Note | Alpha Order | Inner Wolf | 'Talking in Mind Link'
Chapter Thirty -One | Lahota Residence
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She licked her lower lip and forced her eyes away from his. She was going to drown in them, and then where would she be. A pile of goo all of his wooden floor, that's where. Loveless breathed in. "It's okay . . . You were busy with the papers on the coffee table."
She was giving him a way out. They both knew it.
Would he take it?
"I'd have to carry you?" Paul blurted out. He didn't like the idea of her giving him an out. Paul wanted her to know that she could depend on him above everyone else on this earth. He was the one that could and would go to the ends of the spirit world and back for her. He didn't need an out.
Loveless frowned. Carry me? Her brows furrowed as she stared at him. His eyes were doing that thing again- Oh my gah! Focus! But his eyes. Loveless bit her tongue to get her mind to re-align correctly. "Why would you have to . . ." Her cheeks tinged a deep red. "Carry me?"
"The flooring." Paul held back a flinched and looked at anything but her. His own mate and he couldn't give her the home she would need let alone even want. "I've been neglecting." He breathed out and ran a hand through his hair. He didn't care enough to pay attention to what was happening in the house. It had been him for so long. And with the anger . . . Paul broke more things than he ever fixed.
She nodded. Dark hair swaying around her. "Okay." Her eyes widened as her heart up-ticked. Did she really just? Just? Her mind was so on vacation as was her brain to mouth filter.
"Okay." Paul moved forward. He wasn't going to give her a chance to back out. He hadn't been able to be that close to her in a while with her awake. His jaw tightened as he tried to fight his nervousness. Paul moved to stand in front of her before crouching. A smirk formed on his lips. "When was the last time you had a piggy-back ride?"
A blush formed on her cheeks as she stared at his shirt covered broad shoulders. With a dry swallow, Loveless leaned forward and wrapped her arms loosely around his neck. Don't make it awkward! She licked her lips and bent her knees. She did her best to stop the tremble that tingled up her spine and the surge of warmth that bubbled low in her belly as he wrapped his warm hands around her thighs.
"Ready?" Paul's voice rumbled softly as he spoke to the woman behind him.
Loveless nodded before laying her head down on his shoulder. "Where to first."
"I'll ghost over the bottom floor," Paul answered. "We I started building this house . . . I wanted an open concept for the living room and kitchen."
She hummed softly as she listened to him. Cerulean eyes relaxed as she took in the picture before her.
They stood in front of the entrance to the house - the living room. To her right was the couch, coffee table, and TV. Along the wall with the door ran a large bay window. Across from the window was the open concept kitchen. The wall with the tv also held the stove with counter space on each side. On the right side of the stove was a double oven and pantry. The wall in front of her - for the kitchen - housed the double fridge with a long expanse of counter space - with a double sink - that met the side of the stove. There was a long island in the middle of the kitchen. One side was a word space with a sink and the other side was a bar-stool seating area.
"Not much."
Loveless tilted her head. "It could be beautiful with some more love." She shifted her chin on his shoulder as she took the room in once more. "You should get a real dining table though."
"Yeah?" Paul asked. He could do that. "I'm not really good at the whole picking everything out." He gave a slight shrug, doing his best not to jostle her. "I can build a home and make sure the furnishings match - but I can't do all the other stuff to make it look like a home."
The brunette bit her lower lip to keep from blurting out that she would be happy to help. "Keep going."
Paul moved towards the long hallway to his left. He stopped at the first door to his right. "This is the laundry room with a half bath. The door leads out the back of the house." He pulled the door to and moved to the door on his left. "This is the downstairs bedroom with full bath." Paul pulled the door closed. "The last door is the guest bathroom."
"This place really is huge." She muttered under her breath, lips close to his ear. "Going upstairs now?"
The wolf nodded as he twisted around and headed away from the hallway and towards the stairs. They were off to the side a couple feet from the door leading out front. Paul's brows furrowed as he looked carefully at each step before he took them. There was no way he was going to chance whether the step would hold them both up. "This is the master bedroom."
"Okay?" She whispered once more. Her dark cerulean eyes flitted back and forth. "Where is the bed?" A soft giggle slipped passed her lips at the absurdity. "Don't you sleep up here?"
Paul shook his head and tightened his grip on her thighs as she giggled once more. "Hold on." Paul commented as he jostled her slightly - lifting her into the air as he laced his hands together under her. "Still okay?" He wasn't going to take a chance of making her uncomfortable.
"Sure." Loveless whispered out. She was 100 percent sure her voice would have cracked if she'd spoken up. And her mind was going to be stuck on the heated hands now cupping her bottom for the rest of the day. I wonder if I still feel them when he puts me down . . . Loveless gulped. Out of the gutter! She breathed in deeply, immediately calmed by his scent. "So?"
Paul smiled. "No, not really." He would have shrugged, but his mind and body was slightly preoccupied. And thankfully she was so far back to see how his body was choosing to react at this very moment. "Again, not very good at that type of shopping."
"I could help." Her eyes widened as the words fell from her lips without her permission. Can't take them back now. Not that she would. I'm choosing to ignore that statement. She was not okay with the fact that her body seemed to be against her when he was around. It wouldn't be so bad if she wouldn't ignore the call towards him. I'm going to ignore that statement too. She wouldn't be able to do that for much longer.
He stopped in his tracks. Paul wanted so bad to look at her. To read the facial expressions that flashed across her face. To know if she had meant to offer help or not. Paul sure as hell hoped she had. "Really?
"Yes." No backing out now. Loveless swallowed and tried to keep her heart from hitting him in the back. A cool tingling sensation prickled up her spine. Loveless blinked. What was she doing? Hadn't she decided to stay away from him? Her nose scrunched. There was a pull, though, something that kept dragging her back to him.
Paul took slow movements through the master bedroom as he headed back out and down the hallway. "I'd like that. The only reason I haven't got Erica to visit yet is because of the condition of the house." His voice was a soft murmur as he spoke to Loveless.
"We have to get the master bathroom shower working." She giggled before smacking him on the shoulder. "What kind of man has a tiled shower that can fit at least seven people in it, but doesn't use it?" She gasped in horror. "You have three different faucets!"
He chuckled, the wolf wagging his tail happily. "The top one is called a waterfall shower head."
"Sweet sugarplums." She groaned, a tingling sensation started in her toes and moved upward as she imagined the hot water. "I bet it is the best damn shower in the world."
Paul smirked. "It was when I installed it." He opened the next door with ease. "Hasn't been used in a little while though." Paul stepped inside and turned slowly to give her a full view.
"This is a library." Her eyes widened as she stared. "All the books."
His head tilted to the side as he tried to sneak a glance at her. "You like to read?"
"Love to read." She smiled at her fond memories at the library where she used to live. It had been an escape for her when she couldn't be protected by James and Vic. "Books are a good way to escape from reality." Loveless grinned and laid her chin back down on Paul's shoulder. "They can teach you many things too." Her blue eyes shimmered as they honeyed over with warmth. "I loved reading American Literature books the most."
Paul had absolutely no idea what that was, but he'd either stumble his way through it. Or he'd end up at the library while she was in school to learn it. "Erica likes books." He glanced around the library slash study. "I had built it somewhat for her. I have quite a few books." Held up in storage at Sam's.
"Where are they?" Loveless questioned with a giggle.
He smiled and jostled her around as he shrugged. Paul pulled the door closed behind them. He stopped halfway back towards the stairs case where a hallway to his right was positioned. "Two more bedrooms with bathrooms and closets."
"This house is huge." Loveless whispered, head resting on Paul's shoulder. She breathed out a soft sigh as the taller's heat seeped through the back of his shirt and into her. The chill that normally fluttered across her skin and numbed her bones seemed to have dissipated.
Paul nodded. "Some part of me wanted a huge family to fill this house." His voice was a deep rumble in his chest. Heart aching as he shed light on the secret he kept hidden from the pack. From everyone. And at most times, himself. Paul's heart squeezed. What if she laughed at him. He swallowed hard as he moved back down the stairs and to the living room once more.
"Thank you." Her voice was soft and sincere as she shifted into a different position back on the couch. "It really is a lovely floor plan." Loveless smiled and breathed out. She felt relaxed. relaxed to her core. She'd never felt this way. It was different, good.
He used the edge of the couch to lower his body to the floor. He grunted slightly as he let his back rest against the front of the couch. Paul stayed quiet for a few moments. "Would you?"
"Huh?" She blinked easily, sort of dazed. "What?"
Paul turned to look at the woman - his mate - sitting on his couch. He wanted to keep her there. Wanted her everywhere in his home. Their home. "Would you help me get the house . . . in order?"
"Yes." She smiled. The tugging in her chest became insistent. She leaned closer to the male sitting on the floor. "I would like that. You need to get a hold of your sister and see what her favorite colors are." Loveless grinned at the confused look she received. "So when we decorate a room for her, it will be more personalized."
He nodded, his wolf turning circles around the couch. "We . . . I'd like that." He swallowed, hoping she wouldn't read into the slip up too much.
"You're sister will like it too." She grinned widely. With a soft sigh, Loveless leaned back against the couch, hands laced together over her stomach.
Paul let his eyes rake over the woman over a second. "Are you feeling bad? Did you exert yourself too much?" His brows furrowed as he stared at her. "Do I need to call Emily?"
"You carried me around your house." She grinned and let out a soft giggle. "I'm fine. I feel completely relaxed." Her head tilted back against the couch. The sound of the clock ticking and the wind howling through the trees calmed her even more. "I could really get used to this."
Paul glanced at her. His heart stopped quickly in his chest. "Get used to what?"
"The quiet." She whispered, not wanting to break the easy spell that had fallen over them. "It's so peaceful." She hummed quietly. "What time is it?" Loveless' brows furrowed as she finally picked her head up. How much time had passed.
He chuckled softly and looked at the iPhone that rested on the low rise coffee table. "A little after four." He swallowed easy and breathed in deeply. Taking in the sent of his mate. The calmed and relaxed scent of his mate. It did things to his wolf. So this is what they feel. Paul had always wondered, had tried to understand, what Jared and Sam had meant when they talked about their imprints. Now he knew. The description didn't do it justice.
"When do you want to start?" Her nose twitched. Why did she feel the need to be around him so much?
Paul glanced up at her once more. "This weekend?" His lips pursed. "It will give me time to get a better foundation set in once more." He stood slowly. "I'll get some of the guys to come and help, that way you can walk around and not have to worry about your steps."
"You don't like carrying me around?"
He blinked. A slow smile broke across his lips. She was teasing him. "I don't mind." His grin turned wicked as he stared down at her. "But it might make things a little difficult in the long run." Goose-flesh fluttered over his skin at the flirty smile she sent him. God. She was amazing.
"I'll see you sweat." Loveless winked. She wasn't sure what had come over her. She felt so at ease. As if she was able to be the person she truly was. The person she only let come out around James and Vic. Loveless gazed imploringly at the male standing above her.
Paul chuckled and held out his hand. "Come on. Emily should be home." He smiled easily and pulled her towards him. "She's most likely worked herself into a tizzy worrying about you."
"Yeah?" Loveless held back a giggle. She had never thought about someone as strong as he was saying the word tizzy. A giggle bubbled in the back of her throat. Paul was different. A smile quirked on her lips. She Loveless liked that. "Okay, are you going to be coming over for dinner?"
He nodded. Heart and wolf soaring at the thought that she wanted him around. She was slowly making her way closer to him. "Sure." He continued to hold her hand as he closed the door to his house and moved down the way towards Emily and Sam's house. "Let's go."