Reika's cooking could be smelled throughout the whole estate. Bacon, eggs, buttermilk pancakes and cheesy fried potatoes filled the air making everyone hungry.
"Oh my, it smells amazing!" Diana yawns as she gracefully descended down the spiral stair case leading into the kitchen.
"Good timing Di, come watch this for me and finish making the toast please. I'll go tell the guys that breakfast is ready." Reika instructed her big sister.
"I could go tell them!" Diana replied with a little too much excitement in her voice.
"You know you're not allowed to go anywhere near that barn." Rick gruffed as he walked into the kitchen. Diana rolled her eyes and jokingly stuck her tongue out at her dad as she walked to the coffee pot.
"Whoever finishes up the coffee needs to refill it!" Reika hollered back to them as she made her way to the barn.
"Hey guys?" she knocked on the big metal door. "Breakfast is ready!" she shouted. She could hear them fumbling around and within seconds they were outside. They were woken up by the amazing smells coming from the kitchen and had been patiently waiting for it to be ready.
As they began taking their seats at the dining room table, Rick purposely positioned himself in between Baddy and Diana to keep them apart. That didn't stop the puppy dog stares and googly eyes they were giving each other though.
"Diana, can you take a plate up to your sister please? I want her resting for a while. I think yesterday took too much out of her." Rick asked her before taking a sip of his coffee.
"Diana?" Reika waved her hand in front of her sister who was oblivious. Too mesmerized by her mate.
"Diana!" Her father shouted in annoyance pounding his fist on the table.
"Hmm? What?" Diana asked blinking up at him, still in a daze.
"I think I'm going to lose my appetite." Blaidd announced.
"I second that." Rick agreed. Both grossed out by the puppy dog display that they were being forced to watch.
"If you're ok with it, I'd be more than happy to bring it up to her. I need to apologize in case I came off rude yesterday." Luke offered.
"Thank you!" Reika said with a big grin and handed Luke the tray of food and a cup of juice.
"Her bedroom is all the way up the stairs in the Attic." she points to the stairs and went back to preparing plates for everyone.
Luke could already feel the tingles set in by just thinking about her. Last night at dinner was excruciating, eating, and talking with everyone when all he wanted to do was be with her, to touch, to kiss, to love. So many times he wanted to find an excuse to see her but he needed to keep away.
So why was he caving in now? Before he realized it, he was already up the stairs to the attic and at her doorway.
Slightly cracked he could see Tala standing and staring out her window, a soft breeze was cooling her off in the September heat. She was so lost in thought that she didn't notice him standing there.
Mesmerized by her beauty he takes in the moment. Her skin covered in goosebumps from the early morning breeze. He wanted to wrap his arms around her, give her warmth, create warmth. He could feel himself harden as he took in every inch of her beauty. Her auburn hair, the way it cascades down her shoulder, down her back. Her eyes, golden crystal orbs that sparkled in the sunlight.
While she stared out of the window, she was completely unaware of his presence. Too lost in her thoughts and all of those thoughts led to the half-naked Luke who she saw going out to the woods after dinner last night. She grips the bottom of her shorts as she fantasizes about those strong arms holding her, those big sexy lips biting and kissing her passionately. She bites her bottom lip as she grips the hem of her shorts. Throwing her head back slightly as she imaged his lips on her neck, her fingers in his hair. Sensing her sudden need caused a deep hungry growl to escape Luke's lips.
"Oh?!" She jumped, making a small squeak of a sound. He begins coughing in a lame attempt to cover the growl.
"Hey." He greets her with a laugh.
She replies with a small awkward wave, her face becoming hot and red.
"I've come to bring you sustenance." He laughs as he shows her the breakfast tray.
"Thank you." She replied. Watching him as he sets it on her nightstand.
"My family worries far too much, I could of easily came downstairs." She smiles as she moves away from the window and began to head to her bed.
Tucking her auburn hair behind her ear as she made her way there. She tried to walk as gracefully as as could with Luke's intense gaze on her. She had almost made it half way there before tripping on the small fuzzy blue area rug in the middle of the room. With quick reflexes Luke was able to catche her before she could hit the ground. Holding her endearingly in his arms, he looks down at her and couldn't help the uncontrollable laughter that came out.
"What?" She asked nervously.
"I can see why your family worries." He laughs again.
"I guess if you did that on the stairs you'd get down there faster." Luke has never been close enough to a human to be able to observe them before.
They were known for being clumsy and fragile. Somehow, she made it almost charming and adorable. He couldn't take his eyes off of hers.
She should move right? She thought to herself. Straighten herself but she felt so safe in his arms. It was hard not to melt into them. She took a moment to take in his statuesque figure. He was so sexy, even more so up close and his smell! So intoxicating. She looked into his misty blue gray eyes and felt her whole body feel warm. Tingling with a fierce intensity she had never felt before. He felt the same by their touch. They both could feel the raw attraction pulling them towards each other.
Without even thinking Tala ran her delicate fingers through the back of his hair. Twirling black curly strands between her fingers. His hair was thick and silky.
Luke couldn't handle being so far away and without hesitation he lifted her up to him. Her legs instinctively wrapping around his waist. Face to face so he could look into her beautiful golden eyes. Tala bit her bottom lip as she felt his desire. Holding her with one arm while he used the other to caress her neck and collarbone. Tala bit her lip again causing Luke to make a low growl. Suddenly he felt her soft lips meet his, his scruff braising her mouth.
They took their turns biting and kissing. Her free hand feeling his chest, moving down his abs to the rim of his pants. Taking her to the bed he laid her gently down on her back. Kissing her neck, slowly moving down her collar bone. Lifting up her camisole to kiss her stomach, making his way to the hollow between her hips. Before he can move any further, she grabs his hand.
"I'm sorry, I can't." Tala said. Suddenly breaking free and pushing him away. Tears running down her face.
"Are you OK?" he asks panicked as he backs away. His eyes a dark charcoal with need but worry strained his face. Luke's wolfs suddenly began to whine softly.
"I just need to lay down." She assures him with a faint smile.
"You are laying down, what's wrong? Should I go get your sisters?" Everything in him was worried about Tala.
"I don't know, everything just hurts a little. Please don't get them, I'll be fine, I'm still healing and I keep forgetting I'm not at a hundred percent yet. Just . . . please go." She asked him as she turned away from him so he wouldn't see as the tears shed faster. Being so close to him caused her such an intense pain in the pit of her stomach.
"I'm so sorry Tala" he tells her, his wolf suddenly becoming more upset and frantic. Lycus wanted to take over. Luke bowed his head and reluctantly walked away.
Once alone, Tala grabbed the closest pillow to her and curled up. What the hell was that? She thought. All she wanted was him but every time he gets close . . . she shook her head as she thought to herself. She had pushed him away because of something in her that started to hurt like something was tearing her up from the inside. Again, like something was trying to get out.
Luke rushed down the stairs to the second floor and stopped just above the kitchen. Taking a breath in an attempt to regain some form of control.
'What was that?' He thought to himself. Lycus had finally started settling down.
'Why couldn't I control myself? Was Tala okay?' His whole chest hurt.
"How did she look?" Reika asked as soon as she seen Luke walking down the stairs.
Beautiful, Sexy, Broken, he thought.
"A bit pale, you may need to check on her after breakfast." He couldn't help but worry about her. He may not make a big deal in front of everyone but that's only because she asked him not to. Either way though, he would still feel better if Reika checked on her sooner rather than later.
"Thank you." Reika replied handing him a plate of food.
After setting it on the table Luke politely made his way to the coffee machine. What he needed was a cold shower or a stiff drink. Maybe even a run but for the time being, coffee will have to do.
He tried to concentrate on the conversations around him but all he could do was think of Tala, he wanted her, worried for her.
"Luke?" Blaidd asked, "Are you coming?" he asked again. Luke blinked.
"Where?" he asked.
"We're running to the local town square to go shopping!" Reika squealed. She had a passion for cooking and took every chance she could to get more ingredients to try out in new recipes. Going to the market and street vendors was one of her favorite things to do on the weekends.
"Tala says she doesn't feel up to it." Diana replied walking down the staircase and grabbing her sweater.
"She shouldn't stay alone." Reika told them with furrowed brows
"I'll stay with her." She finished with a hint of sadness in her voice
"You're right but I'll stay here, you guys go ahead. Have fun and bring me back some honey from the farmers market." Rick suggested.