My timeline is narrowing though, and I know that the day is coming soon when I have to reveal myself. I hope that she is as accepting of me now as she was as a child. In a young mind, one full of fantasies and dreams, one who believes in fairytales, took one look at me and instantly loved my beastly form. But with Taryn, now grown into a beautiful thriving woman, she may feel differently. It is a chance I will have to take, but to make her love me now before I reveal who I truly am, that would make the transition easier for both of us.
Living without her was something I could never accept. I need her, we need her, the fate of my future as well as the clan lies in Taryn’s hands. She is the key to recreating a world that was almost lost—for bringing home those that left years ago when all that was left was the carnage of our pack. It will be up to her and me to build back everything that was lost, only this time it will be so much more.
I close my eyes, taking in the sound of Taryn’s voice as it echoes through the coffee shop. I remain tucked in a corner, a hat pulled down covering my forehead and the bill shadowing my eyes doing my best stay hidden. My body turned to the side, I can see her reflection in the glass of the windowpane. She is wearing gray slacks, snug against her appealing curves, cropped and stopping just above her ankle. A pair of black, strappy shoes hug her feet, a flowing dark lavender sleeveless shirt tops it off and her long hair hangs loosely around her shoulders.
I can smell her, the sweet scent of her perfume, and it makes my body hum with delight. My hands twitch, wanting nothing more than to feel her body beneath my palms.
“I’ll take a large coffee, with half and half and Stevia,” her words cover me like a safety blanket, leaving me with a sense of home I’ve not felt in longer than I can remember. It doesn’t even matter what words she speaks, it's the soft hum of her words alone that gives me the comfort I’m so desperately in need of. “I also need a dozen muffins, assorted please.”
I know I made a mistake instantly when I turned around to find Taryn staring directly at me. Her mouth agape, but not in an awkward way. It is more of a gasp, one that draws my attention to her luscious lips, covered in a shimmering gloss. Her throat bobs when she swallows hard and not once does she attempt to look away from me.
I’ve failed. The idea of remaining at a distance and waiting to pick the perfect time to make an appearance, a brief encounter leaving her wanting more, is turned upside down as we each continue to stare at one another, neither moving in the direction of the other.
I’ve heard of the unexplainable connection, the one that leaves you feeling all the things running through you at the moment. Weightless, dizzy, momentarily crazed, but before Taryn, I’d thought that kind of mythical pull was something my ancestors made up. Something they would use to keep the younger members of the pack on the right path. But now, I know it’s all true. An I move, you move, I jump, you jump, feeling that has such an impact it leaves you breathless. Almost like Taryn and I are the very same person sharing the very same heart.
“Hi,” a soft hesitant whisper calls out to me. My body is moving again before I can stop myself and I am standing before her, again my eyes holding hers in longing trance. “I was hoping I would see you again,” her cheeks grow flush.
Unable to stop myself from grinning at her confession and leaning in a little closer, my head tilting to the side so that I may get a better view of her. The way she tucks her chin trying to hide her embarrassment makes me want to soothe her. “I was hoping to see you again too.” I don’t miss the surprised look in her eyes.
“A dozen muffins?” When she arches her brow, I point to the counter behind her where the barista has placed the box. The young girl looks at me, then to Taryn before focusing back on me. She does nothing to hide the interest she feels. A smile, one that I assume is meant to be alluring, is anything but.
“Either you like muffins,” I shift my gaze back to Taryn ignoring the young girl still watching more with hope in her eyes. “Or you’re feeding a crowd?”
“Meeting.” Taryn wrinkles her nose. “Nothing more than a room full of stuffy suits that are looking at me to wow them. Believe me when I say that these muffins are the most interesting part of what I am sure will be a very boring and redundant meeting.”
“Not a fan of meetings?”
“Not a fan of schmoozing those that look down upon others.”
Again, we grow quiet, only watching the other, waiting for a break in the mutual trance.
“Here is your change,” the barista takes the moment to interrupt and I try not to snarl at her. The second Taryn looks away, I feel the loss of her and want her attention back on me.
I watch as she gathers her change, the box of muffins and her fresh coffee. Taking a step in my direction she comes to an abrupt stop when she realizes that I don’t attempt to create space between us. “I find it hard to believe that you can’t charm a room full of suits. One look at you and I’m sure they’re all dazzled.”
“That’s sweet of you,” she replies, tilting her head back so that she can see me clearly. I feel my heart race. Her pouting lips are so close, I could kiss them. I swear I can practically taste them. “I’ve always despised public speaking, anytime the attention is focused on only me I feel like I’m drowning. Yet, each month I have to meet with the executives of my company so they can drill me about our numbers, our productions, and how they feel like we can do better. The problem is in their eyes we can always do better, even if we meet the goals they set, there is always, more, more, more.”
I say nothing, only focus on her. The way her chest rises, allowing the low dip of her shirt to part exposing even more of the creamy skin hidden beneath.
“I need to find a job where I can work when I want, do what I want and have no one to answer to but myself. You find that kind of job, please if you would, steer me in its direction,” she says jokingly.
Hope flows through me, the fears of her not wanting to leave the life she’s built here in the city quickly fade.
“I’ll keep my eye out,” I say, offering her a charming smile I stepped aside allowing her to pass. “But for now, just smile and I can almost guarantee each person in that room will be mesmerized by your beauty.”
Taryn pauses, closes her eyes and I watch as she inhales deeply.
“It was great seeing you again Taryn,” I say, whispering her name. I fight the urge to touch her. “I have a feeling that we’ll see one another again real soon.”
“I hope so.” It is a whisper I’m not sure I was meant to hear.
Allowing her to walk away, I wait, staring after her until she reaches the door and glances back. “Until next time.”
With a smile and a shy tuck of her chin, Taryn pushes open the door to the cafe and steps outside, disappearing into the crowded streets. Though she is out of sight, she is never out of mind.
Soon my sweet angel, I will have you in my arms where you belong forever.
Taryn
“Honey, what do you mean you’ve quit your job?” I immediately see the panic in my mother’s eyes. A shakiness in her voice that I recognize as uncertainty it triggers. Her mind racing, I'm sure with scenarios to fix whatever it is she assumes has brought on this news. “I don’t understand. I thought you loved your work.” My poor mother, always trying to make things right and unsettled when she can’t.