At the Lightclaw pack, after settling things with Cassie and her father, Damon and Talia went to their room to pack. It was time to go home.
On their way out, Talia and Damon were greeted by Mindy, Maddox, Kalina, and Tony who all looked at Talia with renewed interest. Her performance while deciding punishment for Cassie impressed all of them.
Mindy, Kalina, and Talia exchanged hugs while reminding each other that they will meet soon at the Dark Howlers pack.
During the travel back home, Damon didn't let go of Talia's hand unless it was absolutely necessary, and during the plane ride, she sat in his lap.
They kept the chat light and didn't make out, but his intense gaze came with a silent promise of many pleasures to come, and Talia's insides trembled in anticipation.
Talia was lost in her thoughts about the recent events, and she didn't realize at what point they reached their destination.
~ Dark Howlers pack ~
Damon stopped the car in front of the packhouse and exited the car first, to open the door for Talia.
His boyish grin directed at her made Talia's insides melt into emotional mush. She was absolutely smitten.
Damon offered Talia his hand palm up, and she placed her hand into his without hesitation.
After closing the door behind Talia, Damon went to the back of the car to get the suitcase out of the trunk, and this time, Talia knew that the magic was not over and that Damon will take her hand and walk into the packhouse together with her. And he did.
They arrived in time for lunch, and Talia's enthusiasm dwindled when she saw Stephanie and Maya, both in low spirits. It didn't seem right to be happy when two other people in the room had dark clouds above their heads.
It took Talia a moment to remember that Maya was suffering because Caden was away, and she guessed that Stephanie's bad mood must be related to Lisa.
They had moussaka for lunch that day. Normally, lunch is very simple because everyone is busy, so it's usually either leftovers or sandwiches (or sandwiches made with leftovers), but now Damon and Talia returned from their trip, so Stephanie wanted to make something.
"Is Lisa here?", Damon asked while putting food into Talia's plate.
"She's in her room since last night.", Stephanie responded with finality that indicated she didn't want to talk about it.
Lisa locked herself in her room and refused to come out. It was understandable that Lisa was upset with Tony finding his mate and Kalina getting the party that Lisa always wanted, but Stephanie wished that Lisa sees how the reality can't be changed and that drifting between sorrow and anger is harming only Lisa. Tony was out of Lisa's reach and Lisa needed to snap out of it.
Stephanie hoped that Lisa will cry it out, and move on. Eventually.
"How was the party?", Maya started the chit-chat.
"Party?", Damon asked and made a face like he was thinking about something intently.
Other than spending time with Talia, eating, dancing, and wanting to go to their room as soon as possible, he didn't remember much. Damon never chatted about things he deemed insignificant, and he didn't want to talk about the only things that were important (Talia's sweet pussy milking his cock and Talia crying his name breathlessly). That was for him and Talia to know. Private.
"I'm not the best person to comment on the party, but I'm sure Talia has stories to tell. She made a friend and she secured us a tribute from the Steelbite pack."
Talia smiled at Damon's words. She made a friend, Kalina.
Maya was interested in the second part. "What tribute?"
Maya wondered, why would Alpha Richard give them tribute?
Talia shook her head with a smile, indicating that it's not a big deal. She didn't want to talk about Cassie. "Damon needs to negotiate the tribute. When that happens, you will know more than I will."
It was the first time for Talia to attend such an event, and she thought how everything was amazing, especially Damon's company. He made everything better. However, considering Maya's and Stephanie's low mood, Talia didn't feel like raving about her good time, so she shared a few reserved points about Kalina, decorations, food, and she mentioned that Mindy was there also, and Talia left it at that.
After lunch, Damon and Talia went to their room and Talia immediately started unpacking the suitcase and putting things into the hamper.
"Why are you doing that?", Damon asked. That's something an Omega can handle, later.
Talia assumed that Damon was eager to get to work, and as his assistant, she should accompany him.
"It will take only a minute.", Talia said. "I will shower quickly and head to the study…" Her voice trailed when Damon hugged her from behind.
He buried his face in the crook of her neck and took a deep breath, allowing her sweet citrusy scent of freesia to fill up his system.
"I could also use a shower. How about we do it together?"
Talia's cheeks ignited fiercely. She told herself to calm down. After all, she was with Damon in a tub. Twice. A shower won't be a big deal. Right?
Five minutes later…
Talia realized how wrong she was. Sure, she took a bath with Damon twice, but no matter how much they touched and kissed, the bubbly water provided some resemblance of decency by obstructing the clear view of their private parts, yet now in the shower, it was just the two of them, nude, with droplets falling on them and not providing any coverage.
Damon was right there, at her arm's reach, in his naked glory, and she fought mightily to look at his face and not at his erection.
Damon could feel her shyness, anticipation, arousal, and he wanted to devour her right there, under the shower.
He wondered, would Talia be so reluctant if she knew how he feels about her? But really feel, without any doubts, through the mate bond.
He was aware that just telling her won't do much because she probably won't believe him.
Little by little, he was chipping away her insecurities and he hoped that soon she will realize how amazing she is and stand proudly all the time, and not only when she is fighting against injustice.
Damon squeezed shower gel on the sponge and handed it to Talia. "Will you wash my back?"
Talia nodded in small jerky movements and grabbed the sponge.
With him turning his back on her, Talia exhaled the breath she was holding, and she washed him in circular movements while admiring the majestic landscape of his back.
Talia swallowed audibly when her eyes settled on his perfect ass. She was confident that if she drops a coin there, it will bounce a few times how firm it is.
Everything about Damon was hard, other than his lips and hair. She confirmed that.
Talia remembered that at some point during the previous night she was holding onto that glorious ass while Damon was thrusting into her.
She pressed her legs together while chiding herself silently. Why was she having those thoughts? Was she hoping it will happen again? Of course, she was, but she was too shy to admit that… even to herself.
Damon released a sharp breath and turned to face her flustered expression.
"You did good, kitten."
Talia was surprised by this sudden compliment. "I was just washing your back."
Damon shook his head. "That was good also, but I was talking about our stay at the Lightclaw pack. I was impressed."
"By what?"
"By everything."
His intense gaze made her breathy.
Damon took a step towards her, and Talia took a step back on an instinct.
He cocked an eyebrow. "Are you avoiding me, kitten? Should I leave?"
Damon stepped back and Talia grabbed his hand. She didn't want him to leave.
"I'm not avoiding you. It's just… I wasn't expecting you to be this close."
"But I want to come closer.", Damon said in a whiny voice. "Can I?"
Seeing her nod shyly, Damon asked, "What else can I do?"
Her heart thundered in her throat, and she feared that it might jump out.
"Whatever you want.", she said in a whisper as arousal swelled inside her.
Damon hummed ambiguously. "I want you to continue washing me."
Talia paused. She thought that he will want to kiss and touch her, yet he asked for a washing service. Was he teasing her or was that huge erection just for decoration?
Damon took the shower gel and flicked the sponge out of her hand.
"Use your hands, kitten."
He squeezed the thick bluish liquid into her hands that came together, and he moved closer to Talia so that he can press his palms on the wall behind Talia, trapping her between his arms.
Talia lathered gingerly Damon's pecs. Every rotation of her hands made her a bit bolder as she went lower toward his rock-hard abs.
Damon closed his eyes and enjoyed the delightful sparks of their bond that danced over his skin wherever she touched him.
Talia was lost in the daze because Damon was super-close and she also got to feel him out freely, and only when she reached his navel did she realize that there might be a problem and all her courage sizzled away.
"Why did you stop?", Damon asked with a devious smile on his face.
Talia sheepishly looked up to meet his eyes that challenged her.
"Continue washing me, kitten. All of me."
