Alpha Nicholas

Chapter 4: Dreams

Nimble fingertips traced the intricate floral
patterns inked into her fore-arms, dragging the electricity inwards to her naked stomach. A pin and needle like sensation awakened the cells of her body with a simple caress. Large, rough hands continued their journey along her skin, pausing to briefly tease the tips of her hard nipples and then travelled back down to the curves of her hips. His breath fanned against the back of her sensitive neck, alerting her nerve endings as the hot air met the chilly skin. She was sitting before him and yet he still felt too far away.

Sensing her discomfort, Alex could feel his arms pull her back into his inviting embrace, the delightful heat radiating from his skin warming her up in an instant. Instinctively, she drew closer to the source, back now flush against the stranger's chest. Inhaling deeply, the musky scent of rain soaked soil greeted her senses, – so comforting and familiar. If she focused enough, a faint hint of vanilla broke through the woodsy aroma and not the fake, perfumed kind either. It reminded her of crushed vanilla pods roasting in the summer sun on the window-sill of her late grand-mother's cottage, waiting to be used up in a tray-bake.

He felt and smelt like home.

"Careful, kitten. You're making it harder to leave every time." The voice was low and husky as it whispered into her ear, making her jaw clench at the shudder that cascaded down her spine.

"Who said I wanted you to leave?" She breathed out, neck turning to steal a peek at his face.

"Uh-uh, not yet." His fingers continued his ministrations, pins and needles taunting her burning flesh, awakening something she had never felt before. Something intoxicating that both excited yet terrified her at the same time.

She yearned to touch him, to see him.

Why wouldn't he let her?

"Who are you?" The pleading tone seemed to have granted her some sympathy. As Alex turned this time, emerald met ice and in a clash of elements, she was lost. Long fingers grasped her chin and rotated her head back to its previous position, snapping her out of the trance.

"Soon, my love, you will see me very soon." With a gentle kiss planted onto her shoulder, the stranger faded away. Alex didn't have time to acknowledge the sudden emptiness in her bones before the dream world shrouded within her consciousness.

                                                                        ***

"Rise and shine, sunshine!"

Alex jolted up in surprise, arms flailing up into the air – remnants of her dream long gone from her startled thoughts. Magic clouded around her, ready to stand in the witch's defence against the unidentified threat.

"Simmer down, none of that. I come baring goods."

Eyelashes fluttering, still bleary with sleep, Alex stared at Alaric's smirking form sitting at the foot of her bed.

"Seriously?" Groaning loudly, she fisted her fingers through the fluffy blanket cocooned around her waist and dragged the material over her head. If he couldn't see her, maybe he would leave her to it and she will be able to go back to sleep.

"Very mature, babe." The air in the room stilled and a heavy force ripped the covers off her – mocking her as they were folded into a neat rectangular pile and left on the warlock's tucked legs.

"Have I ever told you that you are the worst thing that's ever happened to me?" The blonde grumbled, pouting up at her friend before kicking her legs over the edge of the bed and stretched. Glancing at the chest of drawers next to the dresser, she noticed 2 plates stacked high with golden pancakes accompanied by 2 mugs of steaming hot coffee.