Chapter Three: Fangs and Roses
Vivian stood at the edge of the forest with Gabriel. They were waiting for just the right moment to sprint across the short distance to the roof outside her room.
Gabriel squeezed her hand and together they ran to the roof and leaped on to it. Once they were safe in her room, Vivian couldn't help but worry that one of the neighbors had seen or worse the five.
Oh sweet moon, she thought to herself. She would never hear the end of it. Things were bad enough as it was. She was shaken from her trouble musings by Gabriel's sweet lips on hers.
He captured her in his strong embrace refusing to let her go. She ran her hands up his bare back memorizing the feel of his muscles beneath her fingers. He bit her lip and she gasped.
Then he pulled away grinning. Vivian was left gasping for air, how did he have the power to make her feel so weak and giddy with just one kiss?
Gabriel grabbed the t-shirt he had been wearing last night from the floor and pulled it back on.
"I'll meet you downstairs." With that he jumped out her window and onto the ground.
Vivian stood in her room for a moment still in a daze, before shaking herself out of it. She moved over to her closet and grabbed a t-shirt with a slightly higher neck and a pair of jeans.
She hoped the t-shirt would hide the mark Gabriel had given her until she was ready to have it seen. Moving silently from her bedroom she went into the bathroom to shower and change.
She slipped into the hot shower allowing the coursing rivulets of water to sooth her and wash away all of the fears from last night.
She emerged from the bathroom refreshed and a little more confidant. She stood at the top of the stairs and adjusted the collar of her shirt, making sure everything was covered, before she went down the stairs. She was greeted at the bottom by Esmé's joyful hug.
"Vivian! You should have told me you were back to normal!" She chided, smothering Vivian in her arms.
"Ya, mom. Mom... mom you can let go now. Mom! Esmé!" Vivian broke away from her mother's crushing embrace and glanced around the room feeling embarrassed.
Rudy was sitting in a chair across from Tomas, smiling at Esmé's antics. She heard a familiar voice trying in vain to suppress a chuckle, her eyes shot towards the source and stopped on Gabriel leaning against the wall near the door.
She fought the urge to go over and kiss him, only just remembering that the rest of the pack had yet to find out that she had accepted him.
To distract herself from Gabriel, Vivian moved into the kitchen making her way towards the coffee pot.
As Vivian expected her mother followed her into the kitchen chattering happily all the way. Ignoring her, Vivian pulled a mug from one of the cupboards and poured herself a cup of steaming coffee.
"Oh Vivian, you know I don't like you drinking that stuff. It's so bad for you, here let me take that from you dear." Esmé reached and grabbed the cup in Vivian's hand.
"Come on Mom. I'm way past old enough to drink coffee!" Vivian complained, keeping her hold on the cup.
Out of the corner of her eye she could see Gabriel smirking. She turned her head so she could look at him better, getting lost in her thoughts.
She was yanked back into reality as her mom tugged the cup and she lost her grip. The cup crashed to the ground in a spray of glass shards and hot coffee.
"Shit!" Vivian muttered and grabbed a dish cloth and bent to clean the mess.
Her mom took a dust pan and began to clean up the shards. As Vivian was scrubbing the coffee off the floor she felt the collar of her shirt slide. She realized that her mark was visible just seconds to late.
She glanced over to see her mother's eyes bugging out of her head staring at the mark, hurt flashing across her face. Damn it! Oh great moon help me! She thought in a panic.
She was waiting for the right time to tell her mom, she didn't want it to happen this way.
"Mom, listen I'm sorry I just..." she trailed off as she realized that the look on her moms face was swiftly turning from one of hurt to pure elation. "Mom?" she questioned, confused by Esmé's reaction.
All at once Esmé launched herself at Vivian smothering her in a crushing hug.
"Oh honey! You did it you finally did it! And I was so worried that you wouldn't accept him... Oh! I have got to tell Reneta! She will just die when she hears! Oh baby I can't believe it! I'm just so happy for you, I-"
"Mom!" Vivian interrupted still unsure about her mother's reaction. "You're not mad?"
"Mad? Sweetie how could I be mad? This is a time for celebration!" Her mother exclaimed, all bubbly happiness. "We will have to tell the pack, I know! Let's hold a pack meeting tonight..." She launched into details and Vivian drowned it out.
She was still awed at her mother's reaction. She didn't even hear her mother's crazy, wild plans for a party in honor of her and Gabriel.
She was saved by Gabriel interrupting her mother explaining to her how he and Vivian would tell the pack on their own time when they were ready.
He moved towards Vivian and pulled her into his warm embrace. Instantly all of her worries were forgotten, hidden away until they were needed.
"Oh. Alright, if that's what you want..." Esmé said. Vivian pulled away from Gabriel and gave her mom a quick hug.
"Thanks mom. I'll see you later." Vivian said grabbing for Gabriel's hand.
She needed to get away from her mother's strangling happiness. Once they were outside Gabriel turned on her.
"Well, that couldn't have gone better don't you think?" He said, there was a hint of laughter in his voice although he tried his best to remain serious.
"Shut up." She replied although she was smiling herself. He just shrugged and led her down the drive to his bike.
"Where to, wolf girl?" He questioned pulling on his helmet.
Vivian thought for a moment. They good go for pizza, but there may be a chance she could run into Aiden. She definitely didn't want that, at least not yet.
Ice cream would probably be a safer bet.
"Let's go to Jane's Ice Cream Parlor." She responded as he handed her a helmet.
Taking a deep breath she climbed onto the bike behind Gabriel and wrapped her arms around his toned waist.
She leaned her head against his back and listened to his beating heart. He started up the motorcycle and in response she tightened her grip.
As they sped off to the ice cream parlor she couldn't help thinking that she really hated motorcycles.
Chapter 3! R&R pretty please :)