They stopped in front of a little restaurant, tucked back away from the noise of the Downtown streets. Several tables and chairs were placed out on a fenced in patio and had a variety of patrons already enjoying food.
A tall, willowy woman came out carrying plates of steaming food. She seemed almost human until you noticed the pointed cat ears coming out from her hair, a long tabby striped tail and cat eyes.
Hammer inhaled sharply, "Animagous? I thought they had all disappeared?"
"Not so much disappeared as taken refuge in safe havens like West Mountain. It's harder for them to hide like other Fae so they prefer places like this."
"They're fascinating. I've always been curious about them and what makes them different from shifters."
"First off, what aren't you curious about, I've never met a more inquisitive person." Cecilia laughed, pulling him into the restaurant, "I'll tell you what I know and I'm sure once the Fae here know you better, they'll do the same. Who knows, maybe you could write some sort of Fae almanac."
Hammers eyes lit up, ideas forming. Cecilia could see his passion for knowledge bubbling inside him. "Imagine the good it could do if we could understand the differences between Fae, the misunderstandings that could be avoided." His expression got sad for a moment, "Maybe if we can understand our differences, we can all start to accept each other. "
They had made it to a table and Hammer held out Cecilias chair for her. They were seated at a small intimate table, tucked in a corner. The room had a distinct romantic feel to it. Votive candles were lit on all the tables giving off soft glows around the room, tables were placed far enough apart to give a feeling of privacy.
Cecilia fiddled with the place setting in front of her nervously, the restaurants atmosphere made the fact that this was a date much more real. After the fourth time she had readjusted the alignment of her silverware in under a minute Hammer reached out and put his hand over hers. Cecilia raised her eyes to meet his and gave him a wry smile.
"I don't really date much." Cecilia admitted.
"I think this might be the first date I've been on in 10 years A Chuisle. I'm nervous as well."
Cecilia could feel her eyebrows shoot up, "You haven't been on a date since you were 18?"
"It never seemed more important than the work I was doing. There was never anyone I was willing to make the time for. Until now."
Cecilia blushed slightly, "Flatterer."
He had managed to use ease her nerves and their date could continue with ease.
"Sampson?" Cecilia asked pulling his attention from the menu in front of him, "You've said something a few times and I'm curious about what it means."
"What is that?"
"A Chuisle? What is it?"
Hammer chuckled, "It is considered a term of endearment in my home country. When I first used it, I was just trying to startle you, rattle your cage so to speak. I wanted to shock you out of that facade you had up. But once we made eye contact and I felt what I now know was the Mate Bond I realized how accurate a term it was. Roughly translated it means, My Pulse."
Cecilia blushed, looking back down at her menu. Normally she hated terms of endearments but this one wasn't the standard babe or dear, it was something unique, just for her.
"You said Mages don't usually find their Mates? Why do you think that is?"
Hammer thought for a moment before answering.
"I think it has to do with isolation. I said before Mages are not known for stable relationships. I think it has something to do with our energies and auras. Two Mages together is like two storms converging together. My parents, though together in their own way, did not even share the same room. They lived together but would barely even speak. They met once a week for their time together and then lived their own lives."
Hammer paused, taking a deep breath to sadness flickering across his eyes. "I believe that because Mages only interact with other Mages, they do not find Mates. We cannot be truly happy or at peace with another Mage which is why two Mages are not Mates. I have never met a Mage who had met their Mate before. All we know about what it feels like and what to do to complete the Mate Bond are from very VERY old books and hearsay."
"You said it felt like pure Magic?"
"Hmmm," Hammer hummed. "Magic is about the manipulation of energy. When our eyes finally met it felt like the very blood in my veins had been replaced by lightening. And then the sparks."
Cecilia laughed, "I think we all get the sparks, no matter the Species."
"I'm curious, how do wolves complete the Mating process? Not that I'm pushing to do that soon or anything. I just. Ugh I can't seem to stop until I know everything."
Cecilia covered her mouth with her hand as Hammer started to ramble, before holding up her hand to stop him. "I understand Sampson. You want to know not just because there is the possibility it is something we will do in the future, but it is just who you are to gather as much information as you can."
Hammer nodded, sitting back in his chair. "It can get me into trouble at times, clearly."
"It is simple enough, when a wolf is ready to complete the bond, they will be intimate with their partner, physically." Cecilia looked at him, raising her eyebrows to see if he understood. Hammers eyes narrowed slightly but he nodded back, understanding.
"During the peak of that intimacy the shifter will bite their Mate at the base of the neck, right here." Cecilia placed her hand in the junction of her neck, where her shoulder and neck joined. "That will seal the bond. The mate will gain the mental link if they don't already have it, also the Mates will be able to sense strong emotions of their mate and feel when they are in pain."
"That is very... intense." Hammer responded.
"I'm told it feels like nothing you can imagine. That completing the bond with your true Mate is one of the greatest pleasures you can experience." Cecilia narrowed her eyes at him for a moment, "I know you said you weren't totally sure about the Mate process for Mages but what do you know. I'm curious as well."
"Well, it is about exchanges of energy. It is a full ritual that involves the joining of the aspects of the Mates, Mind, body, and soul. It starts with a vow sealed by magic, then a joining of the body, we would slice our palms and form a type of blood pack, and finally a joining of the soul, though intimate physical activity, not simple sex but deeper than that, making love. The bond would only be complete if we both... peak at the same time."
Cecilia was stunned. "Wow. You guys don't mess around, do you?"
Hammer chuckled, "No, not really. If I was to hazard a theory, Mages require a deep understanding of themselves and the energies around them to do Magic and not have it be disastrous. We learn to meditate, focus our minds, and understand the connection between mind and body when we are children. The ritual helps to keep a Mage in balance when they complete a Bond."
Cecilia nodded, it still seemed like a lot, but every species is different.
They fell into easy conversations about their interests and lives after that, letting the date just happen naturally.
Sooner than Cecilia would have liked they were back at his bike by the Apothecary.
"Can I drive you home Ms. Lawson? "
Cecilia smiled up at him, "Of course Mr. Steinson. I would be honored to have you escort me home."
She leaned in close to him and whispered in his ear, "Franny and Oscar are gone for the night. The house is empty."
Hammer grinned down at her and got on to his bike.
*****
They stumbled into the entryway of the Victorian house laughing and playfully pulling at each other. Hammer pulled Cecilia tight against his chest, one hand on the small of her back, the other on the back of her neck as his lips found hers in a burning kiss. A low moan escaped her as he used his tongue to open her mouth. Her hands gripped the back of his shirt as his hands began to move, exploring her body, her skin tingled everywhere his fingers touched. Cecilia gasped, pulling away from his mouth, as his fingers lightly traced down the curve of her spine.
Sampson his mouth had moved down her neck. She grasped his hair in her hands and pulled gently, forcing him to meet her eyes.
His eyes were heavy with lust and Cecilia felt like his gaze alone would melt the clothes off her body.
"Take me to bed."
His eyes got even more heated as he leaned down, claiming her mouth with his, his hands gripped the back of her thighs, lifting her legs around his waist. Cecilia wound her arms around his neck and her fingers into his auburn curls as her tongue danced around his as he carried her up the stairs.