67. Calla

67. Calla
I sat in the leather seat, the fabric cold against my bare skin. This dress was way too short, and those tiny lace panties I wore underneath did nothing to help my case. I could only hope that it wasn't going to be too cold this evening, or that at least he hadn't planned for us to be strolling outside for too long.
The car lurched forward. I shifted a little in my seat, knowing that there was a large portion of my butt showing. I strangely didn't feel embarrassed, or even uncomfortable. In fact, I kind of liked the way that he had looked at me earlier in the apartment. It made me feel...beautiful. Seen. A little more confident in my own body. I had picked this dress in the spur of the moment, and I had almost talked myself out of wearing it right before coming out of that bedroom. But after noticing that look in his eyes, the way that they trailed over me... I could feel my cheeks growing warm even now.
I threw a timid look at him, watching him sit in that usual position of his, with his ankle crossed over his knee. He wore one of those light blue shirts of his that fit him so well, and my gaze inevitably trailed all over him, drawn to his imposing form. I wanted to move closer to him, to feel his soothing warmth. I resisted the urge.
We did not travel for long, the car rolling to a stop right next to the sidewalk, where a large group of humans had gathered. They were all standing in some kind of line, wearing fancy clothes.
I shifted my gaze to Athos, noticing that he was already looking at me. He offered me a smile. "Ready?"
I nodded simply, and he moved to climb out of the car first. Dima opened the door for him from the outside, and he got out and then offered his hand to me. I drew in an encouraging breath, hesitating for a moment. I was actually a little nervous. I wasn't really fond of being around so many humans at once, and I had discovered that fact during our stroll through the mall. However, I did not want to miss this opportunity to discover more from the human world and its culture.
I slid closer to the open door, placing my hand in Athos'. That little something within me stirred at the feel of him, the feel of his warm skin. I got out with his help, immediately feeling the gentle breeze wrap around my body. My legs felt a little unsteady on those tall heels I wore, and Athos quickly wrapped his arm around my waist as if sensing that.
There were so many pairs of eyes directed at us as I looked around, measuring us from head to toe, and I instinctively pressed my body closer into his, seeking his familiar warmth and protection.
We took our first step down that red carpet, and the crowd immediately parted, revealing those open doors at the end of it. I turned my head to look up at Athos, receiving his dazzling smile.
"Oh my god you guys, look at these two..."
"Who are they?"
"They look like celebrities..."
"They look so hot..." With those whispers coming from all around us, we walked the rest of the way to the entrance with his comforting hand still resting on my hip. They made me blush a little, and feel a little giddy. We entered the establishment, and I was instantly attacked by a mix of smells. They were similar to those in the mall, and somehow more intense. Athos had told me that the humans called them perfumes, and that they wore them to smell nice. Kind of like we did with the oils sometimes. The second thing that managed to surprise me was the obscurity of the vast room. There were weak and warm lights scattered here and there, enveloping the bodies around us in shadows and mystery. I liked the atmosphere. It was sensual, intimate, and dark. And then there was the music. Not too loud but not too quiet either. It played from all around us, and there were humans dancing to it.
Athos led me through the throng of bodies swaying and grinding against each other, and my heart increased its pace a little, my cheeks warming as I casually noticed a couple kissing passionately. He led me to the bar area, where a human male stood behind a massive piece of wooden furniture, shaking a metallic bottle energetically with his hand. The male's gaze fell on me, and the corners of his lips curled up, his smile somehow reminding me of River's. I swallowed thickly, forcing myself to return his smile. He gave me a wink, right before moving to talk to someone further down the bar.
I sat on the barstool in front of me, averting my attention to Athos.
"Do you know what alcohol is?" he questioned casually, choosing to stand rather than seat himself on the chair behind him, his elbow resting on the bar counter. His shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing his strong and veiny forearms, and that seemed to distract me for a second. I blinked, remembering that he had asked me a question. I nodded quickly, my cheeks warming a little.
"Have you ever tried it before?" he followed up with a tilt of his head. I gazed at him, trying to remember if I had.
"I'm not sure," I answered honestly, earning myself a simple nod from him.
The human male from behind the bar returned, looking between Athos and me with interest.
"What can I get you, folks?" he asked, his gaze settling on me. I offered him another timid smile, not wanting to seem rude even though he was making me feel a little uncomfortable. I didn't like the look in his brown eyes. The uncanny resemblance.
"I'll have some whiskey on the rocks, and a strawberry daiquiri for the lady," Athos answered with ease from right next to me, and I could feel his hand settling over mine gently. The human male's gaze dropped there, where our hands rested over the counter, one on top of the other. His expression shifted a little, and he gave Athos a forced smile. "Coming right up."
The male then moved around and produced two different glasses, preparing the two drinks that Athos had asked him to. I could feel his lingering gaze on me from time to time, even as I averted mine and looked at the people dancing just a few steps away from us. Most of them were couples, and some of the human females danced so close to their partners, in a way that had my lips parting and my cheeks flushing. There were slow, tantalizing touches and sensual moves. Panting and grinding, and tempting whispers.
"Here you go, sir," The male returned, placing a glass next to Athos' arm.
"And for the lady," he added, placing a tall glass in front of me that held a pink and opaque liquid inside. I barely looked at him, giving him a quiet 'thank you'. He did not linger, throwing Athos a wary look before he retreated, moving along the bar to serve other people. I did not fail to notice that dangerous look in Athos' eyes as he followed him with his gaze for another moment, right before those strong and alien feelings of jealousy, ire, and territoriality swept over me. I quickly realized that they were his emotions. Athos'. It made that little something within me purr and preen in return, bubbling with pride and excitement. I felt...protected, and cared for. Important. Desired.
Athos' gaze returned to me, softening immediately. He looked between me and my untouched drink, giving me a tender and light smile.
"It's okay. You can leave it if you don't want to try it. We can order something else," he offered, taking a quick mouthful of his. I shook my head lightly. "No, it's okay. I want to try it," I told him truthfully. I really was curious to see what it tasted like.
I wrapped my fingers around the thin and delicate leg of the glass, bringing the rim to my lips. Athos continued to watch me with that distracting smile on his lips. I took a tentative sip, the liquid's sweetness invading my tongue instantly. Oh, wow. I took another, bolder sip.
"Mm, it's very good. Kind of like the strawberry milkshake," I told him between two quick sips, earning his amused chuckle.
"Okay, but don't drink it too fast. You might get dizzy," he warned, keeping that mildness in his tone. My lips curled up to form a smile at the sound of that, peering up into his warm and dreamy eyes. My Athos. Always the caring and gentle lycan. I still couldn't believe that he was here, with me. In the human world. We were here, as he had promised me back in those cold and mouldy dungeons. Showing me what the human world had to offer.
Right on cue, a slow and tender song that I recognized started to play. My eyes widened with excitement, causing him to give me a curious look in return.
"Can we go dance too?" I asked him, staring up at him with hope in my eyes. I'd barely registered the fact that my hand was clutching at his arm so tightly. He finished the rest of his drink with another mouthful.
That dazzling smile returned to his lips, making my heart flutter a little.
"Sure," he answered. He helped me climb down from the barstool, and then we were walking hand in hand, to the middle of that area where people were still dancing.
I remembered the last time we danced, he and I. It was on the night of my supposed coronation, and it was the only memory I held dear to my heart.
I turned around to face him, once again pushing away all those dark thoughts and feelings that threatened to resurface. There was no way that I was going to let them overwhelm me tonight. Not now, not here. Not when this moment promised to be so perfect, so precious and unique.
Tonight, I was no future Queen. I wasn't his Luna, and he wasn't my Beta.
I was...simply Calla. Callanthea Winters. And he, he was just Athos. Athos Maximus Vane.
I wrapped my arms around the back of his neck. His own slid around the small of my back, holding me close to him. Gently. I was taller in those high heels that I wore, however still not tall enough to match his impressive height. He was still almost a head taller than me. I peered up into his golden honey eyes, offering him a timid smile. And then we started to move, slowly, letting the music carry us. We swayed lightly, from side to side, going round and round. He pulled me closer, ever so slightly. I welcomed that closeness, the feeling it gave me. I breathed him in, his pleasant scent bringing me so much comfort. I placed my head against his shoulder, oddly enough being able to hear the sound of his heartbeat. It was synced to mine, somehow. It was weird, but I found myself liking it so much. I liked the way that he felt wrapped around me. His scent. His breaths. His scorching warmth.
I suddenly felt his fingers touch that scar on the inside of my forearm as he wrapped them around it, and my body tensed instinctively. I straightened slowly, watching him slide his hand up to my wrist, holding it as he took a look at the ugly scratch.
His eyes met mine again. I swallowed thickly, peering right back into his.
"Calla..."
"How did this happen?" he asked quietly, tentatively, his eyes peering between my own searchingly. I could tell that he was onto it somehow, that there was an idea contouring in his mind about it, about how it must've happened.
Please, don't make me tell you, I pleaded with my eyes, my mind whispering what my mouth failed to utter.
I did not want to say it out loud. I did not wish to relive those moments. Not now. Not here.
He continued to look at me with that look in his eyes. They softened again. And then he brought my arm close to his lips, kissing that place tenderly.
I shuddered with delight, unable to control myself after the feeling it gave me. That little something inside of me roused with renewed yearning. It whined from within, pestering me to press my body into his and offer myself further. I wanted those lips all over my skin, and I couldn't shake that yearning away, no matter how hard I tried.