LILA’S P. O. V.
I have been crying for like an hour. Not because he kissed me but because for that brief moment I wanted him too. I heard this from my mom. She said what it was like with my Dad before her birthday. She felt it when they kissed. She knew he was her mate then. Granted they fought a lot before that. Still, Mateo can not be my mate. I am not even going to even entertain the thought, he just isn’t.
Still the feel of his lips on mine lingers. The way we fit together so perfectly. I can’t shake it.
There is a soft knock on the door and I don’t want to answer. I can’t lock myself up in here forever either. “Who is it?” There is no answer. I figure it is probably Callum.
I open up and see his little face smiling up at me. He points downstairs and points to his mouth. “It’s time to eat?” I ask.
He smiles and nods. He puts out his hand for me to take. I gladly take his hand, leading me down the stairs. He smiles the whole way. I see Mateo at the bottom of the stairs. He looks up at me and I can see fear there. “I thought you might come out for him. I wanted to make sure you ate.”
“Using a kid to do your dirty work. That is really underhanded of you.” I give him a small smile. Not much of one but still something. I still have that thought I need to push down when I look at him. How handsome he is. How my body melts into his. How he makes my skin feel like it’s on fire. Then there is the way he looks at me. It’s the same way the Daddy looks at mom.
“Well, sometimes you have to do something underhanded to get what you want. In this instance it was to get you to eat. Not really a malevolent goal.” He returns my small smile.
When we reach the bottom of the steps he takes my hand again. I like it but I pull away. “I think it would be best if Callum doesn’t see us holding hands any more. I think he has the wrong impression.”
He takes my hand again. “What impression would that be?” Why is he making this so hard?
“That we are in a relationship. We are not. I have not had my birthday and I have not found my mate yet. Until then I am not in a relationship with anyone.”
He smiles at me again. “Then you are free to hold my hand. I am just being friendly, don’t read too much into it, pet.”
“I’m not. I don’t think it means anything, I said Callum does.”
“Don’t hide behind the boy. Speak your mind.”
“Fine I don’t want you to hold my hand because I don’t want to be confused when I meet my mate.”
He smirks. “I doubt this will cause confusion.”
“It will if you keep trying to kiss me too.” I point out, trying to keep my face neutral.
“You mean like this.” He pulls me around wrapping his arms around me. Then he plants a kiss on me again. Why does he keep doing that? Why do I keep letting him do it? My body melts into his again. I have no control at his point. My brain freezes and all I feel is him consuming me.
Once I regain control of my brain I pull away. “Yeah, like that.” I pull away from him and head to the kitchen. Leaving Mateo behind. In the kitchen I find Ash and Callum. I make a point to sit beside Callum away from where Mateo would sit. He chuckles when he comes into the kitchen but doesn’t push sitting next to me. I try to keep my eyes down the whole meal. But inevitably I do look up and every time I do, I see him watching me.
I stay quiet through the meal and then bid everyone good night as I head back up to the room. I don’t know if I am going to be able to sleep but I don’t think I am going to be sleeping much. My mind is already reeling.
MATEO’S P. O. V.
I feel compelled, every time I see her I want to kiss her. I want to hold her. All through dinner I couldn’t speak because I didn’t know what I could say to her. I want to say so much. I hate this, her birthday seems like it is too far away. I want her now. I want to mark her now.
When she slips off to bed. I want nothing more than to follow her. But I can’t. I know that will be a bad idea.
Ash notices how I am acting so as soon as Lila is out of ear shot he laughs. “I have never seen you so uptight in my life. That is saying something. I have been next to you your whole life.”
“Shut up Ash. I feel nervous enough. How do I even talk to her? You know I am not comfortable in this area. I feel like a lost kid. I know what I want, but I have no idea how to get it. I know she is my mate. I just need her to see it.”
He smiles. “So there is no doubt now?”
I shake my head. “Not since I kissed her. I know now. I just don’t think she is going to accept it.”
He gets a serious look on his face. “I can see the conflict on her face. She sees it too, but she isn’t ready to accept it. Tomorrow at the festival, dance with her. That’s how you met right? Let her see you work together even if she doesn’t realize it.”
I shrug. “Well, I guess it’s somewhere to start.” I run my fingers through my hair. “Anything from you Callum?” He just smiles up at me. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.” I clear the table and wash the dishes. Someone comes in the morning, but I don’t want them to sit there all night. I send Callum up to bed and he gives me a hug. I ruffle his hair and send him off.
Ash disappeared sometime ago. So now I am left alone with my thoughts. Should I go check on her? No I shouldn’t do that. I should just slip into a guest room and sleep there. Yet I find myself lying on the couch staring at the ceiling. Wanting nothing more than to wrap around her body. I try to shove those thoughts down but I can’t. Finally the urge is too much to fight. I make my way up the stairs. I am using the excuse that I need to get something to sleep in, but I know that isn’t what I am doing.
When I come to the door, I try to convince myself to turn around, but I can’t. I slip into the room and see her sleeping there on the bed. She looks amazing. The peaceful look on her face is comforting. Her hair is spread out on my pillow. Her beautiful chest rising and falling as she breathes. I love her, there is no denying it. I change into sweats and climb into bed with her. I know she is going to slap me in the morning, but it is worth it. It is worth being with the woman I love while I sleep.
Once I am under the covers I pull her body to mine. She doesn’t seem phased. She shifts a little as she gets comfortable and then she is breathing evenly again. I quickly drift off to sleep with her scent enveloping me.