5

Arden quickly pulled the door open. Aurora stood in the doorway. She wore a brown colored dress paired with black stockings and ankle boots. Her hair was filed high on the top of her head this time. It showed off her neck and shoulders.

Arden's mouth went dry as he found himself wanting to kiss her neck. He quickly cleared his throat and smiled at Aurora. He moved out of the doorway and let her through to the kitchen. He decided not to close the bar this evening as he was going to show Aurora his apartment that sat above it. 

"Busy tonight?" Aurora asked as she saw the people in the kitchen working around one another to fulfill orders from the front. Arden chuckled.

"Just a little. If you want to follow me though?" He held his arm out to show a set of stairs that led up to the second story. Aurora had not realized that there was a second story to the bar. She figured they would have gone out to the full bar. 

Aurora followed Arden up the stairs and Arden pulled out a key that unlocked the dark wooden door. He pushed the door open and held it for Aurora. When she walked through the door, she was surprised to find a complete apartment above the bar. 

It had obviously been renovated. The dark wood floors and the low lighting. Across from her she saw an open kitchen with the works. Of course, Arden would have a full kitchen in his apartment. Aurora walked around and the first thing she noticed was the fact that there were large windows on almost every wall except for the walls around the kitchen. 

"You do not feel as though you live in a fishbowl up here?" She asked as she laid her purse on the small dining room table in the center of the space. To the right she noticed a large bed and headboard. It was a studio layout of sorts but was perfectly furnished. 

"All of the windows have reflective tint. No one can see inside." Arden said to reassure her that no one could see them. Aurora nodded as she walked over to the side that faced downtown. The fall lights around the city sparkled. The height of the building allowed her to see more. The sight was beautiful. 

"That is why you did it." She said more to herself. Arden came to stand behind her a way. 

"It is a lovely view." Aurora only nodded. She turned around and smiled at Arden. 

"What is for dinner tonight?" She asked, changing the subject. Being close to his bed and the beautiful lights outside was making her feel uncomfortable.

"Well last time was a little on the heavy side. I opted for a lighter dinner if that is alright?" Arden walked over to the kitchen and opened the oven. The smell that quickly filled up the room had Aurora's mouthwatering. She had no idea what he had made but whatever it was she knew was going to be delicious. 

"Flatbread pizza with grilled chicken, bacon, and balsamic vinegar." Arden explained as he sat the tray on the counter. 

"Sounds delicious." Aurora said as she walked over to the other side of the island that sat in the center of the kitchen. Arden took out a glass bottle that looked like it hold more vinegar and began to sprinkle it onto the top of the pizza. 

Just as he was about to finish the bottom tipped awkwardly and quite a few drops landed on Arden's white T-shirt he had been wearing. "Wow, that is a good image. I can cook just not neatly apparently." Arden laughed as he walked from the kitchen near the bed. He leaned over and pulled out a door that was hidden under the mattress. He pulled out a new shirt.

Without warning, Arden pulled the vinegar-stained shirt from his head. Aurora' mouth almost fell open at his perfectly toned body. It made her want to grab the vinegar and drip it over his abs and lick them clean. She quickly looked back towards the pizza as he finished changing his shirt.

"Sorry about that. Thankfully I had a spare." Arden said as he walked back to the kitchen. He carefully put the glass bottle away so as not spill on himself again. Aurora had yet to raise her eyes to his. Arden wondered if he had crossed a line changing in front of her. 

Arden forgot sometimes that humans were not as comfortable with their own bodies as werewolves. He grew up in a pack where shifting in front of one another normally and when you shift back you don’t have clothes that automatically cover you. 

"How about we eat?" Arden asked. Aurora nodded and walked over to the table that sat in the center of the room. It was a round table with four chairs placed around it. It was a dark wood as well with a black lantern and candle placed in the center. The place mats were a black material as well. 

Arden sat a plate in front of Aurora as well as utensils and a napkin. Aurora placed the napkin on her lap and waited for Arden to set his own food down before eating. When she was finally able to take a bite, the flavors burst in her mouth. She closed her eyes and moaned slightly without realizing it. 

Arden's own pizza stilled on the way to his mouth as he heard his mate moan. His body instantly reacted. He sat the pizza back down on his plate and placed his arms on either side of the table. He took a few calming breaths. It took all his control not to pull her from her chair and hear what other kinds of noise he could coax from her. 

Aurora kept eating oblivious to what Arden was going through. Once she finished her food, Arden was not far behind after he was finally able to compose himself. "Would you care for more?" Arden chuckled as he sat Aurora's eyes moving back towards the kitchen. She smiled sheepishly and nodded. 

Arden quickly jumped up and did her bidding to fill her plate once more. Again, glad to see that she was not afraid to eat her fill in front of him. He put the plate down in front of her and she ate more of the delicious dinner that Arden had made for them.