Confessions Over Coffee

LIANA

I dress simply in a pair of black denim shorts and a pale blue Cami. I debate putting on a jacket but it’s boiling outside and I would probably draw more attention to myself by wearing it, in an attempt at hiding my body.

I frown at my reflection—then stop myself.

~“If you ever think you are anything but perfect, remember this moment, Liana. This feeling.”~

I stand straighter and blush. He was hard for me. For my body. My curves. My thickness and jiggle. ~The king~ wants me as I am.

I nod, steeling myself, and step out of my room just before he does.

Damn, he looks hot. Slim-cut, black jeans barely contain the muscled legs beneath them, and a skintight, navy blue T-shirt hugs his chest. So plain but so perfect. I hum happily to myself.

I cannot quite believe this man is supposedly my fated.~ You are one crazy Goddess~. I take a deep breath and head toward him.

His beta, Kia, appears from two doors down. He, too, is clothed in comfy, casual attire. It’s honestly a little weird, seeing royalty look so normal.

“You ready?” Lucian asks and I nod.

“As I’ll ever be, Your Majesty.”

He chuckles, shaking his head. “You can call me by my name, Liana. I don’t bite…that much.” He winks, and I melt and giggle like a schoolgirl. “Besides, I do not think that a mate should use such formal titles with their lover.”

“That is ambitious of you, to assume I will ever be your lover,” I tease, and he mocks me by placing a hand over his heart.

“You wound me.”

I laugh again. He’s so much easier to get on with than I ever imagined.

***

We arrive at my favorite small-town diner. Lucian admitted to not knowing the area all that well, so I gave his driver directions.

“Is this okay?” I ask when we pull up.

“It’s human,” he sort of asks, but sort of states as well.

I chuckle and nod. “It’s one of the few places in this town that is blissfully unaware of my ‘princess’ status. I appreciate the peace. If you want to go somewhere else, I don’t mind…” Maybe he likes to be recognized and adulated wherever he goes. I hope not.

“Sounds perfect.” He opens his own door, even though Kia is poised to open it for him, then walks around to open mine. He moves with such grace, it’s hard to believe he’s covered in all that muscle. You’d think he’d have a bulky, hunched walk but no, it’s like he floats with every stride.

Taking my hand, he holds back, allowing me to go slightly ahead of him. I’ve come to understand that this is how he prefers to walk. Strange that a king would want his woman one step ahead of him, but hey.

~Did I just say “his woman”? I’m getting way too ahead of myself…~

Kia holds open the door and lets us through, and I guide us in, waving at the regular waitress/co-owner of the diner. She’s a lovely woman, older, slightly grayed, and a little dumpy. She always makes me feel right at home.

I take my usual table by the window because I love the natural light and the view into the trees.

I sit down, and Lucian sits opposite me while Kia takes a table on the other side of the room. I frown a little at that.

“Does he accompany you everywhere? Kia, I mean.”

He grimaces slightly and nods.

“He does. Sadly for him. He had to leave his mate to come with me here.”

“Oh…that can’t be easy,” I say quietly, feeling a little guilty. “Why did you come here?”

He smiles. “To find the woman who left her scent all over my bed and ran away from me when I ~chose~ her.”

The sentence makes me flush. So, this was definitely no chance encounter. “Oh, my Goddess! I am so, so…”

He holds his hand up chuckling. “Don’t be… I never thought I would find you. That night I walked into my room and smelled your scent was the best night of my life.”

His honesty strikes me hard and I don’t know what he reads on my face. “Really?”

“Really. After a life as long as mine, completely mateless, you start to wonder if you’ll ever find someone who loves you…for you.”

“I never said I loved you,” I tease and he chuckles.

“That’s true…but it would be nice to believe it could be in my future now.”

I smile at that and nod as Sandra comes over.

“Liana!” she says. “How are you, darling?”

“I’m good, thank you, Sandra. How’s Johnny?”

“He’s doing well, thanks for asking, dear.” She pauses a little and looks at Lucian. “And who is this…lovely man.”

“Sandra, Lucian. Lucian, Sandra. She and her husband own this place.”

“Nice to meet you.” He smiles at her politely, playing human very well, considering.

“You too, dear,” she answers, then looks back to me. “It’s lovely to see you out with someone, darling. What can I get you today? The usual?”

“Please, and whatever you want,” I say with a smile, aiming the last part at Lucian.

“Double it please.” He’s smiling too.

“You sure? You don’t know what it is.”

“I don’t need to. I’ll trust your judgment.”

Sandra nods and totters off to the kitchen.

“So…you found me. Now, what exactly do you want from me?” I say quietly, a hint of suggestion in my tone.

He smiles mischievously, making my stomach flutter.

Oh Goddess, what am I doing?!

“There are many things that I want from you…but right now, I will settle for getting to know you and vice versa.”

“Okay…”

“Okay. So…how old are you, exactly? If that’s okay to ask.”

I blush a little. “Twenty-five.”

He pales but nods. “Damn, okay…”

“You? Exactly?”

“Three hundred and six.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah…does that bother you?” he asks quietly, sounding almost anxious about my answer.

Does it bother me?

“No, I guess not.”

“Well, that’s a good start,” he says and relaxes a little.

“Have you had many relationships then?” I ask. “Through your life.” Your very, very long life.

“Relationships, no. Not exactly. Acquaintances…” he adds with a small shrug.

“That’s okay. I can understand that.” No lycan on earth could be celibate for hundreds of years.

“You?”

“The same. No relationships, just casual…flings.” I blush, thinking of Zeke. Was Zeke casual? He never tried to be anything else, never asked for any commitment. And yet—he was there for me, solid as a rock.

Lucian nods. “So, not a virgin then?” he blurts out, and I almost choke on my water. He laughs as I cough, but I blush cherry red.

“Uhm…no.”

He shrugs, then leans forward and rests his forearms on the table.

“Does that bother ~you~?” I ask.

“No. I always thought that, if I should ever find my mate, if I even ~had~ one, she might be as old as I am. You’d assume that no one would wait so long for that kind of connection.”

This conversation is getting a little out of hand, and I can feel the beads of sweat rolling down my spine as I focus on keeping my breathing even. But I can’t resist my own curiosity.

“Why do you say ~if?~ What reason could there be for you ~not~ to find your mate? You’re a king!”

He goes quiet for a moment. As if trying to plan his answer. Which immediately flicks up a red flag for me, and I tense.

Reaching across the table, he takes my hand in his, absentmindedly grazing my knuckles with a finger.

“Liana…there is something I need to tell you.”