Ella’s POV
The men were back. I ran towards the house, heading away from the training ground where I had been with my father as soon as I heard the news.
I was relieved that they were back and safe, knowing how worried Kevin had been for the past few days. He had pretended like he hadn’t been worried, busy training the men and doing everything to get his mind off the impending war and the men he had sent out back home but he couldn’t hide his emotions from me just as I couldn’t hide mine from him.
Relax, you will fall. You are running too fast.
I snorted at Lucy’s warning. She didn’t just tell me that, knowing how the past few days had been for both me and Kevin.
I could feel her rolling her eyes but she didn’t say anything else. I also wanted to roll my eyes at her but refrained from doing that, realizing that she was only teasing me.
I knew she missed me and was trying to get my attention by teasing me but this wasn’t the time. I hadn’t talked with Lucy in the past few days because I had been worried about Kevin. I knew Lucy knew that too and understood and was only trying to get me to get my mind off the worries I was drowning myself in.
Thank you, Lucy.
I wanted to let her know that I was grateful but now I needed to get to where Kevin was.
I arrived just in time, after the men had just finished bowing to Kevin. He was patting them on the backs and smiling at them when I got there.
“Well done. Thank you for coming back to us safely.” He said to the men.
I smiled, exhaling in relief as I witnessed the first genuine smile I had seen on Kevin’s face in days. He was indeed a great leader and I was proud that he was mine.
“We were able to travel safely because of your prayers and well wishes, my lord.” The men replied.
Kevin chuckled. “Let’s go in.”
All the men including me went inside and gathered around the table where we had had a meeting when we first got here.
“The pack is fine and your father is doing great, my lord. He said you should come back as soon as he can.” The men gave their reports.
Kevin breathed in as if he had just found a new and purer source of oxygen. “I will. I miss father too.”
“We told him that.” The men smiled at him.
Kevin smiled back at them. “Thank you.”
Dad stood up and clapped to get everyone’s attention. “This reunion is beautiful and emotional but don’t you boys think you are stinking the house with all the sweats you’ve gotten since morning? Why don’t we all go to freshen up while I get us something to eat?” He chuckled.
I chuckled. It was just exactly like dad to find an excuse to cook and celebrate almost any occasion.
Damien chuckled. “You should have told us that you were worried about your chairs getting soaked and stinky.” He teased dad.
Dad smiled. “Maybe I am but I am more concerned about your hygiene. Don’t you see that?”
Liam chuckled. “You ruined the beautiful reunion as you called it because of our hygiene when we didn’t even complain to you?”
“What can I say? You all desperately need a bath and a good meal to make this reunion worth it.” Dad said in his defense.
Kevin joined the men in the laughter. “I can’t deny that.”
Dad nodded his head, pleased by Kevin’s words. “Good. See?” He asked, staring at the other men. “You all have thirty minutes to freshen up before food is ready.” He looked at me. “Get yourself tidy as well, daughter. Don’t think about helping me out today.”
I nodded and moved to my bedroom. I had a swift shower and had a towel wrapped around my body as I stepped out of the bathroom. I stilled and turned back immediately when I heard my bedroom door open. I had been eager for the bath that I forgot to lock it and didn’t think anyone would have dared to enter without knocking to ask for my permission.
I relaxed as I turned and realized that it was Kevin. I smiled as I watched him move closer into the room, chuckling at myself for being unnecessarily jumpy. I should have realized that he was the one trying to enter the room. Who could have come in without knocking?
He stilled, his eyes widening as he realized that I wasn’t dressed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you had just come out of the bathroom. Maybe I should come later.”
I chuckled at his hesitation and how shy he was acting. I found him cute. “Sit, Kevin. It’s not like you haven’t seen me naked.”
He blushed. “I thought you would be done with your bath.” He said, sitting on the bed.
“I was.” I said, sitting beside him. He had showered and he smelled really good that I couldn’t help moving closer to him. I felt his warmth and wanted to latch my body to his to get more of that.
Focus, Ella. He didn’t seem to come here to seduce you.
I cleared my throat, ignoring the many seductive thoughts raging in my head as I realized that Lucy was right. He was fully dressed and seemed tensed when I moved closer to him. He was attracted to me and wanted me but he seemed to be here for something other than having me jump his bones.
“Is there a problem, Kevin?” I asked him, breaking the silence and the tense atmosphere though the sexual allure was still in the air.
He swallowed. “I wanted to talk to you before we have to go downstairs to eat.”
I arched my eyebrows at him but didn’t say anything and urged him to continue.
He did. “I felt like there was a strain between us the past few days because of my moods. I wanted to apologize for that and tell you that I didn’t find your company repulsive. I’m sorry for getting too lost in my head and craving more alone time than I should have.”
I wanted to snort but the look on his face was so sincere that I couldn’t do that to him. I smiled and moved forward instead, wrapping my hands around him and loving how my breasts pressed softly against his body.
He pretended not to be affected but I knew he was by how his Adam’s apple began to move up and down as he swallowed rapidly. He might not be here to seduce me but he was here already and nothing stopped me from seducing him.
“It’s okay, Kevin.” I said to him. “I totally understood you and didn’t feel offended. I love how you care about your men.”
“Really?” He asked, shifting a little to stare into my eyes. “You aren’t mad at me for not spending much time with you?”
I kept staring at his face as I smiled and shook my head. “Not at all, Kevin. Is that all?” We still had twenty minutes before going to eat and I knew what I wanted to use the time to do.
He stared into my eyes as if he was trying to convince himself that I was truly cool with him. I smiled as the thoughts in my head kept on growing. There was only one way to convince him that I was truly cool with him.