When Talia and Damon descended to the main floor, they were welcomed by the clamor in the main hallway as the girls were getting ready to depart to the beach.
Maya was in the center of the commotion with Meg, Kalina, Mindy, and Tatiana facing her and asking questions related to what to expect at the beach.
Talia and Damon could hear from the top of the stair how Maya was reminding them that lunch will wait for them there and that they will also have beach towels, snacks, chilled drinks, bodyboards, balls, and snorkeling equipment.
Talia was looking forward to what was coming, and she hoped that she will get to swim with Damon, and maybe play a game with a ball in the water.
She once saw a group in the waist-deep water throwing a ball to each other, and she clearly remembered laughter and the good mood, and Talia always wanted to do that.
Talia gazed at Damon and for the millionth time since coming to the Dark Howlers pack, Talia was grateful for all the opportunities Damon presented her with. She never thought that she can be this happy.
Talia smiled at the thought of how she managed to put her red bikini on without showing it to Damon. She bought it that morning in the mall. Did Damon even know that she was wearing a swimsuit under her dress? What will be his reaction when he sees her in that bikini? Talia thought that it was too skimpy, but the girls assured her that the color suits her well and that Damon will go crazy when he sees her. Talia hoped that it will be good crazy and not crazy crazy.
The ladies wore light summer wear and the thin strings that peeked around their necks were a giveaway that they are wearing swimsuits underneath clothes, and Talia was glad to see that her choice of clothes more-less matched what her girlfriends were wearing.
But not only females were in the hallway.
Maddox stood on the side and his expectant gaze was on Tatiana who was chatting with Kalina and other girls like he was not there.
"See? We are on time.", Damon said to Talia.
She knew that he was rubbing it in because after their lovemaking on the floor she wanted to get ready, but Damon carried her to bed for another round while saying that they won't be late for their beach outing. Well, he was right. They were not late, but she didn't want to acknowledge it.
"What about the guys who went to train?"
"Caden is with them, and they will join us at the beach when done. They are still training."
Talia pretended not to notice that Damon was rubbing it in.
She knew that the group in the training center included Axel because he went there after the girls returned from the mall.
With that, everyone was accounted for.
"The van is waiting outside!", Maya said in a raised voice, obviously excited. "Feel free to pick your seat. When everyone is in, we will leave…"
Talia turned to Damon, silently asking him if that applies to them also, and he shook his head with, "We will take my car."
Damon had no intention of squeezing into a vehicle with a bunch of women who are not Talia.
Talia's eyes moved to Maddox whose expression dropped. It was obvious that Tatiana was planning to join the girls in the van.
Talia knew that Tatiana was making things difficult for Maddox so he had to work for it, but he won't be able to do anything if she keeps her distance.
No matter how much Maddox wanted to be with Tatiana, he is still an Alpha and it won't be good if he makes a fool of himself in front of others.
Tatiana was pressuring Maddox, and Talia had a feeling that no one will like the outcome if the pressure is too much, and Maddox explodes.
At the same time, Talia was confident that Tatiana wanted to be with Maddox, otherwise, she would reject him.
Stirred by an unknown resolve, Talia slipped out of Damon's hold as she moved swiftly and grabbed Tatiana's elbow.
Tatiana looked at Talia questionably, and Talia said, "How about you come with us in the car?"
It was not really a question; it was more like a command and Tatiana looked at Talia in a daze for a moment before agreeing.
"Alpha Maddox", Talia called in an official manner. "You should join us also."
Maddox looked at Talia with sparkles in his eyes, and if he had a tail, it would be wagging.
It seemed that out of everyone present, only Talia was willing to help him out.
Damon and Axel spent hours giving him advice, but that didn't count because nothing useful came out of it, and others either didn't care or were sabotaging him.
Suddenly, Maddox thought how Talia is a sensible person. Ah, if only his mate is so kind, they would have a nice conversation and figure out things, and he wouldn't need to suffer through the torture of guessing what Tatiana wants.
Damon stared at Talia with renewed interest. Did he feel Talia's aura impacting Tatiana for a moment, or did he imagine it?
Damon knew the feeling of Alphas forcing others to submit, but this was different. It was like Talia was the voice of reason that shattered Tatiana's defenses and made the latter think that was her idea, and the most surprising was that Talia did it naturally, without even trying. Fascinating.
Seeing that Tatiana didn't go with the girls, but was standing there and waiting, Maddox smiled at Talia gratefully and he decided that he will repay this favor. Somehow.
"Keep looking at her like that and you will be walking to the beach.", Damon growled.
Talia poked Damon in the ribs with her finger and spoke in a hushed voice, "Stop talking like everyone wants to seduce me."
Damon cocked an eyebrow at her. "Everyone wants to seduce you."
"That's all in your head."
Damon nodded earnestly. "My head is full of thoughts about seducing you."
Talia stifled a giggle. Silly man. "You seduced me a long time ago." Actually, it was not a long time ago, but she couldn't remember the time when Damon was not part of her life.
Damon leaned closer and his breath splashed on her ear, "And I will continue seducing you every day, kitten, for the rest of my life."
Talia's insides shook. Somehow, his words sounded like a promise, and she liked it very much.
Talia stared into Damon's endlessly blue eyes, and she smiled foolishly. That handsome male specimen was her mate, her other half, and he can seduce her anytime. She will welcome it.
Maddox was not interested in being anywhere near Talia and Damon while they were lovey-dovey (which was most of the time), but he thought how Tatiana might lower her guard toward him when she sees a couple that is openly expressing their affections.
He would allow Tatiana to poke his ribs as much as she wants, and then they would gaze into each other's eyes, and inch closer until they kiss, and then they will go upstairs and have sex (and lots of it!), and they would definitely skip on the whole beach idea. One can hope.
…
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When they reached the black armored Lexus SUV, Damon opened the door for Talia and helped her get in and buckle up. He stole a few kisses during that process and then he moved to sit in the driver's seat.
Following his example, Maddox opened the door for Tatiana with, "Do you need help with the seatbelt?"
Tatiana refused his offer. "I can manage." She knew that Maddox being so close might cause her will to crumble and give in easily.
Tatiana was grateful that Maddox was too nervous to notice how conflicted she was. The attraction was driving her mad, and she wanted to rip his clothes off and ride him wildly, but she also wanted to teach him a lesson for what happened that morning.
The delicious scent of coffee splashed on Tatiana when Maddox joined her in the backseat and she turned to look out of the window of the car in order to avoid staring at him.
The car hummed and Damon smoothly navigated through the winding road.
Talia's hand in Damon's fit perfectly with their fingers interlaced and Damon's thumb gently caressed the back of her palm, and their worlds were at peace.
In the rearview mirror, Maddox could see Damon's blissful smile and he really wanted to have the same.
Little by little, his right hand moved toward Tatiana's, and he silently prayed that she doesn't move her hand away.
Tatiana jolted when Maddox's hand covered hers. She looked at him only to see him gazing through the window on the side with an oblivious expression like he had no idea what was going on.
Tatiana's gaze moved to their connected hands. Her hand looked so small compared to Maddox's that gave her a feeling that it could hold the sky for her if needed, and it came with the warmth and the delicious sparks, and it felt so good that she closed her eyes and smiled a little.
Maddox was delighted by Tatiana's reaction and his heart soared when Tatiana's hand moved, and her fingers curved to hold his.
Holding hands. Maddox didn't remember if he ever held hands with a girl. It was such a simple intimacy, but he felt like he achieved something monumental.
Maddox hoped that Damon will keep on driving a few circles around the Darkbourne and probably more, because he didn't want to let go of Tatiana's hand.
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