The Alpha's Bride

Talia had no idea how long she cried in Damon's embrace. By the time she calmed down, his designer's silky shirt was messed up with her tears and snot, and the sunset happened a long time ago.

"I'm sorry…", Talia said awkwardly.

She just cried and scary Alpha held her and even comforted her, and she ruined his shirt. That was beyond embarrassing.

She wiped her nose with the back of her palm, unsure where to look. Talia didn't remember when she cried the last time, and now she made a spectacle out of herself.

"There is nothing for you to be sorry about, kitten.", Damon responded while wiping her cheeks with his fingers. He really wanted to kiss those tears away, but he feared that he might freak her out.

.

Talia was in distress, and this was not the right time for him to make a move, but it was the right time to clarify a few things.

"I am sorry for not returning when I said I will. The meeting dragged for longer than I expected."

Talia looked up at him. "Meeting?"

"I told you that I have meetings in the afternoon, didn't I? And you assumed that I found myself a woman." Damon pouted. He really felt wronged because this time he didn't fool around, yet Talia thought he did.

Damon never lacked women. Just one look and they would swarm around him. They didn't ask questions or set demands, and they treated his proximity as a privilege. That's how Damon used to live so far.

It's not that staying away from women was difficult. After all, none compared to Talia.

But he didn't know how to treat this delicate girl who was sitting on his lap. She was pure and beautiful and easily frightened, and he didn't want to scare her away.

Damon didn't want to lie to Talia, but if he tells her the truth, she will definitely run away, and he will never find her. Is there some middle? Damon was not sure.

Maybe if he tells her things little by little, she will accept him without being overwhelmed. Yes, that might work.

But that approach will take time, and today, Damon was blindsided.

He assumed that Talia won't be happy because he didn't come as promised, but he never dreamed of the possibility that Talia will leave the festival with that wretched coach who will get his punishment later when Talia is not around. Damon didn't forget.

Damon's brain scrambled a million thoughts a second while trying to find a way to prevent Talia from leaving again like that.

"Talia", Damon called in an official tone. "I know that I didn't do much to deserve your trust, but I promise that I will never lie to you. Next time when you hear something unpleasant, give me a chance to explain. OK?"

"Explain?", Talia repeated. "Are you saying that what I heard are lies?"

Damon exhaled heavily. Of course, those are not lies.

"I can't fix the past, Talia. My promises are only about now and the future."

Talia thought how that makes sense, but… "Why would you do that?"

Damon smiled a little. "Because you are Mrs. Blake."

Talia opened her mouth to say something, but then she closed it. She had no idea what to say to this Devil who was teasing her again. Is there any point to talk? No matter what she says, he will either twist it or dismiss it, so arguing is a waste of energy.

Damon's gaze fell on Talia's lips and for the millionth time, he was thinking about kissing her right there.

He cursed internally. He kissed so many women, and now when it counts, he was not sure what's the right timing.

'When it's right, you will know it…', Damon's wolf spoke in his head.

Damon understood it as 'the timing is NOT right'.

OK. No kissing, but hugging is fine.

Damon tightened his hold on Talia, pulling her to lean on him.

Talia put her hands between them, and he could see the horror in her eyes.

Damon was exasperated. What happened?

They were having a moment, and now she was pushing him away.

"Stop!", Talia squeaked.

"Why?"

"Because I don't want my face to be stuck in snot."

Damon realized that she was talking about his shirt.

In one swift move, Damon pulled the shirt over his head and tossed it on the side.

Talia inhaled sharply the scent of the forest and dark chocolate that overtook her senses.

"There. All better.", Damon said with a grin and wrapped Talia in his embrace.

Talia stiffened.

Damon was naked from the waist up! How can this be better!?

"Damon?", Talia called weakly.

"What?"

Her eyes darted at his exposed chest that was only an inch away from her face. "Can you let me go?"

Damon had no intention of letting her go. "Don't tell me that one flimsy piece of fabric is making a difference. Besides, all my important parts are still covered. I remember applying medicine all over you and I didn't complain. Am I that hideous that you don't want to touch me?"

Talia was speechless. How did he end up flipping this situation to sound like he is the one being bullied?

Should she just give up and lean on him? But that was bold, and she wished that she drank one more beer because then she would probably have the courage to plaster her face on Damon's chest. Unfortunately, that was not the case.

"Of course, you are not hideous.", Talia said in a small voice while trying to explain herself. "It's just that… I never touched a guy like this and I'm not comfortable. Can you let me go, please?"

Damon paused for a moment and then his lips lifted into a smile. Talia said it. She never touched a guy like this… and if she never touched a guy's chest, that means she didn't touch any other part either.

She was absolutely pure and his to spoil, and if she had any idea how much that turned him on, she would never say such a thing.

He really wanted to push her down on the grass and corrupt her in every way possible.

Damon took Talia's hand into his and kissed the inside of her palm.

The kiss was chaste and long, and she felt his hot breath on her palm, and Talia's face was on fire.

Damon inhaled the sweet citrusy scent of freesia while delightful sparks danced on his lips, and he placed her palm on his chest, pressing it with a little force so that she can't pull her hand away.

"There. Now you have touched me. Hold it until you get comfortable."

Talia's eyes were open so wide that they nearly came out of their sockets.

She was utterly flustered.

Talia was sitting on the lap of half-naked Damon and her hand was on his rock-solid chest. His skin was smooth and warm, and she could feel his strong heartbeat under her palm, and if someone told her that she will find herself in this situation, she would call that person a liar.

…

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'BAM!'

Talia jolted when a loud explosion sounded nearby and she instinctively stuck close to Damon with her fingers clutching his back as the night sky turned fiery red.

Damon chuckled while welcoming this sudden proximity. Talia was glued to him, and he didn't mind, not even a little bit.

Before Talia resumed breathing, another explosion erupted, this one colored the sky golden… and the next one turned it green.

Talia stared at the vibrant night sky, and her lips stretched into a smile.

This was the first time for her to see fireworks in person.

One color followed after another in rapid succession, sometimes several fireworks exploded at the same time, in a pattern Talia couldn't follow, but she loved it very much.

The majestic aerial display was launched from the opposite side of the lake, that was bordering Darkbourne.

Talia was completely lost in the fantastic view of colorful explosions, unaware that she was still sticking to Damon, and the breathtaking experience was enhanced by the reflection on the calm surface of the lake.

"Do you like it?", Damon's voice sounded close to her ear.

"It's beautiful.", Talia breathed.

"It is."

Talia peeled her eyes from the fireworks to look at Damon and she met his icy-blue orbs directed at her.

Damon's face was turning from yellow to green and then red as it reflected the fireworks, and then it hit her… Oh, gosh! Is it possible that he was talking about her, and not about fireworks?

There was a moment of stillness when Talia thought that Damon can see straight into her soul and read all her thoughts and desires. It made her heart beat so wildly that Talia wondered if Damon can hear it over the fireworks.

The way he looked at her made her feel all kinds of funny things in her stomach; it made her feel important, needed, desired, no one ever looked at her that way and she hoped that she never wakes up from this dream.

Talia held her breath as Damon inched closer to her, and then she felt his soft lips pressing on her cheek.

"I'm glad you like it, Talia.", Damon said in a husky voice. He was so close that his lips moved against her skin as he spoke, and then he kissed her again.

Talia closed her eyes and inhaled a shaky breath that filled her system with the scent of the forest and dark chocolate, and she held onto him tightly because she became lightheaded.

If there was a chance that she previously imagined his lips at the top of her head, and on the forehead, this was definitely real, right there, on her cheek… super-close to her lips. Almost there. Almost.

Damon inched away and chuckled when he noticed that Talia's eyes are closed. Even with the fireworks throwing colors on her face, he could see that Talia was beet red.

Damon tapped her nose with his index finger. "Open your eyes, kitten. You don't want to miss the grand finale."

Right on cue, massive explosions sounded and shook Talia's insides as the whole sky was set on fire with vibrant colors, and Talia realized that Damon's grand finale comment was about the fireworks.

Talia bit her lower lip in embarrassment because part of her hoped that the finale he mentioned might be about more kisses, on the lips, maybe.

She let out a long breath and chided herself. Why was she thinking about kissing the Devil?

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