Aeress

She looked out the window from her seat. This was her first time flying on a private jet.

The floor had a plush, grey rug. There was a black line running through the curved, white walls. The leather seats were a darker vanilla with silver trimmings. It was by far anything luxurious she had experienced.

She gazed guiltily over at Warrick who was-of course-typing away on his laptop. Every once in a while he switched to his phone.

Aeress assessed her formal wear with unease. A silk, white button-up and jet black slacks weren't exactly her choice of clothing.

She kept sneeking glances at the alluring man. Warrick had to have been the most quiet man she had met in her life. So brooding and silent, it was a miracle anyone built up the courage to address him. His startling beauty yet stoney face made for an intimidating man. Something about the chill air around him warned that he was a predator. There was a storm underneath his level facade, waiting patiently to be released.

And while he was terrible at communication and could work on his people skills, Aeress felt like she was the actual asshole, and least in this instance.

She took a deep breath and rose from her seat.

She sat next him, putting a safe amount of space between them. "Warrick, look at me, please."

His copper locks were darker than usual. He glanced up with those blues. He nodded. After a few taps, he shut his laptop.

He waited. Not a word spoken.

"Oh, right!" Aeress was startled, not expecting to get this far. "I wanted to get some stuff off my chest. I have noticed a pattern of me yelling at people who are only trying to make this situation... less overwhelming." She swallowed under the weight of his eyes. So he did have the ability of eye contact. "And while everything I said in the office came off as obnoxious, it was what I was feeling, what I am feeling."

She rubbed her temples. "You'd think this gets easier. I'm apologizing for my behavior. I understand now, at least a little, that your position it more than just a king." she laughed nervously. "And that makes you quite honestly the most famous person I have met. And that also means that your life is very different than mine. You have servants," his brows inched up in the slightest at that, "you probably enjoy fish eggs. You smell like Gucci or whatever rich people wear, which is a great thing-"

"Caviar."

Aeress blinked. "What?"

He frowned. She was beginning to believe that his frown did not mean what she initially assumed it meant. "You said fish eggs. Caviar."

Aeress smiled. "Sorry. Caviar... Am I forgiven for being an asshole?"

"You were right."

Aeress looked behind her to make sure he was addressing who she thought he was. "I'm sorry. What?"

His expression never shifted. "I am Premier. Friendliness is not a required skill. But you are my mate. This is a... Startling fact. We both must adjust. In the office room. You were right. I overwhelmed you."

Once again she was flabbergasted. "Really?" she placed a hand on his thigh. "That's great! Glad to know I am mated to a reasonable man."

He briefly looked down at her hand. "I don't think you understand the magnitude of what it means to be mated to me."

Aeress removed her hand. "From what I've read in novels, it's a pretty intense deal. But I'm not sure the difference between fiction and truth."

He nodded. "We are bonded. It is a connection which only strengthens with time."

"So... We are..." she gestured between them, "how do I ask this? Does this mean we are dating?" There was an obvious answer, but she wanted to hear it come off his lips.

He watched her intently. "Try not to think with human custom in mind. I am a werewolf. You are scented. Our souls do not know what it means to be boyfriend and girlfriend or the process of dating. We simply lay claim on each other. There are no before steps. Only after is what counts."

Aeress assessed the man. "So we must be together?"

He frowned. "Does this disappoint you?"

Aeress laughed. "I have no idea who you are as a person. How can I be excited or even dreadful when you are basically a stranger?"

He tensed, though he gave nothing away. "Are you willing?"

"Are you asking me out?"

"Would you say yes?"

She realized that she had inched closer to him. Her knee was brushing his thigh. He was warm. And no matter how scary he was, Warrick was gorgeous. "If you saw me off the street and we weren't mated, would you even have any interest in me?" Why did she always have to ask such stupid questions. She braced for his answer.

But his next actions most definitely caught her off guard. Warrick leaned forward until he was a whisper away. He studied her face a few seconds more. "You wouldn't believe my answer."

Aeress let herself quickly glance at his lips. "You're more observant than I give you credit for. You know, I hope my instincts aren't wrong."

He leaned back, relieving the tension between them. "About what?" She could tell he was itching to return to his laptop. It was actually kind of amusing.

She got up and went to lay down in her reclining seat. If she were being honest, she was still incredibly exhausted. "About you."

He was contemplative and quiet, like always. A few more ticks of silence passed. "Maybe." It was a whisper of a word. But it was enough.

______________________________________

Aeress came to as the aircraft shook with tremors.

"We are landing," the familiar voice informed her. She looked over to see him in a heavy jacket and boots.

She yawned. "So soon?" There was a thick jacket on her lap, along with hats and gloves.

"It's been three hours." The plane was skirting to a halt.

Aeress was still exhausted. "Oh. Okay." She pushed herself up to a sitting position with great effort. Her energy was drained to the very last drop. What the hell was going on?

Warrick came to a stand and straightened his clothing. He was gorgeous. His copper hair was combed and silky, stark against his pale skin. And the eyes. Lovely as usual. Too bad he always looked pissed off.

"I'm coming," she muttered, slumping forward.

"Hey!" He was in front of her in a second. His hand firmly clasped her jaw and he forced her to make eye contact. "What's happened?"

Blinking in itself was a chore. "I'm just tired. I gotta sleep. I'm fine." Her eyes were drifting shut. Why fight something she clearly needed?

His brows furrowed. He murmured a couple curses before she found herself cradled in his arms. "You are far from fine, Aeress." She snuggled closer and basked in how good he smelled and how she felt more safe than she had felt in a long time.

She had no strength to open her eyes.

Sleep now, a voice whispered within her head, coaxing her into a deep, peaceful slumber.

Aeress happily obliged.

______________________________________

Her eyes blinked open. What first registered was how rested she felt. She was calm to the point where she felt freaked out. It made absolutely no sense, yet it was a perfect description.

Aeress wasn't scared. She wasn't uncertain. This was her life, if only for a little while. Though from that talk with Warrick, she had a feeling it would be more than a week of living with werewolves. That alone was enough to wake her fully.

Once again she awakened to her body comfortably settled into a plush bed. The mattress was perfect, conforming and firm simulteneously. This room was different. Larger and gorgeous. The air smelled expensive, and also like chicken.

She looked to her side and was shocked to find Warrick right there yet again. This time he was standing with a plate of food in his hands. He wore a thin, long-sleeve t-shirt which outlined every sharp angle on his carved body. His black cargo pants fit perfectly to the muscles of his thighs and shapely bottom. Aeress could watch him all day.

She followed his line of sight and saw that the tv was on. It was interesting when she realized he was watching boxing. How fitting for a man who resembled a boxer.

Aeress could smell the meat on his plate from her position. Delicious.

"Blue shorts for sure is winning," she commented.

Warrick looked over. She appreciated the small hint of shock on his face, though it disappeared with haste. Warrick laid the plate on the side table and leaned over the bed to examine her. "How are you feeling?" She could tell by the way his hand clutched onto the blanket that he was itching to tear it off.

From this closer proximity, his beauty came to her with more clarity. It was distracting and overwhelming. This was what is was like to be around supermodels? She smiled. She couldn't help it. Then she laughed.

He frowned. "What?"

She sat up. "Aww don't do that!" she laughed. Aeress smoothed her thumbs softly over his tight lips. "You scare me with that scowl. Such a handsome man should smile, don't you think?" His skin was smooth, freshly shaven. "Did I tell you that? How handsome you are?" Her hands travelled upward, skimming over his sharp cheekbones and prominent eyebrows.

He was tense all over and softening under her contact. She couldn't stop touching him. Aeress couldn't understand, but she was smitten with this man. It was a crush. Maybe more, but she didn't care. This scowling man had caught her fancy. Something about him was worth exploring.

His eyes closed as her fingers delved into his silky abundance of copper strands. Warrick sighed. No amount of stress could compete with what that sounded like.

Her eyes trained on his lips and she was nervous. She wanted to kiss this infuriating man. His true character was a mystery but it didn't have any effect on her desire to taste those angry lips.

Acting out of courage, she softly lain her lips on his. It was lingering, and an act of leisure. It was simple, but it made her heart race and her blood pump furiously.

His hands snaked around her waist. She leaned in and the kiss developed with heat, exciting her to another level of want. Lust came charging forth. Her hands no longer lingered on his cheeks but trailing downward until she was clinging onto him with newfound strength.

He tore the blanket off her. She gasped when the cold hit her skin, adding to the shivers which were already bringing sensitivity to her flesh. Warrick never let her lips go unoccupied. She wanted to be intimidated by his obvious expertise but all she could do was bask in it.

Aeress was quickly warmed by his body as he covered her. She was breathless and wanting more and more.

He tasted just as she imagined.

His hand travelled down her back until his he palmed her bottom, pushing her up. Getting the hint, she wrapped her legs around his waist.

His lips trailed downwards. She trembled as she felt him tugging at her clothes. First was her t-shirt to come off, then her shorts. Her skin lifted with goosebumps under exposure. Aeress felt sexy and bold.

Her own hands were on active search. They crept up his shirt, against his sculpted abdominal. She was surprised to feel the scars there, but it also made sense even as it frightened her. Aeress gasped. "Wow," she breathed against his lips, he leaned back and she saw the uncertanty there, "beautiful."

His eyes widened before he got back to work. Aeress was enslaved by his intesnity. It was too much and not enough.

Now while her body begged for attention, her mind tried to have some level of reasoning. She had just met this man. Now while she wasn't a virgin, it didn't mean she just slept with anyone. In fact, being in her early twenties, her maximum body count was two. Both were boyfriends.

She lost her train of thought when he bit down on the part of her neck that suddenly became her sweet spot. Aeress moaned.

His fingers hooked onto the band of her underwear and that was when she slammed back into reality.

"Wait, please." She hated herself when he stopped.

He looked at her and she could tell he was confused. There was a question there.

"We were about to have sex, right? See I would happily let this train run, but I still kinda have no idea who you are. I'd just like to get to know you better. That was lame, I'm sorry."

"I'll take you to dinner then," he blurted out.

Aeress couldn't help but gasp or her sly smile. "Are you asking me out?"

He frowned. "What would you say if I said yes?"

Aeress trailed her fingers upwards until her fingerpad smoothed over his brow. "Taking into account that I almost broke my number one rule for you, I'd say it's safe to say I would be intrigued by a candelight dinner with you."

His eyes briefly visited her lips. "What is this rule?"

Aeress leaned in and whispered softly just by his ear, "make 'em work for it."



Black Lives Matter.