"Don't leave me, Talia…", Damon murmured. "Don't leave."
Damon's words touched Talia's soul in a way she couldn't explain, and the world around them faded. There was no amusement park, no loud music, no cheers nor screams from people taking the rides, no packs and no responsibilities, it was just the two of them, Damon and Talia.
Talia remembered their talk on the bench. Damon lost his parents and his friends, and he said that even with that, he was not lonely because she was by his side, and… she left.
Talia knows very well how it feels to be alone, without anyone to share good or bad things in life. She remembered how much happiness Olivia brought into her life just by being there and treating her kindly, and how hollow Talia felt when Olivia left the pack.
Talia thought that maybe, just maybe, if it's about holding hands and giving company, she can be that someone who will relieve Damon's loneliness, until he finds his Luna.
She knew that the more time she spends with Damon, the more it will hurt when he moves on, but she saw this as her chance to repay him for his kindness. After all, Alpha Damon gave her a second lease on life, and if she can be a person who makes him less lonely by holding his hand, she will do it.
Talia's arms snaked around Damon, and she rested her head on his chest.
"As long as you need me, I won't leave, Damon." Her words were just above a whisper, but Damon heard her very well.
Damon's wolf wagged his tail at this. Talia said that she will not leave and that was a big deal. Damon was happy as well, but he needed more.
Damon touched Talia's chin to lift her head so that he can see her face.
He observed her keenly for a few long seconds before asking, "What if I need you forever?"
Talia wanted to say how there is no such thing. Sooner or later (sooner than later), he will find his Luna or his next pet project, and he will forget all about Talia, but she didn't want to nitpick.
"Then, I will stay by your side forever."
Damon's breath hitched. She said it. Forever.
"Remember your words, Talia."
"This is not about words, but about actions.", Talia responded. "When you don't need me anymore, I will know, and I will leave. There will be no need for you to say anything."
Damon understood that as long as he treats Talia right, she will stay by his side. That sounded good because he had no intention of harming her, but what if he does it accidentally?
"Promise me one thing.", he demanded. "Promise that no matter what happens, you won't leave without an explanation."
Talia thought how that was acceptable. After all, when he finds his Luna or whatever girl he decides to tease next, there will be no need for lengthy explanations, and he will not care about Talia's reason for leaving.
"Alright.", Talia agreed.
Damon tightened his hug around Talia, and a second later, he sat on the ground and pulled Talia to sit on his lap.
He cradled her in his arms and buried his face in the crook of her neck, enjoying the sweet citrusy scent of freesia and delightful sparks that tingled wherever they touched.
The clingier Damon was, the more guilty Talia felt. She was supposed to return to the bench and not act out like a child running away from home. She wanted to apologize, and she hoped that he won't ask for an explanation, because she didn't have one to give.
"I'm sorry for..."
"Shh…", he interrupted her. "There is no need for apologies. If you are truly sorry, don't do it again."
"OK", she said softly and leaned her forehead on his shoulder.
'We almost lost her, damnit!', Damon said to his wolf while tightening his hold on Talia.
'But we didn't.', his wolf stated the fact. 'You can feel that she is enjoying our proximity. Keep going like this, and she will accept us fully.'
Damon agreed. Instead of discomfort, there was a warm and fuzzy feeling and he really hoped those are Talia's emotions.
Talia felt Damon's fingers making small circles on her back and she thought how it's silly that the scary Alpha was so clingy, but Damon wanted to cuddle, and she let him have it.
She hoped that no one important will see them like this, but with the way they were sitting, both of their faces were hidden, so it was fine.
"Is this OK?", Damon's words splashed on her neck.
"Yes.", she responded in a whisper, surprised that she didn't have the strength to talk properly.
"Are you comfortable?"
"Yes." She really was.
Just like every time before, Damon's hold was warm and solid, and she loved his scent.
And she loved the most that they can sit in silence, and it was not awkward at all.
Talia wondered, why did she leave? Was it because Damon was talking with those two women?
Now that she calmed down, Talia thought how that was silly. Even if there were five women, they are not Talia's competition because she is not competing. She was not sure if she can even call Damon a friend and she had no idea what she is to him, and she was afraid to find out. If he said that he sees her as his friend, she wouldn't believe him, and if he calls her his pet or a temporary source of amusement, she would be saddened, so she decided not to ask.
"Damon?", Talia called after an unknown measure of time.
"Hmm?"
"When are we going back home?"
"Never.", he responded without missing a beat. He liked that she called it 'home'.
Talia couldn't believe this. "We need to go back eventually."
Damon lifted his head to see her face, and Talia blushed in an instant because they were super close. Their noses nearly touched!
"You don't like it here, with me, kitty?", Damon asked.
It took her a moment to realize that he called her 'kitty' because of the headband she was wearing.
"It's not that I don't like it, but both of us have things to do and…" She was not sure how to finish this.
Damon gave her a half-smile. "You like it, I like it, and that's all that matters. We can stay here until one of us doesn't like it anymore."
Talia wondered, how can he be so easygoing? "Tomorrow is the Summer Solstice, and everyone is busy with preparations. It doesn't seem right that we are here relaxing."
Damon knew that Talia was right, but he was not willing to go back. It's been ages since he took a day off, and it was him and Talia and no one else, and he wanted to prolong this as much as possible. It was barely lunchtime, damnit!
"There are still many rides for us to try."
"We can try them next time."
"Next time." He liked that.
So far, he always had a cramp in his chest out of fear that Talia will disappear, and he won't be able to find her, yet now she said, 'next time', which means that she will stay longer. Forever, hopefully.
Damon was planning to spend the whole day here and to end it with a magnificent view of the sunset from the Ferris Wheel, and if the things look promising, he would go for the kiss on the lips, but 'next time' sounded good also. He will take it. Maybe next time they do more than just holding hands. Who knows?
Damon lowered his head and nudged her neck with his nose, making her hairs stand on ends.
"Mmm", he hummed, and she could feel his lips moving against the skin of her neck as he spoke, his every word sent jolts of electricity through her body, "I enjoy holding you like this, kitty. Give me a few more minutes."
Talia fisted Damon's shirt to steady herself.
She was sitting on Damon's lap, with his solid arms holding her against his chest, and her mind was spinning. She thought that she might faint, but she didn't.
The sensation was new and totally out of her comfort zone, yet she didn't want it to stop and part of her regretted that she brought up going back home because for a reason unknown to Talia, right there in Damon's arms, she felt a sense of belonging that made her loneliness disappear and she wished that they can stay like that forever.
