Chapter 443 Offerings to a mate (2)

Talia was not sure what to think about this sudden treat for her eyes.

Damon's naked form made her throat go dry. She saw every part of him more than once, but this was in the open, just the two of them, privacy.

Weren't they going to have food now? But… why did he remove his shorts? Their dinner will go cold and it won't be so good.

Talia peeled her eyes from his mid-section where his precious parts were hanging, and her gaze traveled over his firm abs and pecs... she saw his Adam's apple bobbing when he swallowed, and instead of his cocky expression, she met his eyes that looked at her with depth that made her realize this was important.

Damon took two sticks with roasted meat on them and approached her slowly, circling the campfire, and dropping on his knees when he was one step away from her.

"Talia", he called in a solemn tone. "Will you accept my offering?"

Her heart thundered in her ears. "Why are you so official?"

"I want to know if you will accept me as your mate.", Damon responded. When he saw her frowning in confusion, he explained, "You see, the Moon Goddess decides who will be fated to each other, but we have an option to reject it."

Talia nodded at his words. Rejection comes at a cost, but it's still possible. She saw that happening between Marcy and George.

Damon licked his lips before saying, "I am offering you this food as a gesture that I will provide for you. And I am offering you myself because I am completely yours, and yours only. My mission in life will be to provide for you and make you happy. If you accept me, we will face challenges together and I will be your weapon and your shield. No other woman will ever have my heart or my body. Nothing and no one will be more important than you are. Tell me, Talia… Do you accept me as your mate willingly?"

Talia sucked in a breath when she realized that this was more than just a romantic gesture. He was kneeling in front of her, baring himself completely, and giving her a choice to step back. He spoke of challenges because being his mate won't be easy, and he said that he will always put her first. Wasn't he the sweetest man alive?

Talia didn't want him to be the only one who will show his sincerity.

Talia stood up and took a moment to shake off her nerves which made her insides tremble.

Damon's anxiety was building up. Why was she not answering? Was she remembering all the trouble he caused and fears it will happen again? Is that why she stood up and stepped away? Was she about to reject him?

Damon held his breath while waiting for Talia to say something, or at least to smile a little, but he could feel that she was nervous and that only made him more nervous in return.

And then he watched her as she started removing her clothes and he was not sure if the whole world slowed down, or just his brain.

Talia kicked her shorts on the side and felt the breeze caress her most intimate parts. She was never this exposed, but it was exactly what she wanted. She wanted to be vulnerable and exposed in front of him.

She got down on her knees to face him on the same level.

"Damon…", she called softly but with determination. "I don't have much to offer, except for my support. I am overjoyed that you want to be my mate and that you are giving me a choice… a choice I don't need because even before you claimed my body as yours, you had my mind and my heart. It's yours. All yours. I am yours, and I accept you. Willingly."

Talia could feel his emotions swelling together with his arousal, an obvious approval of her words. She thought that he will reach out to her, and they will go at it right there on the dirt next to the bonfire, all thoughts about eating roasted rabbits were now forgotten. But Damon just smiled with a genuine smile that reached his eyes and then he extended his left hand toward her.

"Let's eat."

Talia gingerly took the stick with the roasted rabbit that he offered, and she scooted to sit on the log.

The rough surface of the tree was not noticeable over her shorts, but with her bare skin on it, she could feel the grooves and it took her some time to get used to it.

Damon sat next to Talia, close enough for their thighs to touch. He needed that contact as assurance that she was there, and this was happening.

He watched her as she eyed the meat in front of her, silently deciding from where to start eating.

Damon enjoyed the fact that both of them were completely naked and other than slight anxiousness, he didn't pick up anything negative from Talia.

Since he was a teen who could shift into his wolf form, and even before that, Damon spent time nude among other werewolves and it was not a big deal, it was normal for werewolves to move about naked. However, he knew that Talia grew up differently and she was now like this only because she trusted him. In a way, he liked it because her naked perfection was only for his eyes.

"Talia…", he called, and she turned to see him holding a piece of meat that he broke with his hand, silently urging her with his eyes to take it.

She let out a guilty breath. He was giving her his first bite, conveying that he will put her first, yet she almost sank her teeth into the meat she was holding.

Talia opened her mouth and he put the meat in there.

His breath hitched when her tongue grazed his finger, reminding him of all the ways that tongue can play with his body and mind. Seductress!

"Mmm…", Talia hummed in pleasure with her eyes closed as the tender flesh stimulated her taste buds.

"Do you like it?"

"It's delicious.", she said with glee, her lips glistening from the juices that the meat released. "It's soft and sweet and…" Talia paused and gave him a big smile. "Thank you, Damon."

His smile reflected in his eyes. "You are welcome."

Feeling that she should do the same, Talia took a bite-sized chunk of meat and offered it to Damon.

"Please…", she said when his brows came together in disapproval. "We share everything, food included."

Damon's expression relaxed and he opened his mouth.

His lips closed around her fingers that held meat for him to take. Of course, he remembered the tease Talia gave him. Damon's tongue twirled around her index finger, and he sucked on it slightly, enjoying hearing her heart rate picking up.

He loved how her body responded to him. He loved everything about Talia. He loved Talia.

Damon and Talia fed each other in silence, every bite silently conveying their thoughts and emotions about their future together.

Their hearts thrummed in the same beat, and this ritual seemed like the most intimate thing they did so far.

Both of them could feel the air around them changing, something between them strengthening, becoming more solid, almost tangible. It was surreal.

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