Chapter twenty-four

Chapter twenty-four - Just another dream

"There's a difference between who we love, who we settle with and who we are meant for."

[K A T O]

I open my eyes to be greeted with complete darkness. My body, wrapped in silk alike sheets, on a perfectly soft mattress. Great, just another nightmare. I rub my eyes and take a few deep breaths as I sat up in the bed. Something feels off.
I'm not sweating, nor my heart is beating like crazy. I'm calm. Weirdly way too calm.
Before I let myself to zoom out, I take one more sharp intake of breath.
That scent.

"Lukas?", I whisper, not a single fiber of my being sure that he might hear me, even more - that he might reply or be near me.

Silence. He's not here? But I can smell him, his scent isn't faded or even close to fading. He's somewhere here. Near.

I tried to calm down, to come up with a logical solution for why am I here and actually where exactly am I.

Just about as I was to call out for him again, this time maybe a little bit louder, a strong arm wrapped around my waist and pulled back on the bed. My body collided with a hard chest. It's warm. Comfy. Inviting. It's... It's Lukas.

I looked up, even in darkness I could see his eyes shining.

"Lukas", I whispered again, this time I wasn't calling for him. I was staring at his face and stating the fact that he's here. I had to say his name out loud, to make sure that he's here, that he won't fade away like he always did in my nightmares.

"Shhh, it's late. You need to rest", his voice was deep and raspy. I must have awakened him. He pulled me closer if that was even possible and closed his eyes.

I placed my hand on his jawline, rather gently.

"I'm real if that's what you're trying to understand. Also, I'm tired, haven't had any sleep for a long time. Can we rest? Please? Just lay in my arms and sleep. You need it as much as I do, if not even more", he took my hand into his and kissed the top of it.

"Are you going to leave? Lukas, about the rejection, I...", I didn't get to finish what I wanted to say, his lips claimed mine, making me shut up instantly. At first, I froze, literally unable to move. It took me a moment to finally answer his kiss. I was kissing him back.
This was nothing as I imagined would feel to kiss him. His kiss wasn't forced or lustful.
It was gentle, slow and loving. I gently bit onto his lower lip and he growled against my lips, soon breaking the kiss.

"Whatever you tried to say - it can wait till tomorrow", Lukas cupped my cheek and looked in my eyes, a slight smile on his lips.
"Next time, when you decide to bite, think twice. Remember that I have a wolf in me and he really, really wants to claim what is his. I might be a hybrid, I might have more control over him than any other werewolf has, but I, the same as he, want you. You're all that has been on my mind, since the day I caught a glimpse of your scent. But now we need to rest", his hands traveled to my waist rather slowly. My mind was way too occupied with his confession so I didn't dare to say anything. The next moment, I was on top of him. How did this happen?
He had a cocky grin on his lips as my body towered over his.

"Tonight you sleep here", he added, still smiling.

"I figured. Now, if you would excuse me, we need to sleep", I tried to tease him by repeating his own words.

"By here, I mean on top of me. Tonight I am your bed", he winked, pecked my lips gently and closed his eyes. "Goodnight, love", he whispered.

Instead of doing as he told and sleeping, I shook my head.
"I thought vampires don't sleep", was my bright remark, to somehow get him to talk.

"They don't. I'm a hybrid, I sleep. It's not a nearly necessary thing, but if I do manage to get proper rest, I'm stronger. Just like you. Now sleep", maybe that's just my imagination, but he did sound almost asleep. This man sure does love to get everything his way.

I tried to roll off of him, but each of my attempts was blocked by his arms, getting wrapped around me tighter and tighter. Just try one more time, I told myself. And I did.

Instead of achieving my goal, he grunted and rolled over himself. Now towering above my body.

"And where do you think you are going, little mate?", He whispered in my ear. I swear it made me feel a shiver traveling all over my body.

"I was trying to do as I've been told to. Getting more comfortable to sleep", I answered, not trusting my voice anymore.

"Oh, I'm deeply offended. You're implying that I am not comfortable enough to sleep on? That's a low blow", he busted out in laughter.

Why does his laugher have to sound so good? Why being around him feel so right? We rejected each other, we shouldn't feel that way. Or should we?

I shook my head.
"This is not how things are supposed to be, right?", I looked away from his face, fearing the answer I might get.

He took a deep breath and placed his fingers on my chin, forcing me to look up in his gorgeous eyes.

"Again thinking about the rejection?", he sighed.

I couldn't force myself to speak so I just nodded my head instead.

"When you rejected me and I accepted it... It's not how it works, alright? I claimed you by choice, back then it wasn't what I wanted. It wasn't what you needed, but Hell, I don't regret it. For us to break the bond, we would need some of the elders to do that. Not yours, but some from my coven. They wouldn't. We take everything about our chosen beloved ones seriously. It's one person. It's never about being mistaken or the wrong time. You would need to prove a lot, to get rid of me", he didn't avert his gaze from my face a single time. He was serious, every word leaving his lips was the truth and nothing less.

"But what if I don't want to?", I suddenly blurted.

His face fell. I could see his heartbreaking, right in front of my eyes.

"No. What if I don't want to end this? What if I want to be with you?", I added, realizing that my previous choice of words has been awful.

With a simple look of adoration in his eyes, all hurt was suddenly gone. He leaned closer and kissed me rather softly. The kiss wasn't long, but it meant so much. For both of us.

"What if I want to be with you?", he suddenly questioned me.
My lips parted, but I didn't say a word, instead, I wrapped my arms around his neck and brought his lips on mine again. That was my answer.

He smiled against my lips and broke the kiss, leaning to my neck, taking in a deep breath.

"Kato Valentino, I love you", he stated, oddly sounding not like himself.

"Lukas?", I whispered.

"Thanatos. The wolf.", he informed me like that was not a big deal. Holy hell, I was talking to his wolf now.

I nudged on his side, making him face me. His eyes were dark, no, they were just black. All over black, not only the pupils. But there were also those little sparkles in them. Like stars. We kept staring at each other for what seemed to be hours.

"You are beautiful", I whispered and finally let my body relax, for the first time in God knows how long, falling asleep and feeling happy. Feeling like I belong here, in his arms.