the next generation

Library

Nate stood up from the table and gave me a hand to do the same. After I said goodbye to his father we left for my home. As we were walking through the forest we fell silent. Nate was not very talkative and I still felt a bit uncomfortable around him. The good kind of uncomfortable I mean. From his house to mine is a 30 minute walk if you walk straight. "Why did you and your family move back to town?", I ask him to make a bit of conversation. He was looking at his feet with his hands in his pockets. "Our family has always lived near this town. Fifhteen years ago we had to leave to help another family out. After the troubles were sorted out we sticked around for a while to make sure everybody would be okay. It was fun for a while but I started to feel homesick. This house has been the home of many of my family members as well. It has been mine since 8 years, but I felt this would be the right time to come back.". He says it like it was nothing. So another family asks for your help and you just leave everything behind for fiftheen years? It sounds weird to me. "So, do you like where you live?", he asks me. I can hear in his voice that he tries to change the coversation so I won't pry. I tell him a bit about it and again silence. We walked for a few more minutes when we stranded before my house. He turns to me and as I want to say goodbye to him, our eyes lock with each other again. He grabs my hands as he lays his own over them. They are so warm, rough and large. "The library is not finished yet, but I will put in some extra hours for you so it will be finished soon.", he smiles at me as he waits for my reaction. "You should not tire yourself for me, I can wait". My cheeks are turning red thinking about him working extra hard for me. "No. I need you there.". What did he mean by that? Did he want to see me again, is that it? "I mean. Well, Yes. I want you to be there. I will make sure it is finished by tomorrow. Come to my house after dinner.". I nodd. I am so gratefull for him and his family. They all feel so warm and strong. I push my hands through his hold and place them on his chest. It feels great to touch him. Normally I would never touch someone I had just met but I felt the need to hold him. I take a step towards him, closing the little space there was between us. He looks suprised of my bold move but within a second he places his hands on my back hugging me and pulling me close. I look at him with a soft, warm gaze. My lips relax leaving them a bit apart. He looks at me as I see his eyes fill with need. The deep blue hypnotizes me completely. His sunkissed skin and rough stubble looking perfect. He smells like home.

* Nate's POV*

I invited her to come back to  my house again after dinner. I did not yet know how to finish this huge project before then, but I had to see her again. She pulls her hands out of my touch and places her hands on my chest. Gosh.. I did not expect her to take the lead. I take her into my arms, holding her even tighter. She looks at me with her green eyes. There was something else there.. a bit of purple I think. Does that mean something as well? She is beautiful. I need to touch her, have her even closer then possible. There is no denying it. She must be my mate. One of the instincts that still ran in my bloodline. My breathing becomes heavier and I notice her lips are falling slightly apart, welcomming me. How I want to bite those lips and caress them with my tongue.. I must stop myself. She is not aware of what she is doing to me. I burrow my head in her neck and smell her hair, her skin. She places her hand in my neck as she leds out a small moan. f**k, I need to stop now or I will not be able to contain myself. I'm sorry mate. I force myself loose of her touch and take a step back. A confused look appears on her face. "See you tomorrow", I bloat at her in a hurry as I turn around and dissapear in the woods again". 

*Ending Nate's POV* 

What just happend? He just left me standing here in front of my house. I really thought he wanted me. That he did like me but now I did not know what to think or feel. For the first time since my parents died I felt safe. As if nothing could happen to me as long as he would be with me. I took a deep breath as i dragged myself into my home. I took a shower, got dressed and packed my back for work. 

The bar was almost empty when I arrived. There were a few people enjoying a cup of coffee and a piece of pie but that was about it. The whole shift was slow so I had time to do some extra cleaning. Mary came by after dinner to talk about the day. It looked like she was in love with the whole situation. "I just think you really fit in with them liz. They are so lovely.". She kept rambling on while in my mind I was still in Nates arms. "How can he be like, so mysterious, yet so warm and caring. f**k Liz, you really won the lotery this time". The girltalk went on for a solid hour before she went to her own boyfriend to spent the night with him at his home. The last boring hour passed by and I went back home to fall asleep in an instant. Even though my mind was a mess, I felt happy that there was so much excitement in my life. I felt even closer to my own family because of the stories Oliver told me. That night I dreamed about my grandmother. Imagined how it would be if she would still be alive and we could get to meet each other now. I woke up peaceful and happy. The day was slow. I went for a run, did some chores and more of the usual. My boss called about an event he wanted to plan in the bar. I gave him some feedback and ideas. Once in a while he organizes something to make sure the town would have something to talk about. I cooked and ate dinner when me nerves were starting to grow. I wanted to make a good impression on Nate and as well on his father. I needed to wear something feminine yet classy and humble. After wearing three dresses and taking them off again the fourth one was the winner. The dress was marine of colour. It wrapped itself tight around my body, yet it covered me from my knies up to my neck. Even though you could not see the skin, my curves came out perfectly. I put on a red lipstick and some mascara, brushed my teeth and combed my hair. Maybe it was to much? Well.. no turning back now. Instead of walking, I grabbed my bike out of the small shed next to my house and cycle around the forest border to Nate's home. My nerves are killing me when I trow my bike into the  grass near the house and fiddle on my dress to make sure I look proper.

I knock on the front door and nervously wait. Gertrude opens the door and welcomes me in. The house looks even more finished today as it did yesterday. She asks me to follow her to the library. When I see the room I don't know where to look first. There is a dark wooden floor. All the walls are covered with books, up to the ceiling. One wall exists of glass only, looking out on the garden. The red curtains covering it now so you can read in private. Big bordeau armchairs and a matching couch in the middle of the room with a small coffeetable next to it. I never expected it to be so fancy and royal. As I walk by the wall of books I read the covers. The books are categorized per subject in an alphabetical order. This must have taken so much time. How dit Nate do all of this in just a day and a have? Maybe everybody helped him. Sunddenly I felt embaressement. I know they worked extra hard on it because of me. "Welcome Elisabeth!" I hear Oliver say. I turn around and see him standing in the door post.