Ava's Mate(18)

Logan stopped and kneeled down in front of Ava, running his fingers through her soft, silky fur.

“Where do you think I should take you tomorrow night?” he said. “I was thinking this great restaurant called The Beaches overlooking the water. I go there when my parents come up. My mother loves their seafood platter.”

Of course Ava didn’t reply. He stood up and started walking again. Ava walked beside him, nuzzling into his hand.

“You know you’re a lot easier to talk to this way than in human form.”

Ava nipped his hand and let out a growl. He chuckled.

As they met the winding road that led to the barracks she stopped and sat on her hunches and stared at him. “You’re not coming down this way, are you?” She didn’t move and he took a step toward her and she took a couple back. “Fine, I’ll see you tomorrow at six?”

She nodded her wolf head before she turned and bounded off. He watched as her black fur body ran away and faded into the bush.

Walking into the barracks, he ignored the jeering of people asking where he’d been and who had he been with. He went to his bed and looked at his watch, setting it for when he needed to wake up before closing his eyes.

* * * *

Logan had never been so nervous in his life. He tried to tell himself he shouldn’t be, that Ava wasn’t what he originally wanted. But for some reason his body and his brain didn’t buy that.

Logan straightened his collared shirt for what felt like the millionth time and raised his hand to knock on Ava’s door.

“Come in, the door’s open. I’ll just be a moment,” Ava yelled.

“Stop being stupid, Logan Brown, you were here yesterday.” He knew he sounded like an idiot talking to himself, but he couldn’t help the feeling that Ava was important to his life, and if he messed it up he wouldn’t find another woman like her even if he searched the whole world.

After he’d seen her in her wolf form and talked to her so comfortably he felt more relaxed and at ease with her. All he’d done all afternoon and night was think about how he’d acted over the last couple of months and what his options had been. Should he stay and do the supernatural thing or decide to leave and be normal? Did he ignore the fact that demons and minions were trying to take over world? He knew he couldn’t do that, and wouldn’t be able to live with himself if he did.

So he was going to give Ava and the thing they had together a real try.

Walking into the lounge room and sitting down, he waited, trying not to look like the nervous wreck he felt.

Ava came out of her room and all his plans of staying calm flew out the door. She wore a tight fitted black dress and red stilettos, and she carried a matching red purse. He stood straight up, speechless. She looked stunning, way too gorgeous for him.

Not being able to hold back, he pulled her close to him and held her tight as he kissed her. They pulled away, panting. “Wow. You look amazing,” he said.

The smile she bestowed on him was priceless. Her eyes lit up and her lips turned up into a grin. She grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the door. “Thanks. We better go, otherwise I know we won’t end up at the restaurant but in bed.”

He let her pull him along because he knew she was right.

* * * *

They sat across from each other both looking out at the beach over the balcony of the restaurant.

“What made you join the military and not the mining industry?” Ava squeezed his hand over the table and turned to face him.

“I went with my dad a couple of times and even tried working in the mine. But I found it completely boring. I like to be on the go, doing things, be in the thick of things. I’ve always been an action junkie, so I gave the military a try and never looked back.”

Ava smiled and loosened her grip as the waiter came with their desserts. Logan held back his snarl as the waiter hovered over Ava like he’d been doing all night, offering her anything to make sure she was well looked after.

“My fiancée is fine. You can leave now.” As soon as the words left his mouth he froze in his seat and snatched his hand from her hold as the waiter stalked away.

Ava’s eyes grew wide and her mouth gaped open at him and she stilled.

“Ah…crap. I…Well, you…” He raked his fingers through his hair. “You do something to me. I’ve never been a possessive man but you…you bring it out in me.” He rubbed his hand over his face. “Tell me something, and I need you to be honest with me.”

Ava’s mouth snapped shut and she nodded.

“This mate thing…am I supposed to feel like you’re my possession? Like I can’t live without you? Like I want to spend all my spare time and more with you? For fuck’s sake, I can’t get it up with anyone but you, can I? For the rest of my life.”