Vancouver Mist

Cara Morrison smiled as she walked into the grand foyer of the elegant ballroom of the New Blue Ribbon Ball. She had decided to come after several of her friends had been successful meeting dates and boyfriends. So, out of curiosity, she bought a membership, and while she had danced quite a bit, she enjoyed the atmosphere of the old world mix of the feminine French and masculine Spanish décor more. She especially enjoyed strolling through the lush gardens just beyond the ornate French doors on the other side of the ballroom.

As a landscape architect and designer, she was always interested in gardens and how they were laid out. After stopping at the concierge welcome table to choose a wrist corsage that showed that she was a member, she wandered across the huge ballroom her high heels tapping on the white marble floor. The ballroom featured offshoot rooms for relaxing, talking, and sampling the food from the several decadent buffets, she passed other girls being escorted to the dance floor, giggling, and smiling at their dance partners. She stopped at the sidelines to watch the dancing and listen to the live music.

Cara suddenly realized that she was the only woman standing with the dotty old chaperones, who were there to lend some authenticity to the atmosphere.

Cara gracefully turned, straightened her rose-colored gown that showed off her full figure to its best advantage, and headed for the French doors leading to the gardens. She had just stepped out of the ornate doors when out of a corner of her eye a tall, elegant blond woman stepped to her side. "Was getting a bit warm in there" she said. Cara smiled and agreed with a nod. She wasn't really in the mood for a conversation. "So, no one to your liking, or are you just here to be social?" Cara turned toward the blond to tell her that she didn't want to talk but hoped she was having a good time and met her partner for life when she finally got a good look at the woman who had spoken to her. "Mrs. Roche! I'm so sorry I didn't recognize you at first". Marlena Roche smiled and nodded. "Good," she said. "I come here to make sure that everything is the way that it should be. Not to be recognized." "Yes" ...Cara said. "I know that you and your husband sponsor these dances, as they are a part of the New Orleans history. Extremely glad you updated it."

Originally Blue Ribbon Balls or Quadroon Balls as they were also known, were only for the most beautiful women of color in the parish to find wealthy white partners. At the time interracial marriages were illegal, so these partnerships were considered more than a betrothal, but less than a marriage. The men were contracted by the women's mothers and exactly what was expected of the men was negotiated.

Mitchell and Marlena Roche had revived the balls by dropping the race qualification and made it an open dance once a month for those twenty-one and older to have a place to meet and dance other than the usual bars and clubs. The attendees were required to dress to impress, gowns for the ladies and tuxedos for the men. There was also very tight security to go with the ladies who portrayed chaperones.

Marlena looped her arm through Cara's and the two of them walked into the gardens. "He will be along shortly," Marlena said. "Who? Oh, your husband." Cara said. Marlena smiled a sly smile. "No, YOUR HUSBAND," she said emphatically.

"Thank you for the encouragement, but..." "But nothing" ...Marlena interrupted." I always take an interest when I see someone has been here shall we say, a little too long?"

Cara sighed, blushed looked down completely embarrassed. "Don't be embarrassed. It happens. But maybe I can help."

Cara nodded. They found a bench and began to talk like girlfriends. Cara found Marlena easy to talk to but could tell that with some of the things she said that maybe some of the rumors just might be true.

Cara dressed carefully for the first time in months. A new, incredibly expensive tea-stained color lace and silk corset top gown she had designed herself based on Grace Kelly's pearly white chiffon gown in the movie To Catch a Thief. Victoria's Secret undergarments, and a new attitude. She had been invited to the Roche mansion courtesy of Mme. Roche. She and Marlena had remained in contact after their initial talk, with Cara being invited to dinner at the mansion for a private get-together with other singles. The limo picked her up promptly at 4 pm. There was to be a reception before dinner.

At the mansion door, a very handsome man offered her his arm and escorted her to the reception.

Several couples were dancing. "Seems rather small for a reception", she said to her the man who held her arm. "He leaned over her, smiled, and lightly kissed her temple. "That's because it's not just a reception." He winked, kissed her hand, and walked away. Well, she thought, if the other specimens were like that one, she was going to need an ice bath. The other couples in the room were dancing but not changing partners or doing the typical things that people invited to meet for dinner would do.

Cara turned and walked into a brick wall wearing a tuxedo. "Oh, I'm sorry!" she looked up, way up, and nearly swooned. Tall, dark, and handsome didn't cover it. Longish pitch black hair, the darkest brown eyes she had ever seen with gold flecks in them. He had a light tan and a smile that could melt iron. The small dimple in his cheek made her want to kiss it, but she took a deep breath instead. She felt herself being drawn to him and didn't want to be. She was here to meet someone special, and she wasn't about to get wet panties over the first couple of guys she saw. Yet something about this one turned her insides to liquid.

"Are you ok?" he asked in a voice that made her want to strip naked and roll around in it. "I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be? She snapped desperately trying to get her emotional balance back. "That's good. I wouldn't want you to get hurt walking into my chest like that." He chuckled. "Dance with me," he said while taking her wrist and hands. Cara's whiskey-colored eyes flashed. "NO!" she snatched her hands back. Who was this jerk to just grab her like that? Arrogant bastard, she thought.

"Think you have to."

"Excuse me?"

"No other women here. Just you and me."

Cara had been so focused on him and his arrogance, that she had forgotten that there were no other singles, only couples.

When she looked back, he had his hand out to her and that damn smile and dimple was calling her. Why did exceedingly handsome men have to think that all women should fall over backward with their legs spread just because they were in the same room?

In the distance, she noticed Mitchell and Marlena nuzzling each other and whispering in each other's ears.

"So", Mitchell was whispering to Marlena while slipping his arms around her waist. "Been matchmaking again I see my beauty". "Yes, my love. She was at the New Blue Ribbon Ball with no luck. Our son is perfect for her". "I know of her family." Her father is Alpha of Montreal. Mitchell stated. They hid that they were wolf to evade the Hunters generations ago. They continued to mate with humans and shifters." I can tell that she carries the DNA" If they mate, she will bear pups." Marlena nodded with a sly smile. "You mean when," she said.

Mitchell laughed and squeezed her to him, whispering something obscene in her ear. "Only if you can catch me", she whispered back and made a mad dash for the stairs with Mitchell hot on her heels.

Seeing that she was distracted a bit by his parents, he grabbed Cara's hand and pulled her to him. He whisked her across the floor in a waltz revealing that she had a hidden slit to her mid hip in the skirt of her gown revealing a beautiful leg line and then held her close for a slow dance. "My name is Axel Roche, my Cara."

Cara's eyes widened. "R-Roche?" she stammered. "Are you...?" He flashed that devastating smile again. "The one and only" "Don't be annoyed.""Mother does this on occasion." he snickered. "seems this time she was correct."

"Well, she could have at least told me I was meeting her son." Cara shook her head. Axel chuckled. It's ok..., nothing must be decided tonight. But you are my "mate" even though you don't know it yet." Cara simply stared at him not having the faintest idea what he was talking about.

Axel had seen Cara when she arrived. His nostrils had already filled with the fragrance of lotus flowers and rice water before she came to the door. And when she passed him on Jack's arm, it was out of his mouth before he could even think. "She's mine," he said.

Her skin color was a soft caramel. Her long curly dark reddish-brown hair had definite dark burgundy strands. Watching her walk in on Jack's arm, he didn't even know her name at that moment, and yet he was ready to beat Jack senseless for having his hands on her. Her gown swayed and wrapped around her full hips and legs as he had never seen before.

His scent was intoxicating her, even though she was trying to look bored. "Are you sure there's no one else here?" she sighed. "What about that hunk that walked me in here?" she said casually looking around the room. She wasn't about to let him know that he was rocking her world in a way no one else ever had.

He raised an eyebrow, "No my precious. You are my "Mate", and I am yours. There is no need for anyone else." He sent his call to her, and though she barely reacted, her hormones were already doing the boogie-woogie.

Cara pulled away from him and stared. "What is this mate thing you keep talking about? Mate!? I came here for dinner and a casual meeting."Cara said exasperated. "As I said, my name is Axel. I would appreciate it if you would lower your voice and call me that. Cara, you are mine." It was then she realized that Marlena must have told him about her and her name considering all the other couples were already paired off. He gave her a cat who got the cream grin. Her scent of lotus flowers and rice water was still waking up his cock.

"Pfft... Don't think you want to know what I really want to call you," Cara muttered.

Marlena and Mitchell appeared in the foyer having heard the commotion and made their way downstairs. They looked at each other nodded and then took the errant couple to separate rooms.

"He is the best match for you. He never came to the balls because he prefers small gatherings." Marlena said handing Cara a cup of tea. You are right to show him your fire. Continue. A sly smile came across Marlena's face and Cara smiled and shook her head. "I really should have known." "Just invite us to the wedding," Marlena winked.

Cara decided to forgo dinner, made her apologies, and moments later stepped into the limo that was taking her home. She thought of the advice Marlena had given and the way Axel had spoken to her. Especially that Axel! She shivered thinking of him. Handsome for sure but that attitude! Why the hell did he think that I was his mate? MATE! she had to calm herself down, just the thought was pissing her off and revving her engine at the same time. She sighed. She decided that Marlena's advice was the best. "Show him your fire.," she had said. "Fire." Cara thought. It's going to be a freaking inferno.

Just then her phone rang, she answered thinking it was her office.

"Not nice to run off from me, my mate. Be ready for dinner, since you missed the one with my parents. I will pick you up at 6:30 sharp." There was a decided click.

Cara stared at her phone. That arrogant son of a bitch! Who the fuck did he think he was? Maybe she just won't be home at "6:30 sharp!"

She immediately told the driver to take her to her landscaping business. Her office had a small apartment in the back that she used when business was extremely busy.

She checked her phone for the time and saw that she had plenty of time to not only hide out but get some work done as well. Once she began to design a landscape, she sometimes worked well into the night, passing the final design to the client for approval early the next morning.

After locking the outer office door and crossing the lobby, she checked the office phone to see if there were any pressing messages, then she went to the one bedroom apartment through the locked door in her office.

Once in the apartment, she stripped and got into the shower. She let the warm water slide down her body as she soaped up and then let the water push the suds away. Moaning softly, she mentally thanked herself for having installed the pulsing showerhead, she was amazed at how good the warm water felt slipping down her lush curves and the floral smell of the body wash. She mentally watched Axel go down the drain with the soapy water and figured that by now he had realized he had no shot with her. "Mate, my ass "she mumbled while stepping out of the shower. But still, there was something that was drawing her to him. She reached for the towel that she had left on the rack, but it wasn't there.

"Thought I would warm this for you." A decidedly masculine voice said while a well-muscled arm came through the slightly open door and placed the warm towel on the counter.

Cara screamed at the top of her lungs." How the fuck did you get in here?" she shouted while grabbing the baseball bat that she kept in each room, just in case.

Axel shrugged behind the door, "trying to be helpful is all. Besides, we still have dinner to go to so that we can discuss our future." he said.

"How about I wail on your head then we can have brains, or whatever you have that passes for brains." She had forgotten that she was still wet and naked as she took a couple of practice swings with the bat.

'That's about all I'm going to take as far as how you talk to me." There isn't a reason for it. he shoved the bathroom door completely open and had to dodge the naked woman swinging a Louisville Slugger. "Seriously? You just walk in here?" "Then you get pissed that I talk to you like that?" she took another swing, but this time Axel grabbed the bat and with a hearty tug, yanked it from her hands and tossed it over his shoulder, while his other hand grabbed the towel, then caught and wrapped Cara mummy style and hoisted her over his shoulder.

He took her, wriggling and spouting obscenities, out to the bed and plopped her unceremoniously down on it.

Cara scrambled to the far side of the queen sized bed while losing the battle to keep the towel covering her entire naked body. "Get the fuck out of here, Axel!" She screamed.

Axel arched his eyebrow as he scanned the bronze beauty glowering at him from the far corner of the bed. Parts of her body weren't quite covered by the towel. The sight of her shapely legs and part of her ass was causing his cock to harden and twitch. She was attempting to keep her full breasts covered and failing badly as he began to think of all the things his lips and tongue could do to her breasts making him even harder. Then there was that fragrance. The one that he smelled at his parents' house. Lotus flowers and rice water.

"I will, as soon as you say you are going to dinner with me, and watch your mouth," he said as he crossed his arms over his broad chest. Cara shivered and not from only wearing a towel. Axel was looking at her as if he were a man who hadn't had water in a while, and she was a cool stream. Not to mention that she was fighting the urge to let him do whatever he wanted to her. Just looking at the handsome hunk in front of her, she was starting to get as slick as she was when she was dancing with him. She was completely smitten but didn't want him to know. But he did know. His wolf senses had already caught her arousal fragrance.

She tried to look away, but the bulge in his pants was quite prominent. Unlike most men she knew he wasn't trying to cover himself or adjust his pants, in fact, he seemed quite proud of the bulge and even more that she was trying not to look.

"I'm waiting."

"I'm thinking."

"Think fast."

"What happens if I say "no?"

"I strip that towel off you, grab something appropriate from your closet, dress you and take you anyway." He stated matter of factly without changing his expression. He didn't blink.

Cara's eyes widened. She was tempted to see if he would really do it, only having known him a few hours along with the look on his sexy face, she thought better of it. Something told her that he really would do it, but her mind was going in a lot of directions, and she wanted to give him a challenge. He had already effortlessly picked her up and tossed her on the bed. Well, calling his bluff, in a way, came to mind.

"Ok," she said. "That's my girl." He responded and turned to start towards the door to the living room when the towel she had been wearing flew in his face. The smell of lotus flower and rice water shot up his nose full force, and he took a step back. He snatched the towel from his face just in time to see Cara's perky butt going through the bathroom door as she slammed it behind her.

He started towards the door, then stopped. It wasn't his way to force a woman in any way, but this one set his blood on fire. His father had told him to be persistent, especially when you know you are fated mates, and she has to be persuaded. Just remember your mother wasn't that enthusiastic at first. Axel began to wonder if she knew she was part wolf, he could sense it, but since it was in her DNA she may not know. "Think Axel," he said to himself, leaving the bedroom, closing the door behind him, and making himself comfortable on the sofa in the living area. He punched his parents' number.

Cara leaned against the door after she slammed it shut. That man! She had taken an awful chance throwing the towel like that, but she wanted to see how he would react. Since he wasn't screaming at her and trying to beat down the door, she knew he had morals and manners. He's related to one of the richest and best-known families in New Orleans; you dummy she thought. Anything less than sophistication and charm wouldn't be part of the package. Hell, she knew a lot of women who would kill to be in Marlena's shoes. And here she was practically tossed in her son's lap.

Axel held himself back from taking her over his knee. That could wait. If they didn't hurry, they would lose the reservation and have to find a taco truck that was still open. Not his style or where he wanted to be for the first date with his mate. He wasn't his father who could call a restaurant and have them stay open all night if necessary. Plus his sire always had an amazing chef to prepare whatever he and his mother wanted.

Axel stood and strode to the bedroom door. "Cara?." he started to knock "Are you almost rea..?" his eyes slid up and down her body, as the door opened, and she exited the bedroom. "You, look amazing." His heart was racing, and his shorts were getting tight again. The fact that they were now about two feet apart wasn't helping his composure ...or hers. He stepped up and pulled her in for a kiss. She felt all her resistance float away with his arms around her and his lips scorching hers.

When he broke the kiss, Cara blushed, something adjusted itself in her. She wanted to have dinner with this drop dead gorgeous man and there was something else. She couldn't put her finger on it. but there was something different about her attraction to him. That "mate" thing didn't make any sense to her, but something ... just something...She had been attracted from first sight, but for some reason, she was determined to push him away. In just a few hours he'd made it clear he wasn't going anywhere. And if she were to admit it to herself, she wasn't either.

"I'm guessing I look ok for wherever we are going?" she said softly. She had slipped into a coral-colored sheath that hugged every curve that also slid seductively off her shoulders and stopped just above her knees. Her mid heel strappy sandals made her exposed right leg look even longer. His face broke into that devastating smile of his. This time when he extended his hand to her, she took it without hesitation and allowed him to lead her out to his car.

Sitting at her desk, Cara was having a tough time concentrating. Twice she had to redo the garden design that she was working on. Time for a break.

Cara checked in with her employees, then went over to the local bakery instead of Starbucks for some tea, coffee, and pastries.

Returning to Obsidian Landscaping she noticed a car sitting outside. It didn't look familiar, so she assumed it was a potential client coming in for an estimate or advice.

Walking in she found out different.

Nina, her receptionist, and best friend was as white as a sheet, but with a murderous look on her face. "Are you ok?" Cara asked. Nina shook her head no and nodded in the direction of the small conference room on the right side of the lobby. "They just pushed their way in and then went into the conference room. When I tried to stop them, That blond bitch told me to shut up and sit down.". Nina said.

All the men were in there along with other men and a woman Cara had met with a few weeks earlier.

Cara started for the door when she was abruptly pulled back. She spun around and looked into Axels' face who motioned for her to keep quiet.

He pulled her into her office. "What the hell is going on? Those are my employees in there as well as a potential client... Not that I'm not happy to see you, but why are you here?

"She is a client." He spoke in hushed tones. "She wants to buy your company. It's one of the best landscape companies in New Orleans..." "And just how do you know all that?" Cara asked. Axel drew himself up. This wasn't going to be easy, and he needed time to figure out how he was going to work it all out.

"I'm a corporate attorney. She came to me before I met you and asked me to look into possibly buying it. So of course, I did my research."

Cara's whiskey-colored eyes turned into blazing flames. "You have got to be fucking kidding me!" she shouted as she left her office and headed to the conference room, with Axel close behind.

Yanking the conference room door open she stepped into the room. "Get the hell out of here." She said as quietly and calmly as she could manage. "This is my company, I built it from the ground up, you aren't taking it in any way shape, or form!" I SAID MOVE!...

Her employees couldn't get out of the small conference room fast enough. Dana Stewart slowly stood. She was tall and even taller in heels. Sauntering around the conference table straightening her tight pencil skirt and adjusting her off the shoulder top Dana slithered over to Axel and slipped her arm around his waist; she was almost as tall as he was. He moved away from her as quickly as he could but not quick enough.

"You both can leave now. And you," she said to Axel. "You don't ever talk to me again."

Dana smiled a cat with a fresh bowl of cream smile and swiveled her hips a little too much as she walked out in front of Axel.

Axel stopped after Dana stepped through the front door. He turned to look at Cara. She slowly shook her head with narrowed eyes.

He mouthed the words "I'm sorry" to which her response was not exactly the Vulcan salute, considering she only used one finger.

He rumbled his call to her, and she stepped back. She felt dizzy and a bit disoriented. When she looked up again, he was gone.