phone from Jason's hand, I spoke to my brother again. "Listen, Devon, it'll pass in a couple days. When it's over, I'll call you back. Please don't worry about me."

"You better, Dakota." Pausing, his voice changed. "Love you, sis."

"Love you too, Dev."

Handing the phone back to Diedre, I glared at Jason. "Don't look at me like that," Jason said.

"He's still my brother, Jason."

"But he's still an Alpha and should show respect."

"Can you blame him for being upset about this?"

Pausing, Jason was thinking about his words carefully. "No, I suppose not. You should get some rest, we can deal with it in a couple days when you're better. Get some rest, I'll be right here."

Closing my eyes, the pain had subsided slightly with Jason at my side. I really hope I make it through this nightmare.