11. Chapter 10
Chapter 10
Alex
I pull Elena close, relishing the warmth of her body against mine. We found two robes in the bathroom, more comfortable than the suit I’d worn to dinner.
She flips through a book about Sitka spruce. She stops to look at some passages and then flips pages to find others. I relish the simplicity of it all.
“Wouldn’t you be more comfortable in your larger suite?” she asks nonchalantly.
I shake my head, smiling. “I’m happier here than anywhere since leaving Alaska.”
She looks up at me, her icy blue eyes searching mine. “I’ll go with you to your room.”
Gently, I tug her chin so she’s facing me directly. I need her to see the sincerity in my eyes.
“Our future isn’t going to be all about you changing to fit into my life,” I say. “We’ll find our way together.”
She leans into my touch, a small smile playing on her lips. In this moment, the years apart melt away. It’s just us, Alex and Elena, two souls bound by love.
“Together,” she echoes, her voice a whisper.
I nod, pulling her closer. “No matter what, we’ll move forward as one.”
She rests her head on my chest, and I stroke her silky hair. The book lies forgotten on her lap as we bask in the simple joy of being in each other’s arms.
For the first time in years, I’m at peace. The emptiness that haunted me in Seattle is gone, replaced by a sense of wholeness of having Elena by my side.
My stomach rumbles loudly, echoing in the cozy confines of Elena’s cabin. She looks up at me, a playful smile dancing on her lips.
“Hungry, are we?” she teases, her own stomach growling in response.
I chuckle, realizing that in the whirlwind of emotions and revelations, neither of us had eaten dinner. “When was the last time you ate?” I ask.
Elena furrows her brow, thinking. “I can’t really remember. Everything’s been so…” She looks thoughtful, searching for the right word.
I nod. Letting her off the hook because I’m not sure I have the words to describe what’s happened since I saw her waiting to be seated at the restaurant. “Same here. How about we order some food? You choose.”
She raises an eyebrow, surprised. “You sure?”
“Your room. Your choice.” I say, squeezing her hand.
Her smile softens, and she reaches for the phone. “How do steaks sound? A hearty meal might be just what we need.”
“Perfect,” I agree, my mouth watering at the thought of a juicy steak.
As Elena places the order, I lean back on the couch, marveling at the easy intimacy between us. Despite the years apart, being with her is as natural as breathing.
She hangs up and nestles back into my arms. “They’ll be here in about thirty minutes. Let’s make ourselves presentable for a dinner at the table.” She bats my hand away as she walks towards the closet.
“Presentable means you expect me to put that monkey suit on again?” I grumble.
“You can leave off the jacket,” she says.
“Such concessions,” I grumble but without malice. And she knows it because she giggles. How I’ve missed the sound? I didn’t even realize I missed it until this moment. Living alone isn’t natural for a Kodiak Bear. I thought I’d come to terms with it, accepted it was my price to pay. But one evening shattered all of the walls I built. I can’t return to Seattle to live alone in a big house.
I’m working on the buttons when she walks out of her closet. She’s wearing a pair of dark jeans and a simple sweater. She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. My hands stop.
“Do you need help with that?” She smiles as her hands reach for the buttons on my shirt. She starts to button them slowly.
I close my larger hand over hers. “If you keep doing that, we’re not going to be presentable when the food arrives.”
“Why not?” She looks up with a look so innocent, I almost think she missed my meaning. Then her lips curve into a smile. There is a light knock on the door. “Saved by the knock?” she says with a shrug.
She walks to the door. Her face falls. I move to get a better look.
“Your order,” Cassandra says without any hint of warmth.
“What—“ Elena starts.
“You’re working for the cruise line?” I interrupt.
“Yes,” Cassandra says careful to square her shoulders and hold her chin high.
“Since when?”
“Since the Pack learned you’d be on this cruise.” Cassandra looks me straight in the eye.
“You knew we’d be on this cruise?” Elena asked.
“Not you,” Cassandra sneers. “Alex. We’ve kept tabs on him in Seattle hoping he’d return to Alaska—“
“Cassandra,” Elena squares her shoulders and steps in front of Cassandra, blocking her view of me. “I’ll always respect the Archipelago Pack. I even respect that the Pack may think you are the best choice for Alex’s mate. However, the Pack doesn’t get to decide mates. Fate does. And so while I wish you all the best in finding your mate, I am going to tell you without hesitation, You. Can’t. Have. Mine.” She slams the door in Cassandra’s face.
I stare at Elena, my mouth agape. In all the years I’ve known her, I’ve never seen her show such fierce ownership of what she wanted. Even when Gregor sent her away from the Pack, she accepted it with grace and politeness that made my jaw clench because I wanted to fight on her behalf.
But now, as she stands before me, her eyes blazing with a fire I’ve never seen before, I feel a twinge of uncertainty. Does she really need me anymore if she can fight for herself?
As if reading my thoughts, Elena whirls on me, her gaze piercing through me. “Whatever thought just went through your head better never come back again. Because I never want to see that look on your face again. Understood?”
I nod, swallowing hard. The intensity in her voice leaves no room for argument.
“Now,” she continues, her tone softening, “I’ve decided I’d rather not have steaks in the room, so you’re taking me to dinner.”
I blink, surprised by the sudden change in her demeanor. But as I look into her eyes, she has the same fierceness I fell for all those years ago.
“Of course,” I say, offering her my arm. “Lead the way.”
“No. You’re leading the way. You’re taking me to dinner,” she repeats with a hint of exasperation.
She takes my arm, and together we walk out of the room, leaving behind the remnants of our interrupted evening. As we make our way down the hallway, I marvel at the woman holding my arm.
She’s changed so much since we last saw each other, she’s a force to be reckoned with. But beneath it all, she’s still Elena, the one I fell in love with. The woman who captured my heart with her kindness, her passion, and her unwavering spirit.
As the elevator doors close, trapping us in our own little world, I can’t resist any longer. I press Elena against the wall, her body molding against mine. Our lips meet in a passionate kiss, our pent-up desire for each other igniting like a firestorm. Her arms wrap around my neck, fingers tangling in my hair as she pulls me even closer. The taste of her lips is sweet and familiar yet with a hint of something new. Our tongues dance together, exploring each other’s mouths as if we’ve been apart for decades instead of just a few years.
I deepen the kiss, my tongue seeking hers out in a dance we know by heart. Her moan spurs me on, and I grind my hips against hers, feeling her heat through our clothes. The passion between us is intense. I can’t get enough.
We separate as the bell dings to tell us the elevator doors will open. As I thread my fingers into hers, I vow I won’t let her go again. She is my soulmate, my everything, and I won’t risk losing her again.
My bear stirs below the surface. Confirming his agreement. Elena is the missing piece of my soul. I’ll do anything to keep her by my side forever. I’m a bear, and I’ll protect what’s mine. No matter the cost.