The Lost Wolf

Chapter 17

AVA’S POV

            “Come with me,” Liam whispers in my ear.

            I feel a chill run through my body as I feel his breath caressing against my skin.  It feels dangerous being this close to him.  I’m not positive if my body will be able to resist self-control with my temptations towards him.

            “Where are we going?”

            “Just trust me,” he states as he grabs my hand and pulls me towards the direction of the kitchen. “I want to take you somewhere special for me, but first we need to make a quick stop.”

            All I can focus on is hands in mine.  It doesn’t matter to me where we go, I just want to be with him and near him.

            I follow quickly behind him as we make our way into the kitchen where he sets me down in a stool sitting next to the counter.

            “What are we doing here?”

            “Well it seems like our walk got foiled by that d*** wolf… “ he states to me.  I can see the tension and anger rolling off of him as he speaks about the wolf.

            “Are you okay?” I ask.

            “Sorry, but as I was saying….I wanted to make it up to you, so I thought we could have a picnic at my secret spot.”

            So, you have a secret spot, huh?  There must be so many places to hide here.  Well I feel pretty special that I get to know about your secret spot already.”

            “You are,” he states before turning back towards the refrigerator to grab some fruit.

            Just hearing those two simple words, makes me blush.  “Why are you doing all of this for me?  I mean, you hardly even know me.”

            “To me, you are like one of those flowers in which you viewed outside in the garden.  As it begins to bloom, you can see its beauty, but once it actually bloom, you can truly see the beauty in which it was hiding within.  The more I see and speak to you, I just want to be near you and get to know you more.  You are breathtaking both inside and out.  I truly feel blessed just to know you.”

            I don’t know what to say as I sit here in my stool stunned by his kind words.  How can someone so incredible see me as he sees me.

            “So, I have some fruit, carrots, crackers and sandwiches to bring with us.”

            “That sounds perfect.”  Thank goodness he changed the subject, I’ve never been great at taking compliments.

            “Before we go though, you have to promise me one thing.”

            “What is that?”

            Well, you can’t tell Cordelia of my secret spot.  As kids we would play hide and see, and this is the one place I would always go. She is yet to figure it out.”

            “I pinky promise,” I say as I wrap my pinky around his.

            “Fantastic then you can come,” he states as he grabs my hand and the basket in his other.

            As we make our way quietly through the back exterior of the house, towards the terrace, I am captured by the love in which has been brought through this house.  There is so much history in the artifacts and the artwork, but there is a love for gardening plants which you can see throughout the house as we make our way.  There is so much I have not yet seen, and so much beauty.  I feel at home.

            We end up making our way past the terrace and down a pathway towards the forest.  I am hesitate to enter, especially after the incident earlier, but I have this strange trust in him that makes me feel safe to go with him.

            “Where are we going?”

            “Trust me.  It’s worth the walk,” he ensures me.

            I’m not sure why, but I do.  “Okay, then let’s see this special place.” I say to him, confidently.

            We end up going a little deep within the woods towards a peaceful creek before us.  He was right though, the natural beauty here is breathtaking between the blackberry bushes, daisies, petunias, violets, and the natural water gently flowing from the calm breeze.  I just stand there and close my eyes, feeling peace surround me as I take in the views which is before me.  I can see how this place would be special to him.

            “It is gorgeous.  I absolutely love all of it.”

            “I thought you might,” he says as he lays the blanket on the ground for us to sit on.

            “I’m glad you brought me here,” I say as I lean my head against his shoulder. 

            We just sit there in silence together, admiring the view around us and enjoying just being close to one another.  This is the first time in which it is just us, and I don’t want to ruin the moment by bringing up anything in which is conflicting me about everything which has happened in this short span of time. 

            Time seems to go quickly before I notice that the sun is beginning to set.  We have been out here together for most of the day, I didn’t even notice that we had been here for that long.  I don’t regret it though, and it does not feel like a waste of my day.  My soul finally feels at peace after just talking and just being here with him.  I may have to make this our spot and no longer just his.

            “We should probably get back home,” I say to him while starting to stand.

            “You’re probably right, I still have a lot of work to handle.  Before we go though, I have been wanting to do this…” he starts to say.

            “What is that?”

            As I look at him, I feel his hands reach behind my lower back and pulling my in close to him.  I close my eyes and feel my body reacting as I reach my lips towards his.  Both of us have an intensity towards the kiss as if we have been both longing for this moment for most of our life.  My hands move towards his chest as I pull his shirt off. 

            “Ohhh,” I hear a slight, excited growl come from my lips.  I stop there stunned, where did that come from?  Did I just growl?

            “I’m, uh, sorry, I don’t know where that came from,” I say to him embarrassed that I just did that.  Turning away from him, I run back to the house before he can catch up to me.