The Total Sum of Two

Chapter 15

You’re just grabbing last minute items and putting them in your computer bag, when your phone rings.  Excited and thinking it’s Gregory you immediately answer.

“Hi!”

“Is this Gregory’s Samantha?”

“This is Sam, who is this?”

“This is Philip Lycan. I’m aware we didn’t part on good terms last we met.  I would like to apologize if my behavior made you uncomfortable.”

“Accepted, thank you.  However, Gregory and I have moved past all that, hopefully you and I can also.  I know you’re important to him as more than just a boss.”

“Yes, and thank you.  He's extremely important to me also.  He is the reason I’m calling…”

You sit down quickly, “Why?  Has something happened?  He was supposed to call me this morning.”

Dread is filling your head and your heart begins to ache at the thought of him being seriously hurt.

“He is alive but extremely depleted.  Is it possible for you to take the day off?  I’m about an hour from your house and I have him with me.”

“That shouldn’t be a problem.  I have plenty of sick time and nothing urgent.  What do you mean depleted?  What does he need?  I can run to the store before you get here if I need to.”

“Not necessary.  He should be fine with water, rest, and you.”

“Me?”

“Yes…you.  He’s told me that he has explained to you a little bit about our beliefs correct?”

“Yes.  Um, about believing in a Goddess and being blessed with one mate.  He believes me to be his mate.”

Philip pauses on the other end for a moment.

“It’s more than a belief.  You are his mate.  We are attached to our mates physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.  We know instantly when we've found them.  It's an instant recognition.  We believe that everything around us is energy and that when we find our mate, that energy is shared.”

“Well that is true about everything being made of energy.  If you have actually experienced shared energy, that’s amazing!  Wow.”

“We have and  I need to ask you something, forgive my directness but...Do you love Gregory?”

“Love?” you squeak.  “I’ve only known him a little over a week, I’m not quite sure I’m at love yet.  I care about him, immensely.  Is that enough?”

“Have you accepted that he’s your mate?”

“I’ve accepted that he feels that way but I’m just letting things progress naturally.”

“So you haven’t refused him? Or turned him down?”

“I don’t think that’s any of your business honestly.”

“It is actually.  In more ways than you know.  In order for you to be able to help him, I need to know that you’ve accepted him as your mate.  Otherwise, this trip might be for nothing.”

“Well...we’ve mated, in the real form of the word...more than once.” You clear your throat, how embarrassing.  “I told you I care for him, a lot.  Do I need to say the words out loud, for me to be able to help him?”

“I believe it would help, yes.”

You take a deep breath and release it.  “Okay then.  I accept Gregory Hansforth as my mate.”

You hear a moan in the background over the phone.  “Is that him?  Is he okay?”

You can hear the smile in Philip’s voice.  “That is indeed him.  You’ve been on speaker phone.  And I dare say your words have just roused him.  Please plan to tend to him today, we will be there shortly.”

You hang up with Philip and immediately call in to your boss.  He isn’t happy but you deserve your sick days and you never use them; you refuse to feel bad.  

You unpack everything from your bag and go to change your clothes.  You aren’t sure what condition Gregory’s in so you turn down your bed, anticipating that he will need sleep.  Without knowing why you dig your humidifier from the closet, fill it and set it up by his side of the bed.  You draw the curtains closed so that he can sleep more peacefully in a dark room. Running to the kitchen you fill a water bottle and set it out on the nightstand.

Within a few minutes of your preparations being completed, there’s a knock at the door.  You race to it, finding Gregory being propped up by Philip.

“Where?”  Philip asks as he helps him into the room.

“Straight back.  It’s the second door on the left.”

They hobble past you and you quickly close the door and follow behind.  Philip has laid Gregory down and is pulling the blankets up around him.  He looks around, nodding with his approval.

“Nice preparations, thank you. I’ll leave him to you and see myself out.”  He gives you a slight bow and retreats.

You immediately go over and lay down on top of the blankets by Gregory.  Your eyes are examining his face for any signs of pain.  You didn’t see any bandages when Philip brought him in but he was also fully dressed.  You will have to see for yourself that he’s in one piece when he’s feeling better.

“Gregory?”  You say as you touch his cheek.

“Closer.”

You scoot closer but he weakly shakes his head.  “Closer.  Here.”

Understanding, you remove your shoes and slide under the blankets with him.  You prop the pillows up behind you, scooting over and wrapping your arms around him; pulling him onto your chest.

You hear a deep sigh and it feels as though his whole body relaxes.  Within minutes a light snore is emanating  from his chest and you smile.  You begin to relax now that he’s in your arms, safe, sound, and sleeping peacefully.  Your mind begins to wander as you just let him sleep.

I accepted this beautiful man as my mate.  I actually said that to his boss and friend. Were they just words?  What do they actually mean?  I know they mean more to him than he’s told me, I wonder if he’ll tell me more when he wakes up?  By saying those words are we like married in his religion now?  You look down at his peaceful face, snuggled between your breasts.  Your hands are stroking through his hair, luxuriating in the feel of softness and thickness.  He is so much more than I ever expected to have in my life.  He just showed up and decided he was here to stay.  You smile at the awkward memory of your first meeting in the parking garage.  How he didn’t make fun of you but saved your water bottle, bandaged your knee, and even kissed it better!  You can’t help but think about how it felt...his lips on your knee and the zing with sparks that that simple kiss sent through you. 

Testing a theory you move slightly.  Gregory’s arm tightens around you, pulling you closer.  Another deep sigh escapes as you stop moving.  With your mind on only him earlier, you weren’t paying attention.  But now, being aware of it, the entire right side of your body is warm and tingling.  His arm tightening has given you an overwhelming sense of peace and comfort; a feeling of home.

You bend down and place a kiss on his head, then lean back and fall asleep yourself.

***

The meadow is beautiful as always, but a little darker than normal.  You wander towards the waterfall  looking for Fenrir.  You find him lying on his side near the edge of the water.  Thinking he’s sleeping you sit down next to him, stroking his beautiful, black fur.

His head lifts a little, “Mate”.

You smile, “Are you sleeping?  I'm sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“Not sleeping, exhausted.  Last night was too much from me.  Fighting, sharing, and healing such wounds was hard.  You were too far away to assist.”

“What do you mean?   I dreamed about you fighting last night, it was the weirdest dream.”

"Not a dream, have told you before."

You bite your lip, that doesn't makes sense.  You change the subject.  “Fenrir?”

“Mm”

You don’t know why you feel like you need to tell him but it seems terribly important.  “I told Gregory’s friend Philip that I accept Gregory as my mate.”

You’d swear the big wolf smiled.  “Yes, we are very happy.”

You're confused by his words, “We?  Are you talking about yourself?  I thought you’d be mad. You’re always calling me YOUR mate but if I’ve just accepted Gregory as my mate, then I can’t be yours.”

“My mate.”

You’re thinking he doesn’t understand.  “I just said I can’t be, I accepted Gregory.  You’ll have to just start calling me Sam.”

“Sam is mate.  Too tired to discuss.  Stay for a bit please.  It makes me happy.”

You nod, laying down next to him on the grass.   One hand rests in his fur, while your face turns to the sky, watching the clouds roll by.

***

You open your eyes to see Gregory staring at you.  His irises are twice their normal size and a bit darker brown than normal.  He smiles, “Mate.”

You smile, closing your eyes, feeling as though you are still in a dream.  Kisses begin to rain along your chin, stopping at your lips and taking them in a quietly passionate kiss.  You respond, opening your eyes to look at him again.  His eyes are now normal, however his pupils are dilating and you know exactly where this kiss is headed.  You pull back gently.

“You’re supposed to be resting.  Orders from Philip.”

He kisses the side of your neck, heading down to your collar bone.  “I believe Philips orders were to tend to me. That I needed you.”

Your eyes darken as he takes your hand and brings it down to his manhood.  “I need my mate.  I need you Sam.  Make love with me.”