His Heir (On Hold )

14.

Unedited.

~*~*~*

Dawn's POV

Carly, who is clearly surprised by my presence, focused her gaze on me.

'Heeey!' she greeted, giving me an uncomfortable smile.

I raised an eyebrow at her.

'I'll explain it to you later, I promise' she whispered to me. When I didn't remove my gaze, she raised her right hand as if saying, I really promise!

'Mom! Let's eat already we are starving!' Ben whined.

'Yeah,' Bea added 'Why were you and Dad late?'

Dad.

DAD?

I looked at the guy who is still standing beside Carly. Say what?

'Dad?' I questioned Carly, incredulity showing in my face.

'Oooh right' she answered, giving me a guilty smile. 'Dawn, this is Edward, my mate. Edward, this is Dawn. There! You guys know each other now!' she beamed.

The moment Carly stopped talking, Edward walked away from us without sparing any 'Hi' or 'Hello' for me. Geez, he is just as rude as I remember him.

'Really, Carly? Really?' I asked, overwhelmed at the moment.

'Hahaha!' she started laughing but then stopped when she saw me glaring holes at her. 'Calm yourself, Dawn. You don't want wrinkles this early, don't you?' she joked.

'Seriously Carly, I wish you'd tell me this kind of stuff. You've got yourself a mate, you have twins, what else? You're pregnant?" I ranted.

Her eyes widened, and then she hurriedly shushed me. Fortunately, Edward was already at the dining table talking to Amanda.

'Ssssh! How did you know?'

I gawk at her answer.

'You're really pregnant?'

'Yep' she replied happily, 'but don't tell anyone yet especially Edward. It's surprise!'

'Bloody hell, I think I'm gonna faint again.' I muttered.

She rolled her eyes at me.

'Drama Queen'

'What else are you not telling me?' I eyed her suspiciously. 'I am really offended right now. How old are you? You're not 40 are you?'

'Hey! That's mean. I'm 28 years old, thank you very much.'

'What? You are that old' I teased her. 'I mean, I've always suspected that you're older than me but 28?'

She slapped my shoulder playfully.

'Just because you're 22 doesn't mean that I'm that old, you know.'

If Carly's 28, then how old is Levi?

'And Levi, how old is he?' I curiously asked.

She wriggled her eyebrows.

'I knew you were into older men, you totally have the hots for him'

This time, it was me who slapped her shoulder.

'I'm just curious. Stop thinking malicious thoughts.'

'I'm 25 if you must know.'

We both turn around to see Levi removing his coat. I turned to Carly, not minding my sudden nervousness.

'He's younger?'

Carly laughed wholeheartedly.

'Yep' she answered then turned to Levi. 'I thought you guys are not coming back until tomorrow.'

Levi just shrugged.

'We finished earlier than intended. What's for dinner?'

I merely stand in place and watch them banter. I fervently hope that Carly will distract Levi throughout dinner because I have no intention to have his attention on me. I could feel my knees buckling and sweating like a pig already. Levi is really here. Shit. What the eff should I do?

'Dawn, hey! Are you there?' Carly waved her hand in my face. 'Geez, why do you keep spacing out these days? Are you hungry?'

Levi's heated gaze when Carly mentioned me spacing out , didn't go unnoticed.

'Yeah, come on. I'm famished' I answered, carefully dragging her to the table. I wouldn't wanna anger Mr. Rude Boy a.k.a Edward when he sees me dragging her mate.

Dinner was nice. The twins were bickering as usual. Philip and Amanda kept engaging me into a conversation, Carly gobbled everything in her plate within minutes and asked for second servings making Edward look at her in disbelief and Levi sending me glances now and then. Yeah, dinner was nice. And so is the glass of wine I'm holding right now.

I was at the balcony in my room, feeling the soft breeze caressing me and drinking wine. I read somewhere that drinking a glass of wine keeps you healthy, so I got myself a bottle. Just for myself. I look up, watching the stars grace the night skies and kept staring, then drunk some more. This is fun.

The door creaked but I didn't bother to know who it was. I was enamoured of the beauty the night sky behold. I was more interested with the stars, they were shining brightly tonight. Like diamonds. Just like that night. That night I found out John is-was my mate.

'I suggest that you should stop drinking. You don't want to wake up with a hangover. Tomorrow is a big day for you.' Levi drawled, making his presence known as he joined me in the balcony.

'You don't *hic* say' I frowned.

He merely sighed but took the glass away from me.

'Hey, that's mine. Mineee..' I started to protest, trying to reach the glass from his hands.

Seeing it impossible, I grabbed the half- filled bottle beside me. 'Fineee' I dragged, 'you can have the glass, you hunk but I have the bottle' I stuck my tongue out for good measure. He is a meanie. A hot meanie, I thought. I drank straight from the bottle. Yum!

'Give it to me' he commanded.

'No can do Mister. You already have a glass' I giggled.

Why am I giggling?

'Why are you drinking? Is this because of what happened earlier?'

'What? Noooo!' I denied. 'I'm not bothered about that at all. I wasn't even nervous while we were having dinner. It's not even awkward to talk to you like this! This is nooormal!' I giggled again.

'Alright if you say so' he answered, clearly amused.

I turned to face him, only to bump on his chest. Well, his pectorals to be more precise. As if hypnotized, I raised my left hand to tough it. I shivered and so did he as my fingers skimmed though his skin. It was soft but hard at the same time. I'm not really making any sense. Maybe I was really drunk. Holy crap, I'm touching his chest.

I squeak as I heard him chuckle lightly, only then I was aware of what I was doing.

'You're shirtless!'I whispered, my eyes widening at the realization. 'You're shirtless' I repeated, a little louder this time, and then covered my eyes. 'I just touched you're freaking chest.' I mumbled, embarrassed. Removing my hands, I looked at him. 'I just freaking touched your chest and it felt nice. So nice'

He laughed.

'Really, you like my chest then?' He asked, smirking. I giggled for the nth time. He's cute.

'Yep' I nodded. 'And your abs too' I added, feeling very bold. I drank from the bottle again.

He gave me a panty dropping smile making me see his dimples. Fuck, I'm a sucker for dimples.

I tip toed towards him, my right hand found its way to his neck and my mouth an inch away from his and whispered.

'I fucking like your dimples too.'