Vivianna
Tav had asked that I hang out in my room till he came to give me the all-clear on Rik’s date plans. He also handed me a book and said it was from Rik to keep me entertained. When I looked at the book, I burst out laughing, getting a strange look from Tav.
“Did you read the title of this book?” I asked, holding it up for him.
Tav scanned the cover, and his eyes widened. “Did Rik just give you classical erotica to read?”
“Well, it’s one way to start a date, that’s for sure. Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure.” I started laughing again, shaking my head. “I have to hand it to him, that was unexpected and oddly romantic.”
“I’m glad to see that you guys are bonding over books… even if they are odd choices,” Tav said, grinning at me.
“I told him earlier that I didn’t read much for fun, but if I did, I wanted a steamy romance. Looks like this will fit the bill,” I said, flipping through the pages. “Oh my god, it even comes with pictures!”
“I’ll leave you to it then. Don’t get so worked up you can’t eat. He put a lot of hard work into this,” Tav said, giving me a wink as he left the room.
I jumped on the bed, excited to read my trashy novel and wait for my sexy date to start.
I got pulled out of the book a half hour later when Tav peeked his head in, giving me the all-clear.
As I headed out the room, I gave Tav a peck on the lips, loving that the guys were helping Rik out with this and letting us have some alone time.
I didn’t know how I was going to manage all of them, making sure they got what they needed from me, but it seemed it might not be as hard as I thought.
Hate to break it to you, but it’s only been twenty-four hours. Let’s wait to pass judgment until they haven’t just had sex and see how things go.
Why so cynical? You wanted this more than I did.
I’m a realist. These guys will have a scuffle or two, but it’s how they handle it that will be the tell-all.
I rolled my eyes at her and shook off that worry for another time. I was going on a date with my sexy mountain man who smelled like a forest showered in moonlight. When I walked downstairs, I noticed all the lights were out, and a faint glow came from the living room.
Rik walked into the kitchen, making my mouth water with how delicious he looked.
His hair was swept back out of his face, but in a more finger-raked look rather than plastered down on his head.
Surprisingly, Rik had on black rectangle-framed glasses that I never knew he wore or needed.
I let my eyes wander down his body, taking in the dark emerald-green V-neck that was tight enough for me to count each and every one of his abs.
Then there were his dark-wash jeans that hugged his ass and muscular thighs to perfection.
He smiled down at me with a knowing glint in his eyes, holding out an arm. “If I might have the pleasure of escorting you, milady.”
I beamed at him, feeling butterflies fluttering around in my stomach.
I hadn’t felt this excited or nervous for a date in an extremely long time.
I slipped my arm through his and placed my other on his bulging biceps so I could cop a feel.
When I looked away from him and took in the living room, I gasped, looking from the sight in front of me and then back up at him.
“You did all this?” I asked, amazed.
Laid out before me was a checkered tablecloth with a picnic basket in the middle. Scattered all around the room, providing the only light, were candles flickering in a mesmerizing dance. Beside the basket, I saw a bottle of wine and two glasses with a bouquet of wildflowers from the garden.
“Do you like it? I wanted us to go on a real picnic, but Darius wouldn’t hear of it,” Rik said as he helped me sit on the cloth.
“Rik, this is amazing. No one has ever done something so romantic for me. I couldn’t think of a better idea for a date,” I said as he settled next to me.
He started to open the wine while he nodded for me to open the basket. “Go ahead, take a peek.”
I pulled out a bowl of Caprese salad, fresh fruit, and a container full of tiny sandwiches that my nose told me were smoked salmon, cucumber, and cream cheese.
As I set everything out, I couldn’t get over the time it must’ve taken for him to do all this.
He had even cut the crust off the sandwiches to make them look fancy.
Rik handed me a glass of white wine, and I tentatively took it from him, glancing at the half-full glass, then back to him.
“I know you’re still learning to like wine, so I thought white wine would be a good place to start. And it pairs with the food selections,” Rik answered.
I sipped the wine and was surprised at how light and crisp it was. I loved the smooth citrusy taste, and I did enjoy it much more than the red wine from the other night.
“This is beyond perfect, Rik. Thank you.” I leaned in and placed a lingering kiss on his wine-flavored lips.
He returned my kiss, sliding one of his hands into my hair, holding me steady.
The feel of his powerful hands made me shiver in anticipation of what was to come.
I pulled back, not wanting to miss out on this moment between us by hurrying things along.
I grabbed a strawberry and popped it into my mouth and noticed Rik watching my lips.
I smirked at him when he noticed I caught him in the act, and he took another sip of his wine.
“Tell me more about your life back home,” I said, picking up a tiny sandwich.
Rik leaned back on his arms as he sighed.
“I have to admit, compared to what’s been going on, it’s very boring.
I prefer to lead my pack a little more hands-on than most. I walk the pack areas every day and meet with anyone that needs to talk to me.
I like to handle matters right away before they can build and fester. It makes the community stronger.”
I nodded my head, totally seeing Rik wandering his mountain village, kissing babies, playing with toddlers, and bringing about world peace before lunch.
“Most of the other alphas tell me I’m more wolf than man, but they don’t live in the harsh climates that we do up in the mountains.
Our pack shifts to wolf skin more than any I’ve heard of, but it keeps us from going stir-crazy.
We run as a pack every full moon, but we also hunt regularly that way.
It makes our pack a close-knit unit. I know that mountain range like the back of my hand.
I grew up there and hardly ever leave it,” Rik said with a faraway look in his eyes.
“If you mate with me, who will take over the pack?” I asked, chewing on my bottom lip, feeling that guilty twinge.
“I don’t agree with Darius. I don’t see why being your mate keeps me from still being alpha of my pack.
I understand breaking with The Collective leadership would be too much of a conflict because of how Kursar follows the old ways, but my pack is mine, not The Collective’s.
” Rik reached out and tugged a hand out of my lap.
“Don’t lose the stubborn, sassy attitude on me now—I’ve kinda grown to like it. ”
I couldn’t help but laugh at that. Rik was no fool, and if he told me that I had nothing to worry about, then I would trust him.
Seeing my mood lift, Rik reached into the basket and pulled out another small plate, this one containing chocolate-covered strawberries.
He picked one up and lifted it to his mouth, but just when he was going to take a bite, I lunged at him, knocking the death trap out of his hand.
“What the hell?” Rik asked as I knocked over his wine, spilling it all over his pants.
“Don’t eat chocolate, it could kill you! What were you thinking? Don’t you know chocolate is extremely harmful to canines?” I snapped.
Rik’s face was a mask of shock at my tirade. Then he burst out laughing, a loud, deep, belly laugh, tears seeping out of the corners of his eyes. I blinked at him, confused at his response to my worry.
“Who told you that you couldn’t have chocolate?” Rik finally managed to compose himself enough to ask.
“My wolf…” I said.
“Well I think she might have been playing a trick on you, because we werewolves have no problem eating chocolate. I love a good cup of hot chocolate during the winter, never had any trouble from it,” Rik said, still chuckling to himself.
I narrowed my eyes, frowning as I turned my attention inward. Care to explain yourself?
Right… well… my bad!
So I just attacked Rik for no reason? Drenched him in what I can only guess is super fancy wine because you decided to MESS WITH ME?!
At the time, I needed you mad, and it worked. I was going to tell you, but I just forgot. Things have been a little crazy around here lately.
That is so not cool!
I focused back on Rik, who was now eating his chocolate-covered strawberry with a twinkle in his eyes.
I wanted to smack it out of his hand again, but when he finished his, he held one up for me to bite into.
I gave him a warning look not to try anything funny as I leaned in and ate the strawberry whole.
Rik’s eyes went wide, and I winked at him as I hummed with the pleasure of eating chocolate.
We finished off the strawberries in no time, and after two glasses of wine, I felt it was time to move on to the real dessert.
I crawled up to Rik, seeing hunger flickering to life in his gaze.
I sat myself on his lap, my legs wrapping around his waist, and kissed the skin showing in the V of his shirt.
His hand came around to cradle my ass, sliding me tightly up against him.
I could feel him growing hard against me as I continued to kiss up his neck and nibble on his ear.
“Viv,” Rik warned.
“Yes, Rik?” I whispered into his ear.
Rik growled and grabbed my hair, pulling my head back enough so he could capture my lips.
The kisses this afternoon had been sweet and sensual, but the wolf side of Rik was primal in his quest on my mouth.
I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, letting my nails dig into his back.
This seemed to encourage Rik’s wolf, as a low rumble sounded from deep in his chest. His hand still in my hair, Rik turned my head to the side so he could gain access to my neck.
As my head was stretched back as far as it could go, my gaze looked out at the large picture window.
It took a moment for my sexed-up brain to register what I was looking at, but when I finally clicked, I screamed.
Staring in through the window was none other than Vadik.