Chapter 23

"Did I wake you? I didn't mean to." He isn't looking up at me. His entire body is slumped over and it worries me even more. I realize the faint smell is coming from him also. Burbon maybe? "No. I couldn't sleep." He didn't say anything back. We both just stayed exactly where we were for a while. "Are you okay?" I finally got the nerve to ask. Without a word he quickly rose to his feet and wrapped his arms around me pulling me tightly against his chest. I hook my arms under his and take in his smell. "She isn't mine." Softly escaped his lips and I felt devastated. I had gotten exactly what I wanted but here I have my mate completely wrecked over the news. It was selfish of me to want that and now I just feel guilty. He pulls his head up and looks down at me and I try to think of something anything to say to help him but I didn't get the chance. Instead, Braden had dipped his head down and taken my lips in a kiss. I no long