Christian's P.O.V.-
My mouth hung open like I was a total moron as we stood in front of this sleezy love motel. Turns out those actually exist…. Luckily for me, Anastasia appeared much more in tune to our needs in our current situation. While I nervously and quite awkwardly trailed alongside her, cautious of every glance and glare our way, my mate inspected each and every one of our options, which considerably wasn't much.
Realizing we didn't have enough to stay in a proper motel, and most wouldn't allow carnivores to share a room with herbivores anyway, we found ourselves wandering into the ahem, "red" district. Animals here didn't care so much that we were minors, but we still got odd looks from passers-by. Anastasia stopped in front of one…. interesting place and read the sign. Her face lit up in enthusiasm.
"Christian, look! It says "we allow inter-species couples" in small print here," she eagerly pointed to the sign covered with hearts and flowers…. I hope those were flowers. Now, I don't think Anastasia minded or cared that this was a…. love hotel; she seemed just glad we found somewhere to sleep tonight. I, on the other hand….
"We can stay here tonight," my beloved mate beamed up at me. I instinctively blushed, not daring to look her in the eye immediately. "Anastasia, this is…" I began but couldn't bring myself to say it. "I know, but it's the only place that'll let us stay together," she sighed as if reading my mind. Together…. I leaned in so to whisper into her ear. "You know…. I can just sleep outside. You can stay here alone," I didn't hesitate to offer. It's not that I didn't want to spend the night with her- far from it. But the last thing I wanted to do was to make her feel pressured in any way, shape, or form. While she might not be outwardly showing it, I didn't want to risk her feeling uncomfortable with any of this. She's been through so much already…. The last thing my mate needs tonight is another awkward or tense situation. I wanted to give her an out if she wanted one; I'd give it to her without a second thought…. Just so long as she was safe and comfortable.
Instead of taking me up on my offer, Anastasia merely blinked at him in surprise. "What? Why?" She asked, clearly puzzled. I shifted my feet a bit and glanced away shyly. I didn't want to outright say that she might feel weird sharing a room with a boy after her experience with Eric. Gotta dance around this so not to embarrass her or make her feel weird. "Why? Well…. Anastasia, you were just kidnapped by a group of carnivores. I don't….. Uh, sleeping together… well, I don't mean "together"! But sleeping in the same room on the same night that happened….."
What the hell am I doing? Where am I going with this? She's going to think I'm a total pervert or something. Nugh! That's the exact opposite of what I want! I want to prove to her that I'd never take advantage of her in this sensitive situation. Ok, new plan. I drew in a deep breath to steady myself before trying again. "I just thought you might not want to be alone with an apex predator so soon after…" Not to mention I was also a wolf. Dammit! Why did Eric have to be a wolf of all animals?
Anastasia looked contemplative for a moment and I inwardly sighed in relief. Nailed it! Or so I thought until she turned back to face me with resolve. "But Christian, you're the one who saved me from Lincoln. I wouldn't be alive right now if it wasn't for you. And besides…." She blushed timidly and I thought my heart might explode. Oh, the way her eyes looked at me just now…. "I want you to stay. I don't feel safe out here unless I know you're nearby."
Oh….. oh, that was the wrong thing to say. Wrong because it felt so right. Too right. How could I possibly leave her side now? Forget leaving her side- I'll never let her out of my sight again. Only….. How do I communicate with her that she has nothing to be afraid of? I'll never ask her to do anything she's not comfortable with. But I can't tell her that because then she'll know that…. Well, when we do have relations, it'll be on her good time and on her terms. I just don't want her to think that I've thought about doing anything with her….. Ugh! Since when did this get so complicated?! And here I thought finding Eric's layer was hard.
It was my turn to be surprised when all of a sudden, Anastasia took my hand. Her hand was holding onto mine…. Dear god, why did it instantly feel like I was on cloud nine whenever she simply touched me. One caress of her fingers and I was putty in her gorgeous hands. Hands I trusted more than anyone's… She held my hand and smiled up at me. "Don't worry, Christian. It'll be fine; nothing you do tonight could be a mistake. Let's go inside," I stood there, mouth agape as she gently pulled me into the lobby. How did I win the imprinting lottery with her?
My nerves did tense up however once we were finally in the room. A dark room, with a queen-sized bed; the whole back wall was covered with mirrors. So this is what a sex hotel room looks like? My eyes widened and my heart officially stopped at the horrific sight of a condom laying on one of the pillows. While Anastasia- who appeared much chiller about this current scenario than me- went over to close the window curtains, I made an "eek" sound and lunched for the little beast. My mate spun to me startled to find me clasping both hands behind my back. "Christian? What's wrong?" "I-It's nothing!" I said shakily, tossing the condom into the bathroom trash beside me rather noisily.
Anastasia's P.O.V.-
"Christian? What's wrong?" I asked, surprised by his sudden leaping across the room…. for some reason. "I-It's nothing!" He gasped and I heard something fall in the bathroom. "Did you hear that?" I perked up. "H-hear what?" His hands now flew out at his sides. Realizing it was probably nothing, I grinned back at him and continued my inspection of the room. I gotta say, this isn't what I pictured a love hotel room to look like. I mean, there weren't even any condoms around. I thought they'd leave one on the pillow but nadda. Not like we'd be using it tonight anyway.
I don't know if Christian wanted to try anything tonight or not; if he did, he sure wasn't broadcasting it. And while I'd love nothing more than to lay down and cuddle with him on that soft-looking bed, I didn't want to make him uncomfortable. After all, he just fought a mob lord and probably isn't in a cuddling mood. I wasn't ready for anything intimate beyond that yet…. not after what Lincoln was going to do to me. But I'll admit, I really, really just wanted to be held safe and sound in his arms tonight. I'd be so happy with that….. But Christian's comfort comes first; we'll do whatever he's ok with tonight.
Deciding this, I tried to make him feel better first by addressing the temperature in the room. He watched as I went over to the air conditioner and grinned back his way. "Should I turn up the AC? Do wolves like it cold or hot?" After staring at me for a moment, he unexpectedly blinked and gave his head a rough shake. "Put it however you want, Anastasia." Me- he's always thinking about me. What about his needs? I want to make him happy too. I really want to…..
"How about cold? Just a little cooler?" I ventured, to which Christian nodded his head and lowered his eyes slightly. "Sure." I then sat down on the edge of the bed and patted the seat beside me. "Come, sit…" I urged tenderly. He hesitated but after another second he joined me on the bed while anxiously clasping his hands. Why's he acting so nervous? Does he think I'm expecting him to do anything tonight? Only what he wants…. The way he sat down onto the bed made my body shift to the side. I found myself falling into him; I had to grab onto his arm to stop myself. Christian's eyes shot down at me; they were very, very wide.
I couldn't help but laugh. "Sorry, sorry! I wasn't expecting that! You weigh so much more than me… not that that's a bad thing! Of course you're going to weigh more, being a male wolf and all," I expressed. Christian didn't say anything, though he kept his stare glued onto me. My hands passionately tightened their squeeze on his bicep. Man, his muscles were like rocks! No wonder I felt so unbelievably safe with him, beside him…. My lips parted a little as we stayed like that- me leaning into his side and holding onto his arm.
"Christian…. I am sorry; I'm sorry you had to go through that tonight," I half-whispered, not looking at him as I said it. Christian didn't verbally reply automatically, but his muscles did tense up a bit. He moved ever so slightly to face me directly. Our eyes met and didn't break from each other. "Anastasia….. You have no idea…. It's because of you…. all because of you…. there's so much I want to tell you." "Oh right! You wanted to tell me something at the festival," I prompted, only to be mildly shocked when he didn't continue on. My lips faltered a tad and his eyes pierced mine. "Anastasia, there is something I have to tell… something I should have told you a long time ago." "What is it?"
A pregnant pause fell over the room. Christian gulped in a nervous fashion. "It was cold that night… I'm not sure if you remember." "Remember what?" I questioned. Which night is he talking about? "A quiet night, with only the sound of the fountain….." He went on. Wait, fountain? What night was I near a fountain? A night with only the sound of the fountain…. A cool night…. Hold on, my eyes started to grow. "That night! You scratched my arm! You were going to kill me, like you killed Tom!" "Tom? Tom, Tom…. Oh, the boy! I see. So you've been attacked before, have you? No, sorry, sugar. I never attacked you or anyone on any school property." I do recall a night when I was by the fountain; I was alone and…..
My gaze hesitantly shifted up to Christian's. He was now ogling down at me hard, like he was getting ready to say something…. Something he wasn't sure I was ready to hear. One of his hands coiled behind my back, reaching the centre. "C-Christian?" I had just enough time to glance back at his hand before he spun me around to embrace me in a position we'd been in previously. His body towered over me, like a shield made of flesh. And he held me there, effectively trapping me in place… Trapping me, the exact same way I was trapped that faithful, terrifying night.