The Lone Wolf's Lycan Princess

Kiss

Erin POV

I was out of my mind, my thoughts swirling in a chaotic frenzy. I was not acting like myself, my actions were driven by a force I couldn't comprehend. And then, he startled me with a sudden kiss, his lips brushing against mine. In that moment, I didn't want to push him away. Instead, I yearned for him to continue, to not stop.

As he started to pull away, a surge of desperation overcame me. I reached out, grabbing him and pulling him back towards me. It was the first time in a long time that I had allowed myself to take what I wanted, despite knowing deep down that it was a mistake. But there was something different about him, something that made me feel safe and calm amidst the storm of my emotions.

Being around him, even his touch, didn't make me uncomfortable like it did with others. It felt pleasurable, filling me with sensations I hadn't anticipated. But when we finally parted, I realized the foolishness of my actions. He had probably kissed me to help ease my fear of the thunderstorm, not because he had any genuine affection for me. And yet, I had selfishly clung to him, refusing to let go.

I should have known better. After all, I am supposed to be working for him, not indulging in impulsive displays of desire. Can I even continue working for him after what happened? The right thing to do would be to pack up and leave when we return. I have been nothing but a burden to him, despite needing this job desperately. How can I face him again after crossing such a boundary?

With the storm finally subsiding, we made our way back, a long walk filled with silence and unspoken tension. "It's late. I'll order us some food," he said calmly, breaking the silence as we entered his home. I rushed to the room he had kindly let me stay in, embarrassment washed over me, rendering me unable to even look at him.

I quickly retrieved my duffle bag, stuffing the few items I had taken out back into it. My fingers trembled as I picked up my phone, the screen illuminating my anxious face. The sound of my heartbeat filled the room as I typed a message, "I think it's best I return to the city. I was very unprofessional and went too far out of line. I am extremely sorry, River. I will request a taxi to pick me up." I hesitated for several minutes, my breath catching in my throat, before finally pressing send.

I pulled up a ride app on my phone, the soft glow reflecting off my trembling hands. I had never used it before, my fear of people holding me back, but I needed to be brave right now. Suddenly, several loud knocks on my door startled me, causing my heart to race even faster. "Erin, I'm coming in," I heard River's voice, filled with frustration, as the door swung open.

His upset expression sent a pang of guilt through my chest. I knew I had messed up badly. But seeing him like this, it made me ache inside. He took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure. "Look at me," he demanded. I couldn't stop my hand from shaking as I turned to face him.

"F-uck," he muttered under his breath, his eyes filled with a mix of emotions. "Erin, I didn't mean to make it sound like an order," he said, his tone calmer as he took a step closer to me.

"Why do you want to leave? Is it because I kissed you?" he asked, his voice now tinged with curiosity.

I tapped on my phone screen, my fingers barely able to type. "I know you were trying to calm me, that's why you kissed me, right? I went out of line by stopping you when you tried to pull away," I messaged him, my words appearing on the screen in front of me.

I watched as he pulled out his phone, his eyes scanning the message before shaking his head. "If anyone was out of line, it was me. Yes, I wanted to help calm you, since I could tell the storm frightened you. But that's not the only reason why. I kissed you because I wanted to. I have since the first moment we met," he confessed, his words confusing me. Did he actually like me?

"I won't force you to stay with me, Erin. But I'm asking that you don't leave. I want you to stay here with me, as I have a feeling you also wanted to kiss me," he requested, his voice filled with vulnerability.

"We are strangers to each other," I messaged him, my fingers trembling against the screen.

He looked at his phone, his gaze averted for a moment. "I know. So stay with me, and let's get to know each other," he said, his words hanging in the air.

I hesitated, "I want you to stay," he said, his voice filled with sincerity. "I can tell you don't want to leave, Erin, so don't."

“Stay as an assistant or something else.” I messaged him, feeling a pang of regret as I hit send. I needed to know the truth.

"What do you want, Erin? Tell me, do you simply want to be my assistant, or do you want something else with me?" He anxiously asked.

"I don't know," I messaged him.

"That's a fair answer," he replied. "I like you, Erin. I want you to be more than an assistant. I want to get to know you, to be more than just colleagues. But I won't push or rush you. You deserve to know that."

"Will you give me a chance? Will you stay?" he asked, his voice filled with hope. I looked at him and nodded.

"Thank you," he said, his gratitude evident. His gaze then fell upon my duffle bag. "That bag, is it all the clothing you own?" he inquired. I nodded, aware that it wasn't much.

"I'll be right back," he said, disappearing for a moment. When he returned, he handed me a large hoodie. "I get it, it'll be like a dress on you. But I'm worried you'll get sick after being in the rain. You don't seem to own anything really warm. So, when you get changed, put that on as well, for me. And then come out, food will be here soon. Please eat too," he said, concern lacing his words.

Once again, I nodded and he left me to change. I quickly took a shower and slipped into a pair of pajama shorts. His hoodie engulfed me, its comforting scent filling my senses. It smelled like him, a scent I had never noticed on another person before. I left the room, finding a box of pizza on the table.

"Looks good on you," River remarked, his eyes tracing the hoodie on me. I tried to mouth a thank you, no sound escaped my lips. I missed my voice more than ever.

"I got cheese and pepperoni, hope that's okay. I live a good distance from the pizza place, so if you need it warmed, I'll toss it in the oven for you. And then make yourself cozy, we can watch a movie," he suggested. I nodded once more, walking over to the table. He watched as I grabbed a slice, his concern for me evident.

I sat at his table. Tentatively, I took several small bites of the meal in front of me. Eating was always a struggle for me, my panic attacks making each morsel feel heavy and unappetizing. But he was so kind, placing a glass of water in front of me, as if trying to ease my discomfort. I couldn't understand why he liked me, why he was being so good to me. I felt like a mess, with nothing to offer him. I even doubted if my own body was attractive to him.

Once I finished eating, he motioned for me to join him on the couch. I obliged, sitting on the edge, my body tense with unease. I glanced at the TV for a moment, but it remained black and silent. Instead, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the dark screen. My mind raced, and suddenly, an image of my sister's lifeless body flashed before my eyes. Instinctively, I covered my eyes, needing a moment to compose myself.

River's hand gently rested on my back, his touch offering a small measure of comfort. "Erin, can you tell me what scares you? It might help me understand your triggers and avoid them," he asked, his voice soft and concerned. I shifted slightly and reached for my phone in my pocket. I typed out my response, "A lot of things," and showed him the screen.

He pressed further, asking what had just frightened me. I pulled the phone back to type my answer, "My reflection. It reminds me of my sister." His understanding was evident as he clicked on the TV, filling the room with light and banishing my reflection from sight.

"If you will allow me, I want to try and help you get over some of your fears," he said, his voice gentle and reassuring. "Whenever something triggers you, tell me what it is. I won't ever judge. I also need you to always let me know if I'm doing anything to trigger you or something you don't want or like." I nodded, appreciating his understanding.

"Since you can't speak, Erin, if it's simply my touch or me being too close at any point, I want you to push me," he continued, his words filled with empathy. "Simply put your hands on me and push, and I'll understand."

I nodded again, feeling a sense of relief that he was willing to adapt to my needs.

"Would you prefer to watch a movie or talk more?" he asked, giving me the choice. Movies often triggered me, so I messaged him, "talk."

"Okay, then I have an idea," he said, a spark of excitement in his eyes. He reached for his phone and manipulated it for a moment. Soon, the screen showed on the television, displaying a variety of colors and images.

He handed me his phone, the cool touch of the device comforting in my hands. "Here, now any question and response you have shows on the TV," he explained.

"Ask me something," he encouraged, his voice tinged with anticipation. I typed my question, feeling a little embarrassed that I didn't already know. "What type of books do you write?" I typed.

"Fantasy mostly dark," he responded, his voice deep and slightly raspy, filling the air with a hint of intrigue.

"How old are you?" I hesitated for a moment, feeling a bit uncertain, as if I were asking him questions from a dating profile. "30," he replied.

"And how about you?" he inquired, his curiosity evident. "20," I typed.

Suddenly, he caught me off guard with his next question. "Have you ever been in a relationship?" he asked.

"Yes," I typed back. It was before my family was killed, I was young, but still, I guess it counts. It's before I became broken.

There was a moment of silence, and I couldn't help but wonder if my response had upset him. "Have you?" I messaged, hoping to break the silence.

"No, I've never been in a relationship," he admitted. "I have had encounters with women, but with no strings." Confusion filled my mind as I tried to comprehend his choice of words.

"Encounters?" I typed.

He cleared his throat, pausing for a moment before responding. The suspense hung in the air, and just as I was about to dismiss the question, he finally spoke. "s*x," he said, his voice low and almost hesitant. Embarrassment flushed through me, and all I could manage to type was a simple "oh."

"I haven't," I finally typed again, my face turning crimson. The vulnerability of the situation washed over me as I realized he was witnessing everything I typed in real-time.

"You haven't," he whispered, as if trying to process my confession. "I'm going to go to bed now if that's okay," I quickly messaged, desperately wanting to escape the embarrassment. Thankfully, he didn't ask me to stay.

"Sleep well, Erin," he simply said, his voice soothing. I got up from the couch, my footsteps hurried as I made my way to the room. Closing the door behind me, I fell onto the bed, feeling a rush of emotions. I couldn't believe I had admitted to being a virgin so openly. Closing my eyes, I traced my fingers over my lips, a tingling sensation spreading through my body. Thoughts of him consumed my mind, and with each passing moment, a warm sensation flooded over me, leaving me yearning for more.

My heart raced, and a heat spread through my body as the thoughts consumed me. The mere mention of s*x had awakened a desire within me that I had never experienced before. Every inch of my being yearned for his touch, my mind replaying the image of his well-formed body over and over again.

I closed my eyes tightly, trying to suppress the flood of emotions that threatened to overwhelm me. I pressed my face into the softness of the pillow, hoping it would serve as a barrier between my thoughts and reality. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake off the images that had taken hold of my mind.

Even though he was practically a stranger, my emotions towards him were inexplicably intense.