Keith chuckled at Arya's flustered expression.
Their bond was still forming, but it was strong enough for him to feel the difference between what he felt for Talia and what Arya stirred within him.
He didn't like that Arya would think about any man other than him, but he couldn't blame her because a small part of his heart was reserved for Talia, and it will always be that way.
Keith put his palm on Arya's cheek. "Tell me, Arya… can Alpha Cristian make you feel these sparks?"
"No," Arya responded in a small voice. Other than a few times when she stumbled during training, and Alpha Cristian caught her, they never touched. And it was never so gentle and charged with sparks.
Keith leaned closer. "Can he make you feel this anticipation that stirs the butterflies in your stomach?" His breath splashed against her lips.
Arya inhaled a shaky breath, and she realized that he was picking up her emotions. "You are cheating."
"Everything is fair in love and war, Arya. As a general, you should know that."
"Ex-gen..." Keith swallowed the rest of her words in a fiery kiss, one that made her toes curl and proved that no other man could make her feel that way.
Keith's restraints were slipping. They were in bed, and her soft curves filled all his hard edges. Her left hand was firmly planted on his back while her left one was lost in his hair, and when she moaned into the kiss, his wolf scratched to come out and claim Arya as his.
Arya was lost in the flavors of cotton candy that filled her system. It was addictive and electrifying, and she had never felt anything like that. She wanted more, much more from the male that was holding her. His embrace was solid, and everywhere she touched was firm. He was beyond perfect.
Keith pulled out of the kiss abruptly, and they both panted.
Seeing Arya's confused gaze, Keith explained, "We should stop here, or we will give a good show to your roommates on the other side of that curtain."
Arya bit her lower lip and nodded. He was right. How did her hands end up under his t-shirt?
Keith pulled her into a tight embrace, and they stayed like that in silence.
"Do you think Luna Talia will forgive me?" Arya asked after some time.
"Definitely."
"And you think that I can be her guard?"
"Why not? You can do whatever you want. But wouldn't it be great for us to work together? When Talia goes to some meetings or events, we will accompany her. Whenever Alpha Damon is by her side, which is most of the time, we won't be needed, so we can treat that as a vacation. Do you like to travel? I always wanted to go to Hawaii and learn to surf."
At the mention of Alpha Damon, Arya remembered one more detail.
"Hold on with vacation planning."
"You don't like to travel?"
"I'm not sure. I never left the Spring Leaf pack." How could an orphan afford to travel? And once she started earning, Arya was busy training and with her duties.
"What is it then? Is it the money? Don't worry about it. The only things you should worry about are picking the place and duration. Your man has the money to make it happen." He didn't want to boast, but his protein shake business was doing very well, and with him staying with Katya and living a modest life, Keith could be categorized as rich.
Arya could feel his sincerity, and she thought he was sweet. "That's not it either."
Keith was confused. "What is it?"
"Maybe Luna Talia forgives me, but Alpha Damon gave me a different vibe."
"When?"
"Remember the thing about me insulting her? Well… she snapped and used her aura on me, telling me that she was the dominant one and we were in a kind-of ambiguous position when Alpha Damon appeared. He snatched Luna Talia like I was bullying her, but she was the one on top of me."
"Oh…" A silly sound escaped Keith's lips. Talia and Arya in an ambiguous position with Talia on top? He would pay big money to see that. It was probably hot as hell.
"Alpha Damon might be a problem," Keith said. "But as long as you take the blood oath, it should be fine."
"A blood oath?"
Keith confirmed. "All Talia's guards are required to take a blood oath and swear loyalty. Alpha Damon is protective of his mate, but if you take the oath and show good results as a warrior, I'm confident he won't have objections. After all, I am head of Luna Talia's guards, and he gave me the authority to appoint and dismiss people who will guard her."
"So…" Arya drawled. "You are like a big deal there?"
"I am the biggest deal there, baby," he said cockily and added in a small voice, "After Alpha and Luna, of course."
Arya looked at him dreamily. She had no idea what tomorrow will bring, but being with Keith on the bed and holding each other, made her feel like there were no problems in the world.
The minutes trickled away, and Keith and Arya couldn't sleep.
They were both under the influence of recent events, and their minds raced about what was yet to come.
"Tell me more about your pack and your family," Arya demanded. "I want to know what to expect when we go there. When are we going?"
"We can go as soon as you are discharged from the hospital, and you say goodbye to your friends." He remembered that Arya said she had no family, so he didn't mention that.
"Doctor said I can be discharged tomorrow. As for friends… I don't have any."
"None?"
"There are Alpha Cristian and Luna Michelle, but they already know I'm going. There are a few others, but I don't want to say goodbyes. The Dark Howlers pack is only a few hours' drive away, and with you training warriors from the Spring Leaf pack, I'm sure I will see them often." Arya pursed her lips while thinking. "However, if you have some time and are willing, I would like to introduce you to them. As my mate."
Keith felt joy swelling in him. She wanted to show him off. He approved.
"Tell me what you like to eat," Keith said. "I will ask my sister to make it when we get there."
"Your sister will cook for us? That's sweet of her. You should tell me more about your family." There were so many things she didn't know.
Keith was stuck on Arya's question about Katya cooking for them. Should he tell her that he lives in one room in a house that's owned by his big sister and her mate? Won't that make him appear weak?
Keith glanced at the time to see it was after three o'clock in the morning, and then he called through the pack link, 'Alpha? Are you awake?'
'I am now,' Damon grumbled. 'What is it?'
'Is it too much to ask that you arrange a single-family home for me and Arya? She will come with us and…'
'Fine!' Damon snapped. 'Anything else?'
'No. Thank you. Sorry for…' Keith stopped talking when he realized that Damon closed the mind-link forcibly.
"Yes, my sister will cook for us," Keith said to Arya. "She is not much of a cook, but it's free, and I don't need to get my hands dirty, so I'm not complaining."
Arya stifled a laugh. "That sounded like a complaint. You said that your sister owns a nightclub, the Shifters. I heard about it. With you being the owner's bother, does that mean we get backstage passes?"
"Absolutely," Keith said with a smug expression. "I will make you my special cocktails, and we will dance, and I will punch the daylights out of any guy who dares to come close to you."
"Punching aside, it sounds like a great place. I guess that's where we will spend our evenings. I was mostly focused on my training and missions, and I didn't get to party much…"
Keith's brows came together at the thought of going to Shifters every night. Sure, as a single guy, he would go there often, but now that he had a mate, he would rather stay home and cuddle, damn it!
