by Daphne Snow
Then he left her that message “You have no idea how badly I.... I can’t wait to see you, my Francesca.” He wanted to say so much more but knew it would only serve to scare her. He needed her more than he needed air to breathe.
The man beside him must've felt him lurch a step forward in repression. It was getting harder and harder every day, the bond needed to be made or he would go crazy.
“It's alright I’m no threat you know that.” His smiling laughing face suddenly became serious and his tone clipped. “I do worry with your ‘business’ you'd be putting Miss Bianchi in a lot of danger Alexander.”
“I can and will protect her.” No words had ever sung truer in his body.
“You are a big bear, but there are threats that even you might not see. I'm just saying before you start trying to lay a claim on her, think about how her life would change.” He wanted to roll his eyes. This man had no mate. What would he know? Besides he didn't know Frannie how could he know if it would even bother her at all?
But Benson didn't know her either.
The idea he had no true knowledge of what his mate wanted in life or what her current life was, had bothered him. Would she want cubs? Did she want to be mated or married as Benson desired? Did she even want to be with a man? Did she like women? He wasn't even supposed to have a mate but now that she's here he's barely thought about what she wanted.
By the gods he was terrible.
“Just take it slow with her is all I'm saying. You'd be surprised what good it does for the both of you.” Alexander nodded his head and headed off the elevator as it dinged and opened.
He couldn't promise he could slow things down with her but he would try if it helped her in the long run. His Francesca was everything he could have hoped for; he just hoped he didn’t screw it up.
Chapter 9
This would technically be Alexander's first date. So when he pulled up to Un Méli-Mélo he felt...odd. He never dated. No woman turned his head enough to think about spending more than ten minutes with her.
He would stare at her indifferently until he came upon her back, and then he’d button his pants and leave. Alexander spoke little to the women. He had nothing to say to them. He doubted he ever even thanked them for their time. He never hurt any of them but when they would try and run into him after he brushed them off. They knew the deal. Meetings and paperwork had always occupied his world. He didn't have time for frivolous things like romance.
But Francesca was his mate and he would clear out his entire schedule for the next ten years if it meant he could spend time with her. Even if she didn't know it Frannie was opening his world up bit by bit and it was spectacular and frightening all the same.
Frannie...he liked that. He had taken to calling her Francesca ‘because everyone called her Frannie’. Alexander knew right away he did not want to be just anyone in her eyes; he wanted to more so much more.
He liked her nickname the more he tested it, finding it to be a perfectly fitting match for her sweet and sassy personality.
He had done his best to not see her these past few days. Tried even damned harder not to think of her, of course to no avail. Thinking with the distance the attachment would lessen. That he would be able to have his feelings come under control and tonight would go smoothly because he had a grasp on his emotions.
He was profoundly wrong. Between the very curt texts and him thinking of every which way she would impact his life, his feelings for her had only grown . His almost every waking thought of her or how he could make her happy. The best clothes, the best house, whatever car she wanted or wherever she wanted to travel. He would provide it all just to see her smile.
Since he’d met Francesca an insurmountable degree of lust and curiosity all mixed in one had consumed him. He wanted to get to know his mate better to see if she wanted him just as much as he had wanted her.
To see if they really had a shot to be a happy mated couple.
Just because you were mated to someone didn't mean you were happy. He had seen that all too well with his own parents. His father was less than pleased when he discovered his mate to be nothing more than a rich family's foriegn housekeeper.
He did his best to avoid her at all cost but the mate bond was too strong even for his dear old dad to resist. They had mated and the man only gave his mother a nod of thanks when she birthed their son, Alexander. Though he had never truly claimed her, that had a tremendous impact on both of their healths.
After that, he spent his childhood torn between the gentle guidance of his mother and the harsh upbringing of his father. Unfortunately for him, his father had won that battle and many more before his death.
He was hesitant to leave the car as the valet stood there waiting for him to step out. With the wind whispering in his ear, he worried if he would be as rigid as his father.
Your sire was weak. He could not handle a mate. You are different. Surprisingly, comforting feelings from Axl flooded him. He wanted to think he was different from Rapheal Benson, but it was hard as everything Alexander did followed so closely in his fathers footsteps.
Though Benson never thought he'd be given the gift of a mate, and one as beautiful as Francesca, he would not squander it the way his father had. He didn't care what kind of family she came from or if she had money. None of that mattered to him; he just wanted her to be happy. Hopefully at the end of the day, with him.
He stepped out of the Lexus he drove here to be met with the harsh freezing air. He handed the keys to the valet, added a generous tip as he always had, and Alexander descended upon the entrance with a domineering presence.
Un méli-mélo was the most expensive spot on the western side of Brooklyn. Just a short drive from his own home in fact. Since this would have been their first time to actually sit down and talk to each other Alexander wanted to make sure they would have privacy. He could only guarantee that here.
He had thought to bring her to his home but she would not be safe from his touches there. He had more willpower than most but having her in his home would have thrown him over the edge. He wanted to allow her to have a choice at the end of the night. If she was anywhere near his bedroom he would tie her down and not allow her to leave until she agreed to be his.
I like this idea. Axl chuckled and Benson pushed the bear back mentally not wanting to allow him any say in this particular matter.
Alexander was quick to spot Carl talking to the Maître d. He walked towards them, his steps silent like a predator but with his height he caught attention. Those waiting turned their heads to stare at him..
The ladies were blushing and the men looked on in admiration hoping they could be like him. He owed a lot of his physical prowess to his beast. Making him train every day to match the large grizzlies' physical strength.
His bear looked frantically around for Francesca, dying to see his mate; they could scent her just a little but not enough.
He remembered her little bear's name, Fey, Axl had called her. And the times Axl had decided to speak up in the last few days he had uncharacteristically prattled on about Fey.
Between meetings and running his bear in the backyard, he had talked of her constantly. He wondered how they communicated or how much information had really passed between the two of them during his brief interactions with Frannie. As much as he didn’t want to admit to it. Alexander knew only the basics of the two beast's connection to each other.
His father had made sure to keep him in the dark and as he grew up he truly believed finding his other half was not in the cards for him. He didn’t bother to research or ask others, not wanting to get his hopes up. Self-preservation was what he convinced himself it was. In truth though it was fear. Fear of the unknown and fear that everything he wanted was out of reach.
At this point though he wanted to slam his head into a wall for being so stupid and ignorant. Because now Francesca was in his life and he...didn’t know what to do.
Seeing right now that she was nowhere in sight was making hi
m a bit worried though. His bear sniffed the air looking for her. Where is she? Had she changed her mind? But Carl wouldn't be here if that was the case. He would have just come back or called.
He walked up to the smaller man and laid a hand on his shoulder. He continued having a fierce stare off with the Maître d however.
“What's going on here?” His harsh tone making the Maître d wince and swiftly look up at him. She is nearby. Fey says the human is nervous. Axl announced calming just a bit.
“This man is insisting he has a reservation. He says there is a man here who has not arrived and now due to his lateness that table is taken. We are completely booked however so it's impossible to move anything.” Carl looked up at him, a look of aggravation washing over the wrinkled features. You really had to push the older man to piss him off.
“Where is Miss Bianchi?” His first and foremost concern was that of his mate, not this pissy Maître d.
“The ladies room sir.” He huffed.
“This kind gentleman was looking into my reservation. It's under Alexander Benson and I'm not late. I'm exactly on time. Of course, if you're still unable to find it I’m sure a quick conversation with Mr.Derveaux would fix that.” The skinny man's face paled at the mention of the restaurant's owner.
That wasn't exactly public knowledge. The man didn't like to be in the limelight so few actually knew who he was. On top of that the man was a bloodling. Most shifters refused to associate with the kind but Alexander knew at some point his connection would come in handy.
It was one thing to be rich; it was another to be infamously wealthy with connections as Alexander was. His father may have started the flow of money but Alexander had expanded it to the far reaches of New York. Every establishment worth its salt knew of him and more than once several places borrowed money from him.
“You know what let me take another look, Sir.” The Maître d smiled and looked down at his books presumably to see who he could move without causing too much of a stir. Benson was in fact late and by a fair few minutes truly but he wanted to show Frannie all he could offer her and wouldn't let some snobby glorified waiter get in the way.
He looked around scanning the room with his well versed sight.
Patrons dressed in suits and elegant evening wear lined one side waiting for their tables to be ready. The gold and maroon interior with overbearing lighting was too flashy for Benson's taste at least in the front of the notable restaurant. Once they would get to the back it would have dimmer lighting and be quieter. He would be able to solely focus on his female then.
“Did everything go alright with Miss Bianchi? ” He had wanted to be the one to pick her up. But he couldn't say no to meeting with a member of the council especially regarding Kaiser. They would assume him lying and sweep the matter under the rug. Even if it was Blackwell they had to do things by the book. He couldn't let a psycho like Kaiser fall between the cracks.
Alexander couldn’t get his hands dirty with this. Which was why he was taking every step carefully.
Stop standing here, move! Axl roared and Alexander felt his jaw clench painfully before his control took over. He pushed his beast back and reformed his jaw before any humans could take notice.
“I think she was more relieved to see me than you, sir. Maybe I should make my move.” He said jokingly, elbowing the man gently in his side and winking. Alexander breathed and smiled wearily. His wife would kill him if he had even tried. Carl's wife Linda was the sweetest yet scariest woman Alexander had ever met.
“You know just as well as I do she's mine old man.”A tinge of ferocity swept through him at the mere idea of Frannie with another man, woman, anyone really. She was his and his alone.
The sound of a nearby dish falling caught his attention.
“I am so sorry!” He recognized Frannie's voice and sped over without another thought in his mind. The others looked at him go, but no one followed.
He pushed back the drapery hiding the majority of the restroom area. He found her kneeling on the ground in front of the bathrooms helping a busboy pick up shards of porcelain and glass. He walked over and grabbed her hand before she could touch a single shard. The touch of her soft skin was burning itself into his memory. He brought her to a standing position and simply said “No”.
Benson knelt and helped the busboy finish picking up the pieces. As he stood he turned back to her, picking up her fallen jacket.
“Are you alright?” She had been unconcerned about him and speaking to the odd looking busboy with his hunch and sickly skin. He didn't like his mate speaking to another man not until she carried his scent on her.
She hadn't yet, as physical contact had been mostly at a minimum since they had met. Not exactly to his liking but he didn't want to force her. She would come to him willingly or he would not have her. At least he would not have her yet. She couldn’t deny him forever, could she?
He’d die from blue balls before anything else if that was the case.The idea of seeing her yet never having her was beyond incomprehensible.
He stared at her whilst her back was turned to him, and he was stunned. Alexander Benson was not often in the mood for words, but he was never speechless.
Her long tendrils of auburn hair fell beautifully around her shoulders red highlights glinting in the light. The dress if you even wanted to call it that, hugged her every delicious curve.
It was really just a scrap of fabric separating him from the warm honeyed skin of his Francesca, his mate, his woman. She wore black heels and from what he could see sparkle past her hair was silver jewelry.
From behind she was breathtaking and by the gods, her ass was calling to him. He had never known himself to prefer ass over tits or vice versa. But the way her hips swayed and her behind slightly bounced with each step. He was dying to sink his hands into her softness.
His hands balled into fists tightly. She was torturing him.
Fuck, he promised he wouldn't touch her and this is what she wears! For this ‘meeting’ as he was told by Carl. She refused to call it a date and that made him chuckle a bit. It also made him want her to submit to the fact they were meant for each other. To stop her denial and lies. The goddess had chosen them for each other and the last thing a goddess fearing man like him wanted to do was disappoint his creator.
He smirked knowing full well he simply just wanted to bend her over and take her, gods and goddess be damned she was always bound to be his. In this lifetime or the next, with or without their shifter nature. Francesca Bianchi body and soul would be his.
This would be the date that determined how they moved forward. But like the ethereal being she was, she appeared in front of him tempting him with forbidden fruit. His cock strained against his pants in need. Axl roared trying to connect to Fey. Our mate shouldn't be looking at another, she is ours!
Though Benson agreed, killing a seemingly harmless busboy was not going to help in his sweeping Francesca off her feet. So he did his best keeping himself composed but she was making it so fucking hard for him. His strain made his face hard and his body ridgid as he watched her.
“Yes, thank you.” The busboy winked at her and as much as Frannie tried not to, Benson could see her cringe a little. The awkward busboy rushed off his bucket of broken plates and glasses going with him.
What was he doing over here when the kitchen was on the other side of the restaurant. His curious thought fizzled out as the dewy morning scent hit him drawing his attention back to his female.
“Francesca look at me.” His husky voice caused goosebumps on her near bare shoulders to raise. Just thin silky spaghetti straps holding her dress up, he could so easily snap it in two.
He watched as she turned in an ever so poised way. That scrap of fabric looked so beautiful against her skin and this woman, his woman would be the death of him.
A playful little smirk appeared on her angelic face as she glanced down to his balled fist one of them holding her jacket.
This little minx! He thought she was sh
y, assuming the way she rose to him in his office the other day was due to her bear. As she gently bit her full bottom lip he knew he had been wrong to assume.
No, his woman loved to see him in pain for her. His need was evident as it thickened to an impossible size, he had never had this much desire for anyone before.
His affection for her grew as her eyes roamed his body and his roamed hers. She liked what she saw and she wasn't going to give in with some sweet words.
She wanted to be chased. Alexander had no problems chasing he had never lost a hunt and he would be damned if he was going to start now.
What she did next though surprised him. He was barely holding on as she slowly seductively walked towards him. Her bright molten chocolate amber eyes locked with his own. Coming so close her nipples just grazed the front of his black suit. Her eyes never left his as she just skimmed his tight knuckles causing heat like a slow molasses to course through his body.