by Hazel Gower
Sasha called Jess, who’d left her two messages one saying how amazing she looked on TV and another to say she would love to congratulate her in person.
Twenty-five minutes later Sasha was letting Jess, Zeck, and Travis into the house she shared with Savron.
“Are you here by yourself?” Zeck asked as soon as he sat down.
That was the question. Savron had been acting weird. He hadn’t even kissed her goodbye when he left. Come to think of it, he hadn’t kissed her since he’d seen her at the competition. Savron always kissed her goodbye even if it was just a peck on the lips.
“Ah, yeah, Savron went to work.”
“Really? He couldn’t get a night off when you did so well in your competition?”
Sasha turned from Zeck’s unbelieving stare. Her heart sank as what Zeck said rang true. A tear escaped and slid down her cheek. “Um no, but I have you guys to celebrate.”
Three sets of arms come around her, and Zeck, Jess, and Travis hugged her.
“Don’t worry,” said Jess. “We’ll celebrate. Let’s turn the music on get some food and how about you teach us some of your fancy moves?”
“Thanks. You guys are the best.” Sasha kissed them each on the cheek.
****
Savron sat in his office at The Edge staring at his computer screen, trying to get his mind to focus on what needed to be done and not Sasha. She’d looked so sad when he’d left her. But he couldn’t stay with her right now.
Brandon walked through his office door looking startled at first then confused. “What the hell are you doing here? Why aren’t you at home enjoying your mate, celebrating the fact that she’s yours and went home with you?”
He really didn’t know what to say. He shrugged. “I don’t know. I had dinner with her and left to come to work.”
Brandon’s eyes narrowed. “So Sasha went out with Jason her dance partner to celebrate or Britney?”
Savron avoided Brandon’s stare as he mumbled, “I have no idea. I left her at home and didn’t ask. You saw her dance routine?”
Brandon studied him before he snarled, “You’re a fucking arsehole. She didn’t tell you about her dancing because she knew how jealous you would get, and she didn’t want to upset you. You can’t expect or want her to stop her dancing. She loves that. I don’t think you realize how lucky you are. You have a beautiful woman at home, and you’re here. Not only that, she’s human and she accepts you. You are a fuck-wit.”
Angry because what Brandon said was true and he didn’t want to admit it, he got up and stalked his brother wanting a fight to get rid of his tension. “What if I don’t love her? What if I never do? She’s got all these guys interested in her, and she hasn’t set them straight. I’m stuck with her now, and I can’t ever be with anyone else, but she could and can.”
Brandon’s fists clenched. “You’ve got to be shitting me. For starters, you’ve disturbed Sasha’s life more than she has yours. She’s moved into your house, waits up for you every night, and don’t say she doesn’t because Sasha’s the type of girl who would.”
Savron nodded, and his brother smirked.
“I bet she sleeps snuggled into you, too.” Brandon raked his fingers through his hair. “As for the other stupid stuff, answer me this. If you didn't love her would you still wait to take her fully, would you care that you want her happy? If you didn’t love her would you worry after you’ve had a fight with her? Would you care that other men want her? Lastly, if you didn’t love her would you have let her dance with another man and not be upset over it, been fine with it because you know it makes her happy? Ask yourself these questions because I think actions speak louder than you think.”
With that Brandon left slamming his door.
Savron sat thinking over what Brandon said. Everything he’d said was true. He hadn’t taken Sasha’s virginity, because he wanted her to love him, to know for sure he was the one. Savron hadn’t wanted Sasha to regret anything with him. He didn’t want her unhappy. He’d had plenty of chances to take her virginity, and he knew she wouldn’t have complained, but he couldn’t do it. He didn’t want her angry or upset with him. He also wanted her sure of him.
Savron knew other shifters would have put a stop to her dancing or tried, as they wouldn’t have liked her dancing in another man’s arms, but Savron couldn’t even think of her stopping from the start. He knew how much Sasha loved her dancing, and he couldn’t take that away.
Savron stood grabbing his keys. He messaged his dad to tell him he was staying home tonight. He was a fool. He should have seen that his attraction had been getting stronger. He would do anything for her. Savron knew he would wait happily until she was ready to make love to him because he’d know when she did she was his one hundred percent and he’d know she loved him.
He got in his car and drove home knowing he would have to do some groveling.
Savron heard the music blasting from the house even before he pulled into the drive way. He saw Brandon’s car and two others he didn’t know. Parking, he got out of the car and walked through the front door to hear squeals and laughter.
He came to his big lounge room to see the big furniture pushed back. Britney was dancing with a guy he’d never met, and Travis was holding tight Jess who was doing some kind of shimmy on him. Brandon sat on the sofa glaring daggers at Travis.
Well, well, well. Interesting. It looked like he wouldn’t be the only one mated soon.
Savron couldn’t see Sasha, but he could hear her. He followed the laughter to the dining room to see Sasha on Zeck’s shoulder. Zeck was trying to help her down.
“Sasha, your dance partner must have some muscles because I’m terrified I’ll drop you. Although it’s a really nice view I’m getting now.”
Okay, this kid was dead. Savron growled, “Do you need help?”
He watched as Sasha’s eyes widened, and she stuttered. “I … I … well … I, um, was sho-showing them my dance mo-moves.”
Savron grabbed Sasha off Zeck, who glared at him. He placed her down next to him.
“Did you forget something you needed from work? Or you had fun and ready to come home to your girlfriend now?”
Savron couldn’t believe what this kid teenager had just said to him, how he’d spoken to him. He took a step closer to the kid, and Zeck didn’t back down. Sasha came to stand between them putting her hands on both their chests.
“Stop. Enough. Zeck, why don’t you go back to Travis and Jess? I just want to talk to Savron for a moment.”
“I don’t want to leave you with him.” Zeck held Sasha’s hand with both hands and pulled her closer to him. “Look at his face. He’s pissed. He might hurt you.”
Savron fought to contain his lion before he burst free and ripped the idiot in front of him apart. “I would never hurt Sasha. She’s my world. I love her.”
“Ha. You have a funny way of showing it. If Sasha was my girl I would have stayed to celebrate with her, and that’s just for starters. I’d have photos up of her, and I’d have photos of us together. No matter how busy I was I’d make the time to spend with her. You don’t know how lucky you are.”
Sasha kept looking back and forth between them. “Thanks, Zeck. I think you need to go.” Sasha pulled her hand from Zeck and took her hand from his and turned to face him fully. “I’m going to go, too. I’m going to go stay at Mum’s house tonight.” And with that she left him staring after her as she walked away from him.
What the hell had just happened?
****
Zeck drove her to her mother’s. Sasha didn’t say anything to him the whole drive home. She was too busy thinking over everything that was said. As she got out of the car she thanked him for the lift and told him she’d see him at school. Zeck must have seen she wasn’t in the mood to talk about anything because all he did was nod before he drove away.
Her mum took one look at her and pulled her into a big hug. Sasha closed her eyes savoring the unconditional love.
“Do you want t
o talk about it, honey?”
Sasha shook her head and squeezed her mother tighter. She didn’t want to talk. All she wanted to do was go to her room and curl up on her bed.
“Okay. If you need me you know where to find me.”
Sasha let go of her mum. “Thanks, Mum. I just want to go to my room. I’m tired.”
She walked to her room and lay on her bed looking at the familiar yellow walls. “Is Zeck right?” she muttered to herself.
Savron had said he loved her, that she was his world. But had he said that because she was his mate and he didn’t have a choice? Or did he say it because he meant it?
Closing her eyes she thought of what he’d been like since she met him. Savron was pushy, controlling, and always sure of what he wanted. He’d made time to spend with her, a lot more since they’d had their tiff the other week. Sasha had known when she moved in that Savron worked nights and that his work with the creatures helped keep the world safe. His night club work was what paid the bills, though.
Sasha sighed. She couldn’t be angry with Savron over not spending time with her, because she had known from the start that he worked nights. She had school and dancing, and not once had Savron asked her to stop or miss a dance class so she could spend the night with him. He even got up every morning and drove her to school even though Mac had offered to pick her up. Sasha knew most nights he didn’t get home until two or three, and then he would get up without complaint just so he could spend the drive with her.
She smiled to herself. There had been mornings that she could tell he was very reluctant to take her to school, that he’d wanted her to stay home and satisfy his urges. She closed her eyes and thought of the morning showers and waking up to kisses. Even when she had her period the other day, he’d been understanding and hadn’t showered with her or bothered her, but she still got her morning kisses and hugs.
Savron did love her. She’d been living with him, sleeping nude most of the time, and not once had he pressured her into having sex with him or making her feel guilty she hadn’t, even when he’d given her satisfaction but never having a release of his own. Sasha knew there had been several times he could have taken her virginity as she was gone awash in the throes of passion, but he hadn’t. Savron had wanted her to be one hundred percent sure of what she wanted and not regret what he’d done later. She was lucky. And as for the photo problem that was easily fixed.
Reaching for her bag at the end of the bed, she pulled it to her and grabbed her phone out setting her clock for nine, giving her a sleep-in and plenty of time to get what she needed done.
Getting in the covers she snuggled into bed feeling a lot better. She would have to go talk to Zeck tomorrow and set him straight on a couple of things. Then she would go see Savron.
****
Britney hugged him one last time before she got in the car with the guy named Clay and drove off. Brandon had left earlier, arguing with Jess that he would take her home and not Travis.
So now Savron sat in his lounge room staring at the chip packets, M&M’s, and soft drink cans, telling himself he should get off the sofa and clean them up. He couldn’t, though. He didn’t want to do or touch anything. Everything he touched lately he seemed to stuff up.
Sitting alone in his house was not what he had planned when he came home. Savron had thought he’d come home to Sasha watching a movie or doing homework, and when she saw him she would stop and be so happy he’d come home that she’d … throw herself at him? That she’d be so grateful he came back she’d finally have sex with him? That she’d fall at his feet grateful she wasn’t alone? Oh shit, he didn’t know.
He thought about what Zeck said and knew there was a ring of truth to all of it. He could cut back on his nights and only go out for hunts, and on the weekend when it was the busiest go to the club. He could do the rest of the stuff like inventory and paying suppliers during the day while Sasha was at school.
Savron should have stayed and celebrated with her. He should have sat and watched her have fun with her friends, like Brandon had done. Tomorrow he would go talk to Sasha’s mother. He needed some photos.
Getting up he went to the bathroom, showered, and got in bed. It didn’t feel right. His arms didn’t know where to lie as they usually hugged Sasha tight, and his body felt cold without her warmth. He tossed and turned until he finally gave up sleeping in his human form and changed to his lion. His lion whined for a while, missing its mate before it went to sleep, repeating that it would never sleep without its mate again.
Chapter Eleven
Sasha alarm went off, and instead of groaning and wanting to stay in bed where it was warm she jumped out and grabbed spare clothes she’d left behind. Besides the bed wasn’t warm and inviting without Savron to cuddle and sleep on.
Showering, Sasha quickly got dressed and walked to kitchen to see her mum sitting with Steve eating breakfast.
“Hi, honey. Do you want me to make you some breakfast?”
“No thanks, Mum. I’m going to grab some while I’m out.”
Her mum nodded.
“Is Melody awake? I want to get a disc with the photos of yesterday on it.”
“She stayed at a friend’s last night. I have the camera though.” Her mum got up and walked to the family room, and Sasha followed. Her mum went to the computer and pulled out a disc, putting it in a case. “You can have the disc. I got the photographs last night when we came home.”
Sasha took the disc and hugged her mum. “Thanks, Mum.”
“That’s all right.” She stroked her hair. “Are you coming back here, or are you back with Savron?”
Sasha pulled away from her mother and sighed. “I won’t be staying here again. Last night was a one-off. I got the shits and left.”
“Honey, to make a relationship work you have to fight for it. Take the good with the bad. You can’t walk away without talking. Communication is vital. Nothing worth having is easy.”
“I know, Mum, or well I do now. It wasn’t very mature of me to just leave, but I needed to figure some things out. Be sure of what I wanted.”
Her mum took a piece of hair that had fallen out of her messy bun and placed it behind her ears. “Are you sure of what you want now?”
“Yes. I’m one hundred percent sure.”
“Well, okay, go and get it.” Sasha pulled her mother to her for a big bear hug. “I love you, Sasha.”
“I love you, too, Mum. Thanks for being you.”
****
Sasha sat out the front of Zeck’s house dreading what she knew had to be done. Taking a deep breath, she got out of her car and walked to his front door. Zeck’s mother answered, and Sasha asked to speak to Zeck. She declined coming inside and stood outside waiting.
Zeck came out to meet her with a huge smile on his face. “Hi, Sasha, I wasn’t expecting you.”
Sasha didn’t want to prolong what she had to do. She felt bad about her behavior as it was. “I came to have a talk with you.”
Zeck moaned and sat on the step up to his front door. Sasha sat next to him.
“Zeck, I want to apologize for my behavior. I should never have gotten so drunk that you couldn’t take me home, or I couldn’t get myself home. I should have made myself clear from the start that we are just friends, nothing else.” Sasha looked Zeck straight in the eyes because she wanted her message clear.
“But we’re good together. We get on so well, and I—”
“I’m sorry, Zeck, if I’ve given you the impression you have a chance to be with me as more than a friend. It was wrong of me. I’m with Savron, Zeck. Savron is the only one for me, and he always will be. I love him.” Sasha ran her fingers through her hair. “The way I have been behaving is not fair to Savron, or you. I needed to come today and set you straight. I would like to stay friends as long as you know I will never be with you as your girlfriend. I will understand if you don’t want to be friends anymore. I’m so sorry if I’ve misled you and hurt you. It wasn’t my intention.”
; Zeck wasn’t looking at her now, but his back was rigid and his fist clenched. “Fine. Thanks for telling me. I’ll see you at school.” He got up and without looking back walked back inside his house.
Sasha stood and walked back to her car, opened her door and got in. Slumping back in the seat she shut the door and closed her eyes, composing herself for a moment. Opening her eyes she let out a deep breath and started the car, hoping the stuff she had to do now would be a lot easier.
Sasha pulled the car out the front of Savron’s house. She felt emotionally drained after the conversation she’d had with Zeck. He had seemed to take it hard, and she knew they wouldn’t be close friends ever again. Sasha was disappointed, but she needed to look to the future, and that future was with Savron. Still, even the shopping she’d done after hadn’t cheered her up. She had gone to the mall and gotten the photos and frames she wanted. She had also done a little lingerie shopping.
Getting out of the car now, she opened the passenger seat and grabbed as many bags as she could, shutting the door with her hip. Savron’s car sat in front of hers, so she knew he was home.
Placing the bags by her feet while she fumbled for the right key to let her in the door opened. Savron stood in loose fitting jeans and a black, fitted top. His hair looked askew like he’d been running his fingers through it in frustration.
“You back for good or just a visit?”
Sasha winced at his words. She deserved them, but they still cut her. “For good, if you still want me.”
“What’s in the bags?”
For a moment she didn’t know what he was talking about, but then he pointed to her feet. She looked down to see the forgotten bags. “Oh, can I come in and show you?”
He didn’t say anything but moved to the side so she could get by with her bags. She walked by the clean lounge room to the kitchen and family room. She sat on the sofa only to pause at the sight of a picture of her with her mother and sister on the lamp side table. Sasha looked up to see that Savron had followed her and sat on the sofa opposite her.