Chapter 26
Those words are probablythe sweetest that have ever passed her lips.
It’s a heady feeling to know she trusts me enough to let me take her out of the walls of the academy and back into the city. To the one place that scared her into seclusion. How she is now is a far cry from the little human I met the first time. And while she’s trying to stay strong, she can’t hide the quaking tremors wracking her body as I pull her into my arms to teleport out of here. She clutches to me for dear life, but she has nothing to worry about.
I won’t let anything happen to her. Not again.
Before she can blink, the library disappears, depositing us on downtown Main Street. Not much further away from the very mall where she was assaulted. My stomach clenches as a wave of nausea threatens to overwhelm me, but I close my eyes and breathe deeply until the feeling recedes after a few moments. Bailey stiffens in my arms, clinging to me like she’s afraid I’ll dump her here and run away. Not in this lifetime or the next, goddess. I don’t plan on ever leaving her again. I meant that when I told her just a few moments ago. Whether she wants me or not, I’ll never abandon her to this unsure life she lives now.
I want to be the one constant. The one she can always rely on.
Okay, fine. I can share that duty with Axel. But that’s as far as I draw the line. At least right now. There’s no doubt in my mind that she has more than just me and the douchebag professor. But she doesn’t need them. Not yet, anyway.
Growing up, my parents told me that mates come at the right time. When they’re needed the most. Which leads me to believe why I was the one there at her awakening. So it’s telling that more will most likely pop when they’re needed.
Not that I’m all too happy with it. Especially if she decides to give the asshole a chance. But he won’t get anywhere near her until all of her mates have decided that he’s worked hard enough to win back what he lost.
But I digress. This isn’t about her future mates or assholes in her life. This is about my goddess and helping her overcome what happened.
My hands make what I hope are soothing strokes up and down her back, trying to show her that I’m here. That she’s not alone.
The longer she clings to me, the more I start to think that I made a mistake. That I shouldn’t have brought her here. I could have taken her to my home—not my room at the academy—but I didn’t want her to think I expected something from her. Us taking that step will come in due time. She’ll have to accept me first, though. In no way will I push for what she’s not ready for.
All in due time, as my mom used to say.
”Luka,” she grumbles, clutching to me tighter. ”I don”t know if I”m ready for this. Maybe we should head back. Please.”
Fuck. It”s the please at the end that really makes me want to take her back. But she needs this. She can”t live in fear for the rest of her life. Not everyone is like what she”s experienced so far.
”I thought you said you trusted me.” I know it”s fucked up to lay it on her like that, but she hasn”t even given it a chance. Hell, the only thing she”s seen is my shirt.
”Fine,” she says with a sigh, but yet, she doesn”t budge.
It”s looking more and more like I”ll have to force her to put one foot in front of the other. I don”t know any other way of doing this. It”s not like a little sweet-talking will help.
Been there. Done that.
With a tighter grip than necessary on her shoulders, I push her away at arm’s length, even though I’d rather tug her in closer. Tears well up in her beautiful eyes, and her bottom lip quivers, making me feel like the biggest asshole in the world.
“Goddess, I want you to use that imagination of yours and pretend like this is the first time you’ve ever been to the city. It’s me and you, and we’re exploring it together. Think of it like a vacation to somewhere new. Can you do that for me?”
Indecision wars in her eyes, but oh so slowly, the shakes start to subside. Her breathing evens out, and like the goddess I know she is, she stands a little taller. A little braver.
Fuck. It’s a glorious thing to watch Bailey work to overcome her fears.
“I can do it. Just…” she nibbles her bottom lip, her eyes darting around every time a loud noise erupts from nearby, “don’t leave me. I…I don’t care if you have to follow me to the bathroom.” She shudders, that bravery there a minute ago starting to dissipate.
“Nope.” I cup her cheeks, trying to infuse every protective instinct I have into her. “Don’t do that. Don’t let that win. You came out of that relatively unscathed, and you’ll go back to the academy tonight safe and sound. I’ll make sure of it. Deal?”
She slowly nods her head, and a lock of hair falls in front of her face. I tuck it behind her ear, trailing my fingers across her delicate cheek. Unable to help myself, I lean in and steal another kiss. Another mind-blowing kiss that only further cements the fact that she’s my soulmate. My other half. I feel so much lighter now that I’ve told her; I don’t feel like I have a massive secret weighing me down.
Bailey makes the sweetest sigh when our lips brush, and I just want to bottle it up and keep that sound forever. But if I play my cards right and she accepts what we are, I’ll get to hear it for the rest of my life. And I can’t wait.
My arm finds its place on her shoulder, and I guide her out of the small alleyway we landed in, right into the heart of the city. Passersby ignore us, going on about their own business. It’s just a little bubble Bailey and I are living in; no reason for anyone to pay much attention to anything we’re doing. Granted I catch a few people staring, but that’s only because of what I am. Being the only demigod to live in this area, it seems people think they have the right to gawk. But I brush them all off, keeping my eyes on my mate. My beautiful goddess.
“You’re doing amazing, you know that?” I murmur, leaning down to kiss her crown. “What do you want to do first? Are you hungry? You should be since it looks like you need a good ten cheeseburgers before a stiff wind blows you over.”
My words earn a laugh, another sound I want to keep for myself.
Bailey smacks my chest, her cheeks glowing a rosy hue. “Yeah, yeah. I know. Just,” she pauses to look up at me as I navigate us around other people meandering the sidewalks, “please don’t ask questions. I’ve been avoiding Thaddy because of it.”
Thaddy?
My brow raises as I peer down at her, chuckling as her cheeks turn even darker.
“Thaddeus. Professor Winterton. Whatever.” She waves her hand, seeming to brush off her last comment. The nickname she has for her professor.
Is it possible she’s found another mate and just doesn’t know it? Looks like I’ll be looking into a Mr. Winterton when we part ways. Let’s just hope this one is better than the last professor. Or he’ll receive the same treatment as the other.
“So prey tell, goddess. Why would you be avoiding Thaddy,” I coo his name, “because you need a few cheeseburgers?”
“Dammit, Luka. I just said don’t ask.” She shakes her head, but there’s no hiding the smile on her face.
“Fine,” I grumble, not happy she won’t tell me, but I’ll get it out of her. Eventually. “So, gorge ourselves on cheeseburgers first, or do you want to do a little shopping?”
“Hmm…” Bailey taps her fingers to her chin, looking around at everything nearby. The longer we’re here, the more comfortable she seems to be getting, which means we’re on the right track to getting her out of those walls. “Shopping?” She peers up at me with those big, beautiful pink eyes, and there’s no way I can say no to her. Even if I loathe the idea of it.
But it’s for her. And I’d do anything for her.
“Anything you want.” She grins, one that’s even bigger than any others I’ve seen today. “So… where to?”
“What about there?” She points across the street, and I follow the direction, tripping over my own damn feet when I realize where she wants to shop.
Aly’s Lace. The freaking ultra posh lingerie store.
Bailey giggles, dancing away from me so I don’t take her down, too. “Kidding, kidding.” Her hands go up in placation as she shakes her head.
If she thinks I’m not holding her to this shopping trip, she’s dead fucking wrong. I’d have to be stupid to let an opportunity like this pass by.
“Oh no, goddess. There’s no getting out of it.” Her eyes widen, then she oomphs as I throw her over my shoulder, smacking that pert ass of hers before checking traffic and making my way over to the store.
“I was kidding, Luka!” Bailey squeals, little fists of fury pounding into my back.
“I’m not. You want pretty panties, we’ll get you pretty panties.” I say the words much louder than necessary, knowing those around us hear every word.
My goddess groans, her little arms attempting to wrap around my waist from behind. They don’t reach across my abs all the way, and it”s really telling how much smaller than me she is.
Cool air wafts from the AC unit above our heads as we slip inside, greeted by thousands of lacy underthings. I bite my free fist with only one thought in mind. I want to see Bailey in every single one of them. It does make me wonder if she’d be opposed to trying some of these on for me. Probably. But a demi can hope.
I lift my goddess from my shoulder, slowly lowering her feet to the floor, letting her body slide down mine. My cock starts to harden at the feel of her lithe frame against mine, and she shivers in my arms as goosebumps prickle her skin from our close proximity. It’s amazing to know she’s just as affected by me as I am of her.
My hands land on her shoulders and I spin her around, letting her see exactly what I did when we walked in. Her breath catches, and I’m sure if I was looking down at her, I’d see that pretty blush overtaking her cheeks again.
“After you.” I swat her ass again, getting her going.
She grumbles something that sounds suspiciously like pushy demigod under her breath, but she starts moving regardless, her fingers trailing over the delicate lace garments on the racks.
There’s no denying that Bailey is stunning. Every beautiful item in this store pales in comparison to her. And it’s not like she needs any of these things to be sexy. She could make me hard wearing nothing but a potato sack. Even better, though, would be her wearing something of mine. I’ll have to remember to bring her a hoodie since she loves them so much or even a T-shirt she can sleep in at night. Something to embed my scent into her skin.
I stay back, keeping my distance while she peruses, not wanting to overwhelm her with my presence while shopping for something so intimate. Every few minutes, she stops and holds up something before putting it back while bypassing other tables that don’t draw her attention.
The pile in my arms grows immensely larger the longer we’re here, and I’m just waiting for her to turn around and see what I’ve done. Everything she’s touched has made its way into my hands, the need to spoil my mate overriding every other sense.
“Is there something I can help you with?” an obnoxious voice calls before she comes around one of the racks, stopping Bailey in her tracks.
“Oh. No, thank you. I’m just looking around. I’ve never been in here before.” Bailey’s words are light, sweet even, tinged with a little awe.
“Well, listen here, missy. This isn’t somewh?—”
This bitch.
I clear my throat, fusing my front to Bailey’s back as I wrap an arm around her chest, pulling her into me. The lady’s eyes widen comically huge, and her pissy frown morphs into a large cat-like grin when she sees the pile in my other hand.
“Oh, Mr. Luka. How wonderful it is to see you!” Sure it is. What a fucking cunt. “If you’d like, I can take those up to the register while you finish shopping, or I can grab one of the personal shoppers to help.” She beams up at me like me stepping foot in the store is the greatest thing to ever happen.
“Take wha—” Bailey trails off before she snaps her head up to look at me with her brows in her hair. “Luka. What’s all this?”
I grin down at her. “Everything you’ve touched, goddess.” Did I puff out my chest in pride? You can bet your sweet ass I did.
“Lu, you don’t… I mean… I don’t…” She”s so goddamn adorable when she’s flustered.
“We’ll take these.” The scowl the sales lady was just aiming at Bailey disappears in a blink, and I’m tempted to toss the things on the floor and walk out of here. It’s these pretentious types that really piss me off. And she’s nothing but a lowly witch anyway. If she had any idea who was in front of her—and I don’t mean me—she’d be on her knees begging for forgiveness for her shitty fucking demeanor.
“Are you sure these are the right size?” The bitch looks Bailey up and down, wrinkling her nose. “They look a little small for her size.”
Is this bitch for real?
“Excuse—”
“It’s okay, Lu. I got this.” Bailey places her hand on my chest, staring up at me as a small smirk tilts her lips. She winks before looking back at the sales bitch. “You know what? You’re right.” What? “They aren’t the right size. I actually need one size down. There’s no problem replacing all of those with the right size, right?”
“No problem at all. Let me just go grab one of our sh?—”
Bailey raises a hand, cutting her off. “You,” she emphasizes the word, “have no problem doing that for us, right?”
The sales lady sputters but finally relents, going on her way to replace the at least twenty-five pairs of panties I’d picked up.
“What are you doing, goddess?”
She snickers as she glances up at me. “You’ll see.”
Well, now I’m intrigued to see what she has up her sleeve.
Fifteen minutes later, the harried saleswoman comes back, every single pair replaced with a smaller size. The smile she gives us doesn’t reach her eyes, but there’s no mistaking the money signs I see there. That pile of lace alone is at least a grand’s worth, and she’d make one hell of a commission on them.
“Okay, Mr. Luka. All replaced with the correct size. Right this way, and I’ll get you rung up.” She motions toward the cashier’s desk, but neither Bailey or I make a move to follow her.
“You know what? I think I changed my mind.” Bailey wrinkles her nose as she spies the panties. “There are better places to buy from. Thanks anyway.” She turns on her heels and heads toward the door, leaving a gaping, fuming saleswoman behind her.
“Is that bit?—”
“I wouldn’t finish that sentence if I were you,” I growl, taking a menacing step in her direction. She shrinks back, her knees shaking in fear.
“Are you coming, babe?” My head snaps around at Bailey’s silky tone, the sound going straight to my groin.
“Not yet, but I plan to later.” I wink, making my way toward her. “Such a little minx,” I murmur down to her, wrapping my arm around her shoulder and guiding her outside.
Bailey giggles, the sound more carefree than I’ve heard all day. But then she stops the second the door closes behind us, and she looks back, lifting her hand and flipping the fuming sales lady the bird. I crack up, unable to stop myself. That was just freaking priceless.
“I don’t want that stuff anyway. Not from someone like that. I swear she’s a kunt with a capital K.” She slaps her hand over her mouth, staring up at me with wide eyes like she can’t believe she just said that out loud.
”Definitely a kunt with a capital K,” I snicker, so damn proud of my mate for standing up for herself when someone less than her was looking down on her. “So… food?”
“Gods, yes. I’m starving.” Her stomach grumbles, seemingly in agreement.
“I’ve got something you can eat.”
“Lu!” She smacks my chest again, giggling as she flushes in embarrassment. “Not what I meant.”
“Then what did you mean?” I raise a brow, a smirk on my face.
“Cheeseburgers.”
Fuck yes. Cheeseburgers I can do.