Bzzz

Freaking texts first thing in the morning, who does that?! I reached for my cell, 11am... ok maybe not first thing. Chris was long gone, god knows where, probably doing useful things.

Chris: morning beautiful, I had training early then meetings, I'll see you for dinner.

I can't help but smile, he's sweeter than you'd expect from the big bad alpha.

Claire: You alive up there?

Claire: Do you need hangover relief too?

Me: na I'm good, I'll be down after a shower.

A short while later I was heading down the stairs and on my way to the kitchen. I waved hi as Claire, Kate and Luke just looked at me cautiously.

"How ya feeling?" Kate asked tentatively. 

"Fine?" I replied, raising a brow. "Why are you acting so strange?"

"You're good?" Claire asked skeptically. 

"I'm fine," I say with a laugh.

"Jace is rough, I saw Derek for like five minutes before he went back to his room. I thought Jude was gonna have to run training solo till Chris showed up," she explained. "How much did you guys drink last night, and how are you ok?!"

"I have no idea, so, so very much. I think I lost track at six shots by like 4pm, we did not slow down," I say with a laugh. "I think I may still be a smidge drunk."

"So what are you planning on doing today?" I ask changing the topic.

"Xavier had night patrols so he's sleeping, probably just stay here," she says with a shrug. 

"I have to put that mountain of clothes you guys made me get away if you're bored?" I say looking for motivation. Her excitement was clear as she paced around waiting for me to finish breakfast.

A few hours later we had made a serious dent in the mountain of clothes and most were tucked away neatly. That being said, my side of the closet still looked half empty.

The next bag she grabbed was from leather and lace. My face blazed brighter than the red lingerie as my eyes landed on the ensemble.

"You look like a chameleon trying to match that red lace," she says laughing.

"I don't know why I even let you guys talk me into this, I wouldn't even know how to put it on if I tried," I admit flustered.

She scoops it up and tosses it at me, with an excited glint in her eyes.

"Go try it on, I'll show you how to do it up," she says bubbling over.

"What?! No! No one needs to see that, my ass is gonna hang out," I reply mortified.

"That's kind of the point, you have five minutes to do it willingly or I can just help," she said mischievously. 

"But-"

"No buts, go!" She demands.

I slowly headed to the bathroom to change, this was such a bad idea. The way Chris rips through underwear it'll die first use anyways.

"I don't hear much changing in there," she warns.

I sigh as I shrug out of my clothes and pull the corset on. The lace on the panties fit perfectly but I couldn't figure the strings out.

"Jess?" She called. I sighed as I walked out.

"What's the point of all these strings, it takes like an hour to get into it and he'll rip it off in less than five minutes," I say with a frown.

"Here," she says with a laugh as she walks up behind me and starts working on the laces. I fully expected to not be able to breath as she cinched me in but it wasn't bad at all, just snug. After that she had me slip the thigh highs on and clicked them into the garters. Those clips are child proof I swear.

"This is a lot of work," I grumble.

"Yes, but it will make him forget about anything, or say yes to whatever you ask," she laughs. "Put it this way," she said, leading me to the mirror. "You could have Chris kneeling at your feet and eating out of the palm of your hand-"

A crash at the door had me jumping out of my skin as my heart took off racing. Claire ran to the bed and started scooping the underwear into the bag as fast as possible.

"Jess? Why's the door locked?" Chris called, sounding annoyed.

"Um one minute," I mumbled fighting with the garter. My shaking fingers couldn't get the freaking clip undone. A pair of jeans hit me as Claire went back to work. Quickly I slip them on grabbing the closest top and open the door.

"What were you doing?" He asks skeptically.

"Just trying on some clothes," I say dismissively.

"You look great so let's go," he says, grabbing my hand.

"Go!?" I ask, panicked. 

"Yeah dinner, we're late," he mumbles.

"Give me a minute, I just need to change," I practically beg.

"Baby, relax. You look perfect, it's just dinner with Ludo," he says, feeding my panic. "We've got to go though, thanks Claire," he waves, dragging me from the room, Claire's wide eyes locked on mine.

-----

Almost an hour later we made it to Luttonville and were on our way to Vivas, apparently Italian food.

"Are you sure you're ok?" Chris asks yet again. I just nod. "Baby you don't have to be so nervous, he knows none of what happened that day was your fault."

Oh sweet jezus he thinks I'm nervous because of that. Meanwhile I'm just counting down till I can get home and change out of this damn thing. I just shake my head.

"Is it about our talk?" He asks nervously. "Nothing has to change I just had no filter I guess, blame the whiskey."

Great moving in, luna title and babies... just what I need to think about now. 

"Chris stop, it's nothing to worry about, promise." He just looks at me skeptically, clearly not buying it. "You're just gonna have a good laugh after dinner," I say dismissively.

"If I can know after dinner why can't I know now?" He grumbles.

"Just drop it please?" I ask eyes locked on his beautiful hazel ones willing him to relent.

"Fine," he grumbles as his hand lands on my lower back to lead me inside. I jumped at the contact, partially afraid he'd feel the corset below as I scurried in.

I spotted alpha Ludo and his group immediately as he led us towards a private dining room in the back. The restaurant itself had a Tuscany feel with stone and stucco facades and vines throughout. Everything was granite and wood and felt very grounded.

"Jess, nice to formally meet you," he says, taking my hand in both of his. He feels different then the other alphas I've met so far. His energy is far more even and less volatile.

"I'm afraid you'll have to meet my party at conference, this was an impromptu dinner," he says with a light chuckle. 

The only other person with him was Damon, who smiled broadly as he shook my hand. His crystal blue eyes shone with happiness. "So good to see you." I felt his familiar energy slip into the handshake relaxing me instantly.

"I hope you don't mind but I've taken the liberty to order?" Ludo asks.

"Not at all, Xavier insists on eating here when we come to the city for business," Chris replies.

"That's right you own the Lux hotel?" Luda muses more to himself.

"And a few other properties, are you staying in town, or heading back tonight?"

"I've been away long enough," he replies wistfully.

The conversation was light and easy as they talked about past conferences. The wine was endless though I didn't drink it, and the food started coming in waves. First some soft chewy bread with olive oil and herbs. Then soup and salad.

The soup smelled spicy so I stuck to the salad. Then came some sausage pasta creation, the smell made my stomach growl in approval until the subtle anise caught my attention.

"Something wrong Jess?" Damon asks as he notices me picking at the plate. I just shake my head. "We can order you something else?" 

"No it's fine," I say digging out a plain noodle and eating it to make him stop. I catch Luda whispering to the server and a moment later my plate is taken away and replaced by roasted chicken and potatoes, sans anise.

"Thanks," I say with a smile as I dig in.

"If you didn't like the food why didn't you say something?" Luda asks.

"The food is amazing, I just can't eat anything spicy or with certain things like anise," I say with a shrug. I can feel my face burning and would prefer to talk about anything else.

"Are we expecting a Still Water heir?" He asks,  raising a brow. "Julia couldn't eat anything with pepper in it when she was pregnant." Ok I take it back, not anything else.

"Ah no," Chris says, saving me from my personal freakout. "She's never been able to stomach that stuff, besides I need more time to myself with her before I'm willing to share her." His lie and smile instantly calm me back down. 

He wants children now but is willing to take the blame for waiting. It may be that exact moment that I realized just how much he loves me.

"I don't blame you there," Luda laughs, clapping Chris on his back. "You guys are still young, plenty of time." And with that the conversation went back to normal.

I head off to the bathroom but panic slightly when I remember what I'm wearing. It literally took ten minutes to get the damn garters undone to slip my panties down. And if I thought getting them off was bad I'm sure it took longer to get them back on.

Longest pee break ever! I rushed to wash my hands and head back out before anyone started asking questions. A hard chest froze me in place as I flew out of the bathroom crashing into it.

"You ok baby?" Chris asks, holding me. "You look flushed?" His hazel eyes bore into mine searching for answers, the concern clear on his face.

"I'm good honest," he just held me not buying it. "Just a little wardrobe malfunction," I dismissed with a laugh. Technically not a lie. Finally he relaxed and ushered me ahead.

"Hang on a second," he called. "There's a ribbon?" He asked, surprised as I froze. Oh shit, not now, we almost made it through dinner...

I felt the tension on the ribbon as he followed in back to my body. My heart raced as my lungs forgot how to work. I couldn't move, panic welled in me leaving me unsure of my next move.

"What the?" He trailed off as he slowly lifted the back of my shirt a bit. My heart fluttered in my throat as he sucked in air when his fingers grazed the laced up back. His touch sent shivers down my spine as a feral growl sounded.

Faster than I could blink he dragged us through the closest doorway. Apparently to the mens room judging by the offended male.

"Leave," he snarled as his alpha energy flooded the small space, the man practically ran out. Normally it didn't affect me but at this moment my knees wavered and I nearly fell. His firm grip was all that kept me upright as he dropped his head to the crook of my neck breathing deeply.

I could feel the waves of turmoil crashing within him and it did nothing to calm my nerves. Every breath against my neck tightening the knot growing in the pit of my stomach.

After staying like this for a minute or two I risked my voice.

"Chris?" I called softly.

"Yeah baby?" He answered, sounding strained.

"Shouldn't we go back?" I ask weakly.

He growls lowly holding me tighter and breathing in my scent deeply before finally relaxing. Begrudgingly he pulled away and opened the door ushering me out. I didn't miss the way his eyes switched between hazel and chocolate. Cyrus was fighting him for control.

We made our way back to the table. He had his arm wrapped possessively around me as his fingers dug into my hip.

"Everything ok?" Ludo asks.

"Yeah-"

"Yes, though Jess is feeling a little unwell," Chris cuts in.

"Sorry to hear that, I really should be heading out myself. It was lovely to meet you Jess, I look forward to seeing you at conference, " Luda says warmly. He reaches out to shake my hand but Chris growls and shakes it instead, bidding him safe journey. A moment later he is basically dragging me across the parking lot to the SUV.

"Chris," I start but he just keeps clenching his jaw as he opens the door for me. "Chris, please just say something," I whisper beg.

"Jess," he sighs. "Please get in the car." I sink down in the seat as he closes the door and quickly moves to the drivers side. He reached over and buckled me in before driving out.

I see the sign for the highway and sigh. Apparently I'm in for the silent treatment which makes me worry how bad it will be when we finally get home.

"Chris, your on ramp," I called out, seeing that in his altered state he missed his turn. He just ticked his jaw as he kept both hands on the wheel, eyes locked on the road. 

"That's ok you can take a left here, to go home and-"

"We're not going home," he growled.