Chapter 7 A Goodnight Kiss

• Lionel leaned in closer to me, just to take the tray from my hands.
• "I didn't mean to upset you." He said, his deep voice ringing through my ears.
• We weren't very close for long, but it was almost intoxicating. I felt his breath warm against my skin, the lingering heat on my wrist from his hand. His voice swept me away, deep, sweet, and heavy.
• In that moment, I wanted something. Something that I knew I couldn't have. It settled in my gut, heavy and dark, and I felt a mix of emotions that didn't go too well together.
• I was still angry and frustrated with him, but now there was an underlying desire that I couldn't control. That I couldn't explain.
• He straightened up his back, taking a step back away from me and clearing his throat. He dragged his eyes away from mine. The moment was broken.
• "Thank you for taking care of Vera. I really do appreciate it." He said, voice almost strained in its politeness.
• That politeness had been missing several hours earlier. He could afford to choose when to be kind. I wasn't the kind of person who ever had that luxury.
• I wondered how it felt. I couldn't help it. I snapped back at him.
• "Of course, you're polite and nice now. I know it's not real. I've seen how you truly act."
• "That was a very different situation, Ms Lupa. It called for a different attitude and a different strategy." He responded with a furrowed brow.
• "So you're only nice to the people who do what you want." I scoffed, rolling my eyes.
• He quirked a brow at me. I wondered how often people spoke to him like I did.
• I turned away from him, starting down the hall towards Patti's new room. I wasn't sure how she'd do sleeping in a new place without me. Reading to her always helped put her to sleep though.
• I didn't want to speak to Lionel anymore. Ideally I would never have to see him again. Of course, he was following me down the hall.
• I tried to pretend that he wasn't there, that I couldn't hear the heavy sound of his footsteps echoing alongside mine.
• I tried to pretend that I couldn't hear his steady breathing. I tried to pretend that my own heart wasn't still racing.
• I knocked on Patti's door a few times before entering. I tried to close the door behind myself, but Lionel stopped me, stepping in behind me. I fought the urge to roll my eyes.
• He shut the door behind us, moving to sit in a blush chair by the foot of Patti's new bed.
• The bed was bigger than any bed I had ever had. I bit my bottom lip, thinking about the conversation I had with Lionel earlier. I shook my head, trying not to think about it anymore.
• I walked over to her bedside. "Hi Patti-cakes." I greeted with a small, fond smile.
• I wanted to pretend that Lionel wasn't there, but it was hard. I felt his dark eyes stalking me as I moved to sit on Patti's bed next to her.
• "Do you want me to keep reading the Little Astronaut?" I asked, grabbing the chapter book off of her bedside table.
• "Yes please!" Patti said excitedly. She laid down, wiggling to get settled underneath the covers of her bed.
• "All comfy?" I asked, with a chuckle..
• "Yup!" Patti nodded quickly, holding a stuffed animal tight to her chest. "Read now please."
• "Okay, two chapters and then bed, alright?"
• "Three chapters?" Patti asked, batting her eyes at me.
• I laughed, rolling my eyes at her fondly. "We'll see how long they are."
• "Okay." Patti agreed.
• I opened the book, draping an arm around Patti's shoulders as I started to read from the book. It had been one of my favorites as a kid. I started reading it to Patti a few months back and she really seemed to enjoy it.
• I read the book, my voice growing softer as I read. I used my hand not holding the book to rub Patti's head. The book felt strangely applicable to my current situation.
• It was a sweet story of a magical little boy exploring the universe and learning about love, loss and the meaning of life. It was poetic and beautiful and I still loved it all these years later.
• "Now, I think I know what I must do next. The little boy said to me, with a grim determination in his eyes." I read.
• I glanced over at Patti, seeing her eyes beginning to flutter closed. "Alright sweetie, I think two chapters is enough tonight. You're falling asleep on me again."
• Patti groaned. "But what does he have to do next?" She mumbled sleepily, burying her face into my side.
• I laughed quietly, and moved to stand. "You'll fall asleep before we find out." I teased, leaning over her and pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.
• Patti smiled and turned her gaze across the room. I followed the look, seeing she was looking at Lionel. I had almost forgotten he was there.
• He was watching me intently, as if he was staring through me. He looked to Patti, a small smile appearing on his stoic face. He stood up from where he was sitting, walking over to us.
• He leaned down, tucking a strand of her dark hair behind her ear as he pressed a kiss to her pale forehead. "Goodnight, darling."
• The sound of his voice was a deep rumble that seemed to make the earth shake beneath me. I tried to pretend I wasn't affected. "Goodnight Patti."
• I started walking towards the door, Lionel following close behind me. I reached towards the light switch.
• "Wait!" Patti shouted desperately.
• My eyes widened in fear. "Is everything okay?" I asked, worried.
• "You two need goodnight kisses! Mommies and daddies do goodnight kisses otherwise it's called... it's called um emotional neglect." She smiled excitedly as she found the words she was looking for.
• I was absolutely mortified. I didn't know how to explain to her that there was no way that was going to happen. That we weren't like most mommies and daddies.
• That I wasn't going to be her mommy at all anymore before too long. That her daddy was the reason why.
• I looked to Lionel awkwardly. I nodded once, a short, sharp nod. And then the world went into slow motion.
• Before I could open my mouth to say anything, his strong hands were on either side of my face, warm and grounding in this crazy situation.
• He leaned forward awkwardly, pressing a quick, but gentle, kiss to my forehead.
• It only lasted a second, but it felt like it was an eternity. His lips were soft and warm. I felt his stubble scratch gently against my skin.
• "Good." Patti let out a relieved sigh. She flopped over onto her side with a yawn. "Goodnight mommy, goodnight daddy."
• I turned out the light, quickly rushing out of the room towards my own room. Thankfully, Lionel wasn't following me this time. If he was, maybe he would've seen how pink my face was.
• My heart raced, pounding against my rib cage as I navigated the halls of the house. Finally I arrived at my room, shutting the door behind me. I leaned against the door, slowly sliding to the floor.
• He kissed me. Chaste and innocent and fake, but he kissed me.
• I reached up to touch the spot where his lips had been. It felt tingly. Electricity coursed through my veins, starting at where he touched me.
• I replayed the moment in my mind, feeling the way his thumb brushed over my cheek as he took hold of my face. The feeling of his breath against my skin. It was so much, it was too much.
• I had been in relationships before, but no one had ever given me this feeling. I tried to rationalize it. It was embarrassment or frustration or the fact that he was a powerful man.
• For a brief moment, a ridiculous thought crossed my mind. But I knew it was wishful thinking.
• Wolf-less people were abandoned by the goddess. We couldn't know who our mates were. We weren't able to identify them.
• The sensation I was feeling was nothing. There was no way that Alpha Lionel was my mate.