Tobias
I watched in amusement as my mate looked around the shop in amazement. I chuckled and found a stray shopping cart near the entrance.
"Where to, Love?" I asked. He looked up and smiled nervously at me.
"Oh..I'm not sure. I don't really need anything right now..." He bit his lip and looked down at the floor, making me frown. He was lying.
"Gill, just two seconds ago you were so excited to come inside. Love, what do you want to look at?" He sighed and shrugged.
"I can't afford any of this stuff. This is like...professional crap. I usually get the cheapest stuff I can find." I stepped closer to him and cupped his left cheek with my hand.
"Gill, don't worry about it, okay? Pick out whatever you want. You are an amazing artist and you deserve to have the best materials." He still looked conflicted.
"Toby, you already bought me an entirely new wardrobe, new glasses, an iPhone, and you're letting me live with you completely for free. I love and appreciate you and everything you do for me, but there's not really any way for me to give anything back." I pouted my bottom lip.
"Baby, you don't have to give anything back. I do all of this because I love you. You give me everything I need just by being here and loving me back. Also for cooking for me." He rolled his eyes with a smile. "Gill, you mean the world to me. Please just let me spoil you?" He blushed and nodded.
"Fine, but I'm only getting a couple things." I smiled brightly and kissed his nose.
"Lead the way, Love."
***
"Tobias! That's way too much!" Gill whisper shouted, pulling a large set of paints I had put in the cart just minutes beforehand.
"You liked them though." He rolled his eyes.
"Yes, but it's insanely expensive."
"But look at all the colors!"
"I can just mix the paints I already have to get those colors!"
"But now you don't have to! It saves time, and you can use those other paints for something else!"
"Toby, I don't need them." I frowned and took the set from him.
"Then I'm gonna get it for me." He rolled his eyes.
"You're gonna buy a massive set of paints for yourself." I nodded.
"Yeah, why not? I like painting. I mean, I haven't done it since middle school art class, but it's fun." He sighed.
"Fine, but I'm putting back some of the canvases."
"Nope, I need those too. I also need that set of sketching pencils you put back two aisles ago, as well as the travel case you've been eyeing for the past ten minutes." He huffed and turned away from me, walking in the opposite direction. I followed behind him, grabbing a couple more items.
"Is there anything else you need for your sudden urge to start making art again after ten years?" He asked when I caught up to him.
"I think I'm all set. Is there anything else you wanted to look at?" He shook his head.
"I'm ready to check out." I smiled and stepped toward him, pecking his cheek lightly.
"Let's get going then, Love." I chuckled at the sight of his blushing cheeks and wrapped my right arm around his shoulders, leaving my left to push the cart.
"This isn't fair! You still make me blush, and we've been together for what, like two months now? How come you never blush?" I laughed and kissed his temple.
"You do make me blush. And even when I'm not blushing, you still give me butterflies every time you smile, and my entire body feels like it's on fire when you kiss me." I answered honestly, enjoying the flaming red of his face.
"Stoppppp!" He whined, slapping his hands over his cheeks.
"Okay, fine. I'll stop teasing you, if you go on a date with me." He looked up at me in confusion.
"Toby, you don't need to bribe me to ask me on a date. You're my boyfriend and I love you. Also isn't this technically a date?" I shrugged.
"I mean like one where we dress all fancy and eat dinner and make out and stuff. Like you said earlier, we don't get to leave the apartment unless we're going to school. We can have some warriors nearby just in case, but I really want to take you out and show you off." He smiled and nodded.
"That sounds amazing. Though you know I'm just happy spending time with you no matter where we are. We could also literally just order takeout and watch movies and I'd be thrilled."
"And make out?" He blushed again and smacked me lightly on the chest, not answering the question.
"So when are we doing this fancy dinner date then?" I thought about it for a moment. I had a few late meetings later in the week, and I also had a Chemistry test to study for eventually.
"How about tonight? We'll pay for this stuff and bring it back to the apartment and we can get ready and then we can go?" He smiled and nodded.
"I can't wait."
Gill
"Holly, I look ridiculous." I groaned as a stared at myself in the bathroom mirror. Tobias had gone to Jax's apartment to get ready, saying he wanted to 'pick me up' like a real date, so I recruited Holly to help me get ready.
"Gill, you look hot. If you weren't gay and dating my best friend, I would totally hit on you." I rolled my eyes and ran my fingers through my ginger curls for the millionth time.
"You're taken too, don't forget. How are things with you and Levi anyway? I haven't really seen him that much." Holly grinned and sat on the edge of the tub.
"Things are good. We're taking it kinda slow. He's been acting kinda odd lately though. I'm not sure what's going on with him." I furrowed my brow and stopped looking at my reflection to glance at her.
"Odd how?" She shrugged.
"Like more distant? I mean, we haven't been together for very long, but just like the last week or so he's been quiet. And I know we agreed to take things slowly, but like...it's been reeeeeally slow. He kisses me, but it's only like gentle pecks. He hugs me, but only for a second. I don't know if he's just not that affectionate...or maybe he doesn't feel our connection as strongly as I do? I mean, when was the first time you and Toby like properly made out?" I blushed and coughed nervously.
"Uh at your house I believe, when we had that sleepover. I helped who I thought was a random wolf out of a bear trap and was covered in his blood. Turns out it was actually Toby, but that's beside the point. We went into the bathroom so I could clean myself up and we sorta got carried away." Holly laughed.
"Oh yeah, I totally walked in on you guys. But see what I mean? You weren't even official yet, and Levi and I have been dating for weeks!" I sighed.
"Have you talked to him about it? Maybe you should ask him why he's been distant. Maybe he's waiting for you to make a move first?" Holly shrugged.
"I haven't talked to him about it, no. I'm afraid I won't like his answer." Holly stood from her seat on the tub and stepped toward me, straightening my glasses.
"Holly, you two are soulmates. I know he's human, but coming from someone who is also a human mated to a werewolf, he definitely feels the connection. He's probably just waiting for the right time. If you talk to him, I'm sure he'll have a reasonable and not scary answer for you."
"Yeah, you're right. I'll talk to him about it sometime tonight. Thanks, Gilly." I smiled and turned back to the mirror.
"You sure I look okay?" Holly had me wear a dark blue button down top with a pair of black skinny jeans. "I don't really wear shirts with buttons that often."
"Gill, you look amazing. Also I put a box of condoms in the nightstand drawer in case you get lucky." My eyes widened and I nearly choked on my own spit.
"Holly!" She laughed and began pushing me out of the bathroom, into the bedroom.
"Hey, you never know when the time could arise. You'll want to be prepared." I blushed and thanked her. It was then that we were interrupted by a sharp knock at the front door.
"That's Toby! You put your shoes on, I'll go answer the door!" I smiled and took a deep breath as she left the room. I didn't really have dress shoes, so I slipped on my nicest pair of black vans and took one last look in the mirror before exiting the room.
"It's really weird having to knock on my own door." I heard Tobias joke from the kitchen. I followed the sound of his voice and immediately blushed when I saw him. His hair was a bit messy, as if he'd been running his fingers through it. He was wearing an outfit similar to mine, except his top was light gray and his jeans were dark blue. He somehow made the clothes look a million times better than I ever could, however. I cleared my throat, causing Tobias to turn around and smile brightly at me.
"You look amazing." I complimented him as I stepped closer to him. He met me half way and wrapped his arms around my waist.
"And you look breathtaking." I blushed darker and wrapped my arms around his neck. Toby leaned down to give me a gentle kiss on the lips.
"Holly helped me." I laughed nervously. Tobias chuckled and tightened his hold on me.
"I love you." I found myself distracted by his face. He was so beautiful, I still found it hard to believe he was mine.
"You're so pretty." I hadn't meant for those words to slip past my lips, but seeing the faintest dusting of pink across his cheeks and at the top of his nose, I was thankful they did.
"Sooo...are you guys going or nah?" I was suddenly snapped out of my trance, and this time, I was the one with the red face.
"Yes! Let's go, love." I stood on my tippy toes to peck the tip of Toby's pink nose before pulling away, clasping our hands together.
***
"Tobias! Did you seriously just steal my breadstick?" I had looked away only for a second to smile at the waitress.
"No..." Tobias answered as he took a bite from said breadstick before setting it back down on my plate. "See, it's right there!" I rolled my eyes and smiled lightly. It was seriously impossible to get mad at him when he looked at me like he was then. His eyes seemed to glitter under the soft light coming from the nearby chandelier. His smile stretched across his face, looking dazzling as ever.
"You're so pretty." I blurted out for the second time that night. He chuckled and reached his hand across the table to link with mine. His cheeks turned pink, and it made my stomach flip.
"Is it okay if we go somewhere else before we head home?" He asked shyly. It was odd that he was the self conscious one, but I found it quite adorable on him.
"Of course. Where did you have in mind?" I asked as I finished the rest of my breadstick.
"I thought maybe we could go to the lake...we haven't been back there since the thing with the arrow, and I miss it. I felt like that was our place, you know?" I smiled and nodded, though I was anxious to go back in fear of something happening, I too had missed visiting the spot that had also held the best memory of the two of us.
"Definitely. I miss it too." He lifted my hand and brushed his lips against my knuckles before letting go to fish his wallet out of his pocket. I opened my mouth to argue over him paying yet again, but closed it as he shot me a playful glare.
"Here's your bill, will that be cash or card?" The waitress said as she approached, setting the bill on the table. Tobias thanked her and handed her his card. The young woman smiled back at him before briefly looking up at me with red cheeks. She quickly scurried off with Toby's card.
"I'm like ninety percent sure she just checked you out." Toby laughed. My eyes widened.
"There's no way..." But when I looked back over at the register where the waitress was running Toby's card, she quickly ducked her head as if she'd been caught staring.
"I mean, I don't blame her. You're breathtaking." I rolled my eyes and covered my blushing cheeks with my hands. A bright smile stretched across his face as he gazed at me lovingly. The way he looked at me made my heart beat faster, and my body tingle.
"And you two are all set, thank you for dining with us. Have a good evening." The waitress said quickly, setting our receipt on the table, rushing away again. Toby quickly signed the receipt, leaving a hefty tip.
"Let's get out of here." Toby said as he stood from the table, reaching his hand out to me. I eagerly laced my fingers with his and let him pull me out of my chair.
We stayed in a comfortable silence most of the trip to the lake. Tobias hummed quietly along to the radio as he drove, absentmindedly rubbing his thumb on my knuckles.
It didn't take long to get back to the pack lands. Tobias parked his truck along the treeline and sat for a moment. I recognized the glazed over look in his eyes. He was linking someone.
"Everything okay?" His eyes refocused and he turned his head toward me.
"Yes, everything is perfect. I was just making sure the warriors scouted the area." He smiled and let go of my hand to climb out of the truck, making his way to my side in a flash. I undid my seat belt and opened the door, falling into his arms. I giggled and kissed his chin before letting him set me on the ground.
"You're so cute." He said simply. I blushed and smiled at him. He pulled away for a moment and winked at me.
"What?" He laughed and shook his head. He then began unbuttoning his shirt. "OH!" My face heated up even more. Of course he was going to shift. We always ran to the lake. I awkwardly looked at the grass while he undressed, and winced at the sound of his bones snapping. I smiled, however, when I felt his soft fur against my hand. I looked up and grinned.
"So handsome." I said, running my fingers through his fur. He crouched down to let me climb on his back, and after I had grabbed his clothes, we were off.
I hugged my body closer to him, feeling slightly chilled, the wind rushing toward us. I let out an embarrassing squeal as Tobias jumped over a fallen log.
"You could have warned me, ya know." I said, feigning annoyance. He let out a huff and continued trotting, beginning to slow down. It wasn't much longer until we reached the familiar clearing that led to the lake. Tobias crouched again, letting me climb off his back. I closed my eyes as he shifted back, and blushed when I felt his rough palm cup my cheek.
"Swim with me, love?" He asked softly. I nodded while keeping my eyes shut, as he had yet to take his clothes from me. He chuckled and pulled them from my hands, but I soon heard them drop to the ground.
"I'll meet you in the water." He whispered, his breath caressing my face. I shyly nodded and waited until I heard the splashing of him jumping into the water to open my eyes. I watched him for bit. He stood far enough away where the water reached his stomach, but he faced away from me, watching the pale moon in the distance. I took a shaky breath before I began undoing the buttons of my shirt. It took longer than usual, due to my trembling fingers, but I eventually managed to slip the shirt off my body, allowing it to fall sloppily beside Toby's on the ground.
It wasn't long before there was only my briefs left. I looked back up briefly. Toby was still watching the moon. I took another breath before pulling my underwear down in one swift movement. Suddenly feeling extremely vulnerable, I slowly began walking toward the water.
"Is it cold?" I asked, eager for a distraction from the fact that I was completely exposed. He hummed, still facing away as I took my first step into the water.
"It is a little, but it isn't too bad." I took another step. Then another. And another, and soon I was standing right beside Tobias, the water past my waist. He looked over at me and smiled.
"Hey." I whispered, not knowing what else to say.
"Hey yourself." We stood in silence for a bit before Tobias suddenly dove forward, splashing me in the process. I laughed and watched as he swam around, eventually popping up right in front of me. I squeaked as he shook his hair toward me.
"Toby!" He laughed and just looked at me.
"You're so beautiful." I blushed and took a hesitant step toward him, placing my hands on his bare chest. He ducked his head down and kissed me gently, his hands now caressing the small of my back.
"We should go back to the pack house..." I whispered once he pulled away.
"What? Why? We just got- OH!" His eyes widened in realization and my face burned. "Are you sure? Like one hundred percent sure?" I nodded and smiled at him.
"Positive." His grin got even wider as he grabbed my had, eagerly pulling me out of the water. He shifted almost instantly and waited impatiently as I got dressed. I decided just to put my underwear and Toby's shirt on...since I wouldn't be wearing them for much longer... I grabbed the rest of the clothes and climbed onto his back. I held on tight as Tobias ran faster than I'd ever seen him run before, back to the pack house, seemingly forgetting about his truck.
We made it back in record time. Tobias went right for the elevator, ignoring the few pack members that were still awake. As soon as the doors to the elevator closed, he squatted down for me to climb off, and shifted back. Almost instantly, I was pressed into the wall.
"You're still sure?" He whispered. I tried my best to ignore the burning of my cheeks or the sparks I felt as his hands gripped my hips.
"I'm sure." The doors opened again and Toby's hands drifted down to my bare thighs, suddenly lifting me into the air. I squeaked and blushed when I felt his body press against mine.
"And you'll tell me if you change your mind at any point, right?" I smiled and nodded, tangling my fingers in his hair.
There was very little talking for the remainder of the night as we became closer than ever, and eventually falling asleep, our limbs tangled together, his fresh bite mark on my neck.
Hi. So. I know that ending of the chapter kinda sucked. But like...idk how to write that kinda stuff lol. Also sorry it took so long to put this chapter out. Things have been quite hectic lately. Anywho, enjoy, follow, like, comment. Do all those fun things. Have an awesome day, loves!