The streams of hot water seemed to wash away not only the dirt and fatigue of the last days but also all the barriers that Lana had built so long ago.
For some reason, she felt as light as ever. After arguing with Greg, she hid in the bathroom. But the irritation disappeared, and a smile crept on her face, with memories, of the nonsense that Greg carried. She did not even notice how she began to purr softly the recently heard song.
"Sometimes I hate every single stupid word you say" - she began to hum softly, soaping her head, "Sometimes I wanna slap you in your whole face." There's no one quite like you
You push all my buttons down."
Foam covered her face and ears, and she continued, "I know life would suck without you," - offering her smile to the warm water stream.
" At the same time, I wanna hug you
I wanna wrap my hands around your neck
You're an asshole, but I love you. "
With every word, she seemed to get rid of the burden that she hung on herself for years. Greg managed to get that old Ruslana out of her, who knew how to smile sincerely, snap, not afraid of consequences, and play the fool like a child. She turned slightly, dancing to the rhythms that only she could hear.
"But I hate you, I really hate you
So much, I think it must be..." - she sang, making a new move. At that moment, the bath curtain jerked away and Greg, with a pleased face, finished the verse for her, singing in a hoarse voice, -"TRUUUE LOOOVE!"
Lana screamed and leaned back in surprise. The leg landed on a washcloth, and the next moment the girl was already falling, waving her arms. Just a second before the collision with the edge of the bath, Greg's strong arms curled around her waist and jerked her changing the trajectory of the fall, so that Lana flew out of the bath landing directly onto him, splashing everything around with water. Greg himself landed on his back with an ohm right on the fluffy rug near the dressing table.
Recovering Lana tried to get up. She was ready to express all her thoughts about Greg's nonsense. But he beat her to it. Not letting the girl out of his hands, he stood up and not paying attention to the protests and attempts to break away, cared her into the room.
Only when he reached the bed in the bedroom, Greg finally released Lana, carefully sitting her in the middle of the mattress. Lana wanted to try to crawl away, to cover herself with a blanket, but Greg immediately climbed onto the bed beside her and unceremoniously picked her up again in his arms, placing Lana between his legs, sideways to himself.
His face was so business-like and serious that Lana's indignation died in the bud. Without any explanation, Greg fished a towel from somewhere behind his back and began to wipe the girl's hair with it.
"Are you hurt somewhere?" - He said softly, still focused on his business. Lana felt a strange heat that originated somewhere in the chest and began to grow, covering the whole body. Nobody ever cared for her like that. He gently fingered her hair, lightly massaging the scalp with his fingertips. And he did it with such a face as if it was the most exciting affair on earth.
"No, you caught me in time," she said softly, drawing his attention. Greg turned his gaze on her, his eyes slightly clouded, but then his slow, sleepy smile reappeared on his face.
"This is good," - he said in a quiet and strangely rough whisper.
Having finished with her hair, he turned his gaze below. For a second Lana wanted to hide herself, but Greg didn't let her. Taking only the very edge of the towel with his fingers, he slowly began to catch every drop of water left on her body, starting from the shoulder. It was unbearable and divine at the same time.
"Tell me about the Mates," - he asked, continuing to pay all his attention to every inch of Lana's body. Lana started to feel dizzy, so she had to try to get her thoughts together and not be distracted by his touch. His closeness and warmth surrounding from all sides did not help at all.
"There was a legend. Although some say, it actually happened." - She began, trying to concentrate on looking at his hair. Usually neatly laid, now these chocolate curls stuck out in all directions, returning to his face that gentleness that she almost forgot. Here, in the twilight, he looked like that boy thirteen years ago again.
"Many years ago there lived a wolf, a werewolf." - Stretching out her hand, she gently ran her fingers over soft curls, - "They say he was wealthy and respected, and he was also handsome. He had everything he could dream of. Land, houses, recognition in society, the attention of women. But one day, resting in one of his estates, he met a girl, an ordinary maid. She did not particularly stand out, modest, quiet, soft. But his wolf reached for her, and the man yielded to the temptation. And everything was fine, but as soon as the man understood that he fell in love and becoming attached to the girl more and more, ambition and pride leaped into him. Friends also did not understand his relationship with the maid. Frightened by his feelings, driven by rumors, gossip, and his own ego, he hastily left his estate and this girl. Years passed, that hole in the soul that the maid left, the man tried to fill with other women, adventures, heroism, and entertainment. But nothing helped. The void in the heart is not so easy to fill. When at last he understood this, then without hesitation he went again to his old estate. Only too much time has passed. Chasing away the thoughts of his beloved, he also did not care about his estate, so he did not know that several years ago there was a fire in the house. The maid perished in the fire with her three-year-old son, his son. Therefore, all that he found on arrival was two lonely stones on a hillock, near the oak, where they loved to walk so much." - With these words, Greg flinched, Lana felt as he all tensed up. His eyes dug into her, as if he were trying to understand, to prove to himself that she was really there, next to him. Feeling his fear at her fingertips, she moved closer, settling herself in his arms. Greg grabbed her hand and put it to his cheek, covering his eyes.
"You know, wolves are monogamous animals. If the wolf finds a female, then they stay together until the end. People are not this way, that's probably why it's so difficult for us in a relationship. It is as if two creatures live in us at the same time. When this werewolf came to the grave of his lover and their little son, his grief was tremendous. But a person can survive such pain, albeit with great difficulty. But the wolf inside him couldn't. For three days he howled on their graves, blaming, tortured himself. And on the third day, the wolf inside the man died, following his loved ones. They say that then the Moon, seeing this tragedy, took pity on the werewolves and gave them the opportunity to feel their real Mate. That half that can make your life complete. But this is not a chain, but a promise, you understand?"
Greg frowned as he considered her words.
"Some believe that this is somehow wrong. Mostly human-women, who are werewolves Mate. As if something supernatural binds you to another without your consent. As if you are not falling in love, but something makes you fall in love."
"You mean ..." - he began, but Lana interrupted him immediately.
"No, Greg. It is not true. Naturally, we have much better developed many senses than ordinary people. When we smell delicious food, we certainly want to eat it. Only now we can also feel the person, the one who can make us happy. Perfect Couple. People also feel attracted to others, for various reasons. Just this feeling can deceive you, as well as the sense of smell. But not us."
Greg wanted to say something but resisted. Lana immediately realized what was spinning on his tongue. Yes, their story really was somewhat similar. Only now she did not leave because of pride, and without her, he didn't grieve in sorrow. But what if ... Lana looked away, trying to hide her feelings from him. Greg felt a change in her mood, grabbed her chin with his fingers, and turned her face toward him, forcing Lana to look at him again.
"Let's not think about the past, or about what could happen. If fate could have made our lives cross again even in a god-forgotten airport in the middle of a snowstorm, then we simply have no right to miss this chance. And I don't care what makes me love you. Because only next to you I feel that I can breathe, understand? The thing that between us is not chains, but colors that you painted my world with. And it's worth fighting for, even if sometimes you yourself will be my opponent."
Lana stared at Greg's face until the outline of it didn't sink into the darkness. Only when his gentle, warm fingers began to wipe tears from her cheeks, did she realize that she was crying. Greg hugged Lana harder, kissing the tip of the nose, eyebrow, temple. So soft, barely touching, as if she was the most fragile thing in the world. And only with him could she let herself feel so weak and vulnerable. He covered both of them with a blanket and stroked her hair and back for a long time, just enjoying the closeness of each other, as their breaths and hearts beat in unison.
For the first time, Lana was scared to fall asleep, because reality was better than any nightly fantasy, the sweetest dream.