Elizabeth
It had been years since I’d slept so peacefully. I hadn’t had any bad dreams that night, and I woke up remembering the amazing kisses Eric and I shared.
Later in my bedroom, it took me a long time to fall asleep. I would often touch my lips, unsure if it had been real. Eric didn’t sleep in my room anymore. I was feeling better, and I wanted my privacy. However, I had grown accustomed to waking up and seeing him sitting in the armchair next to me. So, when I sighed that morning before I opened my eyes to face the day, I felt alone for not having him there.
Loneliness only grew deeper when I went down to the palace’s kitchen and Anna and Jessica informed me that Eric had left with Shane and would be away for two days. It would be just the girls and me and it seemed they had plans. They were talking about an afternoon practice they had to attend.
Anna was a strong warrior, even as a woman. I would like to be as skilled as she was. I shared my thoughts with her. Jessie gave me a tight hug, making me feel a bit uncomfortable but not panicky. A woman’s touch was much different from a man’s touch, besides Jessie was loveable like that. She would hug everybody in her family. She was a hugging person like a mom should be. Her actions and easy smile made it hard for me to see her as our mom and Anna’s grandmother, but she was wiser than she would let us know.
Her hug was not innocent. She had a purpose with it. The goal was to convince me to go with them to watch the training. They explained to me that it was the community training, where many would go to learn how to fight and protect themselves. I was more than welcome to join them now that I was part of the family and the community.
Since I had nothing better to do and Eric wasn’t home, I accepted and followed them.
I fell in love with what I saw.
I could be strong and fast and resistant, but I lacked the skills to know how to use my advantages to protect myself and attack others. Anna was a fantastic teacher, and Jessie was a good cheerleader. The practicing, the running, the fighting, the dodging were good for me. Focusing on learning how to fight would make me forget all the pain and self-pity. It gave me confidence, and I decided to do it as many times as I could.
Crying wouldn’t take me anywhere. If I really wanted to save my sister from that monster, I would have to learn how to fight and stop running away.
The next morning, I went to practice again. When I returned home with the girls, Eric was already there. Feeling his aura and smelling his spicy scent made me want to run to him and jump in his arms. Just like the first time I smelled him, before running from him because of how he looked. But all I did was stare at him and greet him with a shy “Hi,” before running to the kitchen with the girls.
They sure ate a lot. They also made me eat all sorts of cakes and sugary things, even if I didn’t eat food, but they called it therapy. I enjoyed eating ice-cream while watching TV with Marie, back then when we were together and happy. It was our ritual or bonding time to share secrets and thoughts.
Spending time with Anna and Jessica made me feel less lonely, but I still missed Marie and thought she would love to meet my new family. They would be best friends as I was becoming with them, but Marie would be happier and more talkative than me. She was always more outgoing and attracted friends with less effort. I was more reserved. Marie was the charming one; I was the shy and quiet older sister. We were one year apart from one another, which made us practically twins.
“I’ve missed you.”
I got startled by the feeling of two hands over my eyes and his voice behind me.
It was Eric. Though, I was too distracted to notice his arrival.
Touching his hands, I took them off and turned to face him. It was a mistake because I became trapped between the counter and his body. Panic drowned me and made my head hurt from the sudden pressure. It was hard to breathe.
His hands squeezed my shoulders. “Did I frighten you?”
I fought the dizziness and focused on his gentle face. My throat hurt when I spoke. “I don’t like to feel trapped.”
“Oh!” He let me go and stepped back. “Better?”
Closing my eyes, I breathed in his scent. Eric smelled delicious. I wanted to float away to another realm where his scent was the only thing surrounding and haunting me.
I heard giggles which made me open my eyes. Anna and Jessica were watching something on Jessie’s phone, distracted and not minding my mate and me.
My attention was drawn to Eric. “You just caught me off guard. I was only expecting you to return tomorrow.”
“I finished what I had to do sooner.” His warm breath touched my skin. “We need to get you a cell phone. I had no way to talk to you while I was away, and I left without saying goodbye. I hope you can forgive me.”
“I’m sure you had your reasons,” I said.
His hands reached for mine. “Did you miss me while I was away?” He beamed, and I wondered if I had that effect on him.
“I was really busy with the girls,” I replied.
I am an idiot. I should have told him yes, instead of pretending not to care about him and his departure. We had kissed and bonded before he left. We were a real couple, now, weren’t we?
“Oh …” His eyes lost their glow.
“A phone would be nice if you don’t mind that I have one.”
“Why would I mind?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “I’ll buy you one tomorrow. Then, I can call you every time I miss you.”
I smiled. “Did you miss me?”
“Yes. I had a lot of time to plan our next date.”
“Are you sure that’s wise?”
“I believe I’ve learned my lesson.”
I chuckled.
Eric tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “I like your hairstyle.”
“Jessica braided my hair.”
“It’s beautiful. You’re beautiful.”
Blood rushed to my face, and I looked at his torso while nibbling my lower lip. I had no idea what to say to that.
“I’m going to my bedroom. I need to shower,” I informed him. I dared to look up and saw him stepping away from me.
I headed to the exit while mentally cursing the fact that I didn’t tell him how much I had missed him. He hadn’t tried to kiss me either. Why didn’t I confess that I had missed him?
Vulnerability. Answering and confessing how much I needed him was a vulnerability. Besides, the bond would do that. How did I know it was a real feeling? If he wasn’t my mate, would I miss him?
“I would like to see you later,” Eric said, turning around to see me.
I waited against the kitchen’s door and noticed how Jessie glanced at us. They were aware of our conversation, even if they seemed distracted.
“I’ll be in my room.”
I left and focused on getting to my room and falling on my bed. I badly needed some peace and quiet. Some time alone.
I was feeling calm and focused when he was away. Now that he came back, all the shivering, the lack of calm, and the roller-coaster of feelings were crashing against my chest and being analyzed in my head. Maybe having a soul-mate wasn’t such a great thing when physical touch and sexual fantasies were the things you feared the most.