Hers for the Holidays

Chapter Nine

Vincent pulled up to Emily’s apartment building and glanced over his shoulder at her. The drive had been over much too quickly for his liking.  His wolf had enjoyed the way her arms fit around his waist, like she was meant to be there. She took off the helmet and shook out her hair; she had pulled it down from the bun it had been in all afternoon.  She looked like something he wanted to chase with her hair wild like that and she looked up at him, her cheeks glowed pink from the quick ride. He couldn’t help the sigh that left his lips as he wondered if her cheeks would blush like that if he kissed her.

“Thank you for tonight, I had fun,”  Emily replied as she nervously glanced down at her shoes.  

“Me too, maybe we could do this again sometime?”  He smiled as he got her groceries out of his saddlebags, Emily bit her lower lip as she turned and led him towards her apartment.  

“I’d like that.”  She spoke as they walked down the narrow sidewalk. She pulled her hair into a loose ponytail and Vincent took a deep breath, inhaling her scent.  She smelled amazing and the longer he was around her the more he wanted that smell to fill his lungs, to inhale it mixed with his own essence. He glanced up at her. He wanted to trail his nose across the length of her neck before he marked her.

Where had that thought come from?  He shook his head, trying to get his wolf back under control; they weren’t together, and he needed to rein himself in.  Before he scared her away, he didn’t understand what was going on, and figured a phone call was in order once he got home.

Emily nervously looked over her shoulder at him as they made their way up the stairs to her apartment. She wasn’t sure if she should invite him in or not.  Would he think she was being too forward? I mean they needed to seem like they were comfortable around each other for her family to believe that they were together; she was curious about his family and she wanted to know why he didn’t share with her what they did?

Was she spot on about them being involved in the mafia?  She hoped not. Maybe it was just something embarrassing that he didn’t want to share with her.  Emily shrugged to herself, she guessed she would find out, eventually.  

“This is me,” Emily said stopping in front of a cheery bright red door, Vincent studied the small potted plants that rested around her small front porch.  The smell of mint, lavender, and other herbs filling his nostrils. Underneath it all was the unmistakable scent of Emily. He waited as she pulled her keys from her purse and unlocked the door swinging it open for him.  Emily moved towards Vincent planning on taking the bags from him.  

“I’ll bring them in, if that’s okay with you,”  Vincent said and waited as she blushed, stepping out of the way in an unspoken invitation for him to enter her home, she was a smart girl.  

Emily’s apartment was small but neat, her computer desk and a loveseat that were tucked into the corner dominated the living room so she could watch movies comfortably when she wasn’t gaming.  She had a few framed photos on the walls of her family and artwork that she liked.

It felt like a home to the wolf, unlike his Spartanly furnished apartment.  He moved past the small kitchen table and placed the plastic sacks on the counter unloading them while Emily sat her bag down on the couch.

“You don’t have to do that,”  Emily said, motioning to the sacks, “Thank you for bringing them up for me.”  She said with a smile. She thought about asking if he wanted to stay and watch a movie with her.  Then she looked at her computer. He probably preferred to get back to gaming.

“I don’t mind, I live pretty close.  Maybe after the holidays, we could get together and game.  Like old school gaming parties, if you’d like?” He said as he tossed the grocery store bags into the trash can before looking over at Emily.

“I’d like that,”  Emily said with a slight blush.  Vincent walked towards her. She hadn’t looked up at him., he reached out his fingers to lift her chin so he could look into her eyes.

“Me too, I’ve got to get going.  Is it okay if I hug you?” He asked, wanting her to say yes.  

Emily nodded as she bit her lip, his warm arms encircling her waist.  She let out a gasp at the feel of his hands on her back; she leaned into his chest and breathed in his warm, clean scent.  She could imagine stealing his jacket and wrapping herself in his scent, letting it comfort her throughout the day.

Vincent buried his nose in her hair, letting the loose tendrils tickle his skin as he let her unique smell feel his lungs.  This was a  welcome feeling he wanted, and he had to fight with himself to keep it brief. The same electric feeling shot through his body again.  He wondered if it was just him, but doubted it as he felt her heartbeat speed up under his palms through her knit sweater. 

“I’ll talk to you later tonight, I mean if you plan to game.”  He said watching her as she blushed slightly.

“You can text me too,”  Emily said, then rolled her eyes.  “I mean or call me if I’m not online.”  

“I will,” Vincent said as he walked to the door, he was already thinking about the phone call he was planning to make when he got home.  He had a sneaking suspicion about his feelings towards Emily and needed someone he could trust to confirm what he was feeling.