Chapter 14
Lucie wrapped a large, gray, fluffy towel around her body. The towels had a fresh, sweet smell to them, with a hint of lavender. She took a few steps toward the door when she felt a hair-raising sensation.
There are things in life that bother everyone.
And while she had no problem gutting her enemies and mowing down the masses, there was one thing that terrified her.
In fact, her brother always teased her about it.
It was a big weakness, and embarrassing for a werewolf.
But she was still human, and she couldn’t help her fears.
She felt an all-too-familiar feeling of something crawling on her shoulder and then down her arm.
Turning her head, she verified her suspicion.
A large black jumping spider was now staring directly at her.
She let out a high-pitched yelp as she batted the spider away, only to panic even more as it leaped away from her hand and she lost sight of him.
She was a goner. The spider was an assassin, and she’d just lost its location.
But she knew the spider knew where she was and was planning to leap at her at any moment.
Panic set in as her heart raced. This was it. This would be how she died.
The door crashed open and Ryan came storming into the bathroom. On second thought, this was how she would die. From pure and utter humiliation. But first things first. The assassin.
“Lucie, are you alright?!” Ryan asked in a panicked voice.
“Is it on me? Is it on me? I lost it! It was here and it’s gone. It’s on me, isn’t it? Get it! Get it, get it!” She squeezed her eyes shut. Because obviously, if her eyes were closed, the spider couldn’t see her either, right?
“Lucie, calm down. There’s nothing on you. What is it? I don’t see anything?”
“Check my hair. Are you sure?” She could just envision the little ninja hiding and waiting to strike, since that was obviously the only reason for the existence of spiders. To attack with its deadly assassin stealth.
Two strong hands landed on her shoulders, and she opened her eyes, only to find his amber gaze already on her, full of concern.
“Lucie, there’s nothing on you, I promise. Unless you’d like for me to check under the towel.” A smile pulled at the corners of his lips as he tilted his head at her.
Now she was back to the real reason she would die.
She bit her bottom lip and glanced around the room, deciding it would be better to escape.
She quickly took a few quick steps to reach the bedroom where she could examine herself safely.
Her wounds pinched a bit from the excitement, but it wasn’t anything major.
Looking up, she saw Ryan leaning against the door frame.
“So, you want to tell me what happened?” He assessed the damage he’d done to the door.
It would need to be rehinged but was salvageable.
He was just wondering what warranted a scream from her.
Maybe it was a fairy he couldn’t see? Though he couldn’t imagine her being so panicked about that.
He saw her cheeks heat up and she turned away from him.
Now that made him want to take a bite out of her for being adorable.
“You’ll laugh at me,” Lucie said with a small pout.
Ryan’s eyes glinted with humor. This side of her was too cute. He wanted to scoop her up and pull her into his chest. “I’d like to know the reason I’m going to have to fix my bathroom door.”
“That’s because you knocked it down,” Lucie said simply, still refusing to make eye contact.
Ryan chuckled lowly. “And I wonder why that is. It couldn’t be because of the screech my mate made and the sound of her racing heart.”
“You heard my heart racing from out here?” Lucie turned to face him.
Ryan tilted his head to the side as he thought about it. “It was more like I could feel it …” He tapped his own chest. “In here. I could feel your distress in here.”
“But we haven’t even marked each other. And even then, something like that—”
“Is rare,” Ryan said simply, keeping his gaze on her. “This is something that’s only common for soulmates in my kind.”
“My kind too. My grandparents are the only soulmates that we even know of, and before them … not sure. It’s that rare. That can’t be what this is,” Lucie said in a whisper.
“Then how could I see your dream earlier?” Ryan asked pointedly.
Oh gosh, her dream from earlier. For a brief moment, she’d forgotten about that embarrassment.
Man, she was racking them up today. Then she felt something tickle her leg.
She knew it! The assassin had latched onto her, preparing to kill her.
She jumped and spun as she looked down. A small yelp escaped her as she looked for the culprit.
“Lucie.” Ryan wrapped her into his arms. “Hey, calm down. What’s going on?”
Lucie looked down at her legs as she felt the strange tickle again and noticed a tiny string from the towel brushing against her leg. She sighed in relief and leaned into Ryan’s chest. She didn’t mean to, but she was just so relieved. And then she immediately felt ridiculous.
“Could you please not look at me while I find a place to crawl under and hide?” Lucie mumbled into Ryan’s chest.
“What is going on? Is there something in here? You need to talk to me.” Ryan felt panicked. There was something attacking Lucie that he couldn’t see. But whether he could see it or not, he would protect her. She just needed to tell him what he needed to do.
“Ugh … this is so embarrassing, but, ummm … there was a black jumping spider on me in the bathroom, and I felt something just now, but it was a string on the towel.” Lucie felt her face heat up as she kept herself hidden against his chest. She didn’t dare look at him while she spoke.
“So, this was over a spider?” She felt his muscles relax as he sighed in relief, his tension easing as he pulled her in even closer. Then she could feel the soft vibrations underneath her that sent sweet sparks through her body, little vibrations that turned into loud, rolling laughs.
Ryan leaned his head down onto hers while he continued to laugh. “Thank goodness. I was getting worried.”
“Sorry you broke your bathroom door for that.” Her voice was quiet, mouse-like.
She knew her face fully revealed her embarrassment in an evil crimson color, so she kept her head buried in his chest. She wasn’t just embarrassed about the spider now, but she was becoming more and more aware of only being covered in a towel.
“Don’t worry about the door.” Ryan smiled and sifted his hand through her damp hair. “My sweet Lucie.”
“It’s embarrassing, isn’t it? For me to be afraid of spiders.”
Ryan smiled. “No. It makes perfect sense, actually.”
That was a weird response. She pulled back and looked up at him. “What do you mean?”
Ryan met with her green emeralds and raised his hand up to gently cup her cheek. “I want to talk to you, Lucie … about us.”
She looked down at herself and scrunched up her nose. “Perhaps this talk should happen AFTER I have clothes on.”
He chuckled. “I guess. Though afterward we may end up taking them back off again.” He winked at her and grinned widely. “There are clothes for you right there, on the stand. There isn’t a bathroom door for privacy, but I promise I won’t peek.”
Lucie backed away from his warm arms, which dropped slowly from her sides.
He wanted to continue holding her just like she wanted to continue being held.
Her eyes met with his, the longing evident in his darkened eyes.
She watched as his eyes trailed down her body.
A loud sigh escaped his mouth, and he turned his head away.
“You better get those clothes on quickly.” Ryan growled lowly, shooting her a sideways glance. His look carried a promise of what was about to happen soon if she didn’t.
Lucie grabbed the shirt and flicked a glance at him.
He was still looking the other way. She quickly pulled the large t-shirt over her head and let her towel drop to the floor.
She could see Ryan’s body stiffen at the sound of the towel hitting the ground, and she couldn’t help the small smile that rested on her lips from that.
She quickly pulled the shorts up and straightened herself out.
“There, done,” she said, looking herself over. She was wearing a pair of girl shorts which she guessed were Tonya’s, but the shirt was a man’s t-shirt. She tilted her head and looked up as Ryan turned around. “Why the guy shirt?”
“Because … that is my favorite t-shirt. And it belongs on my favorite person.” His lips curved upward, quite satisfied with the way it looked on her.
“Plus, it sends a hidden message, right?” Lucie raised her brows at him as he grinned widely.
“That shirt is mine, and so is the wearer.” Ryan shrugged. “You look better in it than I do.”
Lucie smiled sadly. She wanted to belong to him … but it was time she told Ryan plainly.
“Ryan, I’d like to say something,” Lucie said quietly.
Ryan took a step toward her. “I need to tell you something too.”
Lucie held her hand up to stop him from advancing. “Wait. Please, let me go first.”
Ryan sighed with a small frown. “I really think me going first would be better.” He looked into her almost pleading eyes. “Alright, gorgeous, the floor is yours.”
She played with her fingers nervously and took in a deep breath.
“Ryan, you seem like a great guy. Honestly, I really like you, and that isn’t just the mate pull talking.
But … this isn’t just about me. This is bigger.
And I’m not the only one going through this.
Derrick also has to give up his fated mate.
This is Derrick’s sacrifice as much as it is mine.
And I’m sure I’m not the person he would have chosen for himself.
Even so, I’m sure we can come to an agreement.
Derrick and I just need to have a good talk about our expectations and how to make this work.
But I believe he’s a good guy … no, I know he is.
And I won’t betray him. I’m sorry, Ryan.
I know you’ve been waiting for your fated mate, and I’m so sorry it ended up being me.
But look at me as if I’m already taken, please.
Our species deserve for this to work. It can’t just be about me and what I want. ”
“What do you want?” Ryan’s eyes fixed on her.
“That doesn’t matter.”
“No, Lucie. I’m asking you. If this treaty didn’t exist. If you didn’t have any obligations but to yourself … what would you want?”
Lucie shook her head and frowned. “Why? Why even bring that up? What does it matter?”
“It matters to me, Lucie. I need to hear it. I need to hear for once how you really feel. It’s important to me.”
“If I had a choice …” She looked into his sweet, amber eyes.
She knew exactly what she would choose. “I would choose you.” She watched a smile spread across his lips as he took a few steps toward her.
“But I don’t have a choice.” She raised her hand up to stop him from advancing, but he didn’t.
He stepped into her outstretched hand and pressed into her touch.
“Lucie, I also choose you. Here, now and forever. You’re the one I choose. I want you, and not because of the mate pull. I’m choosing you on my own. You’re my partner. The only reason my heart is beating.” His intense gaze captured hers. “The thing is—”
Loud thudding echoed on the bedroom door, causing Lucie to jump backward. Ryan clicked his tongue, growling lowly. He then stormed over to the door and whipped it open. “WHAT?!”
Zach jumped back from Ryan’s tone. “Umm, they’re back.” He looked over his shoulder and then turned back to Ryan.
Ryan shook his head back and forth angrily. “Of course they’re back now.” He looked back at Lucie. He gave her a small smile and shifted into a calmer tone for her. “Wait here. I’ll be back.”
Lucie shook her head and walked toward the door. “No, I’m coming too.”
“I won’t be long.”
“Yeah, but umm …” She looked toward the bathroom door where the slayer was still lurking in wait. She looked back at Ryan and licked her lips nervously. She didn’t want to say why she didn’t want to stay, but he caught on quickly. He let out a low chuckle and scooped her up into his chest.
“Actually, this is better anyway,” he said as he cradled her against him.
“Ryan, I can walk. The wounds are healing.”
“You CAN walk, yes. But I don’t want you walking around with those wounds.” He smiled and turned back to the door where Zach was holding it open for them. “Let’s see what they know.”