The evening should have been bliss. It had all the right elements. We went to a local restaurant. It was the kind of place that was just romantic enough with soft lighting, flickering candles on each table, and quiet music. The menu consisted of only ethically sourced and local option and drinks priced so high they would make a budgeter cringe. Ryder ordered himself a pop and I was foolish enough to order myself a cocktail initially. His fingers twitching on the table was all I needed to see before I changed out my drink for a mocktail.

"You didn't have to do that," he whispered to me. "I have some self-control. Controlling my addiction needs to come from me, not outside sources."

"I know. I did it because I wanted to," I assured and laid my hand over top of his on the live-edge table. "You're my partner. What kind of person would I be if I didn't support you?"

Our drinks were slurped down over bubbling conversation. I confessed that I had always wanted a pet but would feel terribly neglectful if I let it alone for long periods of time. the words felt awkward coming out of my mouth because they were no longer true. I wasn't a werewolf hunter anymore. In fact, I didn't really know what I was. And soon enough to perks would stop too. I had no money of my own and keeping my parents in that care facility was costly. So was rent. And gas. And food. And clothes for job interviews.

The realization brought on a headache that I couldn't shake for the rest of the night, no matter how delicious the food was or how wonderful the company was being.

We made it back to the hotel in one piece, though I was in a fit of giggles over something Ryder had said. to be fair, it hadn't even been that funny, but it had caught me so off guard that once I started laughing, I couldn't stop. He had this way about him, like he was too stoic to crack a joke. When one finally came out, it was so awkward and bumbling it only made it funnier.

Thankfully, this pleased Ryder more than it annoyed him. As soon as the door to our hotel room was shut behind us, he pulled me into his chest and gave me a kiss. Gentle and slow, like he was trying to rediscover me. If I could have given him all that I was through that kiss, I would have.

The tides between us shifted, pushing us together instead of pulling us apart. He let me pull his shirt off and I vowed that I would spend the evening making the man feel treasured. I kissed scars, tasted his warm skin, memorized the sound of his sighs. He was entirely magnificent and he was all mine. He seemed determined to do the same, undressing me slowly and savoring every bit that was offered to him. I whispered his name into the darkened room over and over, encouraging him on. My hands and lips did their own tracing.

I held onto him tightly when he entered me. His pace was slow and deep, causing me to bow my back so beautifully. It was just enough to get me to the edge and keep me there, teetering without pushing me over. I could have been greedy, could have moved my hips I slipped my fingers between my thighs. Instead, I hooked my legs over his hips and pulled him into me, slowing his pace further and pushing him just a little deeper.

It was the right thing to do because Ryder let out a shuddering breath and lowered himself onto his elbows so he could kiss me endlessly.

It could have been minutes; it could have been hours. As much as I wanted this moment to last forever, I couldn't fight the pull of our bond. In moments like this, it felt like it had more control over my body than I did. I hit my peak and melted beneath him, whispering breathy moans in his ear until his own climax came.

My legs felt weak and boneless when I tried to release him. Ryder grinned down at me and pressed a tender kiss to my forehead before rolling off of me.

The headache that had come around at supper still hadn't left and refused to even soften when Ryder pulled the sheets over us and tucked me up against his body. Still, I allowed myself to enjoy the warmth and the strength of his body. That comfort would be there in the morning as well.

This should have been the start of something beautiful. This could have been the moment when we both gave into the mate bond. Things would be hard; we would have to climb mountains to just have a normal relationship that was so easily handed to others. But they would be worth it, because Ryder would be there beside me and we would offer each other an extended hand whenever the climb got too steep.

That's how it should have been.

But when I woke up, I knew something was wrong.

My eyes were open.

But I could not move. I couldn't prop myself up on my elbows, couldn't reach above my head to stretch. Panic laced my blood. My heartbeat thundered in my ears. But it was the only physical response I could conjure up. I tried to turn my head. I could not. I attempted to open my mouth to scream. I suddenly couldn't feel my lips.

"Mmm, morning beautiful," Ryder whispered sleepily in my ear.

I frantically tried to spew a thousand words to him. Nothing came out of my mouth. if my fingers were moving or my toes were wiggling, I couldn't feel them.

Ryder shifted beside me, propping himself up on his forearm. Mercury eyes gleamed down at me, still sleepy, but a contented smile pulled at his mouth. "How did you sleep?"

I could only stare up at him.

"George?" he said, the smile fading.

I was wailing in my mind. I was screaming and thrashing. I was begging for help.

But I was perfectly still on that mattress.

"Georgia?" Ryder said. then more frantically, "Georgia, come on, talk to me."

Silence filled the hotel room, heavy and thick.

"Georgia, please." Panic was in every word. I watched him move like he was about to grab my shoulders and shake me, then he thought better of it. "Georgia, please talk to me. Please do something."

But I couldn't.

Ryder leapt off the bed as if I had scalded him. And though I couldn't turn my head to watch him, I could hear the breaths rattling his chest and the scream that left his mouth immediately after.

~~~Question of the Day~~~

Do you talk to your animals like they are people?

Yes. I recently got a kitten and we have in-depth conversations. And when I rode horses, we also had several gossiping sessions.