Bookstore princess

Chapter 39

Chapter 39

Nadia

This has been one of the best decisions yet of the year. I had to be careful getting into the tube, but James just carried me over to it, sliding a bit on the riverbed, and placed me into it like a princess. He helped mom get into her tube, and tied it to my left so we could start forming a circle. He then tied his tube to mine and jumped into his, getting himself a little wet in the process since he's never done this before. Reita, Jenny, Jacob, and Lar all tied themselves to us so we made a perfect little circle to go tubing. Jenny was on the other side of James, and we had the cooler in the center so we could kick it to whoever wanted it.
"We packed some wine coolers, and beer if you guys want any" Jacob offered as we went down river.
"Ooh, do you have hard iced tea or something strawberry?" I asked hopefully.
"We knew you'd want that" Jenny chuckled and kicked the cooler towards me. I took out a hard iced tea, and offered one to James.
"Beer please" he said, so I grabbed one for him and he twisted off the top and took a small sip. Jenny grabbed her phone, while Lar pulled out a blue tooth speaker and they fired up the music and I laid back after taking a sip of my drink. The sun was beating down with a little bit of cloud cover, but I knew instinctively that I would burn by the end of the river run. James took my hand and kissed the back and I looked over at him with all the rippling muscles, and tattoo's standing out perfectly. He's wearing black swim shorts that are just showcasing his muscular legs. I wonder if that's a werewolf thing or just really good genetics. I've always been bigger, it's all I've ever known. I've tried dieting, and exercising, but it's never worked out for me. I've learned to accept myself, and surround myself with people that accept me as is. Taking such big steps with James has been a little nerve wracking, but he seems to love my curves, and love me just as I am. Quirks and all. Hell, he chased down a van and almost tore it apart for me. I'll never forget his courage.
Right now, being on our usual yearly escape to the river feels right with him here. He's making small conversation with everyone, and seems to be having a good time. Even Lar is joking with him already. He understands all the book and movie references everyone keeps making from our younger years. James sips on the same beer for a while, and I'm on my third drink when we pull to the side of the river for a bit. I jump out before James has time to grab me and he does a soft glare, then he goes to help my mom out of her tube.
"Baby doll, next time wait" James says after making sure my mom made it to shore. Lar, and Jacob pull a few of the tubes on land so we can dock properly.
"Yes sir" I practically purr, since I may or may not be a little drunk right now. His nose flares but he doesn't say anything but sits down in the water beside me. I could have sat on a rock, but I love the feeling of water. I'm half tempted to go for a swim, and might act on it. There's nothing in the rule book saying I can't swim a little.
"You're burning already" mom observes, and grabs the sunscreen and starts adding it to my shoulders and back. James takes some and works on my front as though I'm not capable of doing it myself. I huff a little, but I know it's being done out of love. "Try to not get your gauze wet" mom reminds me.
"I want to swim so bad" I whine a little, I hear it in my voice and cringe.
"After that scare you gave us? I think not" Rieta sasses, always the mom besides my mom.
"It will help with strengthening my shoulder again" I give a good argument.
"Not today" mom says, as though her word is final. I go to slip more into the water and James holds me back. I pout at him, but he shakes his head. Instead he pulls me closer to him, and then with no effort at all, pulls me onto his lap and kisses the back of my neck. My whole body shivers in delight, and I want more all over again. I've been wanting more, but he's set clear boundaries and I have to respect that. Not until we go back to the apartment above the bookstore can I have more. I'm a little intrigued about the knotting thing, I wonder how that would feel. Well, I guess I'll be finding out.
Lar helps Jenny with dishing out the sandwiches and snacks mom made, and James waits for me to finish before he starts eating his own. They are just peanut butter and homemade strawberry jam sandwiches, but its perfect. She always adds sliced strawberries in the center so there's more strawberry to it. I love them. She even made them for me when I was a kid, and for both Jenny and Jacob when they visited when we were growing up.
"What's the plan for after we go tubing?" James asks as he bites into his sandwich. "Oh my God, this is amazing" he says after a few bites and he literally inhales it.
"You've never done this have you?" Lar asks with a grin. "It's an all day thing, by the time we are done the sun will be setting, and the only thing you'll want is take out and bed"
"Really?" he asks in surprise.
"Be grateful we didn't go to the zoo," Jenny teases.
"Yeah, you'll be there for hours with Nadia taking several pictures of every animal while we walk around three times," Jacob adds. "Out of the two, I'll take this one."
"She made me wake up at seven in the morning one time to be there in time to get a good parking spot. It opened at eight" Jenny rolls her eyes.
"Let me guess, you named the animals too?" James asks me with a laugh.
"I see nothing wrong with that" I giggle. He kisses the back of my shoulder and hums happily.

James

Nadia's friends are inviting, and it's easy to be at ease with them. I stuck to the one beer before switching to water while we were docked. I got Nadia to go onto shore so I could rub suntan lotion on her legs and spray her down with bug spray again. She pouted, and tried to argue she could do it on her own, but she's my Luna and the queen of not only my pack, but my heart as well. I'll do whatever I can for her while I can. I know soon pack duties are going to take over again, as well as my businesses. I'm half tempted to tell Steve to sell them all, but it's our pack's livelihood and they depend on me. Just for once, I want to do something for myself. Claiming my Luna will definitely be something for just me. She's perfect, even though she has a bit of a stubborn streak, I think that will make her even more suited for the pack.
When it's time to get back on the tubes I make sure to sweep Nadia off her feet before she has the chance to try to go on her own, and I set her down gently, then I help pull all the tubes off shore and get Ducky back in her tube as well. Jacob keeps the tubes by the shore while I pack the cooler back in the center and I grab a second bottle of water, and Nadia a strawberry drink. Ducky takes water, while Rieta, Jenny, Jacob, and Lar choose what they want on their own. I'm the last one back in my tube before we take off again.
I look at my mate who is enjoying her day, with a bit of a sunkissed cheeks. She's perfect in my eyes. I want to keep her smiling like this forever. She holds my hand as we drift slowly down river, and laughs at everyone's jokes. I talk back and forth with them, but really, now I'm interested in what she's like at the zoo. I want to see all sides of her. It would be hard to get the time off again in the future, but I'd like to make the attempt at it. No, not an attempt. I will succeed. I have Steve and Sam, and they will have my back at this. They know that nothing is more important than your mate, and I'm so blessed to have found mine.
I'm a little sad. Tomorrow we are headed back to Springfield, and we have to leave Ducky and her quaint little village. But I do have a day or two left before I go back to work. I need to seal the bond as mates, and the next week will be very important because I'll go into a rut and need her, especially at night and early morning. I can try to hold myself at bay during the day. I know Sam couldn't, but I'm an Alpha, and I'll have to. Her mother might end up hating me for impregnating her daughter, but it's unavoidable. That's how Maria got pregnant. Sam rutted for two weeks until she was pregnant. He woke up one day and felt satisfied. Thanks to our werewolf genes they weren't too sore and were able to return to their usual duties.
A smile goes across my face at the thought of my little mate pregnant with my children. I can't wait to see how many pups we can have. I want more than two, so that there are more to help lead the pack, as well as I want to see how round she can get.
"What?" Nadia looks at me lovingly, like I am the only man in the world. My chest puffs out proudly.
"You're beautiful" I say softly, but everyone hears it.
"You chose well" Lar says, a little drunk herself. Jacob has started drinking water, likely to get sober before we are done for the day.
"I know," Nadia smiles, still gazing at me "It was fate."
"So how did you two actually meet?" Lar asks, looking for the details.
"I was at the bar across the street and saw Nadia working alone in the bookstore. She's beautiful even from far away. I couldn't help myself, so I made my brother come with me to the bookstore. I asked her for a drink and she shot me down. I waited all night for her to come out, and finally texted the group page because I wanted to walk her home. I was a little surprised she lived there too. I told her I was coming back for a date the next day, and she actually met with me on her lunch break. I just kept coming back, and soon we started taking our dates outside of the bookshop and potions. Then she needed help in the store, so I stayed and helped. Then she got sick, so I stayed and helped her. I kind of just moved in after she said it was okay" I tell her proudly.
"I asked him," Nadia clarifies.
"I had all but moved in already" I chuckle. "I am building a house, which should be done shortly, and I asked her to move in with me. She still hasn't exactly said yes, but I'll be packing her boxes anyways" I add.
"It's been a whirlwind romance," Nadia blushes. "But yes, I'll move in with you" she finally gives in.
"You only live once, and I think you chose well this time," Ducky says with a smile.
"I think so too buddy" Jenny adds in her two cents and Jacob nods along with her.