I didn't look behind me – I knew they were following – I could feel both their powerful auras pressing down on me like a building storm ready to break and I was the shore. Nothing to do but watch the incoming destruction. I don't know what I was thinking. Allowing Nick to enter my home, my safe space while Olivia was present. Not having known much about him other than what most wolves knew. I was, once again, putting myself at risk after I swore I would never leave myself vulnerable at the hands of any man. He was my mate, sure, but did that mean he was without flaws, that he could not hurt me as any other? The mate bond could be beautiful but it didn't mean that the people were. It didn't change a person's interests or intent. Those who wish to do others harm could still hurt their mate. As sick as it was, the only promise in life was death.
My craftsman-style home was because of the King, because of Nick. He decided that just because a woman was without a mate or lost her mate didn't mean that she had to be treated as a martyr. He created a community specifically for those women to live a fulling and hopeful life on their own. It should give me an idea of who he was, kind, thoughtful, and generous to those who are under his care. It was what brought me here, he was willing to take on those who were treated as outsiders, as burdens from their former packs, and care for them. There was also the side that the media portrayed, the man with endless girlfriends, powerful to the point of terrifying, and incredibly attractive – left women, left me speechless. I couldn't think in his presence, nothing but the thought of his tall, hard body towering over me. Stirring emotions within me that I had never felt for any man. Alex wasn't my first, I had fallen in love with another before meeting him but this was on another level. My body craved him, calling to him in ways I never thought possible. It made it hard to breathe, to think with him in my space, my home.
The living room was bright with light from the TV and the kitchen, Olivia dancing around in front of the couch to the music we had been playing before a blood-curdling howl broke us from our perfect bubble. My Mom was on the couch folding laundry while singing along to the next pop song that began. I desperately wanted to hide away and pretend that this wasn't my life right now but it seemed like the Goddess and my mate had other plans.
Caleb, as always, made himself at home. Olivia ran to him with open arms waiting to be tossed around with her best friend while Nick stood by the front door looking like an awkward teen who had just forgotten how to function around people. My heart and body wanted nothing more than to run to him and be swept away in passion but my brain told me to refrain. It was so hard fighting my urges – he stood over six feet tall, his towering frame blocking most of the door, his dark locks messed as if he had run his hands through it again again, his blue eyes bright as he scanned the room. I suddenly became very self-conscious of my home – the light gray section covered in folded laundry, toys scattered along the floor where they were discarded, my kitchen in a state of disarray from where I had prepared for dinner before Olivia demanded my attention. I scanned the floors questioning the last time I had vacuumed, mentally trying to imagine the hall bathroom, wondering if I have time to take out the trash before he could see. Before I could act or dive further into my rabbit hole of madness regarding the condition of my home my Mom finally discovered a still-standing Nick.
"Oh! Your Highness! Forgive me, I didn't realize you were here. I'm Ann – Cate's mother – can I get you anything? Do you want to sit? Cate was about to make dinner, would you like to stay?" She was frantically fixing her appearance. I felt terrible for not warning her, she would probably berate me later.
"Dinner? I love food – what are we having tonight?" Caleb was always hungry and would clear out my whole pantry if I didn't watch him.
"Ann, please, call me Nick. It's wonderful to meet you. I hope you don't mind the intrusion. Your home is beautiful." Nick stole a glance my way with his last statement as if he could read my thoughts from earlier. It was like he activated a switch and he was his royal self again – asking my Mom questions while watching Olivia and Caleb dance around. I watched as my Mom introduced Olivia and Nick – not realizing that this was an important moment. By this point, he knew I had a child, knew that I had mated to another but I was unsure of his feelings about the situation. I cared though which is what scare me the most. I cared if he was angry, confused, or hurt by the situation and I was scared about what that could mean for any future that we could have. I watched with building anticipation as Nick went on bended knee before her, as Caleb had before, making himself eye level with her. She shied away slightly, eyeing Nick with curious fascination. Olivia slowly reached her hand out as if to shake it but instead threw herself into his arms letting out a giggle and a string of incoherent words. Nick responded in kind, taking her into his arms and agreeing with whatever it was that she was pretending to utter. She traded their embrace for Nick's index finger and twirled herself around. She was instantly bonded with him just as she was with Caleb. The two men catered to her every need as she presented them with her stuffed animals and continued dance demands. It was almost enough to make me forget why he was there.
I just had to stay busy, if I stayed busy while he was here then I could ignore the looming dread of the conversation that I knew we were bound to have. I immediately got to work on dinner, pulling out all the ingredients needed – it was breakfast for dinner tonight – Olivia's request. She loved pancakes and would eat them for every meal if I let her. During the process, I heard Olivia ask my Mom for a bubble bath – another favorite – a request she granted. Before I knew it, Caleb and Nick were sitting at the bar in front of me while I worked.
"What's for dinner? I am starved!" I giggled at Caleb – he had no shame.
"You're always hungry and we're having pancakes. I would appreciate it if you didn't eat all the bacon this time." I swiped at him with the towel as he got up again to change the music playing. He put on a fast-beat salsa song and shimmied his way into the kitchen to wrap me in his arms trying to keep the rhythm but failing miserably. Twirling me around I began to forget my concerns from earlier as I laughed and matched Caleb's terrible dance moves.
"Goddess Caleb – you didn't pay attention to anything we were taught. Allow me." Nick came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and gently pulling me away from Caleb who decided he would dance on his own. He pulled my body flush against his chest, the contact causing instant flaring sparks where our bodies touched, and my breathing hitched from the heat that spread throughout.
"Follow my lead." His voice purred in my ear as he slowly began to sway his hips against mine, I followed his lead trying to control my breathing knowing that he could hear my heart speed up while thoughts of him moving his hips in other ways started to build in my mind. As the song picked up he spun me away and back so that I was facing him, a smile playing on his lips as he continued with the tempo, spinning me around the kitchen. I couldn't control the smile that burst forth while we danced around, Caleb coming up behind Nick to pretend to grind on him. Nick's smile had me in a trace – it was stunning – it lit up his whole face, a small dimple was even visible in one corner making him even more charming. As the song faded he spun me around one last time, gracefully dipping me. I thought for a moment that he was going to kiss me before the sound of a giddy little girl interrupted. I looked over to see a naked Olivia streak through the kitchen, giggly and squealing as her Mimi chased her down.
Caleb's POV
That worked better than I planned. I knew that if I had made a fool of myself that Nick wouldn't be able to control himself – he would step in and show how bad I was at something he had mastered. That was his way but he knew that I could dominate when I cared to. I wasn't mad at him for wanting to control things, he felt he had no control over his life so if he could control just one thing then he felt that his world was in order.
I could see it – the anger and jealousy in his eyes when I took Cate into my arms. I knew her and I knew him – it was the perfect opportunity to get them a little closer. Cate loved music and dancing. She did it all the time with Olivia – music was always playing but Cate didn't care if she was ridiculous with her moves. Nick and I were taught how to properly dance all the boring required dances for those in royal positions – I knew he had the moves to charm her and so….a salsa never hurt anyone. They were so close to kissing that I could almost taste it but Olivia and her little wild self made her usual naked appearance and the wrong time.
There's always after dinner. I smirked knowing that I would successfully get them to kiss before the night was out.
Nick's POV
I could feel the jealousy building in me – Caleb and Cate had a comfortable and easy relationship. She freely offered giggles and smiles in his direction without hesitation but when our eyes met, I could see her questioning herself and me. I watched as Caleb made ridiculous dance moves at my mate, earning another smile and giggles when he took her in his arms. My heart ached to have her in my arms and without thinking about Ashur urged me forward.
Our mate. Ashur purred in my mind as I took my place behind her, my arm snacking around her waist to bring her flush against me. I felt her heart speed up with the motion, the struggle of her trying to control her breathing. My body sparked in recognition of her body – as I began to move I imagined what it could feel like to be granted the chance to touch her bare skin in this same position.
I was beyond ecstatic when I earned my first smile from her – my heart stopped at that moment. She was stunning and I wanted nothing more than to always see her smile. Our dance came to end too soon, my mind racing to kiss her at that moment only to hear a squeal and see a small naked child runs out of the hallway.
There's always later tonight.