Katrina

Goddess help me, I'm actually about to die.

"Come on Kat, try this one on! It'll look great on you!" Adri pleads as she shoves a blue cocktail dress into my changing room, one look at the poofy thing and I already know I'm not gonna like it.

After I came back home to Seth, we had started lapsing back into our normal routine...except he was a bit more clingy. Not that I mind, I've been a bit clingy myself. So besides that, everything went back to normal...until Tyron reminded Seth that the Alpha Summit was less than two weeks away. That's when things started to get a bit hectic...

Who the Hell am I kidding? Everything went Hell in a hand-basket.

Seth had to start putting things together for our absence, especially since we needed to fly to get there. The summit itself is a two night event in Paris, and we'll be leaving a day early to have time to settle in, and we won't be coming back until at least two days after it ends because Seth wants to show me around the beautiful place, which means we will be gone for five days at minimum.

So, while Seth has been handling that, Adrienne and Tiana have been dragging me around for the last four days to try to find the 'perfect dress', searching through just about every boutique and clothing store they can find. The event is full formal, meaning dresses and suits...joy.

They've also coerced me into expanding my wardrobe, claiming I couldn't go to Paris with just T-shirts and flip flops. I've tried on so many clothes that I've probably worn enough outfits to last an entire year...and I've only kept about seven of them. Dress pants, capris, shorts,a pair of ruffled hem pencil skirts, dress shirts and layered sets. I admit they are very nice, but I'm still exhausted from it all. Goddess help me when it's time for the Summit.

"Kat? How does it fit?"

I haven't even tried it on, but I toss it over the door anyway.

"This is a no, put it back."

"Did you even try it on?"

"I don't like it, put it back."

She sighs in frustration before disappearing, no doubt muttering about how picky I am under her breath. It's not that I'm picky, it's just I like to be comfortable in what I'm wearing, I have no interest in wearing an outfit that suffocates me.

Or makes me feel like a clown.

The sound of my buzzing phone breaks me out of my thoughts, the name that appears on the text making me smile in relief. Seth.

S: Having fun Angel?

I roll my eyes, he knows I'm not.

K: No, please help, I need a break from playing the Barbie doll. 😓

S: I wish I could, but I'm trapped in a meeting. Trust me, I want to be with you as well.

K: le sigh...when will U be done?

S: depends, I have another conference call after this, so maybe three hours?

I sigh in resignation, he's been extremely busy these last few days, the only time we've seen each other is when we're both in bed...and that's very briefly. I understand that our absence will require extra work before we leave, but I still miss spending actual time with him. Maybe we'll get some privacy in Paris.

K: I miss you...

S: I know love, I miss you too...but I am going to make up for it very soon. I promise. 😘

A blush paints my cheeks, my heartbeat pounding a bit faster. This man...

K: 💋💋💋

"Kat? Did you hear me? We're done here, lets go to the shoe store next."

I suppress a groan, putting my phone in my pocket after pulling my jeans and t-shirt back on. Slipping on my flip flops, I walk out the cramped room and prepare for my next round of torment.

~~~~~~~

Four hours, that's how long we continued shopping after my conversation with Seth...I tried on over a dozen different pairs of shoes, and ended up getting four. A pair of gladiator sandals, some ballet flats, ankle boots, and a pair of black two inch heels, the three thin straps covered in small white rhinestones. We followed that with searching through a boutique only to come out empty handed, and then a drive through dinner.

To say I'm wiped out would be an understatement, and I haven't even found the dress for the actual Summit. Which means I'll have to do this again tomorrow...

To top it off, Seth texted me to say that he was pulled into another meeting at the last minute, so he'd be out late...another night without really seeing him.

After dropping my shopping bags in the large closet, I quickly change into one of Seth's giant tanks and a pair of my sleep shorts, tossing my day clothes to the floor haphazardly before flopping face first into the bed, nuzzling into my mates side of the pillow as I worm my way under the warm covers.

I don't know how much time passed, but the feeling of something pressing down on my back wakes me up immediately. Normally, my first instinct would be to flip over and attack the dumbass trying to pin me...but the scent of my mate and the warm sparks on my skin halts that reflex.

"Seth..."

His fingers pause in the middle of their trailing, stopping at my shoulders.

"Hello sleepy head."

"Just so you know...if you were anyone else, I would've kneed you in the balls and put you in a chokehold...." I slur out, still half asleep. He chuckles, and I can feel his breath hot against my ear. Him straddling my back puts me a very compromising position...but since it's him, I don't mind too much...as long as he doesn't tickle me.

"It's lucky that I'm your mate then, huh?"

"Damn right, or you'd be close to death right now."

He laughs a little a harder, no doubt finding humor in my sleepy threats.

"What are you doin' anyway?"

His strong hands curl over my shoulders, his thumbs pressing against the base of my neck. A firm squeeze nearly draws a moan out of me, I definitely know what he's doing now.

"You've been drug all around town for the last few days without a break, and I haven't been around much, so I thought I'd help alleviate some of your stress." He murmurs as he begins massaging me, his thumbs rubbing in a circular motion at the top of my spine that makes me whimper. Goddess this feels good...I can already feel my muscles relaxing at his touch.

My sighs and moans of content seem to encourage him even more, and his thumbs press a little lower down... and the spot cracks audibly, relief washing over me. That place has been hurting me for the last two days...

"Goddess Seth..." I groan out, and a faint growl rumbles from his chest.

He starts using his knuckles and the heels of his hands to massage the rest of my back as I continue to lay down on my stomach. He finally reaches the small of my back, and I can't bite back the mewling sound that comes from my mouth. The embarrassment is quickly overtaken by pleasure as he repeats the action over and over again, I probably sound like a cat in heat right now...but it feels too good for me to give a damn.

"I'm glad you feel good Angel, I want to make up for neglecting you these past few days..." His deep, husky voice sends shivers through me, the feeling of his mouth against the back of my ear driving my heartbeat faster as the blush spreads to my collarbone.

"Seth..." I whisper out, my voice caught in my throat, I can't even finish a sentence because of him.

"What is it Katrina? Tell me what you want and I'll give it to you." He continues kneading my back as he whispers in my ear, and I have to keep reminding myself that I'm trying to answer his question. I know exactly what I want, I've wanted it since the day I beat that clingy shewolf off of him with a stick...

"Mar-mar..."

"Yes baby?"

I put more effort into it this time.

"Mark me..."

His hands freeze at my words, and for a moment I swear he stops breathing. I take advantage of his pause to move, slowly turning myself over to gaze up at him. In nothing but jeans, his shirtless form hovers over me, his darkened eyes boring into mine. Propped up on my elbows, and him resting on his knees in front of me, we just gaze at each other for a moment before he speaks.

"...Are you sure?"

He sounds so uncertain, so I smile up at him, ignoring Ziva's suggestion to just jump him ourselves.

"Absolutely."

That seems to be all he needed to hear, because he pounces immediately after it leaves my mouth. His lips begin feverishly attacking my own, on the edge of devouring me, and I return the action with equal intensity. Our growls fill the room as our hands roam over each other's bodies. His hands latching onto my hips as mine trail over his bare chest, I can feel his canines descend after a moment and I know what's going to follow.

His mouth moves down my neck to the sweet spot on my left shoulder, nipping and kissing there in a way that makes me squirm. Pressing another kiss to the sensitive skin, he pulls back slightly.

"Are you sure Katrina?"

I push his mouth back to my shoulder impatiently, hoping he'd take that as a yes. And he does. Pressing one more kiss to the spot, the slight pinch of his teeth piercing my shoulder is quickly followed by a surge of intense pleasure. A low growl reverberates through the room, me and Ziva both relishing in the buzz-like feeling. The link between me and Seth becomes even stronger than before, and I can tell he's enjoying this just as much as I am.

We are completely linked...as one...and it feels incredible.

He removes his canines after the process finishes, and his tongue laps at the wound affectionately, removing the blood and healing the skin itself. I can already feel his essence coursing through my blood, his scent now permanently attached to me. As good as it all feels though, the tiredness begins to return, my eyelids becoming heavy.

"Mine." He mumbles into my shoulder, nuzzling the spot carefully.

"...Yours." I mumble back softly, and his rumble of approval follows me into sleep as he tucks his head under my chin.

"Sweet dreams mate."

~~~~~~~

"Earth to Kat? You hear me?"

Adrienne's voice startles me from my thoughts as I absentmindedly trace over the mark on my shoulder, the memories that come with it making me flush beet red.

"What did you say Adri?"

She sighs, amusement filling her expression. When she and Tiana saw the mark this morning they flipped out, following the shock with asking if we had completed the mating process too...which got a fierce no.

Even little Avery knew what it was when she saw it at our routine morning visit, already having figured out that the Alpha is my mate. She is a smart little thing, and curious too. I wish I could spend more time with her, more than a couple of hours a day...

"I asked if you saw any dresses you liked, but apparently you're too busy thinking about the Alpha..."

Her attempt to taunt me falls flat, and she huffs. I reluctantly return to searching through the racks of the boutique we're in, trying to find anything that I think I would like to wear. I'm just about to move to the next rack until a glimpse of black and red catches my eye, I pull out the rack to look at it...and just stare. It's perfect.

The ombré, floor length dress is gorgeous,the neckline is more sparkly than I normally like, but I do like the pattern and the shape. I'll have to try it on, but I already love it. I sneak off to the changing room before Adri and Ti notice I'm gone, pulling on the dress after taking off my other clothes. I zip up the back with some creative maneuvering, and appraise it excitedly. It looks even better than I thought it would...

"Kat? You in there?" Tiana asks, knocking on the door.

"Yeah, check this one out!"

I swing the door open and they both just stare in silence, a look of awe on their faces. I start to get nervous at the overwhelming silence, shifting nervously.

"It's not too much, is it?" I ask hesitantly.

Adri snaps out of it first, and she looks like she just won the lottery.

"That is perfect, oh my goddess!"

She grabs my hands and spins me around, looking at the dress from all sides.

"It shows of your curves perfectly, and that brand new mark...Seth is going to lose his mind!"

Tiana exclaims as she jumps up and down, and I can't help but agree. If this doesn't make Seth a little crazy, then something is wrong with him.

"And those black heels you got yesterday will go perfectly with it!"

Adri continues, and I sigh, hoping this means we're done with this chaos.

"Okay, now that we finally found the dress, it's time to focus on you!"

"What?"

She grins excitedly, and I suddenly feel like there is more to be worried about.

"Hair appointment, mani-pedi, facial, the works!"

"That isn't necessary..."

She laughs. "Sis, everyone needs pampering. You deserve a little time to spoil yourself, you've earned it."

"Besides, you guys are going to be in the company of Alphas and Luna's all over the world...including the Royal pair, you want to look your best." Tiana pipes up, and I sigh. They are both right I guess, it wouldn't hurt to have a spa day...

Goddess help me.