Elijah stood, staring so hard at his reflection he was almost scowling at himself. His tux fitted him perfectly, his hair was styled perfectly as well, without one strand daring to stray out of place. Looking at himself, everything seemed visually right, but something just felt off. He was nervous, but that was to be expect he thought. Colt had finally agreed to go on a romantic date with him. There was a lot riding on tonight he thought, so everything had to be perfect.
He glanced down to the long velvet box in his hand, puzzled slightly he opened it to reveal a platinum necklace with a chain so delicate it could have been made of a strand of silk. The pendant hanging in the centre was again delicate platinum cast into the shape of two intertwining paws, one he instantly recognized as that of a wolf and the other was what he thought a wild cat paw must look like. It was so fine and elegant. Perfect for his mate he thought smiling. Especially as he thought about how close he would get to be to her as he fixed it onto her neck.
Within what felt like the blink of an eye he was standing in the cool February weather outside of Colt's home. It looked different at this time of year darker, but with a white frosty coat. Staring at it, he suddenly felt nervous. What if Colt had changed her mind? What if she was joking when she said yes, and would be annoyed by him turning up? What if she weren't even here? After all, there were no lights on whatsoever.
He was still processing all of his anxiety and doubts, when he heard the door creak open. Standing there, back lit by the lamp in the hallway was the most glorious sight his eyes had ever seen, his mate, and she was beautiful. Dressed in a floor length satin gown, that softly shaped itself to her curves, while extenuating her long legs with the slit up the left side, she was a vision in wine coloured red. Her collar bone was left exposed by the soft neckline of folded fabric, and he felt a low growl of appreciation vibrate in his chest, to which she simply raised a perfectly shaped brow. But when she turned to lock the door and he discovered the backless nature of the dress he almost came undone watching how her soft ebony curls, cascaded down her back, ending just before the spot his hand itched to hold. The bare area at the small of her back where he could pull her flush against him. He had never known until now, just how much power a simple outfit could have over him.
"Elijah, pick up your jaw before I break my neck, slipping on the drool you are leaving on my garden path." Colt smiled sarcastically, as she sauntered past him, pushing his mouth closed as she did.
Elijah loudly cleared his throat trying to gather his wits again. "Right sorry. You're just, wow. I mean look at you. You're radiant." he stuttered.
"Well thanks handsome, you don't clean up too badly yourself either." she smiled.
Elijah beamed with pride at the compliment. How could he not. His mate called him handsome. He stood there smiling at her like a goofball till she spoke again startling him out of his stupor.
"Well? Are we going or did I get dressed up for nothing?" Colt asked him.
He shook his head saying, "Yes of course. But first I have a little something for you" he said, his hands however, were empty.
"It's not an engagement ring is it?" Colt asked cautiously.
"No. I don't quite think you're ready for me on that level some how."Elijah laughed patting his pockets. He was sure the necklace box was in his hands, he had no recollection of putting it down anywhere. "It might be in the car." He said strolling past her. He opened the driver's side door and started rooting around in the front of the car. It wasn't in the door pocket, or under the seat. Neither was it in the glove box or up on the dash board. Elijah then, flopped onto the front seat and held his head in his hands. He could have swore it was just in his hand, where the hell was it.
He looked over to Colt who was now sitting in the passenger seat looking at him half amusedly and half irritated at him it would seem.
"What's wrong?" he asked, inwardly cursing his own ability to mess things up.
"I just, for some reason find myself surprised that its valentine's day and not only did you not get your mate, who you have been searching for for over a decade a gift, but you also killed chivalry stone dead by leaving me to open my own door? There's not even one single rose Elijah, which is cliché I know, but still. I guess I just presumed you would have made more of an effort." she shrugged turning away to look out of the window.
"Shit! You're right. I'm sorry Colt. I did have a gift for you, I just don't know where it went. Can I make it up to you?" he all but begged her feeling like a fool.
"I suppose you can try Mr. Lupus, I suppose you can try." she sighed.
"I am sorry Colt, I just want tonight to be perfect. Like you are." he smiled sheepishly at her.
"Well, that's a start." she laughed musically.
Elijah was so content being with Colt he wasn't quite paying attention as they sat down to dinner. They were the only couple there in an otherwise empty restaurant. But the soft candle light that surrounded them made it feel magical. He was taking it all in, or at least he was trying to. Something still felt off, like it didn't quite add up and he was sure Colt smelled differently but maybe she was wearing a different perfume. He had only known her a short while. Or was that back in Autumn, he thought unsure of himself.
He shook himself internally, determined to get back to reality and stop his mind wandering off, so he could focus on their evening. He had ordered them both steaks when he had booked. Knowing Colt's wolf half would appreciate a real dinner rather than some fancy unpronouncable dish that only had about two bites if they were lucky.
His smile turned to a frown though as he discovered they were eating the same meal they had had at Colt's house, when her Mom cooked
Stovies, he thought it was called. It was literally a leftover special all mixed together with mash potatoes and completely unromantic he thought confused and annoyed, although Colt seemed to be devouring hers.
"This is wrong," Elijah stated pushing back slightly from the table.
"What are you complaining about now Elijah?" Colt asked harshly.
Elijah got up and started to pace back and forth. "I didn't order this. In fact I'm not even sure I remember driving us here. Or where here is. Plus there is the necklace I had for you that disappeared. I just it doesn't make sense. The only thing that's right is how beautiful you are. But even that seems off," he said looking at her as she stood up her blue dress shimmering in the flickering candle light. "Also, you were wearing a red dress earlier. What the fuck is going on he said and strode off towards the front door for some air.
When Elijah pushed through the door, all of a sudden he was standing on the deck of Colt's cabin by the lake. He turned around panicked at how he would get back to her, but the restaurant was no where in sight.
"Shit!" he exclaimed, "What have I done. I didn't mean to." he said, worried at how he had abandoned her.
"Elijah," Colt's voice floated over from the waters edge. "I'm right here handsome."
She was standing in her red backless dress silhouetted by the moonlight and flickering stars overhead. She was facing away from him and he started to run towards her but froze when he was half way there.
Colt had lifted her hands up to the clasp at the back of her neck, undoing it in one soft swift motion. Elijah watched transfixed on his mate as she slowly slid the material over her shoulders till the momentum carried it all the way down off of her, and she was left nude with a pool of fabric gathered about her feet.
Elijah was whimpering at the effort of holding himself back. What ever she was doing, he would lose his self control in an instant if he wasn't careful.
Her pale skin almost glowed in the moonlight as she looked back at him smiling and said "Fancy a swim."
With those words she strode purposely into the water until she was waste deep. She turned around and smiled "Well, what are you waiting for?"
Elijah instantly forgot everything. In this moment there was only her, and she was standing there, the image of sex personified as he strode forcefully after her, ripping his clothes from his body in the process. When he got to her, the cool water was lapping at her breasts and her big brown eyes were looking up at him seductively.
She turned away to take another step when he lost his battle with his self control, and wrapped his arm about her waist pulling her naked body flush against his own.
"Enough games Kitten, you are mine." he whispered into her ear, feeling her shiver with excitement at his voice.
"Then prove it." she replied. "I need you Elijah."
In one swift movement he turned her body and lifted her as she swung her legs about his waist. His eyes almost rolled into the back of his head at the sensational feeling of her wet nakedness pressed against his own, his large hands splayed across her butt for extra support. Her head was slightly higher than his but she was lowering it at an excruciatingly slow pace. But he waited allowing her this small moment to take the lead. The moment her lips met his though, he was a irrevocably lost to her. The taste of her was just like he remembered, she was heaven, and he needed more. His mouth moved to her neck, kissing and licking as he went encouraged by her soft moans and the way her thighs would tighten on his waist when he hit a particular pleasurable spot. When he got to her collar bone, the spot he almost marked her before he paused unsure of himself suddenly.
But Colt squirmed in his arms and begged "Please, I'm yours Elijah. Take me."
Elijah was gone. His canines grew of their own accord and slowly he pierced the skin on her shoulder. He marked her, claiming her as his forever.
But when he took his mouth off of her shoulder she was gone. He was alone, and there was a soft sunlight spilling into his room. He felt like he had a mouthful of feathers though. He bolted upright in bed with a chunk of pillow still stuck in his teeth. He spat, what he was sure was at least forty feathers from his mouth and growled loudly in frustration. It was a fucking dream he thought as he got up and headed off for a very cold shower.