Primal Desires

Chapter 8

AN: This chapter contains a brief section of explicit content.

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Rose's POV – Two weeks later.

Anybody else would no doubt resent having to work on their birthday, but as my work involved me guarding my best friend I didn't mind too much as it meant I got to hang out with her all day. Plus, with Lissa being Lissa, it gave her the opportunity to spoil me.

"Really Liss, you didn't have to do this." I protested, as my best friend came back into the room, a pile of presents in her arms so tall she could barely see over the top of it. She reached the table in front of me and placed the presents down gently.

"Happy Birthday Rose!" She chirped happily. She sat down opposite me and watched as I started to open the presents. "I hope you like what we got you."

"Shouldn't I wait for Christian if they're from the both of you?" I asked.

"Please!" Lissa scoffed. "As if Christian has any clue what we bought you. Presents aren't his thing. I just sign his name at the bottom so people think he's helped," she giggled.

"Sounds about right," I laughed, reaching for a present to open. I didn't mind – I knew Christian cared about me even if he didn't like to admit it. He tried to act like he hated me, making fun of me and teasing me mercilessly, but really he was a sort-of 'big brother' figure to me. I knew he had my back when I needed him to.

As always, Lissa went way over the top with her presents, spending way too much of her money on me. She always said that I deserved it and that she enjoyed spoiling me and so I let it slide, knowing it made her happy.

When I reached the final present, Lissa visibly grew anxious and she started to chew on a loose piece of skin around her thumbnail. "I wasn't sure about this one," she admitted. "If you don't like it I can take it back."

Confused, I delicately un-wrapped the paper, and inside was a small jewellery box. I opened it carefully and came face to face with a piece of jewellery that made my heart skip a beat. I would recognise it anywhere. A delicate gold chain with a diamond pendant in the shape of a rose. Identical to the one Victor had bought and charmed years ago.

Lissa immediately started rambling. "See I wasn't sure if you'd like it. I know it holds a lot of bad memories, and yeah, I know you don't like rose stuff but this was different – I know that you did really like it before all that stuff happened. Oh god, I shouldn't have got it. I just saw it and I thought it couldn't have been a coincidence so I bought it for you and oh... I'm sorry. I'll get you something else."

"Liss, I love it. Thank you," I said reaching over the table between us and giving her a hug. She was right to say that it held a lot of memories, both good and bad, but she was also right when she said that I had loved this necklace. I had to admit, it was beautiful.

"Are you sure?" She asked when I let her go. I nodded and reassured her that I was grateful for her gift. I thanked her for all of her presents, again reiterating that she didn't have to spoil me this much.

Lissa and I sat talking about anything and everything for a few more hours, when I noticed that she had started to fidget and an anxious look spread over her features. She was trying desperately to engage in the conversation, but I couldn't help but notice that her mind was elsewhere when she kept glancing down at her watch.

"Why do you keep looking at the time? Trying to get rid of me?" I teased.

Lissa looked mortified. "No!" She exclaimed. "No. I was just curious as to how long it was until your shift ended."