Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
ARABELLA
“Fucking hell.”
Amun’s reaction to my outfit had me thrilled that I’d chosen to wear my favorite pair of jeans I’d packed.
I had brought mostly casual clothes, but the sheer blouse I wore with just a bralette underneath was both sexy and still comfortable.
The shoes I had chosen were really what was making me feel the most confident as I walked out of the bedroom after having blow-dried my hair and put on some light makeup.
I mean, we were going to Love’s house, and the man seemed rather stylish, so I needed to feel one hundred percent my best.
“Do you like it?” I motioned and showed off the diamond-covered stilettos he had suggested I buy at the store. I could see the tormented expression on his face, and instead of feeling bad about it, it made me happy. Like really fucking happy. Was that bad?
I didn’t think so, considering I couldn’t walk past him without him tugging my waist so I was partly straddling him, my knee on one side of his hip. His hands ran up my jeans to my waist as he looked over me, a rumble from his throat making my skin break out into a shiver.
“I think you should wear a sweater…and maybe sweatpants. Maybe a hat also, your hair is far too beautiful.” He met my gaze, his eyes narrowed at the amusement there. “I am so glad I scented you now, but you need more.”
“More?” I questioned.
“More of me on you,” he growled, causing my nipples to pebble through my shirt.
“I don’t mind the idea of that,” I said as imagery of him standing over me while stroking himself until I was covered in his…
And I needed to stop myself.
“We should first get you into more covered clothes then,” he rumbled, instantly switching back into broody and grumpy mode.
I was unable to contain the laugh that bubbled out of me. “Nope. I am not changing how I dress, Amun.”
“You could be cold,” he pointed out.
“Perfectly warm. Plus, if I do get cold, I can snuggle up next to you,” I said cheerily, tapping his nose. He let out a groan and leaned forward, pressing his forehead to my stomach before surging up and standing, lifting me off my feet.
I didn’t bother asking what he was doing as he carried me back towards the bedroom and sat me down on the edge of the bed, going through his bag quietly as I watched with interest. I found myself fascinated as he pulled something in a dark case out from his bag.
“What is that?” I asked curiously as he seemed to offer me an almost cautious look.
“I don’t know if this is a good idea, you may not like it…” he breathed out, his accented words making me smile.
“Amun, relax.”
“The team who captured me found some of my belongings that I’d taken from my tomb before bringing me back to the institute.
I hadn’t brought a lot out when I was traveling because I was more focused on feeding,” he explained, “but the Director did have them deliver my belongings to my room, making me realize that one of the things I’d brought with me was of relative importance.
Specifically, a piece of jewelry… But it isn’t a normal piece.
This piece is spelled and essentially tied to my magic, which is why I have kept it close to me for so long. ”
“Spelled for what?” I tilted my head curiously.
“To meld into your skin and never come off. It was given to me from our priestess when I was a young king, to give as a present to the woman of my interest…serious interest. I think humans call them engagement rings now.”
Oh, man.
You see what I mean? What did I do with this man?
I blinked and couldn’t help the way my heart squeezed, because he legitimately looked so nervous and I wanted to reach out and touch him.
Instead, I waited, and my eyes widened as he opened up the black case.
Inside was a truly gorgeous bracelet, the thin metal created a half-moon circle, covered in delicate diamonds. I swallowed as he met my gaze.
“I want you to wear it, precious.”
“You want me to wear the equivalent of an engagement ring?”
Pink tinted his cheeks, causing me to soften more as I stepped into him. I reached a hand up to his jaw so that I could make sure he knew the vulnerability he was expressing was perfectly okay. “I just want to make sure I am understanding.”
“Yes,” he said hopefully and pressed his forehead to mine, seeming to find it easier to talk when we were this close. “You’re my precious treasure, so I want you to wear something to symbolize that.”
This bastard was going to make me cry. Oh my god, what the heck was wrong with me? I nodded, unable to speak, and offered him my wrist.
Amun seemed to breathe out a sigh of relief as he slid it up my hand and around my wrist, a surge of magic going through me before it tightened, melting onto my wrist with a tingling sensation.
I smiled at it, and when I looked up, Amun was staring at me with so much emotion it knocked the wind out of me.
“I never thought I would find someone I wanted to give this to,” he murmured and then kissed my forehead. “Thank you, precious.”
I savored the intimate moment and took a second to appreciate our unique relationship.
Each of my nightmares and I had a special relationship, but Amun was a whirlwind of emotions all at once.
The nightmare made me feel cherished and protected.
He came from an older time where there was no dating, there was just a commitment to a relationship that you weren’t positive would be successful or not.
He truly felt as strongly as he was expressing, and I could feel myself falling hard for the man.
There were things we still needed to talk about, things I needed to learn more about regarding him, and probably some things I needed to explain to him about the modern world…but I knew we would have time for that. I just had to trust my instinct.
Suddenly, a presence at the door had me turning my head to find Damian standing there, watching the two of us with interest.
“Hate to break up the lovefest,” he sighed, trying to look disinterested but failing as his gaze moved to wrist, “but Love sent men to fetch us. Apparently we need to go. Now.”
Oh goodie.
As I walked back into the main part of the RV, Damian intertwined our fingers and looked over the mark on my wrist fully, offering a small, almost wounded noise as Amun went past. I stopped Damian and put my hand on his chest, his tail flicking up and wrapping around my waist. I tried to suppress the shiver that went through me at that action.
“What’s wrong?” I asked knowingly. Damian wasn’t one to hold back how he felt.
“Everyone is marking you,” he said, eyeing the rest of the men, who stood outside the RV. “Even Razar marked you when he bit you.”
Was he right? Has everyone marked me in some way? I suppose Razar, Saint, Cy, Amun, and Blackwell had, but not Zain or Damian. Man, these were relationship problems I had no idea how to handle.
I leaned into Damian and offered him a serious expression. “Don’t mention that to Razar, he will just get more upset.” I sighed and shook my head. “He doesn’t want to mark me.”
Damian barked out a sad laugh. “That is not the case. He very much wants that, he just has way too many problems for a nightmare that’s had the blessing of being in your life since you were children.”
I smiled softly at his words and considered my response to what he had said before.
“I would love for you to mark me,” I said honestly.
“I love having all of your marks on me… I have no idea what I am really doing, Damian, I sort of am just going with what feels right at the time. We all have different and special relationships, and I don’t want to rush anything if the other person isn’t ready.
I really don’t want to mess this up, so if you’re upset, I want to fix it. ”
Damian blinked, and in a fast movement, he had me lifted up and pulled against his chest, his warm hug making me melt into him as his arms tightened around me.
I had no idea what it was about the man, but he always gave literally the best hugs.
I also hadn’t expected this as his response, but I wouldn’t complain at all.
“I can wait until the moment is right,” he murmured, setting me down and offering a small, sweet smile I rarely saw. “I’ve never done this either.”
This was the part of Damian I had been reaching for this entire time, and I felt so good that he was finally opening up to me.
The realization came to me that he was saying he hadn’t dated anyone before.
I had never questioned my boys’ previous experience, because honestly, they had never talked to any other women at the institute and that had been enough for me.
But hearing him say it? It brought me so much pleasure it was almost overwhelming.
“No ex-girlfriends I gotta worry about?” I teased.
“Definitely not.” He flashed a smile and then grew more serious. “I was always trying to avoid my father more than anything else, so I didn’t have time for friends or dating. Honestly, I’m just glad the bastard hasn’t shown up trying to bring me back.”
My brow crumpled. “I wouldn’t let him.”
His chuckle was soft. “He couldn’t take me away from you, cherry blossom.”
I nibbled my lip and tilted my head. “You never talk about back home.”
Damian’s eyes turned into a metallic gold as he spoke honestly. “That’s because it isn’t home. Home is with you, Arabella.”
I had never related to a statement so much. These men were my home. I loved the institute, and I loved my father, but these men were a special part of my life that was possibly my entire future. Hopefully was my entire future.
“We need to go,” a deep voice called out, startling me. I looked towards Blackwell, who looked completely put together. I had no idea how the man managed to go from this to something so much more feral.
Was it wrong that I absolutely longed to mess him up? I wanted him to lose it a bit.
Or a lot.