The Girl He Marked by Laila Callaway novel Chapter 3

Axel's POV.

Finlay, Luke and Nick join us outside, pulling up garden chairs. They're all shifters that are part of our pack and our friendship group. They're the ones we sit with each day at lunch and Grace gets on with them.

Speaking of my shy, human mate, she is certainly more confident when she has been drinking.

She has finished two drinks and is on her second vodka—lemonade. She joins in with the conversation, her eyes bright and her smile wide. It's great to see her so happy and relaxed.

A couple of girls from our year come over and join the group. I tense up as Harriet joins us, we had a thing last year. Well, not really a thing. We slept together. Twice. That's it.

She looks over at me and I pointedly place my hand on Grace's thigh. She gives me an almost imperceptible nod and looks away.

The good thing about Harriet She's chilled. If you're with someone else, she backs off.

'Seeing as there's now ten of us, how about we play some drinking games' Finlay suggest and everyone nods and cheers in agreement.

'Okay, what do we want to play' Luke asks. 'Never have I ever'

Everyone seems to be happy with that, so we fill up our drinks and get comfortable. I keep my hand on Grace's thigh, and she subtly places her hand over mine, squeezing it.

'Rory, you go first,' Luke says, winking at her.

She scowls back at him. They hooked up at a party last year, only kissing, and she still complains about how much she regrets it. Luke never lets her forget it.

'Fine. Never have I ever…got drunk and kissed an asshole at a party. Oh, wait, you're supposed to say things you haven't done, aren't you' She gives Luke a pointed look whilst people call out 'ooh's and 'burn'.

A couple of people drink myself included. Grace raises an eyebrow in a silent question.

'Xaden,' I tell her, and she bursts out laughing. 'It was a dare, we were drunk.'

'Alright, Xaden, your turn.'

Harriet snorts. 'There's nothing he hasn't done.'

Xaden shrugs, not offended by the jab.

'Um, never have I ever…had sex in my parent's bed,' he says and then his eyes widen. 'Fuck, I remembered, I have done it!'

'Ew, man, that's fucked up,' Finlay comments. 'Why'd you do that'

Xaden shrugs. 'We'd had a fight the night before and they'd pissed me off, the best way to get revenge.'

'You're weird,' Nick says and then looks around. 'Guess it's me next. Uh, never have I ever had a threesome.'

Xaden is the only one who drinks.

Luke is next. 'Never have I ever had sex.'

Everyone drinks except Luke, Rory and Grace. Believe it or not, for all his bravado and cockiness, Luke is saving himself for his mate. I respect that and I wish I had been more mature like him.

'Okay, new rule,' Finlay announces before Harriet can have her turn. 'For those of you innocent angels who are going to get away with not drinking; everyone has to drink every time that Grace blushes.'

My lips part in surprise and all eyes turn to Grace. Her face heats up straight away and she glares at Finlay.

'Finn! Why are you attacking me like that' She protests but laughs at the end.

He shrugs. 'Sorry, Strawberries, but we need you to drink.'

A low growl leaves my throat and I quickly muffle it with a cough. Grace gives me a funny look and I glare at Finlay.

'Only I get to call her that, asshole,' I warn him, and he puts his hands up in surrender.

Everyone takes a sip because my baby is the color of a strawberry. Harriet has her go, saying she has never kissed someone of the same sex.

Xaden and I have to drink, obviously, after that fateful dare. To my surprise, Grace drinks, too. I give her a quizzical look and she shrugs.

'Friend, dare. Much like you and Xaden,' she explains, smirking at me.

I like confident Grace; I like her a lot.

We play a couple of more rounds and then we have to break off to refill our drinks.

I grab another beer for Xaden and me, whilst Rory makes drinks for herself and Grace. I watch her pouring the alcohol into the cups.

'Watch it, Ror,' I tell her. 'Stop trying to get my girl drunk.'

Grace grins from beside her. 'Your girl' She asks.

The smile drops from my face as panic fills me. Shit. I said that out loud.

I clear my throat awkwardly. 'Well, uh, you know what I mean—'

Grace cuts me off with a kiss on my cheek.

'I like it,' she says over the music, leaning on her tiptoes to reach my ear.

We go back outside and this time, I pull Grace onto my lap, wanting to keep in contact.

She doesn't complain and snuggles into my side.

The angle makes her dress ride up a bit and I place my hand on her thigh possessively. She shivers and I notice goose—bumps appear on her legs.

'Are you cold' I ask her, instinctively leaning forward to grab my hoodie from the back of the chair.

She shakes her head.

'No,' she replies lowly. 'Not cold.'

I swallow hard at the glimpse of desire in her eyes.

Oh.

Those kinds of goose—bumps.

Fuck.

'Okay, let's play question or forfeit,' Nick suggests, and we all agree.

It's like truth or dare, but instead of a dare, you down your entire drink.

The questions start relatively tame, moving around the circle. It reaches Grace and she tenses on my lap as she waits for her question.

Luke puts his hand up, indicating he has thought of a question. Grace nods and he smirks.

'Grace, if Axel asked you to be his girlfriend, would you say yes'

I grit my teeth and glare at him. As much as I want to know the answer to that, I don't want her to feel pressured into anything. We've known each other less than two weeks, that's not long at all for humans.

Grace relaxes, obviously thinking that the question was going to be worse than that.

'Yes, I would,' she replies confidently.

I look at her, surprised. 'You don't have to say that, you know,' I tell her. 'I wouldn't be offended, we only met two weeks ago, less than that.'

She doesn't reply, because Xaden asks me a question. I look at him, waiting for my question with my jaw clenched.

He better behave.

'Axel, do you want to ask Grace to be your girlfriend'

I want to scowl at the question, it's like we're twelve and on the playground.

'When the time was right, I was going to ask her. So, yes,' I reply tightly.

The question moves on to Rory and the focus leaves us for a bit.

'When was the time going to be right' Grace asks me.

My eyes meet hers; brown meets blue.

'I'm not sure, I didn't want you to feel pressured.'

She smiles. 'I don't feel pressured.'

I give her a lazy half—smile. 'What you trying to say, Strawberries You wanna be my girl'

She blushes and bites down on her bottom lip.

'I kind of hoped I already was.'

I can't stop myself. I kiss her, hard. In front of everyone.

I ignore the catcalling and the teasing; I hold the back of her neck and keep her lips against mine. She kisses me back softly, with her arms around my neck.

When I pull back, she's breathing heavily and looking at me with hooded eyes.

'So Anything you want to ask me, Axe' She whispers teasingly.

I grin at her. 'Strawberries, do you want to be my girlfriend'

'Yes,' she replies sweetly. 'I really do.'

We kiss again and I hold her tightly to me, even when we pull away. She sits sideways on my lap, her legs dangling off the side. Both of my hands are resting on her exposed thighs, covering as much exposed skin as I can, without being too obvious.

I don't want to be that possessive boyfriend, but it's hard. She's so fucking perfect, I don't even blame other guys for looking. I can barely tear my gaze away from her.

The questions go round the circle and soon, we're at Grace again. Harriet's friend Delaney sticks her hand up.

I frown, wondering what she's going to ask my mate. Like Harriet, she's human, not a shifter.

'Grace, have you and Axel gone any further than kissing'

My hands tighten on Grace. 'That's a bit personal, Delaney,' I say, my tone threatening.

My poor mate goes bright red.

'She's blushing, everyone drink!' Nick cries and everyone takes a sip.

I glare at him, but Grace isn't bothered by it. She looks at Delaney and smiles.

'Yes, it's as far as we've gone. But if you're so interested, I can keep you updated as we progress, if you want' Grace retorts, a slight tone of irritation in her voice.

I'm proud of my girl for snapping back.

Delaney looks uncomfortable and shifts on her chair. 'No,' she responds awkwardly.

'Axel, your turn. Anyone got a question for him' Finlay quickly changes the subject.

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