Happy Halloween!
If you know me from the other fandom, then you might remember that I've written a couple of short stories for anthologies. This is one of them. (The Doctor and the Wolf by Chele MacCabe) So don't worry, I'm not plagiarizing from her because her is me. I promise. And since this was just sitting in my word documents and no one was enjoying it, well, here it is. which I do hope you enjoy it.
And I hope you're having a fun holiday… I'm sitting at the campground listening to it rain!
"Ben? Ben Solo is here again?" Dr. Rey Kenobi asks. She throws her chocolate-colored braid over her shoulder as she stands in the hallway of her office. "Wasn't he just here? Last week?"
"Two weeks," her nurse and best friend, Rose, answers as she hands over his very thick chart. "I'm starting to think that he's really klutzy or comes in just to see you."
"No," Rey answers as she opens the folder. "He played baseball in school. He was always so graceful—" Rose's snort makes her look up. She can feel her face heat up. "I said that out loud, didn't I?"
"I remember how you always had a crush on him. I guess it hasn't changed after all this time." Rose teases.
She shrugs and looks back down at her notes. After medical school and an internship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she came back to her little mountain home and opened her own practice. Her three-red-light town needed more doctors since Dr. Battle and Dr. Angel retired last year.
When she heard that Ben Solo had never married, she didn't tell even Rose how her heart flipped, how she lost her breath, how she tingled all over … If she hadn't felt that same way every time he looked at her since they were in Ms. Cook's kindergarten class, she would have sworn she was having a heart attack.
Even at twenty-nine years old.
"Every time he comes in, it's for a real medical need. I just figure he must have a lot to do up on that mountain of his."
Rose snorts again and they both giggle. "Yeah, you keep telling yourself that. Do you need me to accompany you with your patient?"
"No—err, no. Yes, I don't know." Rey trips over her words as Rose giggles, but Rey manages to continue. "Just come in here; that way you can see for yourself."
"Fine," she agrees. "But this means you have to let me off early: tonight's Halloween."
"Do you have big plans?" Rey asks as they walk to Exam Room one. It's the biggest one she has in her little practice, and she knows Rose put him in there.
They didn't know where else to put the six-foot-five man.
Rose answers, but Rey can't hear with her heart beating out of her chest. She wishes she hadn't asked for company; then she might have wiped her sweaty palms on her scrubs without risking the chance of being teased for it later.
Her knuckles beat out the same rhythm on the door as every other time he's been here. The knob turns easy under her palm, and the door swings open with a slight squeak.
Her next breath is shaky. Those whiskey-colored eyes that steal all the air out of the room meet her green ones. Her stomach flips, her heart beats like the drumline from the high school band, and a hot sweat breaks out all over her.
She walks into the room but her foot hits something, making her fall forward. "Oh, sugar snaps," is all she has time to breathe when a set of arms and the smell of cinnamon envelop her.
"Are you all right?" His deep country-boy drawl that does stuff to her surrounds her. His arms—oh his arms are nice—are around her and for the first time in forever, she feels like she's finally come home.
She opens her eyes slowly, not wanting to lose that feeling. But meeting those eyes that are the same color as a her favorite caramel that Maz pours on her favorite cake, it only grows. Deep, dark waves that beg for her attention line his forehead. Before she knows it, her fingers are, indeed, brushing those curls aside.
Only his left brow arches—how did she not know he could do that?—and she can feel herself falling a little more. A chuckle comes from somewhere and her hand freezes. "I—I—I—your hair is so soft—"
He has a huge smile on his face as he straightens up to his full height with her still in his arms.
"Oh," she breathes as her arms link around his neck, "you're so tall."
"Yes, Dr. Rey. Six-foot-six, the last time I checked."
"I thought you were six-foot-five."
"No, I grew a little more." She can hear the chuckle in his voice. It makes her return his smile while a hot surge of need makes her want him even more.
Dr. Kenobi opens her mouth to say something when a throat being cleared somewhere behind her brings her back to reality. "Rey," Rose hisses behind her. "What are you doing?"
His brow furrows when he hears Rose. She wants to hug him and tell him everything is going to be all right, when she realizes that she's being set on her feet.
His hands linger on her hips until she is steady. Her focus is on the buttons on his shirt until she can breathe again. "Ben," she murmurs. Catching herself, she says, "Mr. Solo. What brings you in today?"
"I—I—I—" he stammers over his words. "Allergies! That's right, I have allergies."
Rey ignores Rose's snort. "Oh no, when did they start?"
"When I first saw you—I mean," Ben flushes scarlet as he corrects himself, "a year or so ago. I can't sleep or even eat anymore they are so bad—"
"Oh, for fuck's sake, you two are sounding more and more like a damned romance novel." Rose stomps across the room and stands there with her hands on her hips until Rey and Ben both meet her eyes. "Ben, do you like my friend Rey?" He starts to say something, but she puts up her hand, interrupting him instead. "Just nod if you do." When he finally does, his reward is a smile. "Your Doctor Rey has been waiting and waiting for you to just ask her to go out—" Rey opens her mouth to say something, but Rose continues. "Hush, I think he's going to ask you something."
"Rose …" Rey warns.
"Rey," Ben Solo says at the same time. When the two old friends look at him, he says, "Would you like to go grab a bite to eat?"
"All right," she agrees, and Rose walks away with a huge grin on her face.
"I knew the boy wasn't really sick!" Rose yells from the hallway.
Rey looks down, suddenly shy. Her breath freezes when he tilts her head back. Meeting his gaze again, she smiles. "Am I your last patient?" he whispers. She tries to say something but words fail her. "Can I take you out, tonight?" He looks away, then meets her eyes again. "I don't want to wait anymore."
"All right," she murmurs. "Where are we going?"
The grin that appears on his face lights up her world—and she falls even more. "Come on, I have a surprise for you."
"Let me get my purse." Before she even turns around, Rose is there with it and a smile.
Brbrbrbrbr
"You know, I've never been up here before."
"Really? Not even during high school?"
"Nah, I was always too busy studying-" her voice trails off. She looks up at the full moon. "I didn't think there were full moons on Halloween."
"It happens, just not that much," Ben answers.
After she locked the practice's door, he led her out to the same two-toned blue diesel truck he had in school. They picked up Chinese food on the way up to the top of Onion Mountain. It was popular back in the day. It probably still is, but since it's Halloween, they're the only ones up there tonight.
Besides the full moon, the only other light is the one from the cab. It makes long shadows as they sit on the lowered tailgate, on top of a blanket that he found under his seat. He offers the fried rice and she hands him back the beef and broccoli. She glances at him out of the corner of her eye. "Were you really sick?"
He ducks his head and her heart flips as she falls a little more. "Nah. I was trying to get up the nerve to ask you out. I guess Rose figured me out."
Her breath gets stuck as butterflies find their home in her stomach. She whispers, "I'm glad she did."
He grabs her hand and those warms tingles that wash over her when he's near, dance down her spine. "Me, too," she hears him murmur, "Can I kiss you?" She turns her head toward him, and somehow, in the dim light, his eyes—those eyes that she still dreams about- He lowers his head, and his lips touch hers with the softest of caresses.
Her sudden inhale draws him in. His tongue parts her lips, and she opens up to let him in. The act of welcoming him into her makes parts of her tingle with a new awareness. She grabs his arms. And she tries to pull him closer when he stops kissing her to move away.
"What—" she protests.
"I have to stop now, if not I won't—"
"What if I don't want you to stop?"
Their eyes meet, and for a moment, everything else fades. Then, by some unspoken command, they reach for each other. Her arms go around his neck, and his settle on her hips. He pulls her onto his lap, and her knees land on either side of his hips. Before he kisses her again, his lips move against hers. "Are you sure about this?"
"Ben Solo, I've known you all my life. I know that you like to color with blue crayons over any other in the box. I know that you like to eat your dessert first, but around second grade you started saving it, taking it home with you. I know that Armitage Hux is your best friend, and that you still go home to eat Sunday dinner with your parents every chance you get," she pauses, trying to see into the depths of him. "I know so many things about you, and I've lived a lifetime waiting for this moment." She cups his cheeks and touches her nose to his. "You're all I've ever wanted."
He growls as his arms tighten, pulling her even closer. His lips claim hers, and with a happy sigh of a woman who's waited a long time for what she wants, she lets him.
Every emotion that she's ever felt for him comes back to her in a rush. The joy of seeing him every morning in homeroom, the sadness of beginning summer break, frustration when he didn't make captain of the baseball team.
Her gasp is soft as she opens under him. Years of wanting him, needing him, makes her desire so many things in this moment. His hands slide under her scrub top, the roughness of his touch makes goosebumps dance all over her.
She ends the kiss with a smack that echoes through the trees. Those eyes of his blink several times as she grabs the bottom of her top. With a twist, it's off and landing somewhere in the truck bed.
His face is blank as he stares at her. Her stomach drops, and she tries to move off his lap. "Oh, sugar snaps, it's too soon—"
"No, it's nothing like that," he murmurs as he grabs her hands, preventing her from going far. "I never imagined you'd want me the way that I want you."
"Oh you, I think I've waited for this all my life. Please—can we—"
He smiles as his hands find the buttons on his flannel shirt. She's seen him without his shirt before, but when the flannel leaves his shoulders and slides down his arms—oh, sweet baby Jesus—she leans into him, just wanting to be close. Her eyes flutter as she inhales—him—woods with a dash of cinnamon fills her senses. A memory from long ago of hide-and-seek in the first grade- She hid behind a bookshelf, and somehow he slid in beside her. Cuddled together, they didn't whisper a sound, but in those several moments of being pressed up against him—
She opens her eyes and he's there, so impossibly close. Noses touch, then lips as they come together again. Her fingers are in his dark-as-midnight waves, and his hands wrap around her. There is a tug on her bra strap, and she has to stop her kiss. With a smile against his, she teases, "I see what you're after—"
"You have no idea how long I've wanted you." He moves back, and she shimmies until her bra slides down her arms. A cold shiver begins, but he wraps his flannel shirt around her. "So much for my grand seduction. It's getting too chilly out here—"
"Hush," she admonishes. "This is perfect. The woods, the takeout, me in your arms-" She pauses and kisses him on the end of the nose. "-is everything."
His mouth opens, but before he can say or do anything, something that could only be a branch, snaps behind her. Then a chorus of growls echo across the woods behind her. Goosepimples erupt all over her body, and the hair on the back of her neck stands. Her arms tighten around him, and she knows that if she wasn't in his arms—
He tugs his shirt over her breasts. His growl is low as his eyes narrow in the faint light. "I want you to stand up, walk to the cab, and crawl in through the back sliding-glass window."
"Ben—"
His grip tightens on her hips, and she wishes she could see. "You need to listen to me, now." Her stomach twists, and she has to fight the urge to grab him and drag him with her. "Go," he commands.
Rey kisses him, and for a moment she doesn't think he's going to let her go. But his hold relaxes. Somehow, she gets up. The growls behind her grow louder, stealing the rest of her breath. She wants to look, but she knows she needs to do what he told her.
She creeps down the truck bed to the cab. Before she can get the window open, a black shadow moves past her. Even though everything in her wants to jump through the opening, she turns around.
Dozens of eyes reflect back at her. Her heart speeds up, threatening to gallop out of her chest. Her eyes find Ben standing among them. "Are those wolves?" she mutters to herself.
"Get in the truck, Rey," he shouts over the growls. Several of the bigger ones start to inch closer to him. Her feet move on their own as she starts for him. Something wet brushes her hand and without thinking, she swats at it.
A loud creak and the truck shakes. There is a hard tug on her braid, then an arm snakes around her throat, cutting off her oxygen. She tries to inhale, even as she digs her nails into the flesh.
"Let go of her, Maul—she's nothing to you," Ben barks as he turns his attention to them. Even in the dim light, she can see his eyes flash. The only time she's seen that look was in eighth grade when some boys were bullying her and had her cornered.
"You are paying her a lot of attention for someone who doesn't mean anything." Rey feels his hot breath. When he licks her cheek, she can't stop the shiver that jumps down her spine. "Look, Solo, she wants me so bad, she's shaking."
The truck shimmies under her as Ben—her Ben—appears before her. The arm tightens, and she sees little white stars as her knees buckle— Suddenly, it's gone. She falls to her knees, her gasp harsh as she tries to inhale.
A crash echoes across the mountain top on the other side of the truck. A series of excited yelps and barks surrounds the truck. Her sob is loud only to her, as she manages to crawl to the cab of the truck.
At the end of the truck bed, she reaches through the sliding-glass window. Somehow, she pulls herself in and rolls onto the seat. Weak fingers fumble as she tries to slide the glass shut. Several wolves jump into the back, startling her, but she swallows the scream rising in her chest.
The window slides shut as a gray one slams into it. The lock only reassures her for a moment as another slams the glass. Then pure terror almost paralyzes her as he realizes that both windows are rolled down.
Her hands shaking, she turns the key and jumps at the sound of Kenny Chesney, crooning about his old blue chair. She fumbles for the buttons to roll up the windows while she turns off the radio with the other hand. Another sob as the truck rocks. Seeing nothing but wolves outside, she chokes, "Ben, where are you?"
Off to the side, she sees his dark waves, and she exhales in relief. Just as she turns the key, to start the engine, intent on getting them both away—she freezes. "Holy hell, is that fur?"
The man that she was just kissing is growing fur—
His nose—
His ears—
His clothes fall to pieces at his feet as a tail—
She grips the steering wheel, pulling herself up so she can see. Standing where she could have sworn Ben was just standing is a huge wolf, a good head taller than the others.
Torn between wanting to leave and needing to stay, unable to take her eyes off the wolf that she's pretty sure is Ben, she says, "That can't be real, can it? He just turned into a friggin' werewolf?"
Her heart leaps into her throat when several of the smaller wolves jump him. She can't see him anymore. "Oh no you don't!" She pounds on the glass, screaming to get the wolves attention. Only the ones not attacking Ben turn.
A man comes out of the trees. A very naked man. He glances at the fight, then meets her stare. She's seen evil grins before. Disney movies, cop shows, in her nightmares. Hell, she even did a rotation in the psychiatric hospital in Morganton. She thought she had a good idea of what evil looks like.
The look he gives her … "Holy hell," she swears and scoots down in the seat. His smirk grows wider, as if he can hear her. He says something and the fight stops.
It takes seven smaller wolves to hold down Ben.
Rey cracks down the driver's side window. The creepy man's voice reaches her. "Nice of you to join us, Mr. Solo. Tell me, what would your uncle be willing to give me for you? The pack? Maybe if he would just simply pledge his allegiance to Snoke-"
"He's got to have a gun in here somewhere." She grunts as she leans down to feel under the seat. Her exhale is loud as she comes in contact with cold steel. Gingerly, she pulls the shotgun out. She has to smile when she recognizes the same one he had in school. It only takes her a moment to check— "Thank goodness," she breathes. The double-barrel shotgun is loaded.
She rolls down the window. Standing up, she slides out the window to sit on door, Dukes of Hazard-style. She waits until she has every eye on her before she pulls out the shotgun.
It's easy to cock, and she points the barrel straight up. The shot echoes across the mountain as every wolf on the top of the hill looks at her. "That was your warning." Leveling the gun, she points it at the only other person in human form. "Now, unless you want to see how well I can shoot, you need to get your minions off my boyfriend." When no one moves, she aims at the man's groin. "Ben and medical school made sure I knew where to shoot man to make it where he'd think twice to come after me. I'm going to repeat what I just said. If you don't let him go, you are about to learn how bad it is to be shot where the sun doesn't shine." Even the woods are silent before she repeats, "I said to get off my boyfriend. Now, damn it."
The man waves his hand, and the wolves holding Ben down back up. She aims the shotgun above their heads and squeezes. Every canine on top of the mountain jumps three feet.
She swings the shotgun back, taking aim at the man again. A sneer appears, making her heart gallop in her chest. He takes a step toward them, and she commands, "Ben, get in the truck."
The wolf comes around the front. The passenger door creaks open and she feels the truck move. A quick glance tells her that a naked Ben is sitting beside her. The passenger door slams shut. "Can I shoot him?" She asks, half serious, half kidding.
When she doesn't immediately hear a yes or a no, though not wanting to take her eyes off the evil one, she glances through the windshield anyway.
Still looking mad as ever, Ben glares at the man standing amongst the wolves. She quietly slides back into the driver's seat and lays the gun across her lap. One hand shifts the truck into drive and the other rolls up the window.
None of the surrounding bodies move. Not sure what else to do, she lays on the horn, startling them all. Ben meets her eyes, then reaches for the gun. She returns her attention to the road, and he rolls down his window.
The pack is silent until they reach the man, still standing, still leering. She doesn't stop, but she doesn't have to as Ben lifts the shotgun, takes aim, and fires three quick shots.
A chorus of growls, howls, and whines answer the blast, and she steps on the gas. She grips the steering wheel as the truck bounces down the mountain. At the bottom of the mountain, she comes to a full stop at the stop sign and finally looks at him.
Apart from some scratches, bites, and the dirt smudged on his face, she never would've guessed that he'd been in a fight.
Well, except for him now being naked.
With a doctor's practiced eye, her gaze takes him in. Her mouth goes dry when she can't stop looking at him.
"Rey, do you want me—"
"No." She meets his eyes through the dim light of the dashboard. "I am taking you to—"
"My house. Let's go to my house."
"All right, we can do that." She looks both ways on the dark road before turning left. They are both quiet—she's trying her best not to think about how naked he is beside her—until she reaches the turn off for his road. "This is it, right?"
"Yeah, it's the second drive," he replies.
It takes less than a minute to pull up in front of his house. She turns the key, leaving them in silence.
"Will you come in—"
"—only if you are going to tell me—"
"—yes." His whisper makes her look over in time to see him nod.
"Will you come in?" he asks again.
Rey knows that she never wants to tell him goodbye, even if he is a friggin' werewolf, shifter, changeling or whatever the heck he is.
She does know that he is hers. Always has been and hopefully will always be.
"Let me get out first?" He whispers.
"All right." She watches him get out. After he shuts the door, he stands there, looking into the night.
Naked.
Even though she is still mad as hell because their one date was interrupted, seeing him like this takes her breath away and she remembers parts of her that no one has touched, well, in a long time.
He comes around the front of the truck and she forces herself to watch his face, not his bottom, as he crosses in the light. She grabs her purse and the shotgun he left on the seat, unwilling to let go of it until she knows they are safe and sound.
The door creaks and he offers his hand, like a gentleman of old. Without thinking, she slides her hand into his and an overwhelming sense of peace helps her to breathe again. Ben blinks, and she explains. "Don't get me wrong, I'm still mad as hell and want a full explanation as to what just happened."
He laces his fingers with hers. She bumps the door closed and he leads her into the house. The screen door squeaks as he opens it, and the old wooden door swings with the jingle of a bell. He shuts it behind them and flips the deadbolt.
A lamp is on in the living room, revealing creamy blue walls and worn furniture that beckons her to come and curl up with a good book. Old hardwood floors and deep red rug greet her. She can see through to a welcoming kitchen with an old wooden table that must have witnessed several talks that went long into the night.
Pictures line the walls, and she smiles as she recognizes members of his family. There are a couple of people who remind her of them—
"Rey?"
She meets his eyes. "Ben?"
"Let me go …" He motions to a hallway that's hidden by the shadows.
"No." She stops him. Swallowing hard, she says, "Why do I feel more nervous now than I did on Onion?" He chuckles, and she wishes her heart would stop galloping out of her chest. "Let's talk?"
He runs his fingers through his waves and nods. "Sit," he offers. He goes into the kitchen and comes back with a towel. He spreads it on the couch and sits beside her. "My entire family are shifters: werewolves as some call us. When Dad passes away, I will become pack leader of the Solo clan. We have three other packs that we consider our close allies, while the pack that attacked us tonight are members of the di Noche pack." His laugh is harsh in the quiet house. "They hate us."
"That much was obvious." He squirms under her gaze. She should look away, but she doesn't. "Your entire family?"
"They are."
"Do they fall in love with humans?" She gasps and fights the urge to cover her neck. "Can you change people into—"
"We can. There's been agreements among modern clans not to change humans unless they are a wolf's true mate."
"True mate?"
"That thing—" He swallows hard and looks down. "That thing that I feel when I'm around you."
"You feel it too?"
She can tell he's trying to bite back a grin when he answers, "I do."
"What happens now?" she asks, her mouth suddenly dry but her palms sweaty.
"Well …" His low baritone dances along her spine, and her need rushes through her. "I know what I want, and I think you do too."
"You're someone I've wanted since I was old enough to want someone." She looks up into his eyes again. She wants to say so many things, but he grabs her hand and tugs her to stand with him. A smirk appears and before she can say anything, he sweeps her up and over his shoulder. "What are you doing, Ben?" She giggles as she sees wood floors passing. "Oh," she exhales. His perfect butt is right there within reach.
He stops and she sails through the air. She barely makes eye contact with him when she bounces on a soft surface. Leaning up on her elbows, she mutters, "This must be your room?"
Leaning on the bed, he starts to crawl over her. Her legs fall open and he settles on his knees between them. "This was my great-grandparents' house." He reaches for the buttons on his flannel that she's still wearing. "Do you want to talk about my house-" His words trail off as he exposes her stomach. He lowers his head until his nose touches her, and she can't help but to moan as she feels his hot breath. "You haven't changed a bit."
"What—"
A faint pink tint creeps up his cheeks. "Wolves have very sensitive noses. And we don't forget a scent. All those years you were gone to UNC, I would dream about you—how you smelled, the last time I saw you, the sound of your voice."
"Then why didn't you call me?"
"I wasn't sure—"
She grabs his hand—the one that's lingering on her skin—and brings it up to her mouth. "I need you," she murmurs into his palm before kissing it.
He pulls it away, but only so he can follow her kiss with a kiss of his own. She opens up to him, and as she does, all the worry fades away. She lays back onto the soft flannel under her, and he follows, not breaking the contact.
Their tongues mingle, but not for long. He pulls away only so he can kiss a trail along her cheek to her ear. Nibbling on it, a delicious shiver of want makes her every nerve stand to attention.
She buries her fingers in his waves. "Ben-" She guides him back for a kiss. It's fleeing as he backs away. "Wait," she whispers, but he's untying the strings that hold her pants.
It only takes him a moment to pull them off, along with her shoes. The sound of them landing on the floor behind them, the feel of him on her skin, his exhale along with her inhale-
He doesn't give her time to think when he's stealing a kiss. She wraps her arms around him, and he nestles in between her legs. Just when she thinks she knows what is going to happen, his lips leave hers. Her eyes flutter open in time to see a smirk that she's never seen before. His lips retrace the trail they made earlier, when they were so rudely interrupted.
A nibble on her ear—
A long lick on her neck—
Her arms squeeze him tight, and he shudders in her arms. His weight shifts above her, and his touch runs down her side, leaving a trail of fire, of want. His hand stops at her hip and he whispers in her ear, "I was going to do so many things to you, but I can't wait anymore."
He raises his head and those stormy eyes of his meet hers and somehow, she knows that in this moment, she is exactly where she needs to be.
"I promise—"
Her kiss interrupts him, but it also gives him permission. She shifts her weight and opens herself up to him. Her hips move against his, and with a groan, he slides into her depths.
"Rey—"
"Ben. Oh please, Ben," she groans in his ear. "Fuck me, please."
"What the lady wants," he murmurs as he kisses her nose, "the lady gets." He moves inside her, making them both gasp for their next breath. His eyes flutter shut as he rests his forehead against hers. "Rey, my sweet Rey."
Sudden tears spring to her eyes as every emotion she's ever felt for this guy—this wolf—inside her washes over her. Unable to speak or do anything else, she hangs on as he begins to pump. The pleasure rushing through her makes her come apart in his arms. It doesn't take him long to follow, and she holds him as they both come back to earth.
When he can move again, he slides out and tucks her into his side. Her eyes drift shut. Safe in his arms, she surrenders to sleep. As she is dozing off, he whispers, "I love you, Rey."