Gabriel

21. Night Terrors

Night Terror – Laura Marling

Mature warning: Intense memories and events occur. Crude language some may find unsuitable. 

Happy holidays! I hope you all find joy in whatever you celebrate. Although this isn't the most cheery chapter to accompany a happy holiday, enjoy!

xoxo

Chapter 21

     You know that moment when everything around you seems to just stop moving. That life altering change that hits you like a train and everything around you stills. Like time stops and everything falls out of place before rearranging itself into a new shape that you never knew could take form- literally and figuratively. Everything clicks and it's like you finally know why everything happens the way it does. Every moment in your life leading up to this has all just been to prepare you for the mental capacity to realize if this is the best or worst thing that will ever happen to you. But I know that everything I've every experienced, every pain, every pleasure, every tear has all been so I could fully appreciate what I now have. To realize that I wasn't alone in the world as my mouth explored this new invigorating sensations that had my heart bursting from all its rapid beats and my hands tightly gripped in his hair as his soft lips and warm tongue collided with mine. I'm trembling a bit as his hands rake over my back up to the nape of my neck.

     We broke away for the third time for a deep breath and I realized my lips are swelling and sore, so I pull back. I expected it to be super awkward and even shameful, but he didn't act like that at all. You know in the movies when the scene cuts out after the big kiss so you expect an awkward retreat and unspoken words. How was I? Did I bite your lip? Is it okay to wipe my mouth?

     That type of thing. But no. The moment we pull away, I open my eyes and see his have turned almost black. I giggle at the priceless look on his face. He seems awestruck, dazed and blissful all at once. Then he smiles and I get that feeling in my stomach. But they can't be butterflies, because butterflies are small and gentle; this was more like bowling balls rolling around in my belly making me nervous and excited. If his smile turns me into putty, just think of what the rest of him can do.

     Get your thoughts out of the gutter, Maeve, I reprimand myself.

     "Why are your eyes so dark?" I question, our bodies still pressed impossibly close together. I pull away as he answers, for need of space and still the inability to be touched for so long when I'm fully aware of every tingling nerve that touches his electrifying skin.

     "The wolf in me gets like this around his Luna", he says, surprising me.

     "Luna? But I thought you didn't have a pack?"

     "I don't, but I still carry the Alpha gene passed down from my father, who came from a line of Alphas", he explains and I nod in understanding.

     "So...", I trail off awkwardly, but before I can think of anything to say, he steps closer and grabs one of my hands, and looks at me in a genuinely endearing way.

     "I love kissing you", he says, placing a kiss to my knuckles encased in his hand and making me blush. I bit my lip nervously as he continues.

     "But I'm willing to take it at any pace you need. So don't feel pressured to do anything just because you think I want to, okay?" He says, a hint of worry in his voice. I nod sheepishly, leaning forward and placing a light peck on his cheek.

     "Thank you. This means a lot to me", I say, pulling back.

     "Of course. Anything for my mate", he grins proudly.