Charming The Warriors (The Charmer) (2 page)

2 weeks later

Stepping out of the airport the first thing that hits me is humid weather and the feel of the summer sun all over my body; I close my eyes and tilt my face to the glorious sun. Den pulls me to him by the waist and whispers in my hair,

             
“Come on Zara plenty of time for that later.”

             
“Yeah I’m coming.” I say smiling up at him.

We get directions to the buses that are going out. When we get to the dozens
of buses, I look to Den; he just shrugs his shoulders walking over to one 7
th
in line. We decided once we arrived we would just keep picking randomly, like with the map, as it worked so well last time.

             
“Ok I’m feeling this one,” He says smiling cheekily.

             
“You sure?”

             
“Yeah, look the driver is smiling at us, it’s a sign,” He says jokingly, making me laugh.

He walks
over to the driver who stands at the back, loading up the bags. Den starts chatting to the man as if he is an old friend so I decide to hang back and take in my surroundings and loving the feel of the sun on my skin. Den comes jogging from round the back of the bus and grabbing our suitcases but not before kissing my cheek and patting my bum.

             
“Get your sexy ass on there babe, I’ll be 10.” With that he jogs back to the where he came from.

             
Ok let’s do this, I’m ready, I think. I find a space with two seats and wait for Den, who steps on the bus 10 minutes later with the bus driver. Sitting beside me, Den places his arm around my shoulder and kisses my head as I gaze up at him, feeling so lucky to be here together.

             
“Hey you’re going to love the town we are going to. I spoke with the bus driver about a few of the town’s that we are stopping at, and…hey guess what he kept doing?”

B
efore I can make a guess, he jumps back in.

             
“Sniffing me, how weird is that! Anyway, he mentioned a town called ‘Nickel’ it’s quiet, but it has a few restaurants bars and a club. He said the rent there should be cheap and that it’s a friendly little town and we’ll feel right at home in no time.”

I look
over the top of the seat in front of me at the bus driver, good-looking man probably in his 40s. I don’t get any bad feelings from him I’ve have always been a good judge of character just by a first look and Den seems more than happy about the idea of getting off at this town, so looks like it is settled. I spin back to look at Den.

             
“Yep sounds good to me ‘Nickel’ it is.”

             
“I feel like this is
the
place Zara, just from the name… What? Is it my eyes?” He asks, as I watch him in awe.

I touch his cheek with the bac
k of my fingers; it's as if being here has made him even more stunning. I hope its catching!

             
“You ok Zara?”

             
“Ummm yeah of course it’s just, wow your eyes…” I look at him, overwhelmed with the splendor of his blazing green eyes.

             
“Yeah?” He says with a wide grin and raising an eyebrow. He is such a flirt.

             
“Yeah” I say as a laugh and an eye roll.

             
“Babe I can’t wait to get to this place. Laurence the driver said if we ask in one of the bars called ‘Quirks’ they should be able to put us up till we find somewhere to rent.”

             
“Oh brilliant, how long will it take to arrive in Nickel?”

He looks down at his watch I had bought him for Ch
ristmas.

             
“Maybe 2 hours and 30 minutes” He tells me with a grin.

             
“Cool. I can’t wait to see what real America is like.”

Getting my lip-gloss from my bag, gliding it over my dry lips
, I smile as I hear Den release a soft growl.

             
“Hey maybe you
are
a Werewolf,” I tell him as he starts to laugh a real belly laugh, which makes me smile widely.

I
don’t really believe he is a Werewolf; I just love to be the one to make him smile. He growls at things I do or say, or when he is pissed off, I have grown up with Den’s glowing eyes and growling so I never question it, and I would not have him any other way; it is what I love about him.

             
“I’d still love you either way you know that, right?” I tell him.

             
“I know you would.” He says pulling me onto his lap as I lay my head on his warm solid chest.

             
“I love you Zara.”

             
“Ditto.”

Chapter 2

We arrive at Nickel Town a couple of hours later; as we’re the only ones getting off the bus at this stop, I cross my fingers praying we have made the right choice. As Laurence the driver passes us our luggage from the storage compartment he tells us, it is a mile walk to the outside of the town and we should be able to get a lift from there, this makes me feel a lot happier.

              After walking for about 20 minutes, I look to Den with a sigh.

             
“You know, I shouldn’t have worn these heels,” I say pointing to my once stunning shoes, sadly now covered in dirt and dust, whilst trying to walk in a straight line, avoiding the stones.

             
“Sure you should have, they will take one look at you, and beg us to stay,” Den says with a mischievous wink.

             
“Ok let’s do it,” I say bravely.

In the distance, there is a sound of an engine, gazing up the long
road; I see a pickup driving down this way. I turn to look at Den and raise an eyebrow at him.

             
“What do you think?”

             
“Yeah go ahead these bags are getting heavy; give him one of your stunning smiles.”

             
“Ha! Yeah let’s give it a try, nothing like harmless flirting.”

I playfully wink at him, making him laugh.
As we wait for the pickup truck to come within a few yards of us before I start waving my arms at the driver like a damsel in distress, which I sort of am, expect for the hunk of a man behind me snickering at my desperate attempts to get a lift into town.

             
Thank God. The driver pulls over right next to me as I step up to the open window with a smile.

             
“Hello I’m sorry to bother you, but is there any chance of a lift into town?”

OH. MY.
GOD! I have no idea how I just said all of that without swaying or dribbling, this man looks like a dark angel, so hot, with intense brown eyes with specs of gold looking back at me, and he smells amazing. I’m now actually blushing like a schoolgirl, how embarrassing! I’m meant to be charming him!

Den
is the only man to have ever made me blush, so finding the only other man to make me feel this way is a big deal for me.

He
looks at me with the edge of his lips curving into a smile.

             
“It would be my pleasure…”

Trying to get control over myself, which is hard with my heart almost beating outside my chest, I suddenly comprehend that
Mr. sexy is waiting for an introduction.

             
“I’m sorry, my name is Zara and this is Den.”             

I stand there mouth open wide as
Den comes up behind me in a protective gesture and pushes his hand past me for the handsome stranger to shake.

             
“Alright mate. Thanks for the ride.”

Mr.
sexy gives Den a friendly smile while shaking his hand, then his gaze returning to me.

             
“Like I said it will be my pleasure. Jump in. I’m Sallack.”

Sallack,
Wow that is different, it really suits him as well as no one this striking should have an average name.

             
Den drops our cases in the back with the help of Sallack, who’s built like a bloody mountain in the most appealing way. Den jumps in next to Sallack while I get in the small seat in the back, Thank God I did not have to sit next to him, I think I would have done something weird like touch his face or asked for a photo.

             
I wonder if he lives in Nickel or just passing through, and with that thought Den speaks up,

             
“So do you live around here Sallack?”

Sallack glances at me in the rear view mirror before answering. Is this man trying to give me a heart attack?

              “Yeah I live a mile the other way from town. I was just going out to get some more bottles.” He says. His voice is like a deep sexy rumble.

             
“Bottles?” I ask, and then instantly regret, as his eyes land on me in the mirror again. I hope we will be there soon, I don’t know how much I can take.

             
“Yeah, bottles of orange juice for the bar, ran out so I was just gunna grab some, as we’re not due a delivery for 2 days.”

             
“We were told to ask for a place to stay for a few nights called Quirks, Is that your bar by any chance?” Den asks.

             
“Yeah that’s my bar, if you’re looking for somewhere to stay, you’re very welcome there. So what would a couple from England…?”

He looks at me
again
; I just nod as I have lost my tongue as well as the feeling in my legs. Uh I am in love!

             
“…be doing here if you don’t mind me asking?”

             
“Ah well we were looking for a big life change and we ended up here by chance really!” Den tells him, saving me from humiliation.

              Den and Sallack carry on chatting, seems like they have a lot in common. They keep trying to bring me into their conversation but I don’t want to talk, I just want to look at Sallack and lust over him in silence! After 20 minutes, we pull up to the front of Sallack's bar. It is surprisingly big looking, a little like a log cabin; there is a second floor with big windows, 8 at the top and 4 large windows on the 1st floor. It has an inviting look; I can’t wait to see the inside.

             
“Nice place,” I say to Sallack.

             
“Yeah it really is.” Den tells him also.

We walk u
p to the double doors, I manage to get stuck behind Sallack, so naturally I have a look at his butt, until he turns around to face me so I’m now staring at this crutch !….shit. Looking up I can see that he noticed by the satisfied look on his handsome face. I look back at Den to see if he noticed also, and of course he has, by giving me a wink and patting my bum whilst releasing a soft growl. No, it
wasn’t
Den growling, it was Sallack! Den and I whip our heads to the direction of Sallack, but he’s now walking up to a yet another hunk at the bar. Growling must be a sexy man syndrome!

Sallack
speaks in a low hushed tone to the man as Den steps up beside me taking hold of my hand as my gaze travels back up to him.

             
“You ok babe? This is a wicked place isn’t it?”

             
“Oh definitely, I hope we get to stay here for a while.”

             
“I think we will,” He bends to whisper in my ear, “He looks really into you just relax and talk to him like you do me.”

             
“Ha yeah right, have you seen him, he looks like a god!” I say a little louder then I meant to. I think every person in the bar turns around to look at me. Den lets out a soft growl startling me slightly and bringing me back from humiliation.

             
Sallack strides up to us like we are prey or should I say I am, with a sexy smile paying on his perfect lips.

             
“Ok the rooms are still free, I have a room with a double bed and on suite or a double room with 2 single beds also with on suite, there the only rooms we have.”

             
“Brilliant could we take the twin room please. Is it ok to pay by card?” I ask him, trying to gain control of myself.

He gaze tra
vels to Den, with a look saying ‘You're the man you should be paying’. He then nods at Den before his intense eyes capture mine again. Men!

             
“That’s fine. Abbey will show you up and get you settled in, she can get you both food if you’re hungry. I have to go now, I’ll see you later.”

He stands in front of me showing no signs of leaving
, just gazing at me with a look of hunger; I look back with just as much lust before he nods his head once and walks away. As I watch him walk away, my eyes automatically travel to his firm butt again, I bit my lip to stop a grin speading over my face.

             
“Perv!” Den nearly shouts behind me.

Sallack turns quickly but not quick enough that he catches me looking at his fine butt. I smile sweetly at him before I turn to Den scrawling at him.

              “I’m not a perv! I just know how to study fine art.” I grin.

             
“Oh yeah that’s a good one babe.” He rolls his eyes at me playfully.

             
The girl Abbey come’s over with a set of keys, and a sweet smile on her beautiful face. Oh shit, I hope she didn’t see me admiring Sallack’s butt too.

             
“Hello I’m Abbey. Follow me I’ll show you to your room.”

             
“Thank you Abbey.” Den says with a devilish smile and one of Den’s classic winks.

She goe
s from pale, to red in a second, I feel sympathetic towards her as Sallack has the same effect on me. Abbey is a natural beauty with golden brown hair lying silkily over her shoulders, big brown eyes and a little shorter than me, just from the smile on her face, tells me she is a friendly person.

              We enter the room and I’m struck by how lovely it is, with light grey colored walls, two single beds that look more like double’s, luckily for Den as he is huge! The room is very inviting and clean.

             
“This is the bathroom.” Abbey opens the door; I stick my head in seeing a glass walk-in shower, white tiles everywhere and fresh red flowers by the small window.

             
“It’s lovely, thank you,” I tell her with a smile of gratitude.

Abbey
says her goodbyes and offer of food before she leaves. Den makes two trips down the stairs to get our luggage, I told him to let me get mine, but Den being Den, gives me the look that says, ‘I’m the strong man’. I get to my suitcase on the floor and dig through to find something cooler to put on, rather than jeans and a tank top.

             
“Den, I’m going to get a shower?”

I get no answer, looking to where he is I smile to myself as I see he
is on the bed lightly snoring, poor thing.

             
I jump in the shower and put the cold tap on with just a little warm. I feel completely relaxed; it feels like heaven as I wash my body and hair with the products I had bought in with me.

              Once I’m dry, I put on a tight strapless dress that come’s up just before my knees, in a light shade of pink. Quickly and quietly, I get my hairdryer from my suitcase, and take it back into the bathroom with to use, so I don't wake Den from his peaceful sleep. I now feel fresh and ready to meet and greet the locals.

              I leave the room and head down stairs to the bar to order us some food. Pulling out my phone from my bag to see the time it is 8:30, wow no wonder I’m hungry. At the bar, I pull out the stool to sit on with a little sigh of happiness.

             
The bar tender come’s over flashing a sexy grin, Uh another sexy man.

             
“Hello there beautiful, I’m Mickey. Sallack said you’re staying here a few nights?”

Oh, wow another gorgeous man, with a build much
like Den’s, Massive! He has dazzling blue eyes and short dirty blond hair. Don’t blush! Do not blush! Oh wait how did he know I was the person staying here, he was in the kitchen when I came in.

             
“Hi Mickey, I’m Zara. Yeah, we just got here today, it’s a wonderful place here in Nickel,” I say after he takes my hand in his, with a gentle shake, as if he is frightened he will break me, and is that…yeah he is sniffing me!

             
“Well I look forward to seeing you a little more. What can I get you Zara?”

I normally
do not like men flirting with me, but Mickey seems light hearted and playful, I like him already he reminds me of Den.

             
“Can I have coke please and order something to eat? I’m starving.”

             
“Sure what foods do you like we only really do burgers, chicken and chips?” He raises an eyebrow while passing me the glass of coke with ice. My mouth watering just looking at it, I take a gulp then give Mickey my answer.

             
“Burger and chips would be fantastic, oh and could you please do my friend the same but double portions?”

             
“That’s fine I’ll let Abbey know.”

             
“Thank you Mickey.”

             
He walk’s around to the small kitchen in the back to give Abbey the order. I know it won’t be long until Den comes down to the bar; the man has the nose and appetite of a Wolfhound. The thought makes me smile after calling Den a Wolf already. I left him to sleep a little longer as he was obviously tired. Knowing Den he will most likely be up all hours making new friends, he has always had a very welcoming personality.