Page 52 of The Barren Luna

“Oh wow, that sounds intense.”

“It was. It teaches the couple to be a team, to survive whatever life throws at them, to work together, and it truly forges your relationship in fire,” Alicia explained as her hand automatically went to her scar. Alex nodded.

“So tell me again how picking out an outfit every day is more special than that,” Alicia was now mocking Elizabeth, who rolled her eyes.

I thought both were amazing. One helped shape the foundation of who you were as a couple, and the other served to daily remind you both of your commitment to each other. I looked at David’s piercing blue eyes and thought about picking out different items daily to let him know I had been thinking of him while getting ready....

My eyes widened.

“Wait,” I looked down at my dress, suddenly remembering all the outfits bought for me ever since I’d arrived and how much blue there was among them in all shapes and forms.

I groaned. Meanwhile, David looked very pleased with himself as he crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair, watching me connect the dots.

Elizabeth laughed, “I see you’ve pieced some things together, haven’t you?”

“You’re an ass,” I hissed at David but he just winked.

“Wait, what’s the other custom? You said there were two?” I asked Elizabeth, trying to get away from my mate’s charm.

“The other one is that both males and females wait for their mate. I know almost all packs do this to some extent, but here it’s a rule. See, one custom is about showing your mate that you were thinking of them even before meeting them, and the second one is daily showing them you are thinking of them for the rest ofyour lives together. I think it’s dreamy,” she sighed and put her head on John’s shoulder, who promptly pressed a kiss to it.

“Tell her about your old pack, Dylan,” David prompted.

“Oh wow. The males from my old pack have to challenge their mate’s father or older brother to a fight and defeat them if they want to be seen as worthy.”

“I’m not sure I like that,” I said apologetically, as I didn’t want to insult their customs.

“Me neither. It’s part of why I left,” he smiled but it came off as forced.

Alicia got his attention to ask a follow-up question just as David shifted in his seat, and his thigh was now pressing against mine. All coherent thought fled my head. The atmosphere was lively and friendly; everyone was joking and enjoying their meal, but I could no longer focus on anything else but David's leg against mine. He put a hand on my thigh and started gently tracing something over my paper-thin dress. I had to close my eyes briefly. I felt my core clench at his touch, and I let my legs open slightly. I could feel David tense at the movement.

“Regina,” he whispered so that only I could hear. His hot mouth at my ear made my nipples pebble under the silk. “If you continue like that, everyone at the table will be able to smell you and then I’ll have to kill all my friends.”

I stood up abruptly, my chair almost falling back from the movement.

“I need to go prepare the dessert, please excuse me for a moment.”

I splashed some cold water on my face and neck before I started preparing the cakes.

The process, as always, calmed me. When they were done, I lovingly dusted them with caster sugar and instructed Carolineto bring them out as soon as Patty was done clearing the plates from the main course. I could sense David’s scent nearby, so I headed towards the dining room, but there he was, waiting for me in the hallway, leaning against the wall with one foot up.

I approached him slowly, my breath catching in my throat. All I knew was that I wanted to be closer to him. He pulled me towards him and it felt like I was naked when his hands started gliding all over my body in my thin dress. All of me was pressed against him as he nuzzled my neck while inhaling deeply. I arched my back and moaned before looking up into his eyes and kissing him gently on the lips.

His strong arm went around my waist, completely molding our bodies to each other as he pushed one of his legs in between mine to give me some much-needed friction. I was eagerly grinding on his leg as my hands were tangled in his soft hair, and we were sucking and nipping at each other’s lips. I felt so lost in the kiss that it took me a moment to register poor Patty clearing her throat because she was trying to carry the dirty plates past us into the kitchen.

We broke off the kiss, mumbling apologies to her before looking at each other once more. He looked wild-eyed and breathless, his pants tented and his hair all mussed up from my hands. I could bet that I didn’t look any better.

“You better go ahead,” he said huskily. “I’ll follow as soon as this,” he waved at his groin, “calms itself.”

I snickered and gave him a small peck on the cheek before leaving. Of course, everyone knew what we had been up to – one didn’t need enhanced shifter senses to deduce that. They teased us a bit, and I was mortified but David was a good sport about it and just laughed. All in all, the dinner had been a success and I felt great about the entire evening. I made plans to see Dylan the next day and to meet the females for coffee over the weekend.Everyone raved about the food and I was positive I would be starting a new job soon.

After they all left, David asked me to have tea with him in the library.

“What did you think about my friends?”

“They were all so nice, I really enjoyed spending time with them.”

“I’m glad. They all loved you, you know.”

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