Loving My Mate

Time Apart

BRIGHTON POV

Ever since the day I found out about the job, and after we got over our argument about living situation, we have been pretty much inseparable.  Harrison typically comes to my house at night when he’s done with business meetings or trainings.  The days he can’t get away, I go and sleep in his room.  Even if he’s too exhausted to say anything, when he gets into bed, he always pulls me into his body and kisses me.  He hasn’t brought up the living situation since, but I know I need to make the decision soon to move in with him.  It will be uncomfortable to me, but I have to respect Harrison and move into the apartments.

Harris and I are lying naked in my bed, tangled up in each others limbs.  I have to leave in an hour and my bags are already packed.  Steven told Harrison to stay away from the office yesterday so he could spend some time with me, which I was really grateful for.  We stayed up all night engrossed in each other, barely getting any sleep.  I can’t believe it’s already time to leave. 

He dozed off about an hour ago and I’ve just been laying here listening to his heartbeat, trying to engrain the sound into my brain.  As much as it pains my heart, I know I have to do this for myself, even if it means staying away for a while.  I turn my face into the crook of his neck and breath in his delicious scent, as if I will never smell it again.  I’m going to miss him so much.

“Baby, please don’t cry,” he speaks softly, rubbing a hand on my back.  Refusing to look at him, I sniff up some air through my nose. “I’m not crying”, I lie, as more tears flow down my cheeks onto his neck.

He chuckles and me and lifts us both up into a sitting position and turns me so I have to look at him.  I try to turn my face from him because I probably look 30 shades of awful with mussed up hair and red eyes.  He cups a had to my cheek and pecks me softly.  The love in his eyes make my tears leak out more.

“You got this Brighton.  You’ll be back before you know it.  And we can just pick up from where we started, yeah?”  He smiles at me and I rub the last of the tears off my face.  I hug him tightly and he returns the strong embrace.  “Thank you” I whisper to him. 

*****

Harrison puts my bags in the car as I stand in front of the pack house.  Mark, Steven, and Maggie are here to send me off.  We had a dinner with all our friends the other night for my send off.  Dustin and Sally were both in tears- Sally from being pregnant, and Dustin….. well, he said he was just being a supportive husband to Sally, but I know he’s worried for me. 

Harrison’s parents give me a group hug.  Maggie has tears in her eyes, and I’m trying to keep myself together.  “Take care Brighton, I know you’ll make us proud,” Steven says while trying to unhinge Maggie from my side.  Mark comes and plops an arm across my shoulders, kissing my forehead.  “We’ll miss you Luna.  Don’t worry about Harris, I’ll keep him in check.”

I smile gratefully at him and then his arm is knocked off my shoulders.  “Mine,” Harrison says with humor in his tone.  I say goodbye to everyone once again, and climb into the car with Harrison next to me.  We ride in silence with our hands interlaced, my head on his shoulder.  I draw lazy circles on the top of his hand to pass the time by.  When we get to the airport, my anxiety starts to increase, but I’m trying to hold it together.  After I check my bags in, I stare at my ticket and take deep breaths.  Then I look to Harrison, displaying a soft smile as he holds his arms out.  I rush into them and squeeze him tightly.  He kisses my head, inhaling deeply. “Call me as soon as you land, okay?”

“I will- promise.”  I lean up and kiss his lips quickly before I turn to leave.

“Brighton!” he yells when I’m halfway across the room.  I turn and look at him questioningly.  He smiles big and brings his hands to his mouth to echo his words.  “I LOVE YOU!”  I’m red with embarrassment because everyone is looking back and forth between the two of us.  But despite the embarrassment, relief floods through me as tears start pooling in my eyes.  I whisper out ‘I love you too’.  I know he hears me when his smile softens, nodding at me, and I turn to leave. 

  ________________________________________________ 

It’s been 10 days since the conference has started.  So far, so good.  The work load is crazy- it’s been nonstop teaching, touring, and viewing demonstrations.  I’ve made a lot of contacts so far, and even had several galleries approach me to start a series with them. 

“Brighton, it’s 7:30!” my assistant whisper yells.

Shit!  I quickly end the lecture on contemporary landscapes, close up my laptop, and rush out of the classroom.  The hotel that I’m staying at is on campus, so with running, only takes me seven minutes to get to.  I hit the elevator and stab the stupid button over and over until the door closes.  While ascending, I take in breaths of air, more for anxiousness than being winded.  When the doors open, I rush to my room, swipe the key card, and barrel inside, throwing all of my items on the bed.  7:42pm.  I rush around through the bathroom to rinse off my face and brush through my hair.  A few fluffs, mascara, and lip gloss, and I took a little refreshed.  I throw my shirt off and dig through my bag for a more seductive looking bra, and finally settle on a black lace one.  I put that on, open my laptop, and dial his number. 

Harrison and I have been planning this video chat for days and I miss the s**t out of him.  Between our schedules, we only get to talk on the phone at night when I’m about pass out laying in the bed  Because of the time difference, I end up interrupting his afternoon work day, but he never complains.  

The chat rings and rings, and I smile into the camera and jut out my chest for a more sexy pose.  When the video answers, I’m met with Harrison’s desk chair in the background and some shuffling.  I lean towards the monitor as if that will give me a better look into what’s going on.

“Harris?”  A few manly grunts are being sounded and then all of the sudden Mark jumps/limps in front of the screen all disheveled, but still holding a dazzling smile. 

“My, my, my Brighton, you’re a sight for sore eyes.”  I laugh as he props and elbow on Harrison’s desk for support.  His breathing is ragged but is acting like nothing happened.   

“Hey Mark, how are you?  Where’s Harris?”

“Harris?  Harris?  I don’t know any Harris Brighton?  But judging by that bra you’re sportin’, I wish I was Harris.”  He smiles so smugly as I yelp and grab for the first thing I can reach to cover up.  Which happens to be a damn house plant, so my blushing is just 10x worse.  Mark starts laughing and then out of nowhere, Harris runs up and punches Mark in the face and sits in his seat, loudly panting. 

His eyes light up as they see me, and I know I’m giving him the same look.  I’m smiling like a doofus, seeing my mate after only 10 days.  It must be a site to see- neither one of us are saying anything,  Harris getting his breath under control, and I’m too busy holding a plant to my chest. 

I can hear Mark in the background groaning and shuffling around the room.  “At least f*****g say hi to her dumbass! Bye Brighton! Love you!”  Harris is scowling at his office door until I hear it shut.  He looks back to me and smiles.  “Hey baby.” 

“Hi,” I say shyly.  I hug the plant tighter as if I’m hugging him.  And then I realize what I’m doing, roll my eyes, and put the plant down.  Harris starts chuckling on his end. 

“I was aiming for sexy, but your beta seems to have gotten that glimpse…. what was that all about?”

He starts rolling his eyes.  “He knew how excited I was about this video call and was being an ass saying he could talk to you before me.  We were in the canteen and when it was time for the call, he tried to race up here to lock me out.  When we made it into the office, we ended up on the floor, then the fucker surprised me and threw me towards the stairs outside of my door.  I ended up falling half a flight!” 

I start laughing, but can’t keep my eyes away from his face.  “I miss you so much,” I say more so to myself, but know he heard me.   I know I have watery eyes, but I refuse to cry. 

“I love you Brighton.  I miss you too.  And no matter what, that bra is still sexy on you babe,” he says giving me a wink.  We spend an hour talking and catching up.  He told me he’s had dinner with Dustin and Sally a couple of times, Sally just beaming with pregnancy hormones and Dustin couldn’t be happier.  He told me the daycare was running smoothly and that his mother is still asking about grandbabies.  We talked about my seminars and how my day to day classes are going.  He already knows, but the fact that he keeps asking about my schedule makes me so happy that he cares.  It was so good actually seeing his face with his voice, his honey brown eyes lighting up, just for me.

His phone dings off and he looks at it.  I bet its some pack business which means our time is about to come to an end.  I dread this part every day when he says he has to go.  He surprises me by folding his hands and tucking them under his chin, smiling at me.  “How have you been sleeping baby?”

I scoff at him.  It’s my nightly complaint to him on the phone.  “You know the answer to that.  I know even through the camera lenses you can see the bags under my eyes.  I can’t sleep well without you Harris.  Why?” 

“Go answer the door.” 

Before I can ask him what the hell is he talking about, a knock is at my door.  I look at him curiously and he tells me to go ahead.  I grab a robe to cover my top half and answer the door. 

“ Ms. Brighton?”

“Yes?”

“Sign here.”  I sign the parcel, take the box inside and go back to the computer screen.  Harris is smiling like a kid during Christmas.  “What did you do Alpha Harrison?” 

“I have no idea what you’re talking about- open it.”  I have no clue how he planned this and even no further clue as to what he sent me.  I tear the package paper and slowly open the box.  When I see the contents inside, tears start coming down my cheeks.  I hold up his t-shirt to sniff it and it smells just like him.  My Harrison.  I look at him through the screen and he just gazes at me.  “There’s my pillow case in there too- I hope it helps.” 

I smile and smirk at him.  I decided to be a little naughty, put down the box, and slowly take off my robe.  I grab a hair tie and throw my hair in a messy bun, all while keeping my eyes on his.  I reach back behind me to unsnap my bra, and I see Harrison’s eyes black over as he gulps.  I take off my bra and toss it across the room.  Before he can say anything, I smile and throw his shirt on.  “How does it look babe?” I giggle out. 

He starts laughing and shaking his head, then exhales a breath.  “Goddess I love you.  You’re so gorgeous Brighton.” 

I give him a small smile.  “We should probably end this here,” I say reluctantly.  “I have to be up by 5am to set up for a demonstration.” 

“Yea, I should get back to work.  This time next week?” 

“Yes, definitely- I’ll talk to you tomorrow…. Love you.  Goodnight.”

“Goodnight beautiful.”  The screen goes black and I sigh from the loss.  I pick up the pillow case from the box and stuff it over the pillow I’ve been sleeping on.  I turn off all the lights and snuggle into bed.  I tightly hug my pillow as sleep finds me fast.  It’s the fastest I’ve fallen asleep for 10 days.