Hers for the Holidays

Chapter Eleven

The time passed quick enough and Vincent found himself tossing his overnight bag over his shoulder as he locked the door to his apartment.  He made his way down the metal stairway and headed outside; he decided against taking his motorcycle over to Emily’s since he would be trapped in a car for the next four hours.  Vincent had shifted last night hoping that would help him be around her more easily, the constant want to touch her, to pull her into his arms and seal his lips to her own was becoming a struggle for him.  His wolf had moved about the wooded area around his apartment, eventually making his way to Emily’s apartment building. The beast had been content to watch her through the window, making sure she was safe.  

The man in him knew that this was creepy, but he would let his wolf have that for now.  The time to tell her his secret had yet come up, he was hoping he could tell her on the drive or before they got to his parent's house.  

They had made a plan already, they would head to her family’s home first and then head to their hotel after a visit.  That evening they would head to the hotel, then back to her family’s house for breakfast and an enjoyable early Thanksgiving lunch.  Then they would on the road, heading to his parent’s house. Not the pack house. He wasn’t ready for that yet, for Emily to meet his future pack.

Thanksgiving dinner would be with his parents, then they would head to another hotel before heading back on the road the next morning bright and early to try to beat traffic.  

Vincent walked with a slight bounce in his step, his hands tucked into his navy colored hoodie pockets, his overnight bag banged against his hip.  He was looking forward to the trip with Emily; he was also hoping that he could confess his feelings for her. Vincent couldn’t help the nervous energy he felt, he hoped that she would have the same feelings towards him.  He rounded the corner of the brick apartment building; he felt his happiness growing at the thought of seeing her again.  

His pace quickened the closer he got. Vincent was already in front of her door; he brought his fist up to knock on the cheery red door. He could hear her moving about.  Emily opened the door and smiled up at Vincent. He looked comfortable and at ease in his jeans and hoodie.  

“Hey you, I’m almost done packing, make yourself at home,”  Emily said as she headed back towards her bedroom. Vincent sat down at her computer desk, the screen was dark and the tower was off, he looked at her mouse.  The mouse pad underneath it was beaten up and well worn in spots he could see the foam peeking out from the fabric. He bit his lower lip, wondering if it would be strange if he bought her a new one.  

He filed away that information for later, as he studied a painting on the wall.  It was an accurate up close painting of a panther face, the large head had such amazing detail that he got up to study it closer.  The brush strokes made the beast look alive. There was an intelligence in the great cat’s jade green eyes that he hadn’t seen before in a captive animal, only in another shifter. 

He wondered if the artist knew about shifters.  

Vincent looked towards the hallway, he could hear the wheels of Emily’s luggage clicking on the hardwood floors of her hallway. 

“I’ll get your bag if you want to grab the snacks,”  Vincent said as he walked over, his fingers grazing hers as he took her suitcase.  He felt the same thrill shoot through his spine at the simple touch. She looked up at him through her long lashes. Her green eyes were the same shade as the panther’s in the painting.  He leaned forward, his lips almost touching hers, he could hear the breath she sucked in, feel it against his skin, as her eyes moved to his own parted lips.  

Emily jumped as her cell phone beeped, she looked away as she stepped back; she reached into her back pocket to check her phone.

“It’s my Mom.  She’s making sure we’re on the road.”  Emily said as she swiped the screen open to text her back, Vincent picked up her shiny red luggage and rolled it to the door.

“I’ll take this downstairs while you lock up,” He said, glancing over his shoulder at Emily.  He had wanted to kiss her peach-colored lips, to see if she tasted as good as she smelled.  

She walked towards the kitchen, grabbing a cloth reusable shopping bag that was filled with their snacks, she let out a sigh as the door clicked behind him.  Emily had wanted Vincent to kiss her, those brief times they had touch left her on edge, wanting more.  No, not just wanting more, craving him, and his touch. She wondered how it would feel if he trailed his fingertips up her arm, would it cause her to feel the same reaction.  

The fluttering in her chest told her that it would.  Emily didn’t know if she could be content with just pretending for this short time anymore, she no longer liked to think about what she would do after the holidays were over and they went back to being friends who gamed online together.  She shook her head, he might have thought about kissing her. It meant nothing, they had just gotten comfortable around each other, that was all.  She needed to get her feelings back under control.  

Emily picked up the bag and grabbed her keys from the hook by the door to lock up her home.  She needed to stop feeling like this about him, or at least tell how she was feeling. 

 Maybe she would do it on the way home?  

That way Vincent wouldn’t feel obligated to pretend he liked her after her heart broke if he didn’t feel the same.