The Last Royal

Chapter Seven

(Image: Nicholas...just cause, swoon worthy!)

"Fine. But no funny business." I warned him, agreeing for him to stay in the cottage. I pointed towards the spare room, indicating that's where he would be staying, then got up awkwardly.

"What's wrong Ahnung? Going to bed so early? Am I not enjoyable company?" A smirk danced across his lips, making me bite my lip a little too hard. Damn he was distracting.

"Well what else are we supposed to do?" I asked, then immediately regretted my choice of words.
Standing there in the middle of the living room I fidgeted nervously, waiting for the smart ass, snide remark that would surely follow.
To my surprise it didn't come.
"Maybe he's half decent after all Leah...can we keep him?" Ugh...there she went again. I pointedly ignored the voice in my head for the thousandth time while staring at Nicholas curiously.

He smiled, one of those heart stopping smiles, and reached up to grab one of the belt loops of my jeans, and pulled me back on to the couch gently. "Well, we could have a beer, or a glass of wine, you could ask me what ever it is you want to know and I can wait patiently for any tid bits of information you want to share...or we could watch a movie. But either way I would enjoy your company. After all, it's not every day one finds the person he or she is destined to spend their life with." He spoke matter of factly, but his voice carried deep emotional undertones that tugged at my heart strings and made impossible for me to decline his invitation.

I nodded, wide eyed and slightly out of breath. "I think there is a bottle of wine in the pantry...I'll see what else I can find...you can pick a movie..." I offered a shy smile and stood up to move towards the kitchen.

I found a nice looking bottle of Pinot Grigio from Italy, some pretzels, pickles, caramel chocolates, grapes, some assorted fruits and berries, a few different cheeses and some sandwich meats. Once I had arranged everything on to a platter I had begun to feel less nervous and more excited at the idea of spending the evening with Nicholas.
I grabbed the platter in one hand and the bottle, cork screw and wine glasses in the other.
Yes.
I had waitress skills. Booyah!

Once I made my way back to the living room and set our refreshments down on the table, I plopped down on the couch and watched as Nicholas fussed over the large collection of dvds that had been hidden in one of the book shelves.
His muscles rippled through his t-shirt, having removed the hoody he previously sported, and his sandy blonde hair hung at his shoulders. As my gaze traveled lower I couldn't help but smirk at the well formed curve of his butt.
He was very well built. Slight understatement there.

When my gaze lifted again I realized in mortification that I had been caught with my hand in the proverbial cookie jar. Shit!
My face burned as I let out a small squeak then busied myself opening the wine, trying to pretend he didn't just catch me staring at his ass like a piece of meat.
Oh Gaia!!

"How does Guardians of the Galaxy sound?" He spoke as if he hadn't noticed, thank the Goddess for that.
I couldn't help but chuckle at his choice in movie, here I was expecting either hard core action, or something extremely cheesy.

"I am groot?" I grunted and burst out laughing. I had watched the film with my packs youngsters who I had taken care of from time to time. The memory brought a sharp stab of pain that pierced my heart, causing me to look away, focusing on the food tray in front of me.

I felt, rather than saw, Nicholas sink down on the couch next to me.
"Leah, you can't hide feelings that are that strong, especially not from me. I know We don't know each other, and I know I have in no way earned my place as your mate, but the bond still ties me to you. I can feel what you feel, not as strong as I will be able to in the future, but I can still feel you." As he said this he lifted my chin with his index finger so that I was stuck staring in to his eyes. Eyes I could drown in, time and time again. The undeniable pull was there. Like small strands of energy pulling us closer, but we both knew it was much too soon. It would be a mistake to give in to carnal desires, forced on us by our bond, before establishing an emotional bond.
This is where so many mated pairs got it wrong and ended up miserable.
A mating bond was meant to show us our other half. But the physical pull was so strong that many wolves ignored the fact that the relationship needed to develop the way any relationship would. The bases for a strong pair were trust in each other, respect, understanding, friendship, love and then the reward of physical pleasures. Because apparently it was worth the wait. At least that was what my mother had told me. She and my father had waited...and their relationship had been what every girl wanted. The stuff fairy tales were made of.
Granted, the process was speeded up a bit, due to the nature of the bond, instead of waiting for years to fall in love and establish a well based relationship, for wolves it could take weeks or months, depending on the Goddesses will. I had heard of some where it was faster but had never met any of them. I shrugged my thoughts away and attempted to smile. I would enjoy this evening.
Reaching up tentatively I cupped Nicholas's cheeks with my small hands, smiling more as he leaned in to my touch.
"I'm sorry, I've been alone so long it's just easier to bite back feelings and go with survival instinct. It creates a numbness...sort of. I'm not trying to keep you out, I guess it's just habit." I tried my best to explain myself, even though I didn't need to. My fingertips tingled with invisible electricity at the feeling of his skin beneath them, making me sigh softly before dropping my hands to my lap and turning towards the table to snatch the remote and the two glasses of wine.
Handing one to him and keeping one for myself while I hit play, I grinned and lifted my glass. "Cheers, to certain, uncertain futures."
As he clinked my glass and smiled I couldn't help but feel peace and safety, something I had not felt for a long, long time, and I wondered if it would last...
Banishing the thought from my mind I settled back on the couch, leaning only slightly against his arm as we lapsed in to comfortable silence to watch the movie, only interrupted by our own laughter from time to time.

Before I knew it I had drifted off to sleep, curled up against Nicholas, right there on the couch.

*************************************

I'm late! I know! I'm sorry!

I'll make it up to you I promise!!

What do you make of the building bond? Will they be able to wait? Or will they give in and have to deal with the aftermath of being lust struck puppies?

I know this is a tad bit shorter than the last few chapters but I had to end it here. You'll see why in the next chapter!!

Much love
Xoxo
BB