———Vincent’s POV———
Everything is crazy. Yes, I was draw to Midnight Rose's work. It even inspired me to write a few songs. Inever anticipated meeting her though. She is even more reclusive than I am, but it turns out she was leading a double life. I had briefly seen her around the city but never dared to look her in the eye. I never dreamed that I would be drawn to her at first sight either. One look was all it took. She was a faceless ghost, yet she was the only woman I could see. I obviously had no clue that she was my mate then.
I gave up on the notion that I had a mate long ago. Why I never took a closer look at her. But at that gala I just lost control. I had to meet her. She is unlike anything I have ever encountered and not just because she's some mystery being. Her will, her soul is
amazing. I couldn't imagine my life without her in it now. But I'm not ready to tell her that yet. I don't want to make her more nervous then she already is.
I can feel her confusion and anxiety. However, I can also feel her curiosity and lust. So soon I won't just tell her that she's mine, I will show her. In my arms, she calms. I can only hope for that reaction when I show her my feelings and my desire for her.
———-End POV———
I'm not sure how far into the woods we went but it had to be quite a ways.
Sam huffs, “Eva stop trying to guess how far we are.”
I roll my eyes under the blindfold, “I hate this mindlink thing.”
“One day you will be thankful for it. But please don't sing. I caught it the other night but thought I imagined it because I had been thinking of you,” Sam said.
That made me smile because he just admitted that he was thinking of me, “So random thoughts it is.”
He asks, “Do you always have to think about something?”
I sigh, “Yes, my brain never shuts off.”
“Fine think about the air whisking through your hair, the sun on your skin, and the songs of the birds,” he tells me.
I give it a try. The woods do smell nice. I can smell pine mixed with other trees and lots of different flowers. After I don't know how long we reach his intended destination.
He puts me down and has me sit on the ground, “Now I know you hear everything around you. So
forget that. I want you to concentrate on touch and smell only. Describe your surroundings.”
I say, “The ground is slightly chilly so that means there's a fairly thick canopy at least where
I'm sitting. I can barely feel the sun on my skin.”
I feel him smile, “You are doing good so far. Keep going.”
I think for a second and allow myself to open up and feel, “I feel a slight mist embracing me. It means that falling water is nearby.
I don't smell stagnant water so there's at least a stream carrying the water from the falls away.”
I can feel his pride grow and any anxiety he had fades, “Very good. What do you smell?”
I say, “Water, fish, clean air, faint hint of floral I'm wanting to say honeysuckle and forget me not. So I am under the trees near a waterfall that has a pool and a small stream at the bottom.”
“Correct. What life besides us, do you sense?” he asks.
“Well aquatic of course, squirrel, birds, raccoon, rabbit, fox, timber wolf, and deer,” I reply.
I can sense his cocky smirk, “Point to where the wolf is.”
He testing me but I am going to have fun with this. I can almost see everything in my mind and I am not even using my magic.
I take one hand and point to Sam and the other where I think the Timber Wolf is.
He chuckles, “Guess I should've been more specific.”
I nod as I giggle as he takes off my blindfold and kisses the top of my head.
Sam says, “But you're correct about that and everything as you can now see for yourself. You have some wolf senses.
Tell me, how do you feel about nature?”
I look him in his big blue eyes and recite a poem called Nature’s Call, “
Come, walk with me into the forest where we can be alone
In a place that I call my second home
See the wondrous beauty that nature has bestowed
Where life begins that isn't owned
We'll bask in the surreal splendor that surrounds us,
And listen to nature's symphony,
The sounds of whispering trees and burbling streams,
Send our minds wandering into lovely daydreams.
Every now and then let us answer the forest's call,
To come see life's beauty and the miracle of it all;
If we listen with our hearts as we walk among trees,
We may understand the message carried on a midsummer night's breeze,
Let the power of nature beguile us into walking under its
lovely trees if for just a while.” I take in a deep breath, “I wrote that on one of my many nightly walks.”
Sam says, “That is so fitting. You're at home in nature which explains why I am your mate. Well, explains one of the reasons.”
I ask, “Will I be ok at your pack house?”
He chuckles as he kisses my cheek, “Yes, Eva.” Then he straightens up and adds, “You're my mate and none will dare harm you or they will face me!”
The easy playfulness of his tone became rigid and fierce. He would kill for me, and that's both a turn-on and terrifying. We have only barely known each other and he would wage a war for me. I need to change the mood, “It is so beautiful here.”
Apparently he had a similar idea because when I look over at him he's removing his shirt and shoes.
As he pulls down his pants I ask, “Um what are you doing?”
He grins as he tosses his underwear at me, “Swimming. You coming?”
I take my sneakers and socks off. Then follow suit with my top and shorts leaving just my bra and
panties. I swim out to meet him.
He smiles, “Nice of you to join me, Eva.”
“The water is nice.”
“Why don't you come closer?” he beckons.
I wink, “Why don't you try to catch me?”
He chuckles, “You're on!”
I dive down a ways and swim quickly to circle behind him. Apparently, vampires can swim quickly too, who knew? I was fast before but now it's doubled and I can hold my breath easier and longer too. He goes up for air. I use that time to rise behind him and dunk him. We both kick to the surface laughing.
Still laughing, “Where'd you go?”
I say, “Down and behind you.”
He tilts his head, “That fast?”
I nod.
“I never asked if vampiric speed worked underwater. Guess we know it does now. I wonder how long you can hold your breath?” He says.
I tell him, “I honestly don't know. I know vampires can stay under indefinitely only coming up to feed unless they drain fish I guess. That's if what I researched is true. I should probably ask the guys since they are my new Google.”
“We will test it at some point, though. It helps to know your limits,” he says. I nod because I do agree. He continues, “I must say you're remarkable.”
I look down, “Whatever.”
He puts a lock of hair behind my ear, “You're not used to compliments are you?”
I look him in the eye, “I'm not used to people meaning them.”
He pulled me close and cupped my cheek, “Well get used to it. I mean what I say.”
I lean into his touch. It is warm, comforting, and genuine. There isn't a hint of pretense or bravado. He takes my face in both hands and looks into my eyes. Then he kisses me. It's warm, passionate yet emits tenderness and longing. My hands tunnel in his damp hair. The kiss deepens. A low growl comes from him just after I let out a slight moan.
I don't know how long we kiss but I know my legs wrapped around him. A sense of peace washed over me as I inhaled his scent. I
felt light and free of my current circumstances in his powerful embrace. His bright blue mixed with steel
grey eyes glistened like a flawlessly faceted diamond. I became lost in them. I became lost in him. Breathless, we pulled away.
Sam remarks, “Eva your eyes!”
I can feel it, “Yours are glowing too.”
He looks around and suddenly says, “Don’t look down.”
I giggle, “Well I'll be damned. I'll get us down.”
I think of a balloon slowly losing air and coming to gently rest on the ground. He kisses me, “Wow!”
As much as I hate to say it I have to, “I think it's safe for you to put me down.”
He sits me down and kisses me again. I just surrender to it. There's no use fighting myself anymore. The pull is just too strong. This has to be fate! He is my mate!
I could kiss him all day. I have to stop, I'm not ready yet to give myself fully. I pull away, “We need to stop for now.”
He sighs, “Okay, I will follow your lead.”
I giggle, “I could get us lost.”
He chuckles, “I wouldn't mind. Something tells me though we'd find our way back together.”
I think he is right. Now that we have all found each other, we will keep doing it. Something has bound us and our souls.
I say, “You might be right.”
He smirks, “I'm always right!”
I glare at him, “Don't even start with that type of attitude. It doesn't get Vincent anywhere and it won't you either!”
We are still standing on the shore. I'm in my underwear and he's naked, I've done a good job of not dropping eye contact but I know my
resolve is waning. The longer I stand here the more I want this man.
He challenges me, “Like you could do much about it.”
I raise my eyebrow. With lightning speed, I grab his clothes and will myself to float to the top of the waterfall.
“I can just climb up there,” he states.
But I have a plan, “Do whatever big man!”
He chuckles, “I'm not ashamed of my nudity, so your threats are pretty useless. Albeit they're adorable and very enticing.”
I dangle two things, “But you might miss your keys and phone!”
He goes to grab mine, “Well you left yours down here.”
Before he can touch them, I will my clothes and phone to me, “Oh my bad, easily fixed.”
He laughs, “What I get for trying to be
decent. Next time, I will get you, my little mate.”
I yell, “If you want these back, race me back to the house. I want lunch!”
Around these guys, I just sense that I am capable of something that I thought only a superhero could do. I feel limitless in their presence and it's becoming very addicting. I run and jump off of the waterfall and land on the shore. It hurt just a tad but nothing unbearable. I take
off running. I hear a growl behind me. I'm pretty sure he shifted. I make it to the house and once
inside I drop his clothes when I see them all sitting there chatting with Katie. I must have been in the woods for hours.
She asks, “Why are you in your underwear?”
I giggle, “Long story, I'll be back once I'm dressed.”
The guys laugh because they know a bit of what's going on. Once they got out of the sun they heard a bit
of what transpired. I haven't figured out how to block them out of my mind, but I'm not sure that I want to.
Part of me likes knowing that they will always be close. I grab a short Bohemian dress after I remove my soaked undergarments. I dress quickly and I'm glad I did. I rush back to the others.
“Now tell me…” Katie says as he mouth drops open.
She trails off and stares as a nude Sam enters picking up his clothes. I'm laughing and trying not to let my
eyes linger. Sam is built like a God and it takes all of my willpower not to allow my eyes to roam every inch of him.
Katie exclaims, “Holy shit, no wonder you're running. He's f*king huge!”
She said exactly what I have been trying not to think. Sam dresses while smiling. He just takes everything in stride. I love that about him.
After I stand from being bent over from laughing and after I remove my hand from covering my eyes, I regain my composure.
I wave my hand in front of her face, “Katie, Earth to Katie!”
“Huh?” she blearily answers.
I try to tame her fantasy, “Nothing happened but a swim in the woods.”
She shakes her head, “Wasted opportunity!”
Do I miss sex? Yes, but not everything is about sex, “Ugh we were just playing
around. He challenged me and I adapted.”
Sam looks at me, “Cheated.”
I put my hands on my hips, “It's a form of adapting.”
He takes my hands, “You’re my mate. We don't cheat. You've been around Vincent and his friends too long.”
I smirk, “You just don't like losing.”
He winks, “I didn't lose, I still got something out of it.”
I blush and bite my lip.
“If a challenge is what it takes, then I challenge you to get laid, Eva. It's been months!” Katie says.
“Katie, just stop!” I tell her.
She adds, “Not all guys are players.”
I nod as I look at Sam, Vincent, and Eric, “Oh I know.”
She insists, “Then stop stalling.”
I say, “I'm not stalling. I don't just hop into bed with a guy.”
She waves her hand around, “It doesn't need to be a bed.”
I need a break, “Just stop please, I'm so done with this topic.”
I turn and go to the kitchen just shaking my head. Katie has gotten comfortable around Vincent and Eric it appears while I was gone. I
wonder what all they told her.