Meg raised her head to look him directly in the eyes, “You don't scare me.”
“Ah, now there is no need to lie to me. I can see your fear of me. Your body language is very clear. I promise I will never hurt you, Meg.”
“I never thought you would,” Meg replied.
“Then why do I intimidate you? Is it because you are attracted to me, the way I am to you?” Meg lowered her eyes again as she thought how to answer. She was saved from answering as Stefan walked into the room.
“Hi Meg, Nik. Sorry I kept you waiting, sweetheart,” Stefan stated as he walked over and placed a kiss on her cheek.
Meg felt her face flame because she knew Nik was watching her like a hawk. She could feel goose bumps rising up along her skin, until her whole body gave a large shiver. Stefan must have noticed.
“Are you cold Meg?” he asked.
“No, I'm fine, thanks,” Meg replied, gulping down half of her wine.
“Dinner is served, Master Nik,” Harry the butler announced.
Nik rose to his feet and held out a hand to help Megan up. She didn't want to take his hand, but if she refused he would think she was rude. She placed her hand in his and got to her feet. She tried to pull her hand away, but Nik only tightened his grip.
“Please, allow me the honor of escorting you to dinner.”
“Thank you,” Meg stated in a cool voice. She was surprised it didn't shake with her anxiety. She hoped to God he could not feel how nervous she was. She could feel a slight tremor as her hand rested against his large, warm palm.
“You feel it too, don't you, Meg? Please don't deny it. I think you are a very sexy lady.”
“Nik, please. I am here with your brother,” Meg whispered through clenched teeth.
“Yes, you are. But I know you are only friends, and he has given me leave to court you.”
“What? You don't even know me. How can you want to court me, for goodness sakes?” Meg asked as she glared at him.
“Ah, this is good. You are not such a little mouse after all. I will look forward to seeing your fire,” Nik stated with a grin, as he led her to a seat at the table.
He pulled her chair out for her and pushed it back in as she sat down.
“Thank you.”
“You're welcome.”
“I've never seen you so solicitous before, Nik.
What's with the gentleman act?” Stefan asked his brother with a smirk.
“Very funny, Stefan. You know damn well, I am very attracted to Megan. Stop baiting me and embarrassing your friend. Take no notice of Stefan, Meg. He delights in goading his big brother.” Meg just smiled at him, then turned her head to glare at Stefan.
“If only that fire was really directed at me, sweetheart. Alas, it seems I must step aside and allow Nik to court you,” Stefan stated with pronounced dramatics, as he placed his hand over his heart.
“You are such an idiot, Stefan,” Meg stated with a laugh. “You know, very well, I am not interested in a relationship with anyone and stop teasing your brother.”
“Why?” Nik snapped out as he looked at Meg.
“Why what?” Meg asked, her brows drawn together in a frown.
“Why aren't you interested in a relationship?”
“I have things I wish to do. Goals I plan to reach, before I even think of entering a relationship,” Meg replied.
“What are your goals, возлюбленный (beloved)?” Nik asked.
“What did you say?” Meg asked.
“You are not ready to hear the translation yet, Meg. I will tell you when I think you are ready. Now, what are your goals in life?”
“I want to pay off my student loan; and save a nest egg, so I can have the freedom to write when I have enough money.”
“What do you wish to write about?”
“Fiction.”
“Are you not going to elaborate the genre you wish to write?” Nik asked.
“You are not ready to hear it yet. When I get to know you better, I may tell you,” Meg stated, as she stuck her stubborn chin into the air.
Nik threw his head back and laughed. His deep gravelly voice sent shivers down her spine.
Oh God she was in so much trouble. She squirmed in her seat as she felt more cream leak out to wet her panties.
“Touche. You are definitely less of a mouse than I first thought. It will be a pleasure getting to know you. Please, eat. It would be selfish of me to keep you talking, and allow the food to become cold.” Meg listened to Nik and Stefan talk throughout the meal. She was beginning to relax, as the wine she had begun to work through her system. She found herself answering Nik's questions automatically, when he spoke to her.
“Do you have any family, Megan?”
“No, both my parents are deceased and I have no siblings.”
“No cousins, aunt, uncles, anyone?”
“No, just me.”
“You must be very lonely,” Nik stated quietly.
“No. I have great friends. Stefan is my best friend and I have a work colleague I go out with regularly,” Meg stated, as she glanced to Nik.
Nik could see the sadness and loneliness in her eyes. She had not known Stefan that long; and as far as his brother had advised, the colleague had only just started inviting Meg out, so she could get her claws into Stefan. Stefan had brushed her aside, and since then the colleague had stopped asking Meg out. Pride would not allow her to let anyone know she was lonely. Nik vowed then and there, his mate would never be alone again.
“Would you like dessert?” Nik asked.
“No, thank you. I've had too much to eat already.
The meal was delicious.”
“You need to put more meat on your bones, Meg. I like to be able to hold my woman in my arms, without the fear of hurting her,” Stefan stated from across the table.
“I am the perfect weight for my height, thank you very much. If I put on any more weight, I'd be considered fat,” Meg snapped.
“Some men like a little meat on their women, Meg. Not everyone is attracted to skin covered skeletons,” Nik stated.
“Are you telling me, I am too thin?” Meg asked indignantly.
“No. You are absolutely perfect, but you would not be unattractive if you had a little more weight covering your bones.”
“Thanks, I think.”
“You are such a joy, мой помощник (my mate).
Come, we will adjourn to the pool room,” Nik stated, rising to his feet. He pulled her chair back and allowed Meg to stand. He took her hand in his and led her to the billiards room and seated her on a sofa.
Meg watched Nik and Stefan play a game of pool as she sipped another glass of wine. She felt very warm and relaxed, her eyes betrayed her time and again as they wandered over to Nik constantly.
Nik knew his mate was struggling to keep her eyes off him. He hid the smile of satisfaction he felt, every time her gaze perused his body. He knew he was going to have to claim her, bite her soon, to make her his. He didn't want another pack member chasing after her. She was his and there was no way he was going to let another male, besides his brother near her.
He finished the game of pool with Stefan and turned towards Meg. He saw her cheeks flame when she realized he had caught her staring at him.
“Do you play, Meg?”
“No.”
“Would you like to learn?” Nik asked.
“Yes, that would be nice. Thank you.”
“Come, I will teach you. We will play against Stefan together.”
Nik helped Meg from the sofa and led her to the pool table. He placed her in front of the white ball as Stefan took the triangle away from the contained balls. He enveloped her in his arms and body heat as he showed her how to hold the cue and line up the white ball with the colored balls. He couldn't resist the urge to push his hard cock into the soft flesh of her ass.
The whole length of his body was against her and she couldn't breathe. She tried to regulate her breaths, by taking a couple of deep noiseless gasps and letting them out slowly. She was in heaven and hell. He was turning her into a mass of trembling nerves. She couldn't take in anything he was saying to her regarding the rules of the game, so she just drew the cue back and hit the white ball. She missed hitting any other ball, then turned around to face Nik and pass him the cue. He was so close to her she could see little golden flecks in his eyes.
“I...I think I'll just watch. You should play with your brother, since he knows what he is doing.” Nik leaned down to whisper into Meg's ear. His hot breath sent a shiver down her spine, “Coward.” Meg didn't bother to respond. She edged her way along the table until she could move around Nik, without touching him.
“Sire, Malcolm is here and would like a word with you,” Harry stated from the door, as he bowed to Nik.
“Send him in, thanks Harry,” Nik replied.
“Sire,” Malcolm stated as he walked towards Nik.
When he was a meter away he bowed low until Nik told him to stand. “Thank you for seeing me.”
“Malcolm, I would like to introduce you to Megan Harvey, мой помощникмой (my Mate). Megan this is Malcolm Strand, he takes care of my security,” Nik stated.
“мой помощник, (my Queen), I am pleased to meet you,” Malcolm stated with another bow.
“You too, Malcolm,” Meg stated with a frown.
Why did everyone bow around here? And what was with the Russian? Anyone would think they were royalty. But that couldn't be the case, because she knew damn well she was nowhere near royalty.
Megan watched as Nik and Malcolm interacted on the other side of the room, out of hearing distance.
Whatever Malcolm was telling Nik, wasn't making him happy. In fact he looked down right angry. She hoped like hell she was never on the receiving end of his anger. Nik looked so ferocious; she was scared he was going to hit poor Malcolm.
Nik glanced over towards Meg and must have seen the fear in her eyes. He turned his back to her so she could no longer see his face.
“Meg, why don't I get you another drink? What sort of games do you like to play, sweetheart?” Stefan asked as he came to stand in front of her, blocking her view of Nik and Malcolm.
“I think I've had enough wine, thanks Stefan, but I would love a cup of coffee. I love to play Backgammon and I like Chess, but I am not very good at it.”
“Stefan, we have a problem I need you to help Malcolm sort out. I will make sure Meg is entertained,” Nik stated, moving back across the room toward Meg.
“Actually, I think I should head on up to bed. It's been a long day and I am becoming rather fatigued,” Meg stated as she stood.
“Your coffee, Miss Megan,” Harry the butler, stated as he entered the room. He placed a tray with cups, sugar and a jug of milk, on the low coffee table, bowed to her and Nik then left again.
How the hell did Harry know she wanted coffee?
No one had left the room to tell him. This place and the people in it were beginning to make her feel as if she was living a dream world.
Nik moved to Megan's side, slid an arm around her slim waist and led her back to the sofa. When she was seated he sat down next to her and turned his head to hers.
“How do you like your coffee, Meg?”
“Black, no sugar, thanks. Can I ask you something Nik?”
“Yes, ask away?”
“Why does everyone keep bowing?”
“I really don't think you're ready to hear the answer to that question yet.”
“Oh for goodness sakes. I am not a child, you know. I am a fully grown, adult female. Just because I am not very tall, people tend to treat me like a child. I have had it with you and your holier than thou attitude. You are treating me like an imbecile,” Meg stated, as she rose from the sofa, crossing her arms over her chest defensively.
Nik stood in front of her, reached out and took her by the arms to prevent her from moving away from him.
“I know you aren't a child. I just don't think you are ready for the answers to your questions yet,” he stated, gazing down into her eyes.
“Try me,” Meg snapped out.
“Okay, but don't say I didn't warn you, Meg,” Nik stated, then took a deep breath. “We are all werewolves, and you are my mate.”
Meg felt her mouth drop open at Nik's statement.
Then when his words finally sank in; she threw her head back and laughed. Oh God, he was loony. How could such a hunk be so crazy. She laughed until she felt tears prick her eyes, now he had her on the edge of hysteria. She stopped laughing abruptly and looked at the man still holding her. She saw the seriousness in his eyes and felt her mouth twitch again with amusement.
“If you laugh again, so help me, I will kiss the laugh right out of you. I am not crazy.”
“Sure you're not. I think it's time I went home.
Could you please order me a cab?” Meg asked pulling away, then moved across the room to the door.
“You are not leaving, Megan. If I have to lock you in your room, I will,” Nik stated firmly as he stalked her.
“You can't keep me here against me will. That's bloody well kidnapping. I'll call the police and they will come and get me out of here.”
“No, they won't. I will prove to you, I am what I said,” Nik stated as he wrapped an arm around her waist. He picked her up in his arms and walked back to the sofa. He gently placed her on the sofa and moved the coffee table out of the way. “Watch me, Megan.”
Meg watched Nik with trepidation as his form began to shimmer; the lines of his body began to blur.
She heard terrible cracking sounds as she watched Nik's body begin to contort. His mouth and nose elongated to form a fur covered muzzle. Meg shoved herself back into the sofa cushions and lifted her feet from the floor. She must have blinked, because the next moment standing before her was a very large wolf with piercing, blue eyes and black fur. She gave a whimper as the wolf moved towards her and covered her head with her arms.
“I will not hurt you. I have already told you that.
Why do you fear me, Megan?”
Nik asked, using his unique
were
powers as he pushed his thoughts into Megan's head.
“Megan, look at me.”
Meg slowly lowered her arms and stared at the big black wolf. She had the insane thought of her being Little Red Riding Hood, as the wolf continued to look at her.
Nik moved forward slowly, cautiously, until he was only centimeters away from his mate. He gently nuzzled her hand with his head, trying to convince her to pat him. He gave a groan of appreciation as she slid her hands through his silky fur.