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Love's True Path	By : PrettySin Category: Anita Blake > Het Views: 3142 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Anita Blake series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 15
- 16
- 17
Nathaniel bit his lip as he scrubbed the kitchen cupboards, unsure why he was even doing it other than to have something to do. He felt useless enough- last night Jase had watched Elias and Rissa- Rissa thought he had pretty hair, and Elias hated him. They'd spent the rest of the evening having fun with Jase while he'd been busy with other things. Not that it mattered. He was trying to give Jase the space that she needed, whether it was tearing him up or not.

In situations like this, all Nathaniel wanted was to be with someone and comfort each other. With all the drama happening right now... there was no one able to provide that.

Nathaniel shook his head, leaning over to reach the corner of the cupboard from his precarious perch on one of the kitchen chairs.

"Hi, Nate." Jase called as she came into the house. She bit her bottom lip. Everything had been so tense between them lately.

He jumped, and would have fallen if he hadn't scrambled up onto the counter, knocking the scrub bucket and the water into the sink. "Jase!"

She came into the kitchen, her arms full of groceries. "You ok?"

"I... yeah." Nathaniel nodded and climbed down. "I'm fine... I just finished cleaning the cupboards, actually." He grabbed a towel, drying the wood. His voice had been quiet, hesitant as if he was afraid of scaring her away.

"Oh, thank you." She started to put the groceries away. She hummed softly as she did it.

"You're welcome..." He watched her for a moment, then began lining the shelves with paper.

After she'd dropped the kids off, she’d had a very long talk with Mika. She'd been helping her sort out a lot of the crap that she was going through. Mika suggested that she try to talk to Nathaniel, but the words never seemed to come out right. She put the bags in the recycling can. She turned to watch Nathaniel line the cabinets.

He bit his lip as he felt her gaze on him, and he paused in picking up the dishes to put them back. "Do you want me to leave?"

"No, don't...don't leave." She pulled her the sleeves of her shirt down over her hands. "Nathaniel...I'm sorry for all of this."

"Don't be, Jase. I understand." He resumed putting the dishes back, his submissive presence somehow smaller than it had been before she'd lost the baby.

Jase moved suddenly and hugged him from behind. She buried her face in his back.

The glass slipped from his hand and shattered on the sink, the noise loud in the silence. "I... I'm sorry... I didn't mean to. I'll clean it. I swear, I'll... I'll buy you a new set..." Tears filled his eyes and he forced them back.

"I don't care about the stupid glass, Nathaniel. All I care about is you." She was crying into his shirt.

He turned, hugging her back as he buried his face into her neck. He didn't know what she wanted- she kept pulling him close and pushing him away and it was killing him. A tear ran down his face, and as he thought of what they could have had if she hadn't lost the baby, more followed. Nathaniel cried silently into her shoulder, waiting for her to pull away.

"Nathaniel, you're standing in glass. You'll cut yourself, hun." She held him to her very tightly.

He swallowed, shaking his head. He didn't care- to move, he'd have to let her go, and what if she didn't want to hold him anymore after? A sob wrenched from him.

Jase took his hand and led his out of the kitchen. She made his sit down on the couch so she could look at the bottoms of his feet. Luckily, he was okay.

He took a shaky breath, making himself calm down as he hugged his knees to his chest. "I'm sorry."

"There's nothing to be sorry about." She laid her head down next to his feet. "Nathaniel, Mika thinks you haven't begun to grieve."

He stared at her silently. "Your friend the shrink?" He asked quietly.

She nodded. "Yeah." She was worried about Nathaniel and about herself.

"Oh." Nathaniel bit his lower lip. "Well... I'm fine."

"But you're not. Neither of us are." She hadn't been completely honest with Nathaniel lately. There was something more she hadn't told Nathaniel yet.

"Jase, I said I'm fine." He said firmly. "And I don't need some stupid psychologist dealing with second hand information from someone who can barely stand being in the same room with me to make a diagnosis." Nathaniel stood, pacing across the room, his hands fisted. His nails were drawing blood from his palms, but he didn't care.

Jase looked at him, shocked. Her lower lip began to quiver as the tears started to pour again. "For your information Mika has been helping me get through this. You say you understand and then you go and say something like that."

He forced his hands into his hair, pulling on the auburn strands as he held back a scream. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I didn't mean to say that... I don't know why... I..." He shook his head as the tears once again began to fall down his cheeks, blood dripping from his palms.

Jase shook her head. "I can't go through this again. It didn't go well the first time, it won't work this time." She was sobbing now, talking to herself as she cried.

Nathaniel moved so that he was on his knees, crawling to her. "Jase... Jase I'm sorry... please, I'm sorry..."

Jase had her face buried in her hands. "No, no. Not again. I can't do it again."

He touched her shoulder with a shaking hand, swallowing. "Jase, I love you... please don't have me leave, I love you... I'm sorry. I won't yell again... I'm sorry..."

"I can't. I ruined it all. I ruin everything." She sobbed harder when he touched her. She didn't want to be there. She was afraid she'd have to be hospitalized again. She hated hospitals.

"Jase, baby... you didn't ruin anything..." He bit his lip. "Can... can I hold you?"

She was lost reality. She was lost in the past. She just kept crying, her lithe forming shaking. "I killed him. The pack hates me. I'm an outcast."

"Jase..." He pulled her into his arms, holding her and rocking her gently. "The pack doesn't hate you... I love you, Jason loves you... Mika loves you..."

"He said he loves me, but he betrayed me for the pack. He attacked me. I was fighting for my life. I didn't want to kill him."

"I won't... I won't betray you... Jase, baby, that's different... I'm not him- and he would have killed you..." Nathaniel swore at himself mentally. This was his fault!

Jase couldn't stop the tears. "He raped me. He had it coming, but I can't stand it. I was pregnant with his child, why would he attack me like that? Why would he betray me like that?"

Nathaniel growled, holding her so that she had to look him in the eye. "Look at me Jase- look at me now."

Jase continued to cry. She didn't see Nathaniel, she was so caught up in the past.

He kissed her gently, hoping that she would feel him there and come out of it.

Jase whimpered softly as he kissed her. "Nate..."

'That's right..." He pressed more kisses to her face, kissing her tears away. "I'm right here, baby, and I'm not going anywhere... I swear to you." Nathaniel stroked her hair.

She was still shaking. "Don't... I'll just fail you. I fail at everything."

"No- no you won't, Jase. You love me, right?" He looked into her eyes, still petting her hair, hoping to calm her.

"Yes, I love you, but I loved him too. He still betrayed me." She was choking on her sobs now.

"I swear to God, Jase, that I will never hurt you like he did- I'll never betray you. I'd rather kill myself first." He swallowed- "And you won't fail me- You love me, and that's the best thing that's ever happened to me... that's the one thing that makes it worth getting up and living one more day, because I know that you're still here, still living. I've wanted nothing more than to die and forget living for most of my life but that stopped when I met you. You made it right. You completed me and I wasn't living before Jase- you can't live without your heart and soul and you're both." He forced the tears back. "Please..."

Jase bowed her head. "You put so much faith in my Nathaniel, but I'm only mortal. I can only do so much, deal with so much. You want togive me your whole heart and soul, but I'm not worthy to take them. You think you're such a horrible person, but you're not. You're a good soul." She hugged him, tightly. "I want us to work, but my mind is fragile right now. I just need some time, hun. I need time to adjust to everything that's been going on. I want you to talk to Mika. It will help you and make me feel better."

He sighed, nodding as he pressed a kiss to her neck. "Anything I can do to keep you..."

"This will help us and our relationship. It'll help us move on.'' She pressed her face into his check. "Sleep in the room with me tonight."

"You're sure?" He asked softly.

She nodded. "I'm sure."

Nathaniel pressed a soft kiss to her lips. "I love you, Jase..."

"I love you too."

~~~~~~~~~~~

Caleb stared at the walls of his hospital room wondering idly if they were supposed to be blue, white, or light grey- Not that it mattered. Either way, they were depressing. Lillian had told him this morning that he was free to go as soon as Jason came to pick him up. He was physically healthy now, having changed two more times to help heal the damage.

He raised the hand mirror one of the nurses had given him and traced the scar in his eyebrow. He knew he had similar scars on his nipples, and was, frankly, amazed that they had come back after he had changed. He supposed that he was lucky that his dick had healed too...

The leopard shook, slightly at the memory, which he forced aside. He’d live. He’d been raped before- yes... this had been worse... but he’d deal with it. Jason seemed to have forgiven him, but he needed to make it clear that he did, in fact, trust the wolf... and that he loved him. Without Jason, he was nothing.

Jason felt dirty. He knew Caleb was going through a lot but he had to tell him. Caleb probably wouldn't want to go home with him after he told him, but he had to know what Jason had done. He took a deep breath and went into Caleb's room. "Hey..."

"Hey." Caleb stood, reaching for his bag. "I already filled out the forms... Jean-Claude said he was paying..."

"Caleb, we need to talk." Jason couldn't look at him.

He froze. "Jason, I know I was stupid about you and Jean-Claude. I trust you. You're not like that and I know you wouldn't do that. I'm sorry..."

"You had good reason not to trust me. That night...I was angry and wasn't thinking..." He took a deep breath. "And I slept with Lucian." He looked away from him, knowing he had to tell him everything. "I let him top me."

Caleb didn't move, he didn't breath, he didn't do anything. He just stared, stunned at his mate.

"Sorry doesn't even begin to heal this, but I'm sorry. I was so mad. I thought we were over." Jason went quiet.

The leopard looked down, his jaw tight. "I guess you were right." He looked Jason in the eye, and stepped towards the door.

Jason moved aside so he could leave. He winced and grabbed his ribs.

"A bit over dramatic, aren't you?" Caleb's voice was just... a voice. It wasn't angry, sad or anything. It showed no emotion. "I'm sure that Lucian will be happy to comfort you and heal your heart."

"I kicked him out of my bed that same night." He didn’t tell him that Lucian had beat the hell out of him.

"Before or after I was tortured for being your lover?" Caleb shook his head. "Never mind. I'm sorry."

"After I found out." He said softly.

Shaking his head, Caleb looked down. "I'm sorry, Jason. You shouldn't have let guilt tear you two apart."

"It wasn't guild that tore us apart. It was wrong." Jason was having problems breathing.

"Then why?"

"It was wrong to go to him like that. I still love you."

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "And again, Jason, I ask, why?" He looked at the wolf. "If I hadn't been kidnaped, tortured, and raped, would you have been so quick to reject him? To tell me that you still love me? Because... it seems a bit curious. You jumped so quickly at the first thing- the first fucking thing, Jason- to get out of this joke of a relationship, but you're sure you love me."

"It's not a joke of a relationship. I do love you and yes I would have kicked Lucian out of my bed no matter what because I don't love him." Jason hunched over in pain.

"What the hell's wrong with you?" Caleb rolled his eyes and pushed Jason into a chair that was in the hall. "Don't tell me your loving heart is breaking."

Jason winced when Caleb shoved him. "I think I have internal bleeding." He reeked of blood now. He had bleed through one of his bandages.

"What the hell...?" The leopard jerked Jason's shirt up, swearing as he saw the wrapping on his ribs, and the bruising. "Fuckin' hell.... what the hell hit you? A bus?"

"Lucian." Jason looked away from him.

Caleb growled as he stood. "You stay there- and don't you fucking move, got it?" He saw Jason open his mouth to reply. "No- don't even say anything. You're going to listen, and do what I say." He moved up the hall, calling a nurse.

Jason just shut up and did as Caleb told him.

Waiting impatiently as Lillian examined Jason and wrapped his rips once more, Caleb paced the hall. She'd probably tell him to go home, force the change, and hang out as a wolf for a while.

He forced a hand through his hair, unable to think. He didn't know what to do, or to say to Jason about him fucking Lucian- or rather, letting Lucian fuck him. He didn't even know if it'd be worth it to try and stay together with the wolf.

He sank into a chair and put his head in his hands. "God..."

Lillian did as Caleb thought she would. She had Jason shift and told him not to move around a lot. She went out to see Caleb. "I'm keeping him over night. All of his ribs are broken. I'm surprised he could even walk." She shook her head. "Shifters can be so damn stubborn."

"Yeah. Tell Jason I'm going to see his sister and tell her, alright?" He grabbed his bag. "I'll be back later."

"Be safe, Caleb." Lillian called after him. She signed and went to check on Jason.

~~~~~~~~~~

Caleb hitched a cab to the Circus and picked up his own car before heading to Jase's, his mind strangely blank. He was knocking on the door before he even really registered that he was there.

Jase had been snuggled up next to Nate, but rolled out of bed when she heard someone knocking. She opened the door, half-asleep. "Caleb?"

"Hi... um..." He looked over her shoulder, seeing Nathaniel. "Can I talk to you?"

"Sure." She moved so he could come in. She closed the door. "You ok?"

"Not really." He looked down, and Nathaniel took his hand, tugging him into the living room.

"Sit down Caleb. Want something to drink?"

Jase got him some tea. "Jason told you didn't he?"

“Yeah... but..." Fuck. How was he supposed to tell her?

"But what, Caleb?" Nathaniel frowned.

"Did something else happen?"

"Lucian... he... Can you sit, Jase? Please?" Caleb rubbed the back of his neck nervously.

"What did Lucian do? Did he hurt him?"

"Yeah. He's... in the shifter hospital. Lillian said he'll be fine, and all... but he's at the shifter hospital tonight. She had him shift... cause... every one of his ribs was broken..." Caleb swallowed, swearing as his eyes filled. "I'm sorry." He wiped the tears away viciously, but they kept falling.

Jase hugged him. "It's not your fault, hun. I'll call Jean-Claude and make sure Lucian is punished. I hope you and Jason can work this out. He's an idiot, but he loves you."

"It's my fault, Jase... I was the one who... who said something stupid... I didn't mean that I didn't trust him... I just...." He closed his eyes as more tears slipped beneath the dark lashes.

"Caleb... no..." Nathaniel bit his lip. He didn't understand what Jason had done, not at all, and he didn’t know what to say to help.

"Listen Jason doesn’t deal with rejection well. He thought you were rejecting him so he ran away, but what he did was wrong. You're not to blame for his bad choices."

Caleb shook his head. "He's better off with Lucian anyway..."

"Lucian beat the hell out of him. He loves you."

“Then why would he think so little of me?” He asked quietly.

"He thinks the world of you, Caleb." Jase smiled at him. "I promise. He's just an idiot.”

Caleb looked at her, into the eyes so like Jason's. "What should I do?"

"That's up to you. If you can find it in your heart to forgive him, then try to work it out." She meet his gaze. Caleb how no idea how much he was helping her. Everyone had been so careful around her lately, but he was asking her fore help, asking her opinion.

He groaned, letting his head fall back. "This sucks. A fucking lot. Just so you know."

Nathaniel nodded. "We know."

"Want me to beat him up for you?" Jase said, trying to lighten the mood.

A laugh tore from his throat, and Caleb looked at her. "Trust me, he's beaten up enough, though I reserve the right to punch him without repercussions."

"Of course. That's you're right. Do you just want to crash in the guest room tonight?" Jase took Nathaniel's hand in her own.

"Could I?" Caleb watched as Nathaniel intertwined his fingers with hers.

"Of course, Caleb. Even if you and Jay don't work out I'll still be friends with you." She kissed Nathaniel's hand.

Nathaniel smiled at them both. "Yeah. Ditto on the friend thing, Caleb..."

He sighed. "I don't want to lose him, but it's not... erg."

Jase smiled up at him. "We're here for you, Caleb."

'Thanks, guys... really. It means a lot. It's not like I have a lot of friends..." Caleb smiled back at Jase, though it was a bit strained.

"Well, ignore the crap Anita caused. Seriously. She's not the nicest..."

"Not the nicest...she's a bitch." She yawned loudly. "I think I'm tired."

"You should sleep... I'm sorry I got you guys out of bed." Caleb stood and stretched, yawning as well.

"Eh, don't worry about it." Nathaniel looked at Jase, swearing softly as he yawned too..

She laughed, "To bed with us all." She stood and put her arm around Nathaniel's waist. She headed upstairs with him. "Night, Caleb."

"Night!" Nathaniel watched as the other leopard waved before he hugged Jase.

Jase plopped down onto her bed. "I feel bad for them."

"I know." Nathaniel sighed, stretching his arms up over his shoulders, then down behind him. "I wish I could help..."

Jase watched him stretch. "Me too, but it's their relationship."

"Mmm..." He reversed the stretch, bending forward this time, leaning down to touch his toes. "I know, but it still sucks. I want to whack Jason upside the head..."

"You and me both, Nate." She laid back on her bed. "I'm not tired anymore. I think I want a bubble bath.”

He looked up at her from his stretch, his hair falling to the side of his face. "Want me to draw it for you?"

"Sure." She smiled at him. " Thank you."

Nathaniel grinned back at her as he straightened. "What scent do you want me to put in? And if you want, I can get you something to drink while you're in there..."

"Vanilla." She blushed. It was his scent and she loved to have it fill her lungs. "I think I'm good without a drink."

"You're sure? What about something to snack on? I made some cookies a bit ago... They're pretty good..." He headed towards the bathroom door.

"I'm fine with just the bath." She smiled at his offer. He was always so worried about making sure she was happy and comfortable.

"Alright." Nathaniel pushed his hair over his shoulder and turned on the water for the bath, adjusting the temperature. God, he wished he knew what she wanted from him... He wished she'd let him hold her, ask him to make love to her... but it was too soon. He sighed, and added the vanilla bubble bath before grabbing his hair brush. Time to braid his hair for the night.

Jase put her hand on his back. "You're going to brush you're hair?" She asked him softly.

He looked at her, his breath hitching at her touch. "I... um... I figured I would while you were... in the bath...?"

"The point was for you to join me." Her breath tickled the back of his neck.

A shiver ran down his spine. "Oh..." Nathaniel swallowed, turning to look at her. "I didn't think you'd want...."

She looked into his eyes. She would do this for him, to help him heal. "I want to have a nice relaxing bath with the man I love."

He leaned down, brushing his lips over hers. "I love you, Jase."

"I love you too, Nathaniel." She slid her hand up under his shirt.

He made a small noise in the back of his throat and looked at the tub only to swear as he saw it nearly over flowing. he pulled back, and turned it off with a blush. "Sorry..."

She laughed, "It's ok. Just empty it out some, hun." She sat down on the edge of the tub.

He stuck his tongue out at her and drained the tub a bit."Brat."

She waited until he put the plug back in before she ran her fingers through his hair.

Nathaniel bit his lip, drying off his hand on his shirt. "I'll let you braid my hair after.... if you want."

"I don't want it braided at all. I love being able to run my fingers through it."

"You get to brush the tangle from it then." He kissed the corner of her mouth, pulling her up to stand.

"Fine, but you don't get to complain." She pulled her tank top up and over her head.

"Why would I complain if it means you touching me?" He smoothed his hands up her sides, then behind her to undo her bra.

She let the bra slide down her arms and fall down to the floor. "And what if I want you to touch me?"

"Mmm..." Nathaniel purred leaning down to trace her ear with his lips. "Ask... and you will receive..."

"We're supposed to be taking a bath." She pulled off her pajama pants and underwear and kicked them away. She moved away from him and slid into the tub. "Oh, that feels good."

He licked his lips at the sight of her, and began to push his pants down, his hair covering and revealing teasing glimpses of his skin.

Jase watched him with hungry eyes. "Ready to come join me?"

"Yeah." He grabbed some towels and set them out before climbing in carefully. Nathaniel moaned at the feel of the water, purring.

Jase moved forward so he could sit behind her. She leaned back and laid her haed on his shoulder. "You're comfy."

He wrapped his arms around her, his legs along the outside of hers. "Am I?" He smiled, nuzzling her neck. "I love your scent..."

"I love yours too. That why I like to bathe in vanilla." She closed her eyes and relaxed against him.

Nathaniel's fingers traced idle patterns on her belly. He let his eyes slip shut, his auburn lashes dark against his pale cheeks as he just enjoyed holding her.

Jase dozed off while laying in him arms. She left safe with him again. She felt....whole.

"Mmm... Jase, yes!" He moaned, pushing against her, his hands teasing her breasts. "Please... oh please..." A whimper passed his parted lips, his hardened member pressed against her as he dreamed.

Jase woke up suddenly. She realized what Nathaniel was doing and that he was asleep. She couldn't help but laugh. They'd both fallen asleep in the bath. She turn around and shook his shoulder. "Nathaniel, hun, wake up."

"Mmm.... no, please Jase..." He pouted in his sleep, obviously liking the dream better than the idea of waking up. She shook him again, and his eyes opened. "Huh? What?"

She snickered. "You were molesting me in your sleep."

Nathaniel blushed darkly, grabbing a towel as he climbed from the tub. "I'm sorry."

"Why? You didn't do anything wrong." Jase watched him get out, but decided to stay in.

He bit his lip, pausing in pulling the towel around his slim hips. Instead, it served as a frame to his lithe hips and his persistent arousal. “You said I was molesting you...”

"You were a little friendly. I said it jokingly." She smiled at him.

He glanced down at his body wryly and shook his head. "I'd say more than a little, Jase." Nathaniel wrapped the towel around his hips and sat on the side of the tub.

"Okay, fine, really friendly. It's okay, Nathaniel." She laid back in the tub.

"Mm. If you say so." He licked his lips, noting that many of the bubbles in the tub had faded, leaving the water opaque and teasing him with her body. He was going to be having some 'alone time' later at this rate. He forced his eyes to her face, not that it helped.

Jase had closed her eyes and was relaxing. It wasn't helping her at all that she could smell his arousal. She tried to take her mind off of the fire running through her veins, but all she could think of was him.

"You look tense, love..." He moved so that he could reach to massage her shoulders, thinking to help. "What's wrong?" His scent and vanilla filled the room.

She shivered. "You smell really good." She opened her eyes and looked up at him.

Nathaniel leaned down and brushed his lips over hers, his hair falling forward over her. "Thanks..."

She pulled him down so she could kiss him fully. "I love you so much."

"Mmm..." He kissed her once more before murmuring against her lips that he loved her as well, his hand slipping into her blonde hair.

She loved the feeling of his fingers buried in her hair. She slid her tongue into his mouth.

He moaned softly, meeting her tongue with his, his hand slipping to stroke her upper arm as they kissed.

She shivered at his touch. "Nathaniel, are we ready for this?"

He stopped, pulling back slightly. "Jase... if you're not ready, tell me. You know I won't make you do anything you don't want. I swear..."

"I don't know." She admitted. "I don't know if I'm ready for this or not."

Nathaniel pressed a kiss to her temple. "Then we can wait."

"Thank you." She smiled at him.

"You don't need to thank me... really." He sat up and stretched.

She sank down lower into the bath tub.

"You going to fall asleep in there again?" He smiled, moving so that he knelt on the floor next to the tub.

"You fell asleep too, so don't tease me." She stuck her tongue out at him.

"Now you're teasing me with your tongue, so it's fair." He reached out, messing up her hair with a grin.

"Leave me alone," She sank down under the water.

An impish look came into his violet eyes as he reached into the tub, tickling her belly.

She gasped, swallowing water. She coughed as her body tried to get the water out of her lungs. "Not fair..."

"I'm sorry... Are you alright?" He rubbed her back.

"I just swallowed vanilla water, but other than that I'm ok." She coughed some more.

"I'm really sorry... I didn't think of that...." Nathaniel frowned, worried.

"I'm okay." She got out of the tub and began to dry off.

His eyes caught on a single drop of water trailing down her back, and he shook his head. "I'll... I'll be in the other room... okay?" He stood, moving towards the door.

"Okay." She finished drying off and tossed her towel into the hamper. She grabbed her clothes and headed into her room.

Nathaniel groaned, smacking himself in the head before hurrying into the other room and grabbing his lilac shorts from where they laid on top of his bag. Think of something disgusting, you moron! Jason.... Jason in drag.... Jason with boobs-... Jase.... Damn it. He swallowed.

She grabbed her silk night gown and pulled it on over her head. She laid down on the bed.

He grabbed the hair brush once more and sat down on the floor, slowly starting the time consuming process of grooming his hair.

Jase rolled over onto her stomach and watched him.

Hmm... icky thoughts.... Raina! There! He noted with satisfaction that the tightness in his shorts eased, and he kept up the rhythmic motions of brushing his hair, hardly realizing that he was purring.

"It's cute when you purr." Jase said softly.

Nathaniel looked at her, his hand pausing. "Huh?"

"You purr when you brush your hair." She was propped up on her elbows giving him a perfect view down her top.

His lips parted, his eyes caught on her cleavage. "Huh?"

"When you brush your hair you purr."

"I.... I didn't realize..." God, he wanted to trace his tongue over her breasts...

She leaned forward a bit. "You do and it's cute."

"Jase!" He groaned, dropping the brush and burying his face in his hands. "Stop! Please! Just... ah." He whimpered.

She sat up. "Nathaniel, what's wrong? I didn't do anything."

"I know..." He moaned, leaning forward and banging his head on the floor from where he was sitting.

She got off the bed and knelt beside him. "Are you okay?" She was very worried about this sudden outburst.

Nathaniel whimpered. "Yeah... fine..."

"Nathaniel, you're obviously not fine. What did I do?" She felt bad now.

"You... you breathed! You moved! You smelled pretty!" He sat up and forced a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry- I'll wait... I just... Urg..."

"I'm sorry, Nathaniel. I'm just not ready yet." She kissed his forehead. "I'm going to go check on Caleb. You can have the bed to yourself tonight. I think Caleb needs someone to be there for him." She stood up and headed downstairs.

He fell backwards, cursing himself. Damn it.

Jase knocked on the guest room's door. "Can I come in, Caleb?"

"Yeah." He called softly. He sat on the floor near the closet, staring at the bed.

She opened the door. "Mind if I sleep in here tonight?" She asked as she closed the door and sat down beside him.

Caleb frowned, looking at her with concern. "Did you have a fight with Nathaniel?"

"Yes... no... kinda." She signed. "We both got kind of worked up and I called foul because I'm not ready. Then he freaked out." She buried her hand in her hands. "I don't know how to fix this."

"Freaked out?" Caleb reached over, hesitantly rubbing her back.

"He just started freaking out and I asked what I did and he said 'I breathe. I smell good.' "

His lips quirked. "Poor Nathaniel... He's so in love with you it's not even funny."

"He's in love with me so he freaks out?"

"No... he's so in love with you that he can't stand the thought of not being with you... He'd forgive you anything; he'd wait for you through anything. The scent of you, the sight of you.... the thought of you... the sound of your voice is heaven to him. You're the angel that is his home, and he wants you- it's a reassurance to him... touch. It lets him know that you're real and that he's not dreaming. You're real, and you really do want him and love him back." Caleb smiled, lost in thought. "He wouldn't ever force you, but he loves you and wants you- you're his mate, wolf or not, and he has the urge to be with you as mates are." He met her gaze, strongly reminded of Jason. "You two are very lucky."

She looked away. "I can't be his angel, Caleb. I just can't do it. He puts so much faith in me that it hurts because I know I failed him. He trusts me with his heart and soul and I know I'm just going to break them." She pulled her knees up to chest.

"Do you love him, Jase?"

"Yes. I love him more than anyone before. That's what scares me. We came together so fast. I wasn't ready for all of this."

"I know the feeling." Caleb reached over, hugging her. "But... Jase? If you love him? It's worth it... Nathaniel's one of the best out there." He smirked at her. "The best part? He's litter trained and house broken. He also cleans."

She laid against his chest. "I know he's great, but he doesn't see it. I can't convince him I'm not some angel."

"But you are to him.... like he is to you."

She looked up at him. "It's just a lot of pressure."

"Tell me about it-" He sighed. "Tell you what I'd do... if I were you. Nathaniel doesn't want anything from you other than for you to be you, and for you to love him. That's it. He'll be with you no matter what. That's it. I'd do that. Just be with him."

"You make it sound so simple." She sighed."I'll try my hardest."

Caleb shrugged. "Hey, I can't help it. Nate-y Boy's sexy. Seriously. That ass, and the way he moves.... and that hair..." He leered, letting out a purr, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

She burst out laughing. "You're so horrible."

He laughed. "I know, but I'm cute!"

"Pfft, says who?" She asked.

"Jason!" He pouted, sticking out his lower lip.

"I rest my case." She crossed her arms over her chest.

He stilled, looking down. "Yeah..."

"Yeah, Jason is an idiot."

Caleb shrugged. "I don't know."

"Come one, lets go to bed." They had a long day ahead of them. She had to fix this between her and Nathaniel. Caleb had to talk to Jason.

"Yeah." Caleb moved, grabbing the pillow Jason had used last time and hugging it to his chest. "Thanks, Jase."

She crawled into the bed. "Why are you thankful?"

“For you being my friend." He closed his eyes, though he knew it'd be a long time before he fell asleep.

"You're welcome, but you're a good friend too."

"Yeah. Night, Jase."

"Night." She rolled over onto her side and wondered how to fix her life.
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Love's True Path