"Miss Talia, can I speak with you?", Axel called from the hallway.

Talia glanced at Caden and Maya who were only two steps away from Talia, pretending not to see anything.

Betas were unusually reserved during lunch and after it, and Talia assumed that they have something else on their minds, probably their next tasks.

Talia didn't think badly about Axel. In Talia's opinion, Axel was the quiet, thinking type, which is unusual for werewolves, but she is an odd one also, so she felt like they have something in common.

"Sure. Is it OK to talk here, or do we need privacy?"

Talia hoped that Axel won't pick privacy because she remembered how Damon would barge in and turn borderline crazy every time Talia talked with an Alpha… or with a guy… or with anyone. Really, now that she thought about it, Damon didn't like when she talked with people.

Should she be worried about it? No. Damon was probably worried about her safety, that's all.

"Here is fine.", Axel said with a smile. "I just wanted to remind you of my offer. If you need anything, anytime, feel free to call me. I hope that in the near future you come and visit the Midnight Guardians pack."

Talia was happy to hear this. Just a few minutes ago, Alpha Maddox and Mindy told her that she can visit the Blue River pack, and now she got another open invitation. She wondered if all Alphas are this welcoming.

While she was in the Red Moon pack, Talia was living under the radar but she saw Alpha and his family acting like they are above everyone else, but since she met Damon, Talia's opinion about Alpha's is changing. Maddox and Axel and nice and easy to get along with and Damon... is Damon. He falls into a separate category that Talia was unable to label at that point.

Kai and Tyler handed their business cards to Talia and Axel encouraged her to take them. "In case I'm not available, you can also reach out to Kai and Tyler. They will do their best to assist you with whatever you need."

Talia accepted the business cards while mentally assigning them number four and number five in the contact list of her phone she is yet to acquire.

"Thank you, Axel. That is very kind of you.", Talia responded. "To be honest, I don't think I deserve such a good treatment."

"Every person deserves to be treated with kindness and respect. That is not a privilege.", Axel said right away, and Talia looked at him in awe. She really liked what he said.

'BEEP! BEEP!'

A loud siren made everyone look at the dark blue SUV from where Maddox and Mindy were waving.

Talia raised her hand and waved back enthusiastically. She didn't realize at what point Damon reached her side to stand between her and Axel, like a human shield.

And with that, Alpha Maddox and Mindy were gone.

"Alpha Damon…", Axel called. "We are grateful for your hospitality, and we hope to see each other again, soon."

"Thank you for coming", Damon returned the pleasantry. "I'm sure we will see each other as soon as the circumstances allow it."

After some more pleasantries and handshakes that involved not just Damon and Axel, but Kai, Tyler, and Talia also, the trio headed to their car, and Damon put his hand on Talia's back, urging her to come with him to escort the guests.

Without thinking, Talia stood by Damon and waved as Axel's car left, and then she turned to see that Caden and Maya were not in sight.

Talia thought how this looked like Damon and she were hosts who escorted their guests.

"What do you plan to do now?", Damon asked.

"I will read the book that Doctor Travis gave me.", Talia responded without missing a beat.

Considering that guests are gone and that they will have leftovers from lunch for dinner (so there was no need to cook), Talia thought how this is the perfect time for her to do what she wanted to do from the moment Travis gave her the book.

Seeing that Damon was just staring at her, Talia thought of returning the question, "What will you do?"

"I have a mountain of paperwork to go through." He really did because of the festival and because he was ditching work in order to spend time with Talia.

"Sounds important."

Damon shrugged. "Reports, plans, bills. For some, I need to decide how to deal with the matter, and some are just waiting for me to read them, and maybe sign."

Talia thought how being an Alpha is not easy. Other than dealing with his personal matters, Damon is responsible for the whole pack, the town, money, security… she couldn't imagine how much work it is, but it is definitely a lot.

Talia only wanted to learn cooking and to read a book, yet she was failing at both. Compared to Damon, she was definitely lacking in accomplishing her goals.

"You are a great Alpha.", Talia voiced her thoughts.

Damon's heart swelled. He really liked that Talia praised him. "I'm doing what needs to be done."

Damon took Talia's hand in his and led the way inside. "Let's start with our tasks so that we can relax in the evening."

Talia lowered her head and stared at their connected hands. Why did it sound like Damon plans to spend his evening with her? She didn't dare to ask for clarification.

…

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...

Talia was not sure at what point they reached the third floor. Why was Damon here, still holding her hand? Didn't he say that he has a mountain of paperwork? Talia assumed that he would work from the study. Why did he follow her into her room?

The door closed behind them with a bang and Talia found herself in Damon's embrace.

And there it was… Damon's lips pressed against Talia's with urgency, and the flavor of dark chocolate seeped into her while the scent of the forest was all around her, just how Damon was.

His tongue made its way into her mouth, and Talia held onto Damon's shoulders to steady herself because her legs turned into jelly.

It was all too sudden, and he swallowed her whimper greedily.

Damon was holding back his urges to hold and taste Talia since that morning.

Yes, they spent most of the day together; he held Talia's hand under the table during breakfast and lunch, and he even got to embrace her (from behind) at the training center, but it was not close enough.

He needed to feel her all the time.

The sparks of the bond were soothing Damon's temper but at the same time, he craved for more. More touching, more kissing, more Talia.

Talia felt like floating.

From the moment she kissed him back, her thoughts about reading the book flew away with the flurry of emotions that trashed her insides with every move Damon made.

Only when he lowered her on the bed, she realized that the floating sensation was because Damon carried her.

She didn't notice that Damon kicked Cinna off the bed before he got on top of her.

Damon used his elbow to prop himself up so that he doesn't squish her, without disturbing the frenzy of kisses that consumed them.

Kissing, licking, sucking, nipping… moaning, groaning… it all felt just right, but it was only spurring them further and Damon was close to losing control when the scent of her arousal hit him.

He got lower just a bit, and Talia arched her body upward, eager to feel him more, but the only thing she felt was the bulge that pressed on her upper thigh and her eyes sprang open when she realized what it was.

"Don't worry, kitten…", he murmured into her lips. "I will never do anything against your will."

Talia breathed heavily, struggling to think under the influence of Damon's intoxicating scent that was amplified by his proximity.

Against her will? What does she want? Talia was not sure.

Her body screamed for Damon's proximity, urging her to open up and give him everything she has, while her insecurities whispered that the only thing she will get in return, no matter how much she gives him, is heartbreak.

Damon could feel doubts gathering in her heart.

"Is this too much?", he asked and before she could answer, Damon was talking again, "The whole day I am thinking about you, kitten. You have no idea how happy I am whenever you look at me, touch me, kiss me."

Talia's lips lifted into a smile. She was thinking about him as well.

"What about you?", Damon asked and this time he waited a second before asking his next questions, "Do you like being with me? Do you wish to touch me, to kiss me?"

Talia licked her lips nervously that suddenly turned dry. How can she admit those thoughts? But lying didn't sound good either.

Damon was elated to see Talia nodding in response. It was a shy nod, but it happened. It definitely happened.

"You do?", Damon asked. "You are not saying that only to make me feel better?"

Talia blinked. Is it possible that the scary Alpha is insecure? No way! Damon is powerful and confident and handsome. Why would he be insecure about a nobody like Talia?

But then… here they are, in bed, he asked her a question and is waiting for her to speak up.

Talia swallowed hard as impossible heat crept up her neck and was threatening to melt her cheeks.

Damon chuckled when he saw Talia's bashful expression and then he kissed her again and again. He told himself that every next kiss will be the last one and they will go about their business, but every kiss only left him craving for more and he couldn't stop.

How can he stop when his precious mate is holding him tightly and returning his kisses?

But he made sure to move a bit sideways and not risk her feeling how aroused he was. It was not time for that step. Yet.

After an unknown measure of time, Damon inched away from Talia with difficulty.

"I need to work", he said. "It's so difficult to leave you, kitten. I know it's selfish, but I want us to be together all the time, just the two of us."

Talia was dazed. Her lips were throbbing, and her system was saturated with the flavors of dark chocolate, and Damon was saying some sweet words she had difficulty understanding. Did he say that he wants them to be always together? Just the two of them?

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