Evelyn
My eyes slowly opened, my head felt heavy like someone had smashed a hammer on it. I turned, trying to raise myself from the bed — then I stilled.
My eyes widened when I felt a heavy hand wrapped around my waist securely. My back was pressed against something cold. Not a wall. A cold body.
I felt like my heart stopped beating.
Where am I?
My favorite cold coffee scent filled my nostrils and realization struck me like lightning.
Ohh Goddess.
My eyes roamed over the dark room..it wasn't mine. It was Damian's room.
I wiggled from his grasp. Damian's hold tightened around me. Shit, he was awake. I gently nudged his arms and soon they loosened. I quickly sat up.
Oh Goddess, Eva, I am gonna kill you. What did you do last night? Why the hell are we here?
I asked her but she didn't reply, only chuckled.
How was I supposed to face him now? Did something happen between us?
"Morning, little wolf."
I schooled my features and slightly turned toward him, clearing my throat. His eyes were red, the way he stared at me, felt like he wanted to pounce on me.
Shit
I was sure about one thing.. he wasn't angry that we had slept beside him. His possessive hold on me was proof enough.
Now, what was I supposed to say to him? I had no real reason to be angry with him, not when it was my wolf who caused all this.
"Hey, I'm sorry I bothered you last night, but it was my wolf, umm.. she took over my senses. I didn't know she came here to give you trouble," I said all in one go.
"It was okay. I knew it was Eva right away, I recognized her the moment she started talking so sweetly. Such a sweet wolf."
At that, Eva started pacing in my mind, wagging her tail, happy with his compliment. But my eyes narrowed on their own.
"What's that supposed to mean? You mean I'm not a sweet talker?" I asked, an angry edge to my voice.
He just shrugged, like he agreed with his own words. This man.
"Eva didn't give me any trouble. In fact, she gave me a gift," he said casually, but his eyes flickered to my lips.
I stilled.
"Gift? What did that mean"?
"She brought your body here.. which was no less than a soft, warm pillow." His voice was laced with teasing.
"Was that a joke?"
"No, that wasn't a joke, little wolf. That was the truth. Your body was so soft and warm around me — I slept peacefully last night." He said it while pulling me into his lap.
"Hey.." I tried to rise but he didn't let me.
"See, that's exactly why I said Eva is sweet. She didn't try to get away from me.. she happily came closer." He shook his head dramatically.
Damn horny Eva.
I sighed and made no attempt to get up. He pulled me even closer, his hand caressing my waist, which drove me absolutely crazy, but I stopped myself.
"You sleep too? I thought vampires don't sleep."
He chuckled. "You forgot about us, little wolf."
"Oh right — I get it. You're a modern vampire," I said.
"Exactly. Now you know us. We do sleep, but very little. Our senses are heightened so we're very light sleepers… unlike wolves, who sleep like there's no tomorrow." A teasing smile tugged at his lips.
"You tease me a lot, Damian, yet you have the audacity to wonder why I'm not sweet with you?" I said, pointing my finger at him.
"What can I do? When it comes to you, teasing just comes out of me, like it's a habit." He took my finger that was pointed at him and kissed it. I felt my cheeks burn.
"I want to take a bath," I said, hiding my blush.
He stood up, carrying me effortlessly in his arms like I weighed nothing, then gently set me back on my feet.
"Freshen up, little wolf. Then come for breakfast." He walked out of the room, but not before stealing three kisses from me.
I was sure this man had a thing for kisses. Well, not that I was complaining.
I made my way back to my room and shut the door tight behind me.
'Now talk, Eva. What exactly did you do last night? How did I end up sleeping in Damian's arms?' I wanted to ask him myself but felt too embarrassed.
'Did Damian take advantage of us while you just stood there and let him? Tell me everything.'
'He didn't take advantage of us. In fact, he said we shouldn't do anything you have no awareness of. Why are you always so hard on him?' she snorted.
'I have every reason to be, Eva. Did you forget Damian's father killed my grandmother? He's still our enemy, and don't forget he threatened us to come here, and said he'd kill our people if we didn't.'
'He is not my enemy. He hasn't treated us badly and he hasn't gone after our people. You conveniently forget that', she said, her voice sharp. It was useless to talk to her.
'Let's forget everything else for now — just tell me what happened with him.'
'Nothing. I went to his room and told him I wanted to sleep with him. That's all'.
'Just that? Nothing else? I suspect it was more than that.'
'We kissed, okay? I'm his mate too, so it's not a big deal', she said, like it was the most normal thing in the world.
I sighed. 'You kissed him, Eva. You know that could've gone much worse. What if you lost yourself in the mate bond and sex with him while I still wasn't in my own senses?'
'I know, Evelyn. I wouldn't do that. We'll mate with him when we're both ready', she said, then paused for a moment. 'But I want him. I want to mark his neck'.
The agony in her voice made me stop.
'Last night…Damian asked me if we'd found our mate'. That froze me in place.
'What did you say to him? Please tell me you didn't—'
'I told him we hadn't met our mate yet', she said. Then, quietly, 'but I was angry when I said it'.
Good.
I buried my face in my hands. I wanted to tell him too, and I wanted him. But I wasn't sure. Not yet. Even if he'd never treated me badly, what if he showed his true face somewhere down the line?
If we mated and marked each other, we'd be bound forever. My powers would no longer be mine alone, they'd be his too. If he ever did something wrong in the future, the mate bond wouldn't let me stop him or fight him.
In fact I'd become his shield, forced to protect him even when he was in the wrong.
Eva couldn't understand this. She was driven by instinct, she is an animal and her feelings for Damian had blurred her ability to think clearly. That was the truth of it.
After my bath, I caught my reflection in the mirror.
Ohh no.
My lips were swollen. So it really did happen. I touched them softly, fingertips grazing the tenderness there.
I loved when he kissed me. I wanted more.
I shook the thought loose, stepped out of my room, and made my way toward the dining room, where he would be waiting for me.