Chapter ~ Chapter Seven ~
Liliana let out a small moan as she woke up the following day. That had been the best night of sleep that she had ever gotten. She went to stretch her arms over her head when she found one of them trapped against her body with someone else’s arms entwined with hers. She frowned at first but then she felt it. The sparks that so many spoke about when they touched their beloved mate. She glanced over her shoulder and found Cayden sleeping peacefully behind her.
Liliana went to turn around to face him, but his grip on her tightened, keeping her locked in place. She let out a soft giggle and just enjoyed being in his arms. That was until someone started banging on his front door.
Cayden shot straight up in bed, dragging her with him because of his tight hold on her. “It’s just the door, my love,” Liliana whispered as she kissed his cheek.
Cayden groaned as he rubbed a hand over his face. “Okay. I’ll be right back,” he pressed a kiss to her temple before going downstairs. He opened the door with a frown. “Why the hell are you banging on my door so early in the damn morning?” He grumbled as he looked at Sebastian.
Sebastian raised an eyebrow as he looked Cayden up and down. “Um, Cayden. It’s already noon,” he said. “I’m banging on your door because you seem to be running late.”
Cayden frowned. “It can’t be that late in the day,” he mumbled as he took a step back to look at the clock he had on the wall. “Oh shit,” he said when he realized Sebastian was right.
Sebastian chuckled. “You sleep that good, huh?” He asked playfully.
Cayden ran a hand through his hair. “First night sleeping with my beloved, I guess,” he shook his head. “Come on in, Seb. We’ll just work from my home office today. Give me a few minutes to shower and get changed.”
Sebastian nodded. “I’ll wait in your office then.”
Cayden made his way back to his room. He smiled when he found Liliana still lying in his bed. He walked over to her and leaned over her. “I’m sorry about you sleeping in my bed. I know that you probably aren’t ready for that, but I haven’t set up a guest room or anything, so this was the best option,” he explained.
Liliana gave him a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, love. That was the best night of sleep that I have ever gotten.”
Cayden chuckled and kissed her forehead. “Me too, dove. I have to take care of some business, but I’ll be in the house today. I’ll have my mom come over and help you with all the shopping and setting everything up. Price isn’t an issue, so get anything you want or need.”
Liliana pulled him down for a hug. “Thank you, love,” she bit her lip as he put all his weight on his forearms. “I don’t think I’ll need time in my room,” she whispered as she looked into his eyes.
Cayden’s eyes grew bright and possessive as he took in her words. “You mean that?” He asked in a soft voice.
Liliana nodded with a small smile. “Yes.”
Cayden pressed kisses all over her face, causing her to giggle. “That means so much to me, little dove.”
Liliana kissed his cheek. “You make me feel safe and comfortable,” she said softly as she hesitantly caressed his face.
Cayden leaned into her touch as he tried to control his wolf. He groaned as he cleared his throat and looked into her eyes. “I have to get ready. Sebastian is waiting for me, but I will be in the house all day. If you need me, my mom can show you to my office.”
Liliana smiled and kissed his cheek again before pushing himself off the bed and standing up straight. “Maybe I’ll make some food while waiting for your mom,” she looked down at her clothes. “Did you bring my suitcase in by any chance?” She asked as she sat up fully.
Cayden nodded. “It’s in my closet, little dove.”
Liliana smiled as she hopped out of bed. “Thanks, love.”
Cayden shook his head as he watched her walk into his closet. He had to admit that he loved seeing her in his room and bed. He started going to the bathroom when Liliana stepped out of the closet in just a pair of white lace panties and a matching bra. “Were you going to take a shower, love?” She asked softly.
Cayden stared at her with his mouth partially hanging open as he admired her body. Liliana frowned. “Cayden. Love, are you alright?” She asked as she moved closer to him.
Cayden cleared his throat and shook himself out of his trance. “Sorry, little dove. Um,” he let out a chuckle. “I wasn’t expecting you to be walking around my room in just a bra and panties.”
Liliana looked down at herself and blushed as she covered herself with her arms. “I am so sorry. It’s a habit,” she whispered.
Liliana went to cover herself with her arms when Cayden stopped in front of her. He gently took her wrists and pulled her arms down. “You don’t have to hide from me, little dove,” Cayden whispered as he looked into her eyes. “You are perfect,” he said as he leaned his forehead gently against hers.
Liliana blushed as she looked into his eyes. “I don’t know, love.”
Cayden pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I know, dove. You are perfect.”
Liliana gave him a small smile. “Thank you, love,” she whispered.
Cayden grinned as he took in the blush still burning over her chest and face. “To answer your earlier question. Yes, I will shower quickly, and then the bathroom is all yours.”
Liliana nodded with a shy smile as she hid behind a curtain of her hair. He tucked her hair behind her ear and kissed her forehead again. “You are gorgeous, little dove. You don’t ever have to hide from me,” Cayden whispered.
Liliana looked up at him with a bright smile. Cayden winked at her as he made his way into the bathroom. He shut the door and turned the shower on before getting in. It was time for him to take a cold shower. Cayden knew his little dove was his mate, but he didn’t want to force her into anything. However, when he saw Liliana in only her undergarments, he knew he was in for a lot of cold showers. His wolf, Ranger, wanted to do nothing else but claim Liliana as theirs. Ranger wanted to devour everything that she was willing to give them. Cayden agreed with Ranger. He tried to do the same, but they had to be patient. They had to wait until their little beloved was ready to give them everything she was. So as he stood under the shower’s cold spray, he knew it wouldn’t be the last cold shower he took for quite some time.
Once Cayden was in the bathroom, Liliana went back to the closet. She went through her suitcase and picked out an outfit for the day. It was the end of springtime, so it was getting warmer outside. Liliana didn’t want to wear pants, so she laid out short shorts and a tight camisole. It was one of her favorite outfits. She paired it with a pair of black strappy heels that made her legs look longer than they were. Once she had her outfit set out with a matching black lace bra and panties, she sat on the couch in front of the fireplace.
Liliana couldn’t believe that she had found her beloved mate. She also couldn’t think she felt as comfortable around him as she did. She had only ever felt that comfortable around Evelyn, Ryan, and Jacques. Liliana leaned into the couch and thought about everything that had happened within hours. She sighed as she ran a hand through her hair and decided to figure out what to make for lunch. She was thinking maybe some pasta and then maybe barbeque for dinner. But instead, she looked when Cayden came out of the bathroom with only a towel wrapped around his waist.
Liliana’s eyes went wide as she took in his body. Cayden was all muscle. He was perfection on two legs. She was a virgin and had no experience with anything sexual, but she wanted to lick every inch of his delicious-looking body. She felt her breathing get heavier as she took every inch of his golden skin and defined muscles. Her eyes finally made their way up to his face, and she saw that slight, all-knowing smirk that she knew Liliana would love and hate anytime she saw it.
Liliana cleared her throat as she quickly looked down at her lap. She didn’t hear Cayden until he was kneeling in front of her. “There’s no need to be ashamed, little dove,” Cayden said softly. “You’re my beloved and have every right to look at me anytime you want.”
The bright blush that took over her face was Cayden’s favorite. “I know,” Liliana whispered. “It’s just, um,” she sighed as she blew a rough breath. “Look, I’m just going to say this and hope you don’t look at me differently,” she said quickly.
Cayden frowned. “What is it, little dove?” He asked as he intertwined their fingers.
Liliana nibbled on her bottom lip for a minute before she looked down at their entwined hands and whispered. “I’m a virgin.”
Cayden’s eyes went wide. “You’re a virgin?” He asked in quiet shock.
Liliana nodded and bit her lip again. “I’ve never been with anyone that way,” she said quietly.
Liliana didn’t understand the grin that suddenly spread over his face. “Little dove,” Cayden whispered as he leaned closer to her. “You don’t need to be ashamed of that. You have no idea how much it means to me that you waited for me.”
Liliana blushed as she looked into his eyes. “I would have waited a lifetime for you,” she whispered. “Even though I was young, I saw how my parents were together. Then I saw how Evelyn and Ryan were together. Their love showed me what I want from my beloved mate. As I got older, I never had to second guess. I knew I would wait for you as long as I needed to.”
Cayden sat next to her and pulled her onto his lap as he wrapped his arms around her. “That does mean a lot to me, my little dove. I am truly grateful that you waited for me. I just want you to know that I will wait for you. I know most people who meet their beloved mates complete the mating process within that first week or so, but I will wait for you as long as you need.”
Liliana gave Cayden a bright smile as he kissed her temple. Then, she jumped off his lap and looked down at him with her hands on her hips. “Now, you need to go meet with Sebastian. So get dressed,” she said with a playful glare.
Cayden chuckled and shook his head as he stood before her. “I’m going to have my hands full with you, aren’t I?” He asked her softly.
Liliana giggled and shrugged. “Maybe. Now get dressed. I’m going to take a shower and then make lunch.”
Cayden shook his head again as he walked to the closet with a smile.
When he walked out of the closet, Liliana was in the shower. He went downstairs to his office and sat down behind his desk. “Let me call my mom, and then we can get down to business,” he said.
Sebastian chuckled. “Man Liliana has you wrapped around her little finger already.”
Cayden rolled his eyes as he talked to his mom. Once he hung up, he gave Sebastian his full attention as they took care of business for the day.
Liliana had taken a shower and gotten dressed before going to the kitchen to start lunch. She was finishing up the sauce when an older-looking woman with Cayden’s emerald green eyes walked into the kitchen. She squealed and rushed around to pull Liliana into a tight hug. “Oh, you must be Liliana. I’m so excited to meet you,” Autumn said joyfully.
Liliana stood with her arms momentarily trapped at her side as she tried to catch a couple of things that were close to falling off of the counter. “Um. It’s a pleasure to meet you, but things are going to fall off the counter,” Liliana said quietly.
Autumn, Cayden’s mom, quickly pulled back and helped her fix everything. “I am so sorry about that. I just saw you in here and couldn’t help myself.”
Liliana giggled. “It’s okay. I was just making lunch. It’s almost finished. Cayden said you were coming over to help with the shopping for anything I needed,” she said as she checked the noodles and started draining them.
Autumn smiled. “What are you making, dear?” She asked as she sat down in a seat on the opposite side of the counter.
Liliana smiled. “Chicken alfredo pasta,” she said as she started mixing everything in a giant bowl. “I made sure to make plenty because Cayden hasn’t eaten yet, and Sebastian is also here. So then I made a bit extra for me and you,” she said with a playful smile.
Autumn grinned brightly. “Oh, I like you.”
Liliana smiled as she grabbed a spoon and put the pasta on three different plates. She handed one to Autumn with a fork. “Here you go, Autumn,” she paused halfway toward the hallway and turned back to Autumn with a blush. “Where is Cayden’s office in this house?”
Autumn giggled. “Go past the staircase and down the hallway. It’s the doorway at the end.”
Liliana blew her a kiss before putting two forks on the plates and picking them up. She grabbed two bottles of soda as well. She reached Cayden’s office and barged in without even knocking. “Alright, boys,” Liliana said as she walked over to the desk. She set the plates down, one in front of each man. “Lunch is served — chicken alfredo pasta. Enjoy, and if you want more, there’s still plenty in the kitchen,” she kissed Cayden’s cheek before leaving the room.
Liliana walked back to the kitchen and smiled at Autumn. “I take it that you liked it?” she asked as she noticed the half-empty plate of pasta.
Autumn nodded enthusiastically. “This is amazing. Where did you learn how to cook?” She asked in awe.
Liliana shrugged as she grabbed some pasta for herself. “I taught myself,” she said as she sat next to Autumn.
Autumn shook her head in amazement. “That’s amazing,” she said before digging into her food.
Liliana laughed as she started eating as well. They made small talk until they got done eating. Once they got done, Liliana made quick work of cleaning everything up. She made sure that the rest of the pasta was left on the stove so if Cayden and Sebastian wanted more, they would be able to get to it quickly.
“Alright. We can go upstairs and get everything we need,” Liliana sighed. “I would like to look at the rooms first to get an idea of how big they are and whatnot.”
“What are we setting up the rooms for?” Autumn questioned curiously.
Liliana bit her lip. “One is going to be a dance studio. The other is going to be for all of my crafts.”
Autumn nodded. “Alright. Let’s go ask Cayden which rooms we’re using and grab his debit card,” Autumn said with a wink.
Liliana giggled as they walked to his office. Just as Liliana had done, Autumn walked right in without even knocking. “Cayden. We need to know which rooms she’s using, and we’ll also need your debit card.”
Cayden rolled his eyes at his mom but pulled his wallet out and held it out to her. “She’s using the two biggest rooms across from mine. Spend whatever you need,” he looked straight at Liliana. “Please also buy some things that you want and more clothes. Not just the things that you need to get everything set up.”
Liliana leaned down and kissed his cheek. “I promise I will buy a few things.”
Cayden nodded and kissed her forehead.
Autumn and Liliana went upstairs to the rooms Cayden had agreed to let her use. Liliana walked around both rooms and nodded. “I know what I need,” she said after just a few minutes.
Autumn stared at her with wide eyes. “Are you sure?”
Liliana shrugged. “I guess it’s just one of my talents.”
Autumn laughed at that. “Alright. I’m sure Cayden’s laptop is in his room.”
They went into Cayden’s room and sat on the couch together as they did some shopping. They bought everything they needed for both rooms and a few things for Cayden’s room. As she promised, Liliana also bought more clothes, shoes, books, and a couple of jewelry pieces. In addition, she bought herself a laptop and some feminine things for Cayden’s room and bathroom.