Chloe's POV

We all finish dinner and I couldn't be any more full. My stomach went from practically empty to full so quickly. Everyone had a good time at dinner; we all cracked jokes, we talked about our hobbies. Everyone just seemed so relaxed and it was nice to be for once, though Derek still seemed pretty tense. Every now and then I would glance over at him and he would be glaring at Cole from across the table. Cole would glance back and smirk at Derek, but his eyes would change direction and turn to me. It made me uncomfortable and I was sure Derek picked up on it because he covered my hand with his under the table.

I was now heading upstairs to have a shower. It was after eight o'clock and I wanted to get some time to myself under the desired hot water. I went to my room and picked out a pair of blue pajama pants and a black tank top. I grabbed the towel that was left on my bed and headed for the bathroom. I stepped just outside the door when I bumped into someone. I mumbled apologies and stopped dead when I saw who I bumped into.

Cole.

"No worries," he says with a smile.

"W-W-Where did c-come from?" I ask.

His points his thumb behind him. "Just finished helping Ruth with the dishwasher," he says. "I was just headed to my room." He glances down at the items in my hands and cocks an eyebrow. "Shower?"

I don't say anything, so I just nod.

He's smirking at me again. "My word of advice -"

"I-I don't need any -"

He holds a hand up, cutting me off. "All I'm saying is that it gets cold out around here; especially by the lake. You'll need a sweater."

Right.

"Great. Thanks." I rush to the bathroom and shut it behind me, locking the door. I turn the shower on and step inside, relaxing and taking in the feeling of the hot water on my skin. I give myself some time to warm up before I wash and condition my hair. It's so nice to finally have some time to clean myself off. I notice a package of ladies razors and quickly take one out and shave my legs.

I have never actually shaved my legs before, so after knicking myself a few times I got the hang of it. When I was, I was clean and soft. I climbed out of the tub and wrapped myself in my towel. I felt a slight shiver up my spine. Cole wasn't kidding; it's freezing! I quickly dress, grab my dirty clothes and throw the bathroom door open. I rush down the hall towards my room, eager to get a sweater and some socks, but when I get to my room I stop short in the doorway. Sitting on my bed is Derek.

"Hey." I walk into the room and toss the dirty laundry in the hamper I shared with Tori.

"Hey," he mutters, not looking at me. I know there's something wrong, so I walk over and sit on the bed next to him. I immediately feel his body heat so I move closer. He wraps an arm around my shoulders and gasps.

"Jesus, Chloe, you're freezing."

I look over the end of my bed and reach into the shopping bag, pulling out the plum colored pullover hoodie that Ruth had bought me. I slipped it on, feeling the fleece and I started warming up. Derek puts his arm back around my and I lay in closer to him. I can hear his heart beating; my favorite sound.

"Are you okay?" I ask him.

I hear him sigh. "I don't know."

I look up and meet the emerald glass that are his eyes. He looks down at me and I can see that he's worried, concerned even. I wrap my arms around his waist and hold him as close as my strength will allow. It's in that moment that he leans down and presses his lips to mine and my whole body freezes. I'm momentarily still before I begin kissing him back. I move one of my hands from his waist and wrap it around the back of his neck. He does the same thing to me and the warmth from his hand sends more shivers down my spine.

"Chloe," he whispers. He doesn't say anything else. He slowly lays me down on the bed, laying down beside me but we're still kissing. His hand travels down from my neck, down my arm and finds it's resting place on my hip.

I pull Derek closer to me and I hear a groan bubble up in his throat. He grips my hip and pulls my body against his and I let out a tiny moan. His lips leave mine and begin trailing kissing across my cheek, along my jawline and down to my neck. I let out another moan when I feel his teeth graze the sensitive skin on my neck.

"Derek..."

Derek'sPOV

"Derek..."

Hearing Chloe whisper my name as I cover her neck with kisses drives me crazy. Crazy enough to carry on beyond what's happening now, but I can't. She's not ready and I don't want to hurt her. She's so small and fragile, I don't know what I'd do if I did anything to harm her. Even out of love.

It wouldn't help because you're in a crowded house.

You're not kidding.

Anywhere else you can take our mate?

I don't think - wait, what? Our mate?

Yeah, our mate. You want her, don't you?

Of course I do. I always want her. She's the only one I've ever really wanted.

Then take her.

I can't, she's not ready.

She smells ready to me. I hear Phelan chuckle.

Well I'm not taking advantage of her. She'll come to me when she's ready.

Suit yourself.

I continue to attack Chloe's neck and start trailing kisses up to her jawline and back to her lips. She wraps her arms around my shoulders, holding my close against her. When our lips meet again, I run my tongue across her bottom lip and I'm granted access when she opens her mouth to me. I slip my tongue inside and it's then I realize how sweet she really tastes. Her tongue begins tangling with mine and we start battling. I hear her moan a little bit and that's when I climb on top of her.

Our lips continue to crash against one another's. I feel Chloe's hands press against my chest and without any warning, I thrust my hips into hers and I'm rewarded with a real this time. It's then I realize how far this could go and I climb off of her, moving to the edge of the bed.

"Derek?" she says from behind me.

I drop my face in my hands. I feel the bed move under her weight as she comes to sit down next to me. I can't begin to imagine what could have happened if I let myself - oh God, I don't even want to think about it.

"Derek," she says again. She pulls my hands away from my face.

I look down at her and I think: what did I do to deserve someone like Chloe?

"What are you thinking about?" she asks.

"How a guy like me managed to deserve a girl like you," I say quietly, but not enough that she couldn't hear me.

Her eyebrows pull together. "What does that mean?"

"It means that I'm a werewolf, Chloe." I take a deep breath. "I belong with other werewolves, but I can't when I'm with you. I can't be with anyone, anywhere else where you're not."

I see her blush a little and she leans into me. She wraps her arms around my waist, holding us close together. I wrap my arms around her tiny frame, not willing to let her go. But those thoughts are cut short when I knock comes at the door. We both turn to see Lauren standing in the doorway. She doesn't look too pleased to see. The feeling is mutual. But she's Chloe's aunt, so I won't make a scene. I give Chloe a quick kiss on the head and leave without a word to her aunt.

I walk a few feet down the hall when I hear Lauren whisper, "You know you're not supposed to have boys in your room."

I keep walking, not wishing to start something that is technically true.