Chapter 59

"I have to go anyway," Cathy said, standing. "I have a date."

"Don't go, Cath, I'll tell him I'm with you and that will make him happy. I'm sure it's just that he wants to make sure I'm safe."

"I'm not playing, I have a date," she said, mysteriously. "I'll tell you about it later."

She gave me a squeeze and grabbed her coat. "Have a good time," she said, wigging her eyebrows.

I promise to keep it respectful, came Charles' texts.

Is that what I want? I thought to myself, smiling.

Cathy is just leaving, I typed back. Come on by.

I see her, he replied.

What? You're already here?

I'm relieving the guard.

I went out onto my patio, and sure enough, the guard was checking his blind spot before pulling out into traffic.

I hurriedly put the glasses into the dishwasher, thinking it may look bad that Cathy and I were having celebratory drinks when a colleague had so recently died.

He knocked, and I opened the doored the door to find him leaning against my threshold.

"It seemed a good economic move," he said without greeting me. "The guards get double-time after eight p.m. so if I take over..."

I nodded. "Well, if you put it that way." I stood aside and gestured for him to come in.

He smelled divine. His scent was somehow heightened, and his eyes were a sharp, bright blue.

"Would you like some coffee or something to eat?" I asked. "Did you have dinner?"

He nodded. "I grabbed something on my way here. Can I sit down?"

"Of course. Please make yourself at home."

He looked at me. "Are you serious? Because if you are I'm taking off my shoes and my tie, and probably my shirt."

I gulped. "By all means."

I stood back and watched him balance on one foot then the other, pulling off his beautiful, handmade leather shoes, revealing a more eccentrically patterned sock than I'd anticipated. He put them carefully next to my rainboots by the door.

When he began to tug at his tie I seriously considered sneaking a video. Women all over would pay big amounts of money to watch a man with such amazing musculature start to strip and here I was getting a show for free.

He, however, seemed not to notice my breathless ogling. He loosened the tie and pulled it over his head, then hung it on my coat rack. When he began to unbutton his shirt, however, my breathing stopped entirely.

He must have sensed something because he looked back at me, laughter in his eyes. "Don't worry," he said, smiling. "I've got an undershirt on."

"Oh," I said, trying to keep the disappointment out of my voice. "Of course you do."

"Did you think I was going to traipse around your apartment half naked?"

I blew out a puff of air. "What? No! Of course not. That would be..." I busied myself at the sink with a sponge, trying not to think about it and watch as he unbuttoned and pulled off his shirt.

His skin was a beautiful tanned brown, and his muscles moved through the fabric of his white undershirt. He sighed, moving his shoulders and arms, loosening his muscles as he turned to me.

"Thank you. It's been such a long day."

"Go sit on the couch," I said, smiling at him. "I'll make you some hot tea."

He nodded obediently and I watched him go, noticing how good it felt when he did something I requested. Was this how it felt to be an Alpha?

He flopped down and I filled a kettle, trying not to sniff too audibly but enjoying his scent that was quickly filling my apartment. It helped that his clothing now sat in various parts, giving off ghosts of his aroma.

I got out a mug and a bag of herbal relaxation tea and looked over at the couch. I couldn't see him, he'd slumped so low.

He must be on his phone, I thought, and let him lay there quietly as I poured the hot water over the teabag. I took it over the couch and looked down.

He was asleep, his face peaceful, his beautifully muscled chest rising and falling rhythmically. I smiled and took the tea back to the sink.

The sparkling wine had gone to my head, and his peaceful breaths were like a soothing lullaby. I occasionally used the sound of waves in the ocean to fall asleep, but this was even better.

I went into my bedroom and put on pajamas. Not my flannel ones this time, but ones a little less worn and more silky. Then I wrapped a robe around me and went back to the couch.

I turned the lights low and lay down on the couch so my head was close to his. I closed my eyes and within minutes his sound and scent overwhelmed me and despite everything that had happened that day I fell in to a happy sleep.

I didn't know how long I was out, but I was awakened by a warm hand on my cheek. Charles was kneeling on the ground in front of me, stroking my face with his enormous hand.

The light from the city streets was filtering through the room now. His already handsome face was even more chiseled-looking from the blue light and shadows, and yet I could still see the intense color of his eyes.

It occurred to me that he could crush me so easily, that he was so big, and looked doubly so in the semi-darkness.

"You're so beautiful," he said. I went to move and he shook his head. "No wait. Let me say this."

He looked into my eyes and I felt a twinge of nervousness go through me. I wanted him so bad.

When he didn't speak, any confidence I'd had evaporated. I was sure he wanted to tell me something negative and just didn't know how to say it.

"Tell me, please, Charles," I said, reaching a hand to his and feeling it stroke my face. "Whatever you have to say, it's okay."

"Elena, you're so brave, and you're so good. You have no idea the effect you have on people, and on me."

He stopped touching me and sat back, looking at me seriously. "I've been an idiot for so long to not see it. It was like I was under some spell. Please forgive me."

This was not what I was expecting. "There's nothing to forgive," I said quickly sitting up. "Please don't apologize."

"I want us to start over, to start right."

I nodded, smiling. "I'd like that."

He took a deep breath and smiled at me. It was like the sun had come out in my heart, despite the darkness of the day and my apartment. I felt like making him smile was the only thing I ever wanted to do again.

"I love you, Elena."

I gasped, my hands flying to my mouth. Love? It was more than I'd ever imagined. I'd thought maybe someday he'd look on me as a favorite, but love...?

"I can't think of anyone I'd be prouder of to call my girlfriend. How would you feel about dating me publicly? About us being a couple?"