His Reluctant Luna novel Chapter 22

Lucian walked into the study/library whatever it was while I clutched the edge of the table behind me with both my hands.

I was scared as hell!

He was talking to someone on phone and ignored me. I waited quietly leaning on the table afraid to move.

He slipped the phone into the inner pocket of his jacket. Then put two fingers under my chin and tilted my face up until I met his eyes. He leaned forward and kissed my mouth. It was not an unfamiliar gesture to me; we had done more than kissing. However, there was something demanding in the way he kissed. I tried to relax, tried to kiss him back, though I was trembling. He stopped abruptly.

 "I could hear your heartbeat at the entrance. You are scared."

I was not sure if it was a question or a statement. I licked my lips. 

"I am not scared; I was just startled."

He arched a brow. 

"Startled! Why so? Were you expecting someone else?" He gave a sly smile.

I was certain he would be angry and probably kill me if he knew the real reason.

"I can't get startled. Is that a crime now? I was locked up in here all day, and the first thing you do is start your interrogation. I am sick of your overbearing attitude!" I shouted at him.

To my surprise, he chuckled.

"Alright, I didn’t come here to fight with you."

He ran his hair through his hair," did you have lunch?" 

I blinked. “Lunch?"

"Yeah, lunch? Coz I skipped it, and I was thinking, what to do about dinner." 

He said while collapsing on the lounge. He looked tired.

"Why didn’t you have your lunch?" I asked.

"I was busy with something," he mumbled.

"let's go out for dinner, " he suddenly said smiling.

'He is so mercurial,' I thought. 

"So, what would you like to eat?" He asked with that heart-melting boyish smile.

"I don't know, surprise me!" I smiled back at him.

"Alright, get ready, it’s a date!"

I felt giddy like a schoolgirl going on her first date. My wolf approved it.

Soon I was rummaging through my huge closet (most of the stuff already bought by Lucian when I had arrived) for something nice to wear. I did not want to appear too enticing, nor to prude so I settled for a short-sleeved blue dress which ended just above my knees.

As we left his rooms, Lucian's guards followed us toward a dark-coloured Suburban parked outside. I could not tell who was inside due to the deeply tinted windows.

"Thank you for joining me for dinner today, Alice," he said with a smile.

"Why are you being so considerate?" came popping out of my mouth without a thought as I took my seat.

"I am just trying to court you, and win your heart," he said with an amused smile.

I rolled my eyes.

 Lucian had a little smile on his face as he reached over and took my hand. He started to rub my palm with small soothing circles. His touch seemed to calm my hammering heart.

"Where are we going?" I asked remembering I had just gotten in a car with Lucian for a date!

"The Club has reservations for us, I'm sure you'll find something you like there. Did you sleep well last night?" he asked with a tight smile.

"I think you know exactly how I slept!" I snapped at him cheeks blazing. 

"We slept in the same bed for God's sake."

He did not ask anything further and I regretted my outburst. He was being nice and a perfect gentleman while I was an emotional wreck.

"Hey I am sorry," I said.

He glanced at me "what for?"

I would have had more to say, but the server came back with our drinks to take our order. I quickly chose something, and she quietly slipped away. The rest of the meal was bizarrely comfortable.

The man that scared me to death, and I was trying to run away from was perfectly happy to talk with me about the most mundane things. Lucian wanted to know everything!

My friends, and even my job. He seemed genuinely interested in what I did all day. I had never told Emma as much as I told him. His presence was comforting, and I forgot to be nervous. I even found myself laughing at his jokes and swatting at his hand as he reached over to take a piece of chicken off my plate.

We discussed my job, his work, his pack. Carefully skipping over our pack rivalry.

Lucian talked about his family with love and pride. How he missed his sister, his mother who did not recognize him.

"I would like to meet your mother Lucian," I said.

He looked up at me surprised.

"She is not well; I mean she doesn't understand what's going around her." He looked sad.

It was my turn to hold his hand.

"I understand, but I would still like to meet her. Will you take me to her?"

He beamed, "sure". He replied.

" You get dimples on your cheeks, when you smile," I said out of the blue.

He flushed a little, which made me smile. 

"Do you like them?" 

“Yes, dimples should come with a warning: Dangerous! Could knock your world off its axis, categorized as a weapon, proceed with caution.”  I just stared right into those gorgeous eyes.

His hearty laugh resounded in the confined space.

"I will take that as a compliment." He laughed.

"Lucian, I want to tell you something," I said, I could not live with this turmoil anymore, I had to tell him about Mark.