Chapter 15 Simmer Until Ready
Chapter fifteen
Simmer Until Ready
Demetrius
The crow’s nest was specifically built not only to watch over the two main studio rooms, but also to establish the leader of the company from a symbolic point.
I stood in the crow’s nest, looking down at the dancers rehearsing in the two studios below.
In the first studio, the principals were practicing the Act Two adagio for the latest production.
It was going fine, but it certainly didn’t hold my attention.
That was because in the next studio, Isaac was rehearsing with Ivy and Preston.
I only saw little glimpses of this piece in between my work, but what I’d seen so far was exquisite.
Apart from being our scent-match, Ivy was a gifted dancer, and none of our relationships could have given her the talent and skillset she'd developed through her years of training.
Isaac was having them try a new lift—a press lift above Preston’s head held up with one hand on Ivy’s back. The movement made a nice line with Ivy’s leg wrapped around Preston’s arm. I could get lost just watching them work together, but a sharp slam of my door pulled my attention.
“Demetrius, this recast is completely unfair,” Adrienne shouted as she barged into my office. “I was promised a first cast performance this season, and now I’m stuck with a second-rate partner. Give me Preston back, please.”
I sat down and leaned back in my chair as I listened to Adrienne complain. “I’ve never promised anyone anything concerning casting, and you know that. I’m doing what’s best for the whole company here, including Preston and Ivy.”
“Look, Max is a fine dancer, and in any other circumstance, I’d say, great, let’s dance together. But I need a better partner than him for our first production.”
“You’re being dramatic, Adrienne, and I’m not recasting Preston to dance with you.
He’ll never be paired with you again, and I hope you can understand why.
” I’d grown used to Adrienne’s whining; it was part of my job to soothe her ego, but something about her complaint today was really getting under my skin.
She was trying to disrupt my pack harmony, and I wouldn’t have it.
“It’s because of little Miss Omega, isn’t it? He can’t even stand to touch me anymore?” she scoffed, swatting her hands around in disbelief.
“No, he can’t touch you. It’s too much strain on the pack unity, which is fragile and growing right now,” I replied with a scowl, standing up from my chair. It greatly irked me that she referred to Ivy like that.
Adrienne walked around my desk and reached for my hand, but I pulled away quickly. “I don’t want to touch you either. I’m also her packmate in case you’d forgotten.”
“Oh my god, that little twat has you all wrapped around her…”
“Adrienne!” I shouted as a surge of anger hit me. Taking a deep breath, I refocused myself and calmed down. “I strongly suggest you don’t continue to speak ill of my mate.”
Her eyes grew wide as she shook her head, backing away toward the door. “She’ll ruin this company. She’s turning all of you into lovesick fools. You’ll see—this bond will destroy everything this company’s built.”
I shook my head with a smile. “Actually, I believe she’s going to save it.” I gestured to the door. “You may go now, your complaints have been heard.”
As soon as she left my office, I sat down at my desk, frustration rising in my chest. Adrienne had to go after this season. I wouldn’t allow anyone to speak ill of my mate.
My mate.
Ivy was my mate, I thought again, letting the words sink in. A soft purr rolled through my chest as that thought continued to comfort me.
***
Ivy
I was both mentally and physically tired by the end of Friday. I knew my eyes were going to lock shut on me soon. Lukas and I were snuggled together in Demetrius’s office as Preston and Isaac relaxed nearby—all of us waiting for Demetrius to finish for the day.
“What are you eating for dinner?” Preston asked me. He’d officially taken over coordinating my meals, which I secretly loved.
“I don’t know, maybe I’ll order a pizza?” I shrugged, trying not to smile. I knew he wouldn’t like that answer.
His eyes lit on fire, cranking up his intensity. “Absolutely not, I’ll cook for you…I mean, unless you want a pizza, it’s your choice…” he said, pulling back his intensity. I softly laughed at him, watching him take the bait. He was too easy to trick sometimes.
“What are you going to cook, and where? I’ve only got one pan at my apartment.” I smiled as I casually bumped into Lukas.
“Sounds like Ivy just invited us to her place after we’re done here,” Isaac said, straightening up from his lean against the wall.
“I heard that too,” Demetrius chimed in, closing his laptop and smiling at me. “Everyone ready?”
“Just waiting on you, boss,” Lukas added. “I’m excited to see Ivy’s place more!”
I sat stunned on the couch before slowly shaking my head as laughter poured out of me. I guess we were hanging out at my place tonight.
“I can run to the store and get some ingredients. How big is your pan?” Preston asked, helping me up off the couch.
I made a big circle with my arms before shrugging with laughter.
“Oh geez, what else do you have at your place?” he asked, pulling out his phone to start a list.
I tried to picture what was in my apartment. “Maybe some salt? You’ve been making so many meals for me. I don’t have a lot for dinner.”
“Buy everything…got it.” Preston put his phone away, and we all made our way out of the office and over to my apartment.
Once we arrived at my place, Preston separated from us for a bit before returning with a few bags of groceries. I tried to help put everything away for him, but he insisted on doing it all himself.
Meanwhile, Lukas and Isaac were helping themselves to a tour of my apartment. It was just a single bedroom layout with temporary furniture, but they loved looking through the few knick-knacks I had out on display. Off by the kitchen, Demetrius and I settled down at the small table to relax.
“I want to thank you for doing such a great job at that fundraiser yesterday,” Demetrius said as he gently caressed my hand.
“You’re welcome, but I didn’t do much,” I replied. The touch of his hand elicited a raw hunger in me. I felt this pull to be with him more and more every day, every touch he gave me ignited something fierce deep within my core.
“Your presence alone sparked a few conversations. We might be able to hire an Executive Director, which will be extremely helpful with the financial and fundraising aspects.”
I cradled Dem’s hand in celebration. “That’s awesome! You did that, not me!”
Our eyes locked together, and I could feel this simmering passion in Demetrius coming closer and closer to the surface.
We just needed the right time together. For a split second, I wondered what it would be like to be held down by his hands, lying underneath him.
I wasn’t even surprised by how much I wanted it.
“Ivy, do you have an apron? I’m cooking with grease, and I don’t want my clothes ruined,” Preston shouted over the sizzle of the frying pan.
Demetrius sat back and returned to his usual restrained self. Moment lost.
I looked over to Preston, thinking through what I owned. “Actually, yes, I do.”
Disappearing into the bedroom, I pulled out my traveling chest and fished out this sexy, black apron with red ruffles along the side. I was sure it’d get the job done.
I rushed back to the kitchen, now with Lukas and Isaac curiously following me.
“Here you go,” I said as I handed the apron to Preston. He grabbed it absentmindedly for a second before giving it a closer look.
“What the hell is this?” Preston asked, holding up the sexy apron.
I shrugged with a smile. “That's all I have.”
He locked eyes with me, forcing that small inhale I always got from his intensity.
“I’ll wear this tonight, but you have to promise to wear it for me soon—naked.” Preston wickedly smiled at me as he pulled the apron over his head.
A shiver of excitement ran down my spine as I felt a burst of perfume come off my skin. Lukas and Isaac didn’t even bother holding back anymore—they were immediately surrounding me with kisses to my neck, as Preston shook his head, grinning.
I looked over to Demetrius. His eyes were burning as he stared at me; simmering passion written all over him now. My breathing grew heavier just imagining being with him again. I wanted him badly, and I knew I needed him to feel complete.
A loud humming noise blared from the kitchen as Preston flicked on the ventilator above the stove.
“Calm down, everyone!” He yelled at us. We all separated, laughing as plates of chicken cutlets, baked potatoes, and a salad were brought over to my small kitchen table.
After a delicious dinner, Isaac navigated me to my living room, where he questioned my collection of pillows and blankets in front of the TV.
“I don’t know, it just felt right.” I shrugged as I sat down on the floor and snuggled into a few blankets.
“This is called nesting, Ivy, and it’s your omega instincts kicking in and preparing you for a heat.” He gestured to all my blankets. “Now I’m going to let my instincts kick in.”
My eyes grew wide. Which instincts would those be?
“Not those, you dirty girl…these…” Isaac dropped down on top of my blankets and pillows and rubbed his neck all over them.
“Are you scent-marking my stuff?” I asked, throwing a pillow at him.
“Good, give me that pillow too!” He grabbed it out of the air and proceeded to rub his neck on it as well.
Preston and Lukas joined in too, and after a brief round of wrestling with the pillows, we all relaxed into the pile of blankets, with Demetrius settling down comfortably on the couch behind us. The evening concluded with us all watching TV until we each drifted off to sleep in my pile of blankets.
***