Page 8 of His Sunshine Baby (The Silver City #2)

I’m just five minutes late, yet I’m nervous as heck… Why did I agree to meet him in such a fancy place? This isn’t like me. I picked a brown dress that can probably get a pass everywhere as I didn’t know what to expect, but now I wonder if I should have picked something fancier. I walk-run into the establishment, hoping he’ll overlook my tardiness. Why am I this nervous? This isn’t even a real date. I quickly mumble something to the waitress about meeting someone there, give Nathaniel’s name, and she gives me a weird look, checking me out from head to toe… What the heck? It’s almost reluctantly that she takes me to his table… and then I realize why. He’s handsome and half the females around keep eye the very handsome guy alone at his table. They were probably all watching to see who he was waiting for. Well, I’m not sorry. I put on my sexiest smile, and gather my self-confidence to walk up to him, getting rid of that waitress with a wave of my hand.

“Nathaniel?”

He was on his phone, but I’m happy to see a relieved look on his face when he sees me.

“Sorry, a guy from my pack caught me near the border,” I explain briefly. “I had to go the long way around. Did you wait long?”

“Not at all, I just got here.”

Oh, thank Moon Goddess… I grab the seat next to him at the table before it gets awkward, and the waitress literally jumps across the room as Nathaniel asks for the menu. I’m going to need some drink to start off with… I glance at him over the menu. We don’t match; he’s wearing a fancy suit that fits this place a lot more. Shit, he noticed my gaze. Play it cool, Elena, at least act the part… Luckily, I’m saved by my cocktail that arrives, and we click glasses to get rid of that awkwardness.

“This one is yours too, I presume?” I glance around the restaurant.

“Yes. How did you know?”

Ah, it matches him perfectly…

“Well, all of the staff is giving you glances every five seconds, and not just the women.”

He chuckles; of course he knows he’s attractive, and probably used to getting this much attention too.

“First, thank you for coming,” he changes the topic. “I just want to discuss the arrangement with you and you’re free to go at the end of the dinner if you don’t like it.”

“Meaning I could also stay.”

“Well, I do own the hotel so…”

I don’t repress a chuckle. At least he’s honest…

“Alright, Mr. Black, let’s discuss then,” I put my glass down. “What are you expecting of me?”

He frowns and grabs his whiskey.

“Well, if we are going to discuss the possibility of a long-term relationship, Miss Whitewood, maybe we need to know each other a bit better?”

Know each other? This isn’t the direction I expected…

“You said long-term relationship, but isn’t it just physical? Why would you need to know me any further than that?”

“If that was the case, I could just pick anyone and not bother with a second or third time. But if this is to happen several times, I would want to know what kind of woman I’m dealing with. I think I have a rough idea of who you are. But that doesn’t tell me why you are so against relationships, for example, or why I would be certain you will never have deeper feelings for me.”

So this is more to double-check…

“You want to know why I can’t fall in love anymore?”

“Well…” he seems hesitant.

“It’s very common,” I shrug. “Heartbreak, and scars that will never heal.”

“Well, I guess everyone has–”

“No, I’m talking about actual scars.”

I’d rather be honest from the get-go if he wants to know this much, and hopefully, he won’t pry too much into my personal matters. I need to set limits right away.

“I really don’t want to get into the details, if you don’t mind.”

“I understand.”

… Does he really? That seemed too easy. I do need to make sure he stays out of my personal business, though.

“I just had a really, really bad experience,” I say. “It was someone who I trusted and he trampled all over my feelings, so I’m resolute not to make the same mistake twice.”

“You intend to remain single?”

“Yes,” I nod. “I don’t want any children for now either, I’m already busy as it is.”

“And what is it that you do then?”

He’s more curious than I thought… I take a couple seconds to think about what he is curious about. Oh, well. It can’t hurt to let him know a little bit more about me, just the basic stuff, especially if we’re going to keep seeing each other.

“I’m a senior, for now, at the Business Management school. I also work as a trainer for my pack and I do odd jobs from time to time… Alright, enough about me, Mr. Black. You are some sort of CEO, right?”

He smiles, as if this was nothing.

“Correct, Miss Whitewood. I represent my brother’s company on several levels, but he lets me handle the parts I love most, so I don’t complain.”

“The restaurant industry, was it?”

“Correct again. I have a thing for cooking, so my favorite aspects of my business are my restaurants. The entire service industry, to be honest. Restaurants, hotels, casinos, resorts, anything related to leisure and entertainment.”

“Sounds like a lot for one person,” I admit.

He definitely sounds like a hard worker, not a guy who just has a job in name only.

“I’m not alone. I’m just busy enough to have the right balance between office paperwork and fieldwork.”

“I would go crazy, locked in an office all day,” I groan.

“Didn’t you say you were in Business Management?”

We probably have very different ideas about what work should be…

“I don’t have plans to work for a company. I want to do my own thing: make enough money to open my own shop, and live a modest life.”

I don’t see myself as some busy CEO… and I’m fine with that. Will he look down on me for that? Well, I’ll see what kind of guy he is. I take a sip of my cocktail to try and stay composed.

“What kind of shop?”

… I’m surprised he’s even asking, but I appreciate it.

“A music café,” I answer honestly. “I’ve always dreamed about it. Somewhere people could come to study, relax, or chat with their friends while enjoying a good homemade coffee and listening to new music from all around the world. I want a corner of the cafe to be set up to sell music from both independent and mainstream artists. I even know what I want it to look like.”

Crap, I ended up chatting a lot about this… I stop myself and grab my glass again. He probably thinks I’m some dreamer…

“That’s one very interesting plan,” he smiles, “and a good one.”

“Don’t you steal it,” I chuckle, a bit flattered.

“I wouldn’t dare to.”

Alright, he is alright so far… and surprisingly amiable. I expected him to be a bit stiff, maybe because of this atmosphere, but he seems relaxed and genuinely listened.

“Shall we have dinner?” he asks.

“Oh. Yes.”

A waiter appears out of nowhere to guide us to an elevator… Why did it have to be an elevator? Now I’m having silly thoughts and thinking about a certain memory… Thank Moon Goddess it doesn’t last long before we step out.

“Your table, madam, sir.”

Wow. Is this a room just for us? So intimate… and stunning. I have to remember to close my mouth as I discover the sun setting on Silver City, the sky in dazzling shades of blue, pink, and orange. Shit, this is beautiful.

“You like it?”

“It’s amazing.”

Damn, he’s good. And I can’t help but lower my guard a bit. He did go all out for this… or is this nothing for him? I try to erase that amazed look off my face and walk to our seats, but the sunset is just amazing. I don’t really care for the waiter, I bet Nathaniel knows the menu by heart anyway. I just grab one, but there’s something odd about it.

“The prices are not on it?”

“Not on yours. It’s a European custom that the person invited to the restaurant should not see how much the host is paying. Especially in this situation, where the man invites the woman.”

A bit sexist, but I do see why they would think of this…

“I like it. I mean, not the man inviting the woman part, but the host’s bill being private. If I’m a guest, I would feel bad ordering a lot or something expensive, but since I have no idea, I can just order anything and you can’t resent me for that.”

He laughs.

“Are you afraid I’ll go bankrupt from treating you once? How much do you eat, exactly?”

“A lot! Daniel says I eat like a baby dinosaur.”

“Daniel?”

“My best friend and roommate. My childhood friend. My best for everything really… What do you recommend? I don’t know half of the things on here.”

He patiently explains it all to me, and I settle for a fish carpaccio to start, while he picks the wine as I’m completely uneducated about it. We go on to chat about my non-existent culinary skills, and I explain my only talent is mixing drinks from my experience as a barmaid a few years ago.

The waiter comes back, and he gives him our orders while I peek at the landscape again. It’s so gorgeous… I need to enjoy, who knows when I can enjoy such a view again? I remember to glance back at Nathaniel, but to my surprise, he’s been staring at me.

“What is it?”

“I was wondering how can I get this beautiful woman to spend some more nights with me.”

Shit. What a flirt… Come on, don’t give in too easily.

“Me coming here doesn’t mean my answer is yes.”

He smiles, and takes his hand off the table. I’m confused for a second as he stays silent, but I suddenly feel his fingers on my leg!

“You—!”

But the waiter comes in at this very moment with our plates, and I have to shut up. He just smiles like a naughty kid while the waiter takes forever introducing our plates, while I glare.

“Do you need anything else?” asks the waiter.

Yes, can he fuck off so I can get mad at Nathaniel?!

“No, we—”

Holy shit, where is he touching! I didn’t realize he was close enough to actually touch my underwear!

“Miss?” the waiter asks, confused.

“Did you want anything else, Elena?”

I glare at Nathaniel.

“No, I’m... I’m good.”

He keeps playing with my underwear, visibly having way too much fun teasing me!

“You can go,” he finally tells the waiter.

“Yes sir. Bon appetit. ”

The waiter leaves, and I grab his wrist.

“ Stop it! ”

He jerks his hand off, visibly surprised. Crap. I really hadn’t planned to show him my ability tonight. Or any other night, for that matter! I just reacted so suddenly I couldn’t control my wolf. As the waiter leaves, I still feel Nate’s stare on me, and I look away.

“Elena?”

He wants an answer, but I don’t know what to say. I sigh.

“Yes, I did mind-link you. Sorry.”

“What are you apologizing for? Rather, I’d like to know how you can do that.”

“I don’t really know. It’s been an ability of mine since I was a kid. I can mind-link any other alpha in Silver City whenever I want, whether they are from my pack or not.”

There, I said it. How will he react? He won’t think I’m a freak, right? I scared a few other people when I was younger and did it unknowingly. I don’t know how I would take it if Nate reacted badly too. But instead, he seems… impressed?

“That’s… rather unique. Is that the only thing, or do you have any other abilities I should know about?”

What does that mean, that he should know about? It’s not like I’m that different. I sigh.

“Not really, other than that, I’m pretty normal. Because of my alpha heritage, I’m strong enough to be a fighter.”

No need for him to know more, right? Why does he care, anyway? It’s not my wolf side he’s interested in. After a few seconds of awkward silence, he suddenly shakes his head, grabbing his fork to start eating. I watch him, a bit surprised.

“I’m not going to insist if you don’t want me to. I understand. Feel free to tell me what you want, but I have no intention to pry into your private life any further.”

“Really?”

I feel relieved, but also, I can’t help but have a hint of doubt. It’s not like this would be the first time someone said they would keep it a secret and didn’t. Did I become too doubtful over time? While I’m still staring at him in disbelief, Nate puts his fork down to look at me very seriously.

“Elena, even with no strings attached, I’m not the kind of asshole that will spread our private affairs around. Whether it’s about you, me, or us, I won’t. You can trust me. And you can even consider me an open ear if you want to talk. If we agree on this relationship, it has to be one where we can trust each other, alright?”

I suddenly feel a wave of relief wash over me. Maybe I was waiting for this. For some sort of comfort. A way to confirm if I could trust him or not. It’s not as if I would believe him with those few words, no matter how sincere they seem, but the fact that he just thought about it is...

Without thinking, I lean over to kiss him, a brief but deep kiss. When I back away, he’s staring at me, half smiling and half confused.

“What was that for, Miss Whitewood?”

I can’t help but smile too.

“A thank-you kiss.”

“Hm... I don’t know what I did right, but I should do it more often.”

And with that, he leans over in my direction to kiss me again. It’s a longer, deeper kiss than before, one that tastes like sweet whiskey. I like it and answer without thinking at all. It’s not an innocent kiss, but a passionate one, and soon enough, I feel his hand on my thigh again. His lips go down to my jaw and my neck as I feel my breathing get a bit more erratic.

“Nate… We’re not...”

I struggle to talk, but he doesn’t care. His fingers are already venturing under my dress, moving to where they previously had been. This time, however, I can tell he’s only teasing me… And it’s a bit frustrating. I’m torn between the fact that we are in a classy restaurant, more or less in public, and the fact that I actually want more. I glare at him, but he still has this innocent smile that doesn’t match his electric blue eyes with a hint of lust in them.

“You still haven’t said yes,” he whispers against my ear.

“No.”

And with that, I gather my rational self and push his hand away, crossing my legs in the most defiant move I can think of. He pouts a bit but doesn’t insist. How surprising, Mr. Black is consistent about obtaining my consent.

I grab a fork and ferociously start eating my starter, while he smiles and takes a sip of that fancy wine he ordered. He is still giving me some glances, but we both start eating in silence, except for a couple of trivial comments about our dishes. I have to admit, it’s very good. I understand the concept of putting quality before quantity, but I do hope my main dish will be a bit bigger. I finish my plate in no time.

“So, what exactly are you looking for?” he asks.

“In what?”

“Having sex with me.”

I almost spit out my wine. Can’t he be a bit less blunt sometimes! I put my glass down.

“You mean, like, conditions?”

He nods and crosses his arms, looking curious.

“I want to know. What is it exactly that you want us to agree on, and what do you need to accept me?”

“I get it! I get it!” I say before he says something embarrassing again. “Alright, we can discuss this.”

I try to gather my thoughts for a moment. Truth is, I came here thinking I wanted to agree to it already. After discussing it with Danny, it became clear. Even if this is going against my pack’s rules, I’m deeply attracted to Nate. Moreover, having a physical relationship with someone from a different clan has its perks: no gossip in the pack, higher chances to keep this private, and no risk of wanting more either. Neither of us could afford that last one.

“First, I don’t want to be at your beck and call only. If I don’t feel like seeing you, I won’t,” I state very bluntly.

“Agreed. I have no intention of insisting if you don’t feel like it. Likewise, I might not be available either. I tend to have long days. Are there any times that wouldn’t be appropriate?”

“In the mornings, I train the young ones from 8 a.m. to noon. And not on Sundays around lunchtime, I eat with Danny’s family or my pack members.”

I don’t mention it, but the training actually doesn’t start until 9 a.m. However, I usually stop by the hospital to see my dad before that, and I don’t want to mention that to Nathaniel. He nods.

“Agreed. For me, Mondays are a no-go: it’s the busiest day of the week. And I usually see my brothers on Sundays as well.”

“Noted.”

“Texting and calls are fine?” he asks.

“I prefer texting. And don’t nag if I don’t answer right away.”

He laughs.

“I might be the one not to reply right away, so no worries.”

“Good. Also, don’t come to my territory again. Where should we meet?”

“I can text you the locations, but mostly in my hotels, so I can control who talks or not.”

I notice he doesn’t mention going to his own place, but don’t say a thing. That is probably not what he wants if he doesn’t mention it. Going to hotels feels a bit cold, but I don’t think I would want to see Nate at my apartment either. Especially if Daniel starts seeing Boyan, that might be super awkward.

“What about protection?” I ask.

He looks a bit surprised, but shrugs.

“I don’t mind using condoms, but I would like it better without.”

“We can get tested. I’m on the pill anyway.”

“Alright.”

Funny he doesn’t seem more curious than that about contraception. But then again, we are both adults, and so far, he didn’t make any mistakes.

“What about other partners?”

This time, I’m a bit surprised. I decide to answer honestly.

“I probably won’t have any if I start seeing you. I have my hands full enough as it is. You?”

I hold my breath, waiting for his answer. Somehow, I know I wouldn’t really appreciate being just a name on a list. Did he ask that to see if he can be with other girls? Isn’t he used to one-time things?

But to my surprise, he smiles faintly.

“Same for me. Actually, I would like it better that way; I’m not a fan of sharing. But if you do end up seeing someone else, I would appreciate it if you’d tell me. I’ll do the same.”

Interesting. Why would we need to inform each other? Oh, probably about the safe sex thing. It would become annoying if we start sleeping around. I just nod. It’s not like I have anything to say about that anyway. I doubt I’ll see anyone else for a while if I’m busy with secret rendezvous with Mr. Black.

“One more thing,” says Nate. “I would appreciate it if we could also share more moments like this from time to time.”

I frown, a bit confused.

“You mean, like, dates?”

“I wouldn’t call it dates. More like dinner between friends, once in a while. I feel like it might get boring to only see each other for sex, and I do appreciate spending time with you so far.”

“You do realize our conversations have been mostly about sex, though?”

“I also learned your best friend’s name, what you do for a living, and your aspirations for the future. I don’t mean to pry, but I would like to have someone to talk to who doesn’t actually work for me or my family.”

I stay silent for a while. I did not expect that. Wouldn’t it become more than just physical, though? What a strange request from him. I think I understand what he means. Not just being sex partners, but sex friends?

The waiter comes back to take our empty plates away, while another one brings in our main dishes half a minute later. My steak looks terribly delicious, but for now, most of my brain is focused on Nate’s request. I take my time to think until the waiters are gone again.

“Alright. Actually, I could use someone to talk to as well. But I’m not coming all this way just to chit-chat, okay?”

He smiles like a Cheshire cat.

“Oh, don’t worry about that. I have no intention to let you go without touching you.”

That pervert. I raise my head and suddenly think about one important thing.

“Then I’ll agree.”

“Really?” he asks, surprised.

“On one condition.”

“What is it?”

“Promise you won’t fall in love with me. And I won’t fall for you either.”

For a second, he looks stunned. He stays speechless for a few seconds, then slowly nods.

“Alright, I promise.”

My heart tightens inexplicably for a second, but I take a deep breath in and answer in my calmest voice.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

“Then, that’s it, right? You accept?”

“Yes.”

He puts his fork down.

“Then I want you. Now.”

After a second of surprise, I gasp. Here, now? Has he gone crazy? But before I can even formulate any word, Nathaniel suddenly grabs my chair to pull me closer to him. We are now dangerously close to each other, his eyes staring right at me with that mischievous look of his. I blush unconsciously.

“We are in public,” I protest again.

“No, we are in a private room.”

With that, his lips suddenly start attacking my neck, deliciously nibbling on my skin and giving me hot chills. I feel his hand back under my skirt, playing with my panties and gently pulling on them. I breathe out and relax a bit, but Nate finds his way back to my lips, and his tongue drives me nuts. Moon Goddess, he is so good at kissing. I’m drowning in this sweetness.

I answer his kiss, the last strings of my willpower snapping. He makes me crazy. I don’t resist it and grab the collar of his shirt, pulling him closer. I feel his smile against my lips. He likes my willfulness, I know it. Nate’s arm grabs my waist, and I move from my chair to his lap. We keep kissing, and it’s more intoxicating than that bottle of expensive Bordeaux wine. It’s addicting. Our lips collide, play, and mess with each other. I want more, like a junkie. His hands caress my skin. One is on my nape, playing with my hair and grabbing it gently between his fingers. The other is stroking my thigh, going back and forth under the fabric of my dress.

Why did I wear a dress in the first place? I had figured I should somewhat make an effort for this and prepared myself a bit more carefully than usual, but I had no idea things would lead to this so quickly. Yet, Nate is caressing every inch of my skin, ignoring my dress to reach for my panties. I gasp when he gets rid of them in one movement. It’s so embarrassing not wearing anything under my dress!

But Nathaniel doesn’t give me a second to think. His kisses are all I can focus on for now. Even so, I don’t want him to be the one leading the whole time. I reach for the buttons of his shirt and swiftly undo them one after the other, despite my trembling fingers. I love his torso. He obviously works out to have such muscles. Moon Goddess, he looks like a model. And it’s all for me to enjoy right now. I caress his chest and pull his shirt until it’s completely off. Finally, I have him half-naked in front of me. Or rather, under me. And I can feel the bulge in his pants, right there. His breathing gets shallower, and our eyes meet. Our flaming desire is palpable. I want him so bad.

After a few seconds, our kissing resumes, even more passionate, harder. It’s like we are hungry for each other’s lips. My hands go down and I undo the button of his pants with shaking hands. Meanwhile, one of Nate’s hands is on my lower back, holding me, but the other one is back on my skin, caressing me. I have a hard time concentrating as his fingers dance against my most intimate part. Where the hell did he learn that? I’m already on edge when I finally release his member from his pants. I breathe in before leaning in for a new kiss, Nathaniel’s lips welcoming mine unconditionally. I hear something tearing, and after a few seconds, he pulls me closer to him. I can’t wait. I gasp and take him in, with a long moan of relief I don’t even try to hold.

Moon Goddess, I missed this. I take a second to adjust, indulging myself in this moment of guilt and delight. He completes me perfectly, so perfectly my own body is trembling in pleasure just from being joined with his. I catch my breath, savor this, and put my arms around his neck. Nate, facing me, groans from it too. His eyes are closed, and like me, he takes his time to enjoy this. I smile and plant a kiss on him while he’s like this. He smiles and gently pulls me toward him for a new, longer kiss.

Like this, he starts moving. His first back and forth took me by surprise, but when he keeps going, I join him, moving my hips to his rhythm. I don’t even need to focus. It comes naturally, the right pace for us. I don’t care about anything else but colliding with him at this moment. This is so crazy and erotic. Riding Nate on a chair, in a restaurant. I must be insane. But Moon Goddess, I don’t care. All I can think of is this chemistry between us, the tension of his body fiercely stirring mine, the flow of his thrusts inside me. I pant and breathe hard. The sound of our flesh pounding against each other, his breathing against my ear, my own moans. This melody is so obscene, yet so satisfying. I don’t control my voice anymore. I can’t think straight, not with Nate doing what he is doing to me.

It gets more savage, with both his hands on my hips, guiding me, and the two of us moving faster and harder. I’m panting, lost in a whirlwind of sensations.

“Elena.”

Hearing my name from his lips is so unbelievably erotic right now. But he repeats it again and again and again. As his moves get more erratic, unpredictable, and deep, I cry out, unable to hold it. I feel it coming. I hold on to his shoulders, and a couple of thrusts later, a mind-blowing orgasm finally unleashes.

“Hngggh!”

I’m still trembling when I hear Nate groan too, his whole body frozen with pleasure. In this moment where fire meets ice, my mind is totally empty. I’m numb. The fire dies out, while we both slowly regain our senses. I rest my head on his shoulder, still catching my breath. He puts gentle kisses on my neck and caresses my hair.

“You okay?” he whispers against my ear.

“Hmm...”

That’s all I can formulate at the moment. Moon Goddess, I could have some of that anytime. I sigh and raise my head to face Nate. He smiles, with that impossibly sweet look. It’s a bit strange that instead of feeling awkward, this all feels so tender. He gently pulls me in for a new kiss. When we separate, he chuckles. I frown.

“What is it?”

“Just… Gotcha, Miss Whitewood.”

That satisfied expression of his is a bit annoying! But I only roll my eyes, since I’m smiling too. I kiss him, biting his lip a little to be playful. He doesn’t even complain and gets back at me with a little slap on my butt.

“Alright, now we should get back to our meal. We have to feed the baby dinosaur.”

“Moon Goddess, my steak!”

I totally forgot about it! I get off Nate’s lap to look at my plate as if it could have vanished in the meantime. Of course, it’s still there, and looking as appetizing as ten minutes ago. Next to me, Nate bursts out in laughter.

“Elena, you look like you haven’t eaten meat in ages!”

“Hey, try living with someone who’s nearly a vegetarian, and then we’ll talk.”

“A vegetarian? Seriously?” he asks while picking his shirt up off the floor.

“Yeah, Danny is the kind of weirdo that only eats meat once a week, and I can’t cook. But he does some really good veggie stuff.”

I put my panties back on, and we get back to our seats. Nate leaves his shirt open, though, and I don’t know if he did it on purpose, but it’s hard to concentrate.

“Well, it’s a trend these days, but I do know of a few vegetarian dishes that are indeed quite good.”

“I would still like to eat red meat more than once a week,” I sigh.

Especially if it’s as good as this steak! It’s melting in my mouth, along with the perfect red wine sauce. Gosh. For a while, we eat and chat idly, just like friends would. When the waiter comes back to pour us more wine, I feel a bit ashamed and wonder if he has any idea. I mean, Nate doesn’t seem embarrassed by his messy appearance at all. Are they just pretending not to see? When he leaves, Nate wipes his mouth and looks at me with a smile.

“What?”

“Nothing. I’m just… satisfied over winning this.”

I scoff.

“You aren’t the only winner. It’s a win-win situation.”

“Obviously.”

There he goes again with his Cheshire cat smile. I finish the last delicious piece of steak while we playfully sneak glances at each other.

“ Hey babe, how is it going? ”

“ Great. I officially have a sex friend and I’m literally having the best dinner in town. How’s yours? ”

“ This date is a dream, babe. He took me to the movies. The movies! I mean, I don’t really care for The Lion King , but I like being able to cuddle in the dark. ”

“ Bobo deserves a top score. ”

“ Oh girl, I’m gonna give it to him as soon as we get home. Any sex on your menu? ”

“ You bet. ”

“ Atta girl! I want a full report first thing tomorrow. ”

“ Danny! ”

“ No buts. I get the apartment, you get to stay out. Have fun- but safe- sex! ”

I mentally roll my eyes at Danny. I’m glad he is finally having fun. I don’t have enough fingers to count how many heartbreaks he’s gone through. Sometimes over innocent crushes, sometimes over real relationships he had poured all his trust into. That Bobo guy had better take care of him or, Blood Moon Beta or not, I’ll cut him.

“Elena?”

Absorbed with mind-linking my best friend, I didn’t hear Nate’s question.

“Sorry, you were saying?”

“I was wondering if you wanted some cheese?”

I shake my head. I’ve never been into dairy products that much; the only time I get cheese is on pasta or pizza.

“No, thanks.”

He gives me a smile, and I detect a hint of lust behind it.

“Then, wanna get some dessert upstairs?”

I step out of the shower, letting the steam relax me. Goodness, that was great… again. I wrap myself in the bathrobe and walk out of the bathroom.

“Nate?”

I find him waving at me from the balcony, and I join him. He stares at my legs and wet hair, but I don’t say anything, and instead, grab one of the two beers on the table.

“I didn’t know you were the kind of man to drink cheap beer,” I say while sitting on one of the lounge chairs.

“I wasn’t always rich, you know,” he smiles, “and I like a cold beer after a hot shower.”

So do I! I open it and take a sip, glancing at the view. This is amazing… The moon is beautiful tonight too.

“Why would a she-wolf wear a sun pendant?”

I turn to Nate, his eyes on my necklace.

“It’s a memento from my birth parents.”

“Birth parents?”

“Yes, I was actually adopted.”

He’s probably surprised, but politely makes sure not to show it.

“Do you know what happened?”

“I wish,” I shake my head, “but there’s this big mystery around my adoption that no one in my clan is willing to talk about. I’ve been searching for answers, but I haven’t found any.”

He comes to sit on the chair next to mine, grabs the second beer, and takes a sip too.

“I could look into it if you want. I have contacts at the police-”

“No!”

My sudden yell startled him, and I realize I overreacted a second too late… He stares, confused, while I try to regain my composure.

“No, I appreciate it, but I don’t want you to look into my past. Please?”

I really don’t want Nathaniel to look into my police file. If he found out what’s in there… I don’t need him judging me for my past too. I have no idea how he’d react. He hesitates for a few seconds before he finally answers.

“Understood. I won’t.”

… Does he mean that? I shouldn’t have overreacted, I’m such an idiot!

“Sorry I yelled,” I mumble.

“No, that’s okay. There are things about me that I wouldn’t want to be made public either.”

We stay silent for a few minutes, in a bit of an awkward atmosphere. I hate it… I take out my phone and play some calm music. It’s better than this awkward tension between us…

“I’ve always hated silence,” I admit.

“Why?”

“I don’t know. Whenever it goes quiet, I have this feeling of fear that overwhelms me. As a kid, I needed a lullaby to fall asleep. Even now, the first thing I do if I’m alone is turn on the radio. At night, if the house is too quiet, I put my headphones on and listen to something like this. I even love the sound of the rain… You’re not into music?”

“Not really. Our mother loved a few old classics, but that’s it. I let other people handle what we play in the clubs or the restaurants. It’s not that I don’t like it, I just don’t have much taste. The only time I don’t listen to the news is when I work out; I just play random playlists instead.”

I wonder what his mom was like… Seems like her influence played a huge role in Nate’s character today.

“That’s good,” I say. “I get to choose the music then.”

“Whatever you want,” he chuckles. “You can educate my poor ears.”

“Challenge accepted!”

“And I can teach you how to cook.”

“Hell no,” I frown. “I don’t like cooking. I’m so bad at it, it’s dangerous. I’m only allowed to use the microwave!”

He laughs, and we keep chatting and drinking our beers in a lighter mood. After a while of giving him funny recollections of my epic failures, we naturally cease talking and watch the moon together. I start feeling sleepy, but I don’t fight it.