Shining Through Shadows

Bonding with Bubbles

Zachary

Wet dog…

She called me a wet dog and pushed me around with a damned mop…

Me. The Alpha. The Rogue Alpha. In my own house.

Still, I couldn't deny how much I enjoyed watching her taking charge of me and my beast. Actually, my beast had already given up control and I was back in my human form again. Much quicker than I had expected, all thanks to Lydia.

As I pressed her against the door, I could hear the rapid beating of her heart and the shallow breaths escaping her mouth. My hands were placed against the door on either side of her face and my chest was pressed against her back, keeping her in place.

She was so close I could practically taste her mouthwatering scent. She felt warm and soft… But she was scared. So, instead of me giving into my most carnal desires, I pushed away from her and gave her some space.

“You deserve an apology for my… Beastly behavior.” I said softly and watched her closely as she steadied herself and smoothed out the apron around her waist with her hands.

“No, I… I’m sorry for calling you a wet dog… I’ll take any punishment, but please don’t send me away.” Her eyes were down and her head was slightly bowed in sign of respect.

“Lydia.” I said softly, hoping she would look at me with her beautiful eyes, but she kept her head down. “M’sahni…” I whispered and to my relief, she raised her eyes to meet mine.

“Why do you keep calling me that?” She asked curiously with a frown on her face as I took a step closer to her.

“I would never send you or anyone away.” I began, briefly wondering if everyone thought so ill about me and my intentions. “And you don’t owe me an apology.”

“I don’t?” She countered, almost breathlessly, when I took another step closer to her, the frown still on her precious face and I shook my head slowly.

“You helped me regain control again, so thank you for that.” I stopped right in front of her and placed my index finger under her chin to raise her head. Soft tingles erupted when our skin met and I closed my eyes in pure bliss as I relished the feeling of them tickling my skin. “And lastly, don’t ever bow your head to me.”

“I… I don’t understand.” She whispered and tried to avert her gaze yet again, but I gently pushed her chin back up again so I could stare into her bright blue eyes.

“You have the most beautiful eyes, m’sahni.” I could tell she felt slightly uncomfortable by my closeness, but I just couldn’t help myself.

“What does it mean? M’sahni?” Her voice came out as a whisper as she leaned forward, our faces suddenly merely inches apart.

I let my hand rest against the door again, caging her between my arms, but this time she wasn’t scared. Her heart was fluttering and her lips were slightly parted as she gazed into my eyes. It felt like I could see the entire universe through them. The past, the present and the future… If I was going to die soon or succumb to madness, her eyes were what I wanted to look into when the goddess chose to claim my soul.

“Oh my!” She gasped and snapped me out of my thoughts, only to duck underneath my arm and run to the overflowing bathtub, turning off the faucet. Soapy water was cascading over the edge, splashing onto the tiled floor. Before I could tell her to stop, she pushed the sleeve of her uniform up and dived her hand into the water to locate the plug.

She then rose to her feet and turned around with the plug in her hand. She looked at me, as if she was expecting me to yell at her or something, but instead I let out a laugh. Something I hadn’t done in years and, honestly, it felt good.

When she joined in, her sweet laughter filled the room along with mine and it only made me laugh more. The skirt of her uniform was soaked from when she knelt beside the tub and most of her arm and sleeve were wet as well as a few splotches of foam.

It felt great to share something as simple as a laugh with her and it made my heart flutter as I listened to her contagious laughter. We were both lost in the moment and I hadn’t noticed when or how my feet had taken me closer to her, and I obviously didn’t think when I suddenly cupped her face in my hands and placed a soft kiss on her parted lips.

Not until my lips left hers and I stared into her bewildered eyes. Then all kinds of thoughts entered my mind, all of them filled with regret, because it had obviously been too soon.

I shouldn’t have done that… I mentally scolded myself.

But then she took me by surprise when she, after a moment of hesitation, rose onto her tiptoes and pressed her soft lips against mine.