CHAPTER 19: Date 2...

Randol
I've made all the preparations for my date with Celeste. I'm back in my room getting ready for a shower, but my mind is racing. I know she went out with Ajax today, and the very thought makes my skin crawl. I try not to think about it, but the image of him touching her keeps running through my mind. It makes me want to rip his throat out. Okay, Randol, calm down. You have to focus on your own time with her. You have to make it a night she won't forget. I have to pick her up in an hour, so I need to get ready.
Once I finish, I head to Celeste's room. My heart is racing and palms are sweating. I feel like a high school kid. I finally knock on the door and wait. When Celeste finally opens the door, I think my brain stopped working. My eyes went wide, and I couldn't even produce sound, let alone words. I had told her to dress like she would for a nice dinner date back home. She was standing in front of me with a tight black dress on that came just above the knee. It had long sleeves and a deep V - neck. She is breathtaking. If this is what comes together for a last - minute date, I can't wait to see her for a special occasion. Like our wedding.
"I'm sorry. Do I look weird?" Her voice snaps me out of my state of stupor.
"God, no! You look gorgeous. I was just speechless. I've honestly never been speechless before. I almost didn't recognize it." She giggles as I attempt to cover for my pitiful reaction.
"I just have to put my shoes on." She turns to walk over to the bed, and my heart starts beating so fast, I thought it would explode. There was an open back on her dress that ended at the lowest part of her lower back. "Okay, let's go!"
"Uh, yeah. Let's go."
I can hear Kai whining. "Mine," he cried over and over. "Randol, she's our mate!"
"I hear you, Kai! Just keep quiet and let me work!" This woman makes me crazy.
"Where are we going?" She links her arm through mine as she asks.
"The basement."
"Um, why?"
"Hahah. Don't panic. It's a real date. I promise. I have already introduced you to Kai, so now it's time to introduce you to the second most important thing in my life."
"And what would that be?"
"Well, I guess you'll just have to wait and see." I smile my best smile at her.
She looks at me with suspicion but she keeps walking. "All right, I guess I'll have to trust you."
"I'll try not to disappoint you." I lead her down to the basement but stop her just at the bottom of the stairs. "I need you to close your eyes. I'll guide you." I hold my hand out to her, and she takes it while closing her eyes. I lead her down the hall and come to a stop in front of the night's entertainment, "Okay. Open them."
"Oh my god, Randol! What is all this? It's beautiful." She smiles and looks around in awe. Mission accomplished. She looks happy. That's enough for me. I have candles, a nice table setting, and chilled wine set out. The lights are low and now? With a click of a button, soft music. "Whoa, and it just gets better. Thank you, this is wonderful."
"Oh, this is just the beginning. The reason we are in the downstairs kitchen is because they don't use it for the meals upstairs. Cooking is a huge part of my life and something of a passion for me. I want to let you experience that side of me." Her smile seems so bright, it drowns out the candles. "Okay, sit down there, and I'll pour you some wine to enjoy while you watch the master work."
"Hahah, there's that nonexistent modesty again."
"Well, while you're over there drinking wine, I'll be over here making dinner, so just sit back and relax. I thought we could play a little game while I cook too."
"Are you sure that's safe? If you get distracted and cut off a finger, Kai may never forgive me."
"Hahah, not to worry. It's an easy game. Besides, if I do, I have the world's best surgeon with me."
She chuckles as a slight blush comes to her cheeks. "I don't know about world's best, but I can probably handle a finger. So what game are we playing?"
"Twenty questions, and we each only get one pass, so choose wisely."
"Oh, very cryptic."
"Yep. I'm a man of mystery. You start the game and I'll start dinner." She laughs and the conversation begins. She watches intently as I move about the kitchen. We talk and laugh, as the game began with basic "get to know you" questions. Favorite food? First kiss? Most embarrassing moment? The fun stuff. Somewhere around question fifteen, dinner is done. I made vegetable quinoa, sautéed spinach, and pan - seared tuna. I take a seat next to her and place two plates down. "Here you go, Princess. Dinner is served."
"I can't believe you just made all this for me. It smells amazing."
"I really hope you like it." She smiles at me then cuts a piece of tuna with her fork. When she puts it in her mouth, her eyes close as she chews.
"Randol, this is off - the - charts good. Okay, question fifteen, where did you go to culinary school?"
I breathe a sigh of relief and smile back at her. "Actually, I didn't go to college. I'm completely self - taught. I was never very book smart, but cooking? I was always good at cooking. I had a passion for it. I can't offer you much in the way of intellect, but passion, I'm full of."
She starts shaking her head and puts down her fork to look at me. "Number one, there is nothing sexier than a man who can cook. Nothing. Number two, I don't know how you can say that. You have opened six successful restaurants. That is a huge feat. Did you know that most restaurants don't even make it three years? You have surpassed that mark on most of yours already, because you have ridiculous talent, you have a knack for connecting with people, and you have great business sense. You know, for such a cocky guy, you sure do sell yourself short."
Joy instantly wells up inside of me. I take her hand and kiss the back of it. "Thank you, Celeste. That means the world to me." She smiles and nods at me. "So question sixteen, do you want to get married and have kids?"
"Of course. If I'm being honest, I thought I would already have a family by now. How about you?"
"I am absolutely ready for a family. That's why I've worked so hard on my little restaurant empire. I wanted to be completely set for taking care of a family."
"Way to think ahead. Question seventeen, would you ever be able to move away from New York?"
"That depends."
"On?"
"My mate. If I find my mate and she doesn't live in New York, and she doesn't want to, then I have no choice but to move. I can run my restaurants remotely and fly back when needed."
"That's a pretty big sacrifice on your part."
"That's all just money, stuff, and a place, Celeste. I would shut it all down and sell it, if I had to, in order to be with the person I love. You can replace stuff, but you can't replace people."
"You're a pretty impressive guy, sometimes, you know that?"
"Hahah, I'm not trying to be. I'm just me. Most women find it very intimidating. Especially, when you start talking about what it means to become the mate of a wolf shifter." She looks at me with a questioning look on her face. "Well, when Kai and I agree that someone is our mate, we don't need, or want for that matter, to date a woman for years to make sure, like humans do. We want to make the union as soon as possible."
"Union? You mean, get married?"
"Not exactly. We feel a physical need to join souls with our mate. There is a ritual that joins mates, for wolf shifters. It's known as a claiming. When this happens the two draw, well, power, for lack of a better term, from each other. At that point, they are mated for life. One could literally die of a broken heart if the other dies. I have actually seen it happen."
"So if it's not just getting married, what is it?"
"Uh, well..." Awkward. "It happens during sex. The male bites the female, and the ‘magic' flows between the two through the bite. It isn't meant to hurt the female though. I've heard it is actually very pleasurable. At the very moment the claiming takes place, the entire pack can feel it. So yeah. Intimidating, right?"
"Is that question eighteen?"
"I'd really like to hear the answer, so I guess it is."
"In that case, no, it's not. I think it's incredibly romantic. The claiming itself is a little awkward. Ya know, the whole ‘the pack knows I'm getting laid' part, but the ‘being joined for life' part? That's amazing. I don't think there is a time limit on knowing when something is right. My mom and dad knew each other for less than sixty days when they got married. You can't plan for love. If you could control it, no one would ever get hurt."
"Great answer." I can't keep my face from glowing at her words.
"Your turn then. Question nineteen, why would a catch like you be interested in a regular girl like me? I bet you could have your pick back in New York."
"Celeste, there is nothing regular about you. You are smart, compassionate, funny, sassy, independent, and the fact that all that is wrapped in such a gorgeous package is just the cherry on top. You have all the qualities needed to be an amazing princess of the pack, wife, and mother. There is absolutely no man on the planet who wouldn't count himself lucky to be loved by you."
"Wow. That was also a great answer, and very appreciated too. I don't know if I agree but I'm not going to argue either. Well, I guess you get the last question."
"Good. I know exactly what I want to ask. Question twenty, will you dance with me?" I hold my hand out as I ask. She grins and looks at me through hooded eyes. She nods and takes my hand. I lead her to the floor then change the song. "Faithfully" by Journey plays over the speakers, and she looks at me with that sexy look of hers.
"A man who keeps it classic. I'm impressed again, Mr. Woods."
"I must admit, the entire point of the evening was to leave you with a good impression, Ms. Torelli."
"Hahah. You have done an excellent job of that."
"Just so you know, I can be even more impressive given more notice."
"Randol, you're impressive enough by yourself. You don't need fancy dates and tricks to impress anyone. You, all by yourself, that's enough." No one has ever thought I was good enough on my own. That broke the damn. I wrap both arms around her tiny waist and look into her eyes. I can't say a word. I just pull her body against mine and lean in. I kiss her with every ounce of feeling I have for her. This one lasts only minutes, but I can do this for a lifetime and never tire of it. When we break the kiss, we are both breathing hard. I can't stop the low growl that escapes my throat. She smiles up at me with swollen lips, which is so sexy. Holy shit. This woman is bad for my heart. "Okay, that was incredibly sexy," she purrs.
"Why, thank you." I'm proud of myself. Until...
"I was talking about Kai's growl, actually, but the kiss was good too."
"Are you trying to make me jealous, or does it just come naturally?"
"Hahah. Just natural, I guess. I can't help it, though. He's amazing. He's gorgeous, muscled, sweet, and oh my God, his fur is so soft!"
"What about me?"
She runs her hands up my chest and over my shoulders, which makes everything in my groin tingle. "You're not so bad either." There's that low, sexy whisper that makes me instantly hard.
We end the night with me walking her to her room. Kai is going to be wagging his tail for hours. I know I won't be sleeping tonight.