Hidden One

Chapter Twenty-Six: PART ONE

Tessa shrieked with laughter, begging for Demetri to stop in breathless gasps. It was evening now- they'd eaten dinner with Tessa's family, going up to meet her grandparents in their cabin a little ways from Tessa and Demetri's own. Tessa hadn't realized that the cabin had been built on the edge of what was considered 'Ambrose' family land.

"Demetri! Demetri!" She yelled, unable to stop the fit of giggles bubbling in her throat as her mate continued to tickle her senseless. "I-I can't...I need..."

He let up for only a second, looking down at her. "What do you need, my beautiful little kitten?" He teased, nuzzling her neck gently. They lay in their nest of pillows, the windows open to the cool night air.

"Need you to stop!" She giggled, looking up at him with big doe eyes. He pressed his mouth gently to hers, parting her lips with his and securing his hands around her waist. His lips slid down to her neck and she gasped.

"Are you sure you want me to stop?" He asked, lifting his head. She groaned.

"No fair." She whined, wrapped her legs around his waist. She was in a childish mood, a playful mood, though she didn't much enjoy this teasing game of his.

He put a hand on either side of her head, holding himself over her. "Convince me to keep going." He murmured, smirking. She pretended to think as she ran a hand all the way down his chest, over his stomach, down to...

He grunted. "Well," She pretended to muse. "I don't know if I can think of anything." There was a mischievous glint in her eyes as she teased him, using her other hand to pull his shirt off.

He pulled her hands away, pinning them above her head. "I think you're a better tease than I am." He said before lowering his mouth to hers. He held her wrists with one hand, stroking up the curve of her hip to the side of her breast and back down again with the other hand. Goosebumps raised across her stomach and arms, adding to the sensations he was exciting in her body.

"I love you." She murmured when his mouth loosened. He smiled at her.

"I love you too." He kissed her.

In the morning Demetri was the first to wake, stroking Tessa's wild brown hair back from her face. She was so peaceful when she was asleep- when she was awake she always seemed to have worry lines around her eyes. She was much happier here, he knew- Kate had worked her to the bone for hours on end, every single day. Cecilia kept a more easy pace, allowing her to learn in her own time instead of demanding long hours of studying from her.

And lucky enough, Demetri was happy here. He was finally part of a pack again, after all these years. Sure, he'd go anywhere for Tessa, but he had to admit that he'd much prefer here to anywhere else. Everyone here welcomed them with open arms despite where they came from, allowing not even a ripple in the delicate balance. There was no suspicion, no hesitation, because they knew Tess was their Seer and would never believe anything bad of her. How perfect he felt this was.

Too perfect though, he worried. It could only last so long, and when everything finally hit the fan, he knew Tessa was going to be right in the middle of it. He would be there for her- he vowed to never leave her side if he could help it.

Tessa stirred. Turning her body farther into him, she pressed her bare skin against his and rested a hand on his chest. Her hair had fallen forward, draping over her cheek and the arm he had wrapped around her. He sighed, hating to wake her, but knowing they had things to do.

"Tessa? Tessa, love, you need to get up." He murmured, kissing her nose. It scrunched under his lips, remind him of a kitten as her shell-pink lips parted into an 'o' as she yawned and stretched.

"It's cold." She murmured, her eyes still closed as she snuggled close to him. He chuckled, sitting up and pulling her with him.

"that's because we left the window open. Come on, it's warmer downstairs." He stood, but Tessa did not, instead curling into a ball in the middle of the pillows and burrowing deep under the blankets. Demetri sighed, pulling on a pair of sweats before yanking the blankets back.

Tessa shrieked, standing faster than the human eye could follow but Demetri had no problem seeing the movement as he stepped closer, wrapping her in his embrace and the flannel shirt he had picked up. She huddled against his chest as he pulled her arms through the sleeves and buttoned the middle three buttons so that it covered her, but still offered beautiful glimpses of the body he loved so much. She reached her arms up, the sleeves falling over her hands so that only the tips of her fingers were showing.

She looked like a child playing in her father's clothes. The thought brought a grin to Demetri's face, wondering just how many beautiful little girls he and Tessa would make together. Seeing the look on her face, however, he knew he had his hands full for now.

"Carry me." She commanded, her eyes still smoky with sleep and her hair disheveled. She was not a morning person, he knew that, but found her all the more beautiful in this state.

He chuckled. "Sweetheart, I don't think it's possible to carry you down that latter." She pouted, but followed him downstairs all the same and sat down at the kitchen table.

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So I'm leaving for my trip in literally twenty minutes and figured I'd give you this cuteness! It's only part one because I didn't have time to write the rest of the chapter, and sadly this will be the last thing I post until the twenty-second. Enjoy!

-Kaitlyn Elizabeth