Filed To Story: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
“You won’t embarrass me?”, Talia asked reluctantly.
“Did I ever embarrass you, when someone else was around?”
Talia was about to say that he did, plenty of times, but that second clause made her pause.
It was true. Dayson didn’t embarrass Talia when someone was around. He would either treat her well or ignore her, and neither of those two counts as embarrassments.
Talia thought how it’s not a big deal. It’s just holding hands, and if anyone would be embarrassed to see them like that, it should be Dayson because Talia is a nobody.
“Deal.”, she responded.
Dayson’s eyebrows shoot up and he glanced at his empty palm that was on the table. “Well?”
Talia realized that he wanted to hold her hand. Like, right now.
She didn’t understand what’s the big deal with holding hands, but she obeyed.
The moment their hands touched, Dayson’s fingers moved between Talia’s, and his wicked smile told her that she agreed to this rashly.
“Why did you ask to hold my hand?”
“It feels good.”, Dayson responded without missing a beat. “Does it feel good for you?”
Talia looked at their connected hands and she had to admit that it feels good. Is it because his hand is so big, or strong, or warm, or because it’s his? Would it feel this good if someone else was holding her hand? Talia was not sure because no one ever held her hand like that.
“It’s OK.”, she responded in a small voice.
“Just OK?”, he asked, and his thumb moved slowly over her thumb, that gentle touch made her hairs stand on ends.
“I’m not sure what are you expecting me to say.”, Talia said weakly.
“The truth, Talia. That’s the only thing I expect from you.”
There was something in his tone and the whole situation that made her heart skip a beat.
“It feels good.”, she whispered while hoping that the dim lighting in the restaurant was concealing her definitely red cheeks.
Talia released the breath she was holding when the food arrived. It was a much-needed distraction because, for some unknown reason, she was flustered like never before even though Dayson released her hand in order to hold utensils.
A massive plate of food was placed in the middle of the table and Talia was not sure where to look first.
There were different cuts of steaks, grilled chicken, fish, shrimp, and there was some salad also (mostly as a bed for all the meaty delicacies).
“I recommend that you start with this one.”, Dayson said while placing on her plate a piece of roasted meat that was wrapped in bacon. “It’s tender and juicy.”
Dayson cut the bite-sized piece before offering it to Talia on a fork. He fed her previously, so she didn’t think much before accepting it.
“Mmm…”, she hummed in satisfaction as the flavors exploded on her tongue. “It’s more than just tender and juicy. It’s the best thing I ever tasted.”
Dayson’s gaze was stuck on Talia’s lips that were lifted into a smile and moved as she chewed, and there was a small stream of grease on the left side that escaped her mouth when she spoke.
He reached with his thumb and wiped it off and Talia stared as Dayson put that thumb into his mouth and licking it clean.
“You are right. It is delicious.”, he said, and the way he looked at her made Talia wonder if he was talking about the grease or about her.
“Eat, my dear wife”, Dayson said with amusement in his voice. “There is a lot of food and it’s not good when it gets cold. Remember what you like so that you make them for me at home.”
Talia’s stomach flipped when he addressed her as his dear wife, but she refused to let it show, confident that he was teasing her. She focused on what he said after that. “Shouldn’t I make you things that you like?”
Dayson shot her a side-glance. Should he tell her that he will eat anything as long as he can lick it from her, just like that bit of mess he collected from the edge of her lips?
A crazy image appeared in his mind: Talia lying on the table, with food arranged over her naked body. He would use his tongue and lick her clean.
Damn! He was getting hard again.
…
~ The Shadow Fang pack ~
The black armored Lexus SUV stopped in front of the packhouse and Dayson turned off the engine.
Dayson increased his hold on Talia’s hand, and he had an urge to start the car again and drive away to a place where he and Talia can be on their own. Just the two of them.
The big mansion in front of the car is his home since he became aware of his existence, yet now he saw it as a place where he couldn’t be openly close to Talia because others might see them.
Dayson had his duties and things to do, and if he wanted Talia to tag along, people will notice.
Dayson was not sure if anyone from his pack would dare to act against Talia, but the news that Alpha Dayson found a girl who is more than just a hookup will spread and eventually reach the ears of the people who will want to use Talia against Dayson; people who will want to harm her in order to harm him.
Talia noticed the change in Dayson’s mood, and she understood that the fun time is over.
A knot formed in Talia’s chest and she wondered if that’s how Cinderella felt when the clock struck midnight and she had to leave the ball because the magic was over.
Dayson’s carefree expression was gone, telling Talia that the spell wore off and she was back to reality where she is Talia. No one.
Talia didn’t dare to harbor romantic thoughts toward Alpha Dayson, but her mind drifted in the direction where he was someone who treated her well, a protector, a friend… maybe someone she could rely on. And now that his lips were pressed into a line while he looked toward the packhouse with his brows slightly furrowed, Talia understood that whatever happened earlier that morning, it will stay there. Should she thank him for the few hours he gave her?
Talia was not sure what that morning was for Dayson. Was that his normal routine? Was he playing a game? Or just taking care of a poor girl that he brought home?
No matter what it was for Dayson or if it held any significance, for Talia, that morning was special, and she was confident that she will cherish it as a wonderful memory for years to come.
It was the first time that someone treated her so kindly.
They went to the hospital, and Dayson didn’t only teach the rude doctor a lesson, but he also allowed Talia to vent her frustration. And then they walked in the park, and she got to taste blue cotton candy and to see Dayson smiling face, not a smile that’s intense or mischievous, but it was a warm and honest smile that made Talia hold her breath and wish for the power to stop time. And then they went to a restaurant, and she got to eat all kinds of tasty food and Dayson said that she can work in the kitchen.
Truly, a morning worth remembering.
Dayson was nice and caring and protective without being overbearing and she liked it very much.
Talia told herself not to be greedy because she already got so much from him, but a part of her wished that the morning doesn’t end.
Dayson looked at Talia’s lips that were pressed into a line. He wanted her to smile again, just how she did in the park and in the restaurant, but just telling her to smile without giving a reason wouldn’t make sense. Is it possible that Talia was happy because she was away from the pack? He pushed down the anxiety that was forming at the thought of Talia leaving the pack… and him.
“What will you do now?”, Dayson asked Talia.
His question dispelled her unreasonable thoughts about not leaving the car.
Yes, the caring and playful Dayson was gone, and she shouldn’t think about him again because she was facing Alpha Dayson, the man who helped her out of the Red Moon pack, and his unstable mood was a reminder that the only one she can truly rely on is herself.
“I want to find Stephanie and figure out the schedule for the kitchen.”
Dayson didn’t want Talia to work. He wanted her to relax and enjoy pampering the whole day, but he saw sparkles of excitement in her eyes when he told her that she can work in the kitchen, and he couldn’t deny her this.
‘Steph, where are you?’, Dayson asked through the mind link, and he got a response a second later.
“She is restocking the pantry.”, Dayson told Talia which earned him a smile.
Reluctantly, Dayson let go of Talia’s hand. The loss of sparks tugged on his heart, but it was time to leave the car.