Chapter 8: Eight.

The apartment was a modest home. Unsurprisingly really for Armitage. It had an open plan kitchen/dining and lounge area, with four large windows and three doors on the wall adjacent to them. Behind the middle door was a modest bathroom, the other a box room that Daniel learned would be Sammy's home office, and the third was her bedroom.

The place was built as a functional home without airs and graces, but Sammy had recieved the keys a fortnight ago. So, all her spare time had been spent decorating, and Daniel loved the home she had created.

Her bedroom was his favourite, not that he would admit that to her, even he knew it would seem way too creepy. On the wall behind where her bed would go, she had put up wallpaper as a feature wall. The design was a deep green colour with silver tree trunks delicately painted on. The other three walls were a paler green colour, and the whole effect was that of an outdoor forest.

Daniel found he enjoyed working with her, even if she was stubborn enough to demand she took part in lifting her fair share of the furniture.

He knew internally that it would have been much quicker had he just carried the mattress in himself, but would Sammy let him? Not a chance. So, a job the would have taken him around ninety seconds, took ten minutes, with his mate puffing and panting as they went.

Although that was a pleasant sight as well, even if he kept having to adjust his pants, due to the field day his imagination was having.

If he was utterly honest, he could have grabbed another pack member, and had all her furniture moved in within an hour, travel time included and without the cost of a rental van.

But, even if Sammy did trust him explicitly and know about his werewolf genetics, he already knew there was no way she would have allowed such a thing. He could already tell his mate was no damsel in distress in need of rescuing. She was only allowing him to help, as opposed to needing him to help. It was an oxymoron of a thought, that both upset his wolf and filled him with pride at the same time.

His mate really was frustrating as hell, especially as he only wanted to take care of her.

Still, at least she had accepted his help, and he had an excuse to spend more one on one time with her tomorrow evening hopefully.

Daniel had just placed the chair at the desk in the small blue themed office, when he heard her call from the bedroom.

"Daniel?" Sammy called out, sounding strained.

Daniel was at the bedroom door in a flash,  and the sight before him was breath taking.

She was only wearing a light tank top and shorts, but Sammy also happened at this moment in time to be bent over. Grunting.

"Yeah?" Came his strained high pitched voice, before he forced a cough.

"Oh, there you are," Sammy called over her shoulder, "Can you give me a hand please? I can't screw in this bed on my own."

Daniel could have sworn he momentarily blacked out. Dreaming of the images she had just placed in his head, all those images.

"Daniel?" She called again.

"Sorry, what?" He coughed, suppressing his sudden need to rub up against his mate from behind, maybe start nuzzling into her neck, his hands exploring her soft skin.

"Ugh," Sammy groaned, grabbing his attention again. "What possessed me to buy such a heavy bed frame, I'll never know. Can you screw this last part together if I hold it in place?" Sammy explained further, her arms burning as she held the steel frame in place.

"Right, yeah, on it," Daniel spluttered out, rushing to her side.

He could seen her arms straining under the weight of the base board, and it killed him to pick up the screwdriver, instead of the frame; but he already knew full well she wouldn't let him do that, the best he could do was be as quick as possible.

"Ohh," she sighed in relief when he finished and she could let go.

Daniel took advantage of her brief respite, and instead of watching her stretch out, he grabbed the mattress from its resting spot against the wall and positioned it on the now completed steel frame.

Sammy turned around, and smiled lopsidedly at him.

"I would have helped with that you know?" She remarked with a sly grin.

"Yeah, I know. But you look like you've strained enough for tonight," Daniel winked.

"Thank you, Daniel," she smiled honestly, surprised at just how much she was enjoying his company.

"You're more than welcome," he answered, walking around the bed towards her. "Now come on, I'm calling it." He stated, grabbing a hold of her hand. "Pizza time, and I even brought beer."

Sammy laughed, allowing Daniel to pull her from the room.

"Hmm, my hero," she laughed, causing Daniel to stop, as she banged into his back.

Daniel turned looking her dead in the eye and suddenly her mouth went dry.

"Just say the word, Sammy," he said stepping into her space.

"What?" She responded, confused by his sudden change in demeanour.

"Anytime. Any place. You need me and I will be there." He answered.

Sammy felt the weight of his words sink into her very soul. It was terrifying.

"So, pizza?" She asked, awkwardly trying to change the subject as her heart raced in her chest.

Daniel turned away with a small growl, he could only hope she didn't hear, pulling her across to the small dining table where he had stacked the pizza boxes.

"It might be cold now," he said with an annoyed grimace.

"I don't mind," Sammy answered in a small voice.

"Sorry," Daniel stated at once, turning to face her, "I came on too strong didn't I?"

Sammy bit her bottom lip as she considered him.

It took every ounce of Daniel's strength not to free her lip from her teeth, longing to place his own there instead.

"No, it's fine," she said at last, "I'm just not used to declarations from a knight in shining armour, I guess. Come on, let's eat," she added, loosening her hand from his.

"So, I'm afraid as the fridge isn't coming till tomorrow night's drop off, and I can't offer you any ketchup or mayonnaise," she stated, changing the subject, "But, at least we are matching cold pizza with warm beer," she added with a wink.

Daniel smiled, loving the way she was trying to smooth things over, even if it was awkwardly done.

He opened the boxes, unscrewed two of the beer bottles before handing her one, and following her lead by sitting at the small table.

The conversation flowed easily afterwards, and Daniel was impressed by just how much food Sammy ate. He had originally bought the extra pizzas in an effort to make sure there was at least one she liked. But before long all three were gone, and Sammy joked about having to pop a button on her shorts.

Which was just another comment that had him suppressing a groan.

"So, I'm guessing you moved out this way for work right?" He asked, wanting to get to know her a bit more, as well as forcing his mind out of the gutter.

"Yeah, and I'm so glad I did. I love the reserve, and the sanctuary, plus Tom and Susan are great. Susan likes to be everyone's mother, but in a good way you know? Even if she is only ten years older than the rest of us. And Tom is just mad, but in the best way." Sammy smiled, "What about you? Have you always lived here?"

"Yeah, born and bred," he answered, quietly admiring the strands of blonde hair that had come loose from her ponytail. "What about you, where did you grow up?"

Sammy tensed a little, her childhood was a touchy subject.

"I went into the care system at ten. So, I moved around for a while. At twelve I was put in a group home. I met Dax there, so I guess I grew up there in Wyoming. We sort of raised one another, pushed each other to achieve our goals. He's on the west coast now  one of Oregon's top chefs." She smiled, her pride in her brother out weighing her previous discomfort.

"That's kind of far, I'm sorry you must miss him," Daniel answered, knowing himself how important family bonds were.

"I really do," Sammy responded, "but when our schedules allow we get together, in fact I'm spending Thanksgiving out there. It's the first time I will have seen him this year."

Daniel had to force his next smile. It wasn't that he wanted to keep her away from her brother, but Oregon was pretty damn far away, and she was his mate. Sammy should be with him, if he was lucky by that point she could even be pregnant.

Okay, he may be pushing his luck there, but still the point remained she belonged by his side.