I wake to a light tugging in my hair. The room is still dark, so I have no idea how long I've been asleep.“Hello.” Bellamy says quietly, stroking my hair. I guess that explains the tugging. I stop and take in my situation. Once again, while sleeping we have moved around so that I am lying half on top of him, one leg pulled up and crossed over his. One of his arms is wrapped around my waist while the other is stroking my hair. I take a deep breath, trying to stay calm. I don't know why I'm so freaked out. This is very different to the other times we woke up next to each other. Those times Bellamy backed off as soon as he realised what was happening, but now...“Hi?” I answer him nervously. Bellamy doesn't say anything. He just keeps lazily stroking my hair and lets out a deep breath. He moves a little adjusting his legs, shifting me slightly.“Sorry, I'm probably crushing you, I'll move I-” I am about to roll off of him when he runs his hand down from my hair. He runs it lightly over
He heads into my room and I take a minute to think. I'm proud of myself, sure I wanted to avoid that conversation, but I survived it, I didn't run away. I follow Bellamy into my room where he is tucking his phone and his tie into his pocket.“What time is it anyway?” I ask, I'm so out of it. I feel like I slept a long time, but there was daylight coming through the windows, which means either we slept for only a couple hours OR we slept through the night and it's daytime again.“It's about one, we slept almost 24 hours. I'm not surprised I slept that much, you're like a knock out drug to me, but you must have been really tired to have slept so long.” He looks at me contemplating something. I just shrug.“I did say I haven't been sleeping well.” I sort through my drawers looking for something comfortable to wear. I haven't really been doing much laundry lately either. I really need to catch up on my housework. Eventually I settle on a pair of leggings that I'm pretty sure are clean and
“I didn't use ALL the methods of courting, there are three main aspects to Shifter courting. First I show that I can provide for you with gifts of food and clothing. Second I show I can protect you, I got the rules about shoes changed at your workplace and literally fought the Vampires to protect you so that counts. That just leaves proving that I will do the same for our children.” He concludes. I choke on my water. Bellamy is out of his seat in a second. He moves onto the bench next to me, patting and stroking my back as I regain the ability to breathe. He looks like he is trying not to laugh.“Breathe Ryann, hypothetical children, relax.” Bellamy chuckles and I glare at him.“And just what kind of new and confusing behaviour can I expect from you regarding this?” I demand. He sobers up a little. “I'm not entirely sure, usually this would be proven by making an effort to be active in the family, taking care of younger siblings, or elderly family members of the female being courted.
Without missing a beat Bellamy hops out the car and runs around to open my door for me. Before I can so much as blink he’s leaning down over me and pressing his lips against mine. Just for a moment but I'm not expecting it and I freeze in shock.“For luck.” He states calmly, a click at my side tells me he’s undone my seatbelt. I flush red as I scramble out of my seat and take the arm Bellamy is holding out for me. There’s a smirk on his face and I can tell he’s enjoying how flustered I am.I take a few deep breaths as we approach the front door and try and relax. Megan is the one who has the right to be freaking out, not me. Things are actually looking up for me, I really have no right to complain. Bellamy unlocks the door, I did plan to head straight up to Megan’s room but I can hear noise coming from the kitchen. Is she… humming? I glance at Bellamy who shrugs and gives a confused expression which tells me he doesn’t know what’s going on either. I peer around the doorway and see Meg
“So Bellamy was telling me about some of the things Shifter men do to court women. Food and clothes and stuff. You had to have known this whole time!” I complain. Megan smirks. “I figured if it was meant to be you would already know and if it wasn’t... Then why force him to go through the rejection? Besides, I only knew about him buying you a dress, Darrien has been filling me in about your meals together though. Did you really throw money at him?” She asks. I frown.“Darrien wasn’t even there for that part. He left when we went to dinner.” I point out. Megan shrugs.“Just assume all the guards gossip. Except maybe Aaron. He barely even talks. I think I’ve mentioned before that Shaun is a gossip. He told Darrien and Darrien told me.” I groan. So much for privacy. I think Aaron might be my new favourite purely for his apparently unique skill of keeping his mouth shut. “I get the feeling I’m going to end up being embarrassed by all you guys a lot in the future. Well since I’m already
I turn to Bellamy about to ask how he’s doing when he sweeps me up into a hug, pulling me right off my feet.“Thankyou so much. I thought I could handle her but then she started crying. Usually I don’t have a problem with dealing with people who get angry but it’s not like SHE did anything wrong and I just… got stuck.” I can feel him breathing into my hair as he places me back on my feet, holding me close. I stay still a few moments until he releases me.“Sorry if I overstepped. I just didn’t like seeing her yell at you. Also I was worried she would wake Megan, she’s finally asleep.” Bellamy shakes his head.“You didn’t overstep. I know you aren’t ready to be… well, all in yet. But helping with this kind of thing, emotional Shifters. That is what the Alpha female does. You are going to be so good at this, I just know it.” I take a step back in shock.“I…um. Didn’t mean to…this doesn’t mean.” I stammer out. Bellamy takes my hand and runs his thumb over the back of my hand soothingly.“
I shriek and leap out of his lap. Or I try to, I trip over my own feet and get caught by Bellamy’s hand in the edge of my top. Bellamy tries to catch me but we both end up overbalancing and the chair tips over. We both land hard, sprawled on the floor. Bellamy manages to slip a hand behind my head as we fall so at least I don’t break my skull. Bellamy groans as I sit up and I realise I landed hard elbowing him in the stomach. I jump up.“Sorry!” He sits up and rights his chair. Megan is in the doorway and is frozen. I make eye contact with her. I’m sure I must be tomato red and I can’t believe that just happened. Megan bursts out laughing. She laughs so hard that I can see tears in her eyes. Bellamy can’t help but join in.“You guys!” I whine but I can’t help but smile and I try to resist the desire to giggle. Megan throws herself into the recliner Bellamy moved in for me as she manages to calm herself.“Oh I needed that. I was going to come apologise for falling asleep and ditching y
Darrien looks so lost. I start laughing. Megan and Bellamy give near identical smirks. “My brother stole it to make a nest for Ry in his office. Apparently he needs supervision while he works now. Although I’m not sure why he bothered because she wasn’t sitting on the recliner when I found them.” Her tone is suggestive and makes the whole thing sound a lot worse than it was. Still, I can’t help the blush that burns across my face. Seriously, I need to find a way to stop that.“I can go grab it.” Bellamy moves to stand but Darrien waves him back.“Don’t worry about it, I’m fine here.” He drops to the floor and settles in place resting his back against the edge of Megan’s recliner. Not touching her, but definitely more of a casual placement than he would normally choose. Megan’s gaze darts to mine and I try to arrange my face in a way that appears encouraging. Bellamy settles back in beside me. He checks his phone.“Food should arrive in about twenty minutes.” He informs us cheerfully.