Chapter 177

Olivia

The coastline greeted me with a peaceful aura the next morning. As the soft light of dawn painted the sky in hues of pink and orange, I was momentarily distracted by the smell of bacon wafting through the open window of my bedroom.

It was unusual for me to wake up to the aroma of a cooked meal. Not only that, but the sound of someone knocking and calling my name.

“Olivia? You awake?”

It was Nathan.

I sat up, adjusting my hair, which had gone wild during sleep.

“Um, yeah,” I said, my voice gravelly from sleep. “Come in.”

And there he was. Nathan, standing by the doorway with a tray filled with delectable breakfast goodies: pancakes stacked high with a dollop of butter on top, crispy bacon, freshly squeezed orange juice, and a small vase with a single wildflower.

“For you,” he began sheepishly, avoiding my gaze.

“I didn’t expect this,” I admitted, eyes wide.

“I thought I’d make it up to you after last night.” He placed the tray on the bedside table. “Sorry, Olivia.”

We adjusted ourselves, propping up with pillows, and I pulled the tray onto the bed between us. The aroma of fresh pancakes and bacon was intoxicating. Nathan began to fill my plate, his movements delicate and caring.

“We never got to finish our conversation from yesterday,” he remarked, handing me a fork.

“True,” I murmured. “Though, I think the events of yesterday spoke more than our words ever could.”

He glanced at me, a hint of vulnerability in his eyes. “I stood there for a long time last night, thinking after you walked away. I didn’t mean to hurt you. It’s just...”

“I know,” I interrupted. “It’s complicated.”

We ate in silence for a while, enjoying the simplicity of the moment. I was relishing the comfort of Nathan’s company when suddenly he froze, his fork mid-air. That familiar far-off look was back in his eyes, his nostrils flaring slightly.

“What’s...?”

But before I could finish my sentence, Nathan lunged at me, shoving the plates off the tray. Maple syrup, pancakes, and bacon scattered everywhere. His lips met mine in a fervent kiss, one that was full of longing and pent-up emotions. I responded in kind, allowing myself to get lost in the intensity of the moment.

At that moment, I felt my wolf’s presence. Still faint, but stronger than it was last time we kissed. She said nothing, but I knew what she wanted. Him.

Every touch seemed amplified, every sensation magnified. I could feel the warmth of his hands as they ran down my back, tracing the curve of my spine, making me shiver. The rhythmic beat of our hearts synchronized, accelerating with every stolen moment.

Nathan pulled me closer, the fabric of our clothes proving to be a frustrating barrier between us. Our lips collided once more, deeper and more urgent this time. He bit my lower lip gently, causing me to gasp and cling to him even tighter.

As he explored my mouth, his fingers tangled in my hair, tugging gently. The sensation sent a thrill down my spine, causing me to arch into him. I felt his groan against my lips, a low rumble of desire. Everything around us faded into the background, the sticky syrup, the remnants of breakfast, and the world outside. There was only us, in this moment, lost to our desires.

His hands moved to my waist, pulling me onto him as he sat on the edge of the bed. I wrapped my legs around his waist instinctively, deepening our connection. The heat between us was almost unbearable, like a flame that refused to be tamed. Nathan’s fingers danced across my skin, sending jolts of electricity coursing through me.

Breathing heavily, he pulled back slightly, his eyes clouded with desire, yet filled with questions. “Are you sure about this, Olivia?”

I responded by capturing his lips again, pouring all my emotions into the kiss. It was our way of communicating, words unnecessary when our bodies spoke so eloquently.

The sensation of Nathan’s hands on my skin, mixed with the intoxicating scent that hung in the air, made my head spin. I felt as if I were floating, caught in a whirlwind of sensations. Every touch, every whispered word seemed magnified, sending waves of pleasure cascading through me.

Nathan’s lips moved to my neck, nibbling and sucking gently, causing me to let out a soft moan. My fingers ran through his hair, pulling him closer, urging him on. The world seemed to blur, the boundaries between us dissolving as we became one.

But reality intruded abruptly. A cold splash of syrup from the discarded breakfast tray brought us back to our senses. We pulled apart, faces flushed, eyes wide with a mixture of surprise and desire. The sticky mess was a stark reminder of our earlier passion, and for a moment, we both sat in silence, catching our breath.

“Look what you did,” I whispered, trying to hold back a giggle. My attempt at being stern failed miserably as I saw his own face turn a shade redder.

“Sorry,” he mumbled, retrieving the tray and placing it on the floor. “Got carried away.”

We both got out of bed, gathering the stained sheets. As we approached the washing machine, our fingers brushed against each other, leaving a sticky trail. But neither of us pulled away. Instead, he took my face in his hands and planted a soft kiss on my lips.

“I don’t know if I’m ready to call this a relationship, Olivia,” he whispered against my ear, “but I can’t help but kiss you.”

I smiled, wrapping my arms around him. “We don’t need to put a label on it just yet. Let’s just take things slow.”

Nathan nodded, pausing for a moment. Then, taking a deep breath, he looked straight into my eyes, sincerity evident in his gaze.

“I spent hours thinking about it last night. And… I do want your kid to call me Dad, Olivia. Nothing would make me happier.”

My eyes widened in disbelief. “You… You really want that?” I murmured, tilting my head back to look up at him. “Are you sure?”

Nathan nodded, his eyes filled with conviction. “I do,” he replied. “I want it more than anything. All along, I’ve wished that the baby in your belly was my own. It’s a bit embarrassing, but I’ve daydreamed about it almost every day.”

“Why, then, did you reject me last night?” I asked. “You seemed put off by it.”

“I know.” Nathan sighed, running a sticky, maple-syrup-covered hand through his hair. “I was just taken aback, that’s all. And I responded rudely when I didn’t mean to. But I do want it. I want us to be a little family, in our own strange way.”

Nathan’s words made me smile. “Thank you, Nathan,” I said quietly. “That means a lot.”

However, Nathan’s face was still filled with conviction. “But if this is going to happen, I’d like to have a say in the prenatal stuff. I also need to know... Is it twins?”

I sighed, pulling away slightly to look at him. “I’ll think about it,” I said, somewhat taken aback by his request.

Admittedly, up until now, I had been terrified to find out whether it was twins or not. But if I wanted Nathan to be a father to my baby—or babies—it was only fair for us to find out. It didn’t mean, however, that I wasn’t still terrified.

The mood had shifted, and the weight of the future hung between us. But for now, in this fleeting moment, amidst spilled syrup and unexpected confessions, there was hope.