Chapter 24 Plans Change

Sara didn't drive the truck after the incident with the clutch. But she did reluctantly agree to try that weekend.  Sebastian was pleased that they would be spending time with each other. He squashed the thought that it was her way of insuring time together. More likely it was a way to delay another driving lesson as Saturday was three days away.

As he drove he noticed that she seemed to withdraw into herself. For a while she stared absently at the dash. She seemed to sink into the seat and her eyes shifted out the passenger window. When he asked her questions she answered with less then five words.

"You seem distracted." He said as he pulled in the parking spot at their apartment complex. "You're not upset about the clutch are you?"

He noticed her jerk a bit in her set. "Um. No. No. I'm fine. It's fine. I'm — just tired."

Sebastian almost called her on the obvious lie. "Okay. But if you ever need to talk, I'm here." He said instead.

She looked away from him. But she did nod her head.

They put her bike on the resident bike rack. There was no need to lock it as theif wasn't a large concern on pack land.

"How's the apartment?" He asked as they got close to the elevator. He pressed the up arrow. It opened.

"Fine." She said stepping on. He followed.

"Everything arrived?" He asked as the elevator doors slid closed.

"Yeah." She pressed back into the corner of the elevator and held on to the hand rails. Her  knuckles turned white.

"Are you okay?" He asked concerned. His brows pinched.

"Don't like elevators." She said through clinched teeth.

He moved forward and pressed a hand to her shoulder. He had meant to say something to reassure her but the words died on his tongue. She was soft, warm and yielding under his palm.

His hand was large, warm and solid. The anxiety didn't disappear but it felt muffled. Sara's concentration centered on the warmth of the hand on her shoulder. It's heat seeped into the her, pushing the fear aside and leaving an awareness of Sebastian in its place.

It was strange to feel two conflicting emotions at the same time. Fear didn't mesh well with the longing in Sara's chest.

The elevator dinged as it reached the fourth floor. The doors slid open and Sara sighed. She wasn't sure if the sigh was one of relief or protest as his hand left her shoulder. With out the contact she fled the elevator.

He followed her out into the hall. He was thankful that the elevator stopped when it had. Taron was too thrilled at the contact with Sara. He wanted more but Sebastian suspected Sara wasn't ready for that.

"I'll walk you to your door." He said.

Sara swollowed as she saw his eyes flash tiny swirling gold strips in his own beautiful hazel.

Mine. Evodine mentally challenged. She pushed against Sara's control. She wanted to wrap herself around Sebastian and press her skin to his. She wanted to inhale his scent until there was nothing else. She wanted to taste the flesh at curve of his neck. She wanted his lips on hers. She projected images of every touch she wanted.

Sara felt her resolved shake. The images that Evodine sent caused heat to pool in her core. Her body ached.

"Sebastian." Sara whined.

He turned, moved forward and took her in his arms. His arms slid around her. Her hands moved up the contours of his chest. His lips came down and crushed hers.

She had never felt this before. She clung to him, moved her lips, darted out her tongue to taste him. Evodine howled in pleasure. She wanted more. Sara growled, demanding. They wanted more. There was a pressure low in the core of belly.

Sebastian slide his hands down her back and over the curve of her butt.

Sara whimpered. On reflex his grip tightened and pulled her body flush with his. He pressed her front to his. His tongue slid into the moist heat of her lips.

Taron growled in triumph. He was willing to mate and mark her this moment. The depth of Sara's response to his touch set him on fire.

He was barely aware that they stood in the hallway outside the elevator. He knew he had to keep Taron from gaining full control but every time she made a sound of pleasure his own need drowned out logic. He wanted her.

Sara had no experience with this sort of thing but she wondered if everyone felt this almost overwhelming urge to sink their teeth in to flesh and grind their body against the one kissing them.

Yes, yes. Bite. Mark Taron. Evodine growled.

Bite. A new voice  sounded in her head. It wasn't Sebastian.

Mine. Mine. Mine. Evodine chanted. Taron mine. She  said.

Sebastian felt Sara still. Shit. He thought. What did I get wrong? He tried to ask his wolf. There was a partial shield. Sebastian pushed passed it. Evodine and Taron were conversing with Sara. They were trying to convince her to mark him.

Stop it right now. Silence.

Sebastian?

Yes. He responded over the mental link.

I don't understand. Even the tone of her thoughts sounded confused.

I thought the Alpha and Luna  explained that to you. It was true. He had thought that mates had been explained to her. Was he wrong?

No. I mean yes. But... she left the thought unfinished. But he caught a thread of her emotions over the link. Saddness crossed the link before she severed the connection.

Sebastian was still very aware that he still held Sara in his arms. With out the haze of sexual desire he also realized they stood just feet from the hallway elevator.

"Let's talk in your apartment." He said reluctantly releasing her.

Sara felt the heat of embarrassment on her cheeks and neck.

Oh, my, god ,I was all over him. In the hallway. In public. He touched my but!  She thought.

Wonderful wasn't it.  Evodine chimed in her head. At moments like this Sara seriously disliked that Evodine shared her body. Because it would do her no good to hit herself when she really just wanted to hit Evodine. She could also feel Evodine's smug response to the thought.  

In her apartment they made their way to the kitchen.

"Mind if I make coffee?" Sebastian asked as he stood at the sink. Sara shook her head. It took him less then three minutes to complete the task of placing grounds and water in the machine.

"How much do you know about sex?" He asked as he pulled two coffee cups from the cabinet.

"I've read about it." Sara looked down at the flyer from a local shop that sat on the bar. "Gloria explained it to me too. She, um, she had sex with people for money." She told him.

"She worked for Lavish Summit." Sebastian nodded as he placed the cups by the brewing coffee pot. "Other then what you've read and she told you — do you have any experience?" He asked as he pulled the canister of sugar from the cabinet. He knew he had no right to hope she was a virgin but he did.

"I've seen men naked." She said almost defensively. "I know how to have sèx."

"But you've never actually had sex?" He felt a gratitute he had no right to feel. "Good." He mumbled to him self. "And that's nothing to be ashamed of, especially for Lycans. We tend to wait for our mates. It's true some don't but about 60% do." He pulled open the refrigerator. He frowned. It was almost empty. He pulled out the half gallon of milk that was barely half full.

"Do you not want me as your mate, Sebastian?" Sara asked in a soft voice.

He turned to stare at her. "Of course, I want you as my mate. Why would you think I wouldn't?" He moved forward as he spoke. He dropped the milk on the bar in front of her.

"You haven't said anything about mating with me." She absently folded the paper flyer.

"I thought I was giving you time. Once you mark a mate it's not easy to break the bond. Hey." He added and placed a finger under her chin. She looked up.

"Do you think you'll want to break the bond?" She whispered softly. Her eyes searched his face.

"Absolutely not. And I don't think I can handle it if you wanted too. So. I'll give you as much time as you need to decide you intend to stay."

"Oh." She took a deep breath and released it slowly. "What if I wanted to do it now?"

He sadly shook his head and dropped his hand. "Don't tempt me, Sara. I've tried to not push. I've tried to give you time. But the pull is stronger than it was. We're not meant to resist it. That's why we practically made out in public a few minutes ago."

"So you won't do it now?" She asked looking away.

"Yes. If you're sure, I would. It would kill me if you wanted to break the bond later but I want you so much that it's hard to fight Taron from taking over. We want you and despite my best intentions I would mark you this minute if you want me too. But I want you to be sure. My life is with this pack. As my mate you would be tied to it as well. Three weeks ago you were going to leave. Do you still want to leave?"

"I don't know. I just know that I want you. I've never wanted anyone like this before." She told him honestly.

"Then it's best that we wait." He said. Sara heard the hurt in his voice.

Evodine raged in her head. She didn't want to wait. She knew she would never want anyone else. She would always want to be here, with the pack, with Sebastian.

"Sara, now may not be the best time but you need to think about the lawyer to. He called again. I told him I would call with news in the morning." Sebastian said and turned to the coffee pot.

"What did he say?" Sara asked anxiously.

"He's contacted another investigator." He poured coffee in both cups. "He's getting fed up with no results."

Sara thought. At least with Sebastian and the pack she had a chance to stay out of another institution. If she had too she could disappear again. But if she met with the lawyer she could at least delay it for a time.

"Tell him you found me. Tell him I was in the woods but don't tell him where. Tell —" she cleared her throat, he walked forward placing the cups on the bar, "tell him I'll meet him. The faster we get this over the better."

"Saturday?" He asked.

It took her a minute to nod. She poured milk into her cup. "Saturday." She mumbled as she slowly stirred. For a moment the only sound was the 'TINK' of metal against ceramic.