Chapter 14! Well, I can say that this chapter was a favorite...and not. If I titled chapters, this one would be "Jacob Finds His Words." I cried. Just so you know. Also know that I am in no way religious so if I happen to offend someone, I apologize in advance. Not that this chapter is in any was religious, just some things that are said. Don't forget, if you want the links to see the cabins that a fan created, PM me for a request.
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JPOV
Walker and I rode back to the Cullen house together. Christa had stayed down to help set up camp. I'd wanted to discuss things with him and he'd wanted to talk to Carlisle about marrying them. I thought they were moving too fast with the marriage thing and the adoption thing, but Walker had insisted that it was the right thing to do. One or the other I could understand, just not both at the same time. But at the end of it all, it was their choice, and I would support them. As would Nessie.
Walking into the house, we found both of our girls cuddled up together, fast asleep. The sun was setting, the leftover light that had somehow managed to peek through the clouds streaming through the western windows to wrap around them. Cricket and Alice were shoved into a corner, laughing, a pile of what looked like scrapbooks teetering next to them. Trey's brows were pulled down low as he played chess with Jasper. I snorted. Good luck with that.
Upstairs, I could hear Carlisle and Edward murmuring about Abigail. I still wasn't sure how I felt about her. According to Cricket, she'd saved Nessie's life today. But she'd been with Jane in that burning cabin. Although, again, she hadn't completely scrubbed their memories so that they'd be able to remember at a later date. Walker had said that she'd told Edward she'd been a vegetarian like the Cullens before Aro had forced her to join his Guard. Edward believed her. I supposed I did, too.
As Walker went for Haleigh, I went for Nessie. The bruises around her neck were already starting to fade. Not much, but enough to make me feel better.
"We gave her some blood," Edward said. "Adam and Derek hunted for Abigail and brought enough to feed them both. The blood is helping."
"Thanks," I muttered as I scooped her up into my arms.
Edward wrapped a blanket around her as I turned to Walker.
"You take the truck back down. The roads are going to get bad soon and I know you need to talk to Carlisle. I'm gonna get Nessie home."
"You sure?"
My gaze went to Haleigh snoozing in his arms, her head on his shoulder. I nodded. "Yeah. My body temp runs higher than yours for some reason. Nessie will be warmer."
He held out his hand the best he could. "Thanks."
"Not a problem." I looked to Carlisle who had come downstairs. "Is Nessie ok?"
He nodded. "The blood is healing her and her voice is returning to normal. Her oxygen levels are normal. She'll be fine. Maybe a little more blood when she wakes up."
Tired of the chit chat, even though I'd asked, I turned on my heel and went for the door. "I'm taking my wife home. If anybody needs anything, call Seth."
Outside, Blake and Sadie met me around the back of the house. The temperature was down to freezing once more, all that slush turning to ice. At least I had my boots on going up the incline. As we rounded the bend in the path, I saw Adam and Derek dragging a deer through the snow, eyes downcast as I passed them.
"I want to talk to the two of you after I put Nessie in bed."
They whimpered and shrank down as I passed.
After I sent Blake and Sadie away, I shouldered open the door to lay Nessie on the couch while I built up the fire. She could stay in here while I talked to them and then made us dinner. Once the fire was roaring, I stepped outside. Adam and Derek were in human form each wearing a pair of jeans.
"What happened?" I asked in that scary calm, emotionless voice that I'd used when dealing with Nicolai. It was a tone I couldn't help. The wolf inside was trying to keep me from going ballistic the way my mind was screaming to do so.
The two men glanced at each other before Adam stepped forward. I knew he would.
He cleared his throat. "Nothing excuses that we both left the house. But what happened was that something caught our attention in the woods. All we did was chase it off, whatever it was. We weren't even gone for five minutes. When we came back, the front door was wide open. We searched the house, but Nessie wasn't there. When we finally caught her scent and followed it, everything had already gone down so we hunted the deer for Abigail and Nessie." Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward, beseeching. "Jacob, we are so sorry."
The wolf in my head snapped. "Sorry" wouldn't have saved Nessie's life.
"The two of you are off guard duty. Get with Seth to work you into patrols. Blake and Sadie will take over. When you phase back, tell them to get up here." The alpha tone coated each word like poison. I hated it, but it was necessary for them to know and understand their mistake and my anger.
Both Adam and Derek bowed their heads.
"Yes, Jacob," they said at the same time.
They backed up with their heads still bowed toward the woods. Once they got there, they stripped and phased. Not long after, Sadie and Blake trotted back up the path. They came to sit at the porch steps.
"You two will take over Nessie's protection detail as of now." Each wolf dipped its head.
The bigger one, Blake, trotted off to sit at the back of the house. As Derek and Adam slinked off into the woods, I had an idea. They knew their mistakes. And they cared about Nessie.
I whistled to get their attention. "Adam, Derek, get back over here."
They traded glances before trotting over. Sadie whined a little.
"It's good that the two of you know what you did wrong," I said as they sat down. "So, you stay on detail for Ness, but you listen to any orders Sadie or Blake give you. Understand?"
Excitedly, they yipped at me. Sadie rolled her eyes and growled at them. And then they just stared at each other. They were talking. After a few moments, the boys melted into the woods. She'd probably told them to run a small patrol line around the house. Which was good.
"Thanks, Sadie. Keep them on their toes," I said before going back inside to grab a large plastic container. Nessie was still out cold.
Outside, I went to the deer, grew a claw, and slit its throat. Warm blood leaked out, some getting on my hand as I drained the liquid into the container. It took a while, but eventually everything that would come out without me having to string it up was out.
When I passed Sadie, I said, "Get rid of it when you get a moment."
Back inside, Nessie was sitting up on the couch, the blanket still wrapped around her. Good. She'd get the blood fresh. And as soon as her eyes hit the container, they flared. She was hungry.
"You want it in a glass or like this?"
Licking her lips, she met my eyes. "I guess I can be civilized. Glass, please."
"You got it." The tightness in my chest loosened when I heard that her voice was back to normal. She really was ok. And she wasn't having hysterics.
Going to the kitchen, I slid off my jacket, grabbed a glass from the cabinet, and poured the still-warm blood. When I handed it to her, she greedily grabbed it and gulped half of it with one breath. With the next breath, she finished it off. Before she could stick her finger in the glass to get the extra, I poured the rest. She sucked that down, too, and then proceeded to lick the glass clean before sinking back into the couch, a look of bliss on her face. Eyes closed, she licked her lips and patted her stomach.
"That was divine," she said with her head back.
I set the glass in the sink before going to sit next to her. I clapped a hand on her thigh. She was sitting indian style-no pun intended-with her hands still rubbing over her flat tummy.
"Well, Derek and Adam brough that in."
Finally, she opened her eyes and lifted her head. "Don't be too angry with them. I was the idiot who left the house. Everything that happened today was my fault."
I shook my head, irritation making my jaw clench. "Ness, you can't keep taking the blame for everything, can't keep protecting them. They should have been watching the house, one of them going after whatever animal was in the woods. And they knew they were wrong in what they did." I sighed. "Look, I know you don't want anybody mad at anybody else, but this is important. If you keep intervening, they'll start to think they can get away with undermining my authority. So, please just let me handle things for a while, ok? You take care of the females and kids."
Not saying anything or meeting my eyes, her head flopped back to land on the back of the couch once more.
"Ness, baby, I know. I don't want to have to get onto them like that either, but their taking off put you in danger. I mean, what if it hadn't been the river that Cricket saw? What if it had been the lake? They weren't here to protect you, or stop you. And that was their job. Anyway, we need the females to pack up fast. Walker and I are taking the males up north the day after tomorrow. So, why don't you help get everyone down to the rez and settled? It shouldn't take too long since most of the females are already down there."
"What are you gonna do?" she asked, staring at the ceiling still.
I shrugged even though she didn't see it. "Walker wants to go ring shopping. I figured we could plan and shop at the same time."
A surprised chuckle spilled from her lips.
"What?"
"You sound like a woman."
I rolled my eyes. "Whatever," I grumbled.
"When's the wedding?"
"They want Carlisle to marry them...tomorrow night."
Now, she looked at me, eyes sliding even though she didn't lift her head. "Excuse me?" she asked with a cocked eyebrow.
I nodded. "Yup. Tomorrow night before we leave."
"Well, that was a fast engagement."
"No shit. A day. Not even a day."
"What about his parents? They'll be pissed they weren't invited."
I shrugged again, remembering what Walker had said. "They just want to be married ASAP. When everything settles, they'll plan a big to-do and invite everyone. Until then, he'll just tell them he's engaged."
She shook her head, the nape of her neck rubbing against the couch. "That's so stupid. I mean, I know they love each other and are true mates, imprints, whatever. But really, they took in a girl they don't even know right after they finally get together. They haven't even been an item a month yet."
Sighing, I recalled saying the same to Walker. He hadn't liked that at all.
"Don't get me wrong," she continued. "I love Haleigh. I don't even know her and she has me wrapped, but...still. They're gonna burn out."
"I know, baby. But really all we can do is be there for them when things start to crack. I mean, everybody thinks we're the ultimate couple and we've had our serious problems. Something will creep up on them eventually."
Lifting her head up again, she looked at me with surprise. "They really think that about us? I mean, you're right that we'll be there for them. I totally agree. But, they think that?"
Chuckling, I nodded. "Yeah, they do. Alpha imprinted couple. A lot of the females are jealous of you. How beautiful you are." Wrapping the curls at her temples around my finger, I brushed them behind her ear.
She blushed. "They don't have to be jealous. They're beautiful, too."
Smiling, I said, "And your neverending kindness and sympathy. The only people you've ever lost your temper with are me and various members of the Cullens. Never the pack."
"They've never given me reason to," she said.
I gave her a look. "Yes, they have. You're just quick to forgive them. Why is that?"
She shrugged, leaning her head into my touch. "I don't know. I guess it's because they accepted me as your mate even though I'm not like you or them. I'm very different, and yet they trust me. They confide in me. They're as protective of me as they are of you. It means everything." She shrugged again and reached for my other hand, playing her fingers over my ring. "After I heard about how Dad wanted to abort me before he could hear my thoughts...I don't know. I mean, I know he loves me. I do know that. But the devotion the wolves have now to me. I know it's because I'm mated to you and your imprint, but still."
Pressing two fingers under her chin, I met her eyes. "You do know that I split the pack with Seth and Leah when Sam wanted to destroy you and your mom. I wouldn't do it even before I imprinted because you weren't born yet. And neither would Seth or Leah. After you were born and he realized you weren't a threat and my imprint, Sam did everything to protect you, even joined the Cullens against the Volturi. Just once after meeting you, they all loved you. Maybe a little wary, but still. It had nothing to do with you being my imprint, and everything to do with who you were and who you've become."
Her eyes shimmered. Pulling her sideways into my arms, she broke, tears spilling over. I rocked her and stroked her back.
"Ness, don't ever think that they tolerate you because of me. They love you, too. And they understand that you have to let me lead them this way. You will always be enough for them."
After a few minutes, she pulled back and wiped her eyes, taking deep breaths. "I'm good. I'm ok."
"Good because we gotta talk about something else." I really didn't want to have this conversation with her, but it needed to happen.
"What?" she asked still wiping her eyes.
Closing my eyes, I let it out. "It's not just the pack that needs to follow orders. It's you, too."
"Jacob-"
"No, Nessie. I can't ignore this. Not anymore." Untangling myself from her, I leaned forward, elbows on my knees, unable to meet her eyes. "You disobeyed me. I told you to stay in this house today. It was to keep you safe. I can't use the 'alpha tone' on you because you're not a wolf. And after today, it's like I can't trust you to keep yourself safe."
Silence. And then, "What are you saying?"
"Remember back when you kept meeting Caden in the woods and I freaked out, told you to keep an eye on yourself? People won't always be there to protect you, Nessie. I won't always be there to protect you. You have to keep yourself safe. I clearly stated that you were not to leave this house, and you did it anyway. You even knew why. You could have just picked up the phone to tell your dad or me to watch for someone in the woods, but you didn't. You acted irrationally, not even thinking about what could happen to you." Pausing, I took a deep breath to try to calm down a little. My knuckles cracked as I flexed my hands. "From talks with Caden, alpha females are as obligated, if not more so than the rest of the pack, to obey orders given by her alpha male. If she doesn't follow him, that sets a precedent. One I'm not willing to flaunt. So, please. Next time do as I ask or by God I will lock you down twenty-four/seven. Someone will be on your ass all day even in the bathroom."
Her expression was one of shock, hurt, incredulity, and anger. "You're talking about training me, keeping me prisoner."
Squeezing my eyes shut, I turned my face away from her. If I didn't, I would take it all back, and that was something I couldn't do.
"If that's how you want to see it, fine. You'd end up hating me, but as long as you're fucking alive, I don't care. I'd even let you get a divorce." I turned back to her when she gasped and gripped her hands. "Renesmee Black, I love you." Though I tried to hold it back, tears flooded me as did emotion. "I need you to understand that I don't want to be telling you all of this. But I cannot go through what I have with you again. Picking up your unconscious body, seeing bruises on you, the knowledge that another man touched you. I. Cannot. Go. Through. That. Anymore. I don't care if Cricket's vision said you weren't going to die. That shit doesn't matter. You are mine. You belong to me. And to be honest, the wolf does not like the disobedience from you. He's prowling in my head, wanting me to scream and yell." And that was true. He also wanted to punish her, to dominate her rough, but I was ignoring it as best I could. "I won't, but you have to understand that you are my life. Literally. I won't survive long after your heart stops. And that's not an exaggeration. The moment your heart stops, my countdown begins." I let the tears fall, and did something I never though I'd do. I begged, the tears falling, my voice cracking. "Please, please, please don't ever purposely put yourself in harm's way again. I cannot live without you, and I don't want to. You are literally everything to me." The tears were coming hard, hot, and fast. My breathing was hitching, voice still cracking with emotion. "The air I breathe. The beat of my heart. The pump of my blood. My sanity. The reason I fight. If you asked me to leave right now, this very moment, I would do it. I would just run away with you, go into hiding. Whatever it took, as long as you were tucked into my side, and safe." I cupped her face gently. "I am begging you to think about something before you just throw yourself into the wind. No more of that 'I'll deal with it when it comes' shit about your life, your death. You're not the only person that will be affected by the outcome. I will be, too. Your parents, Shelby. What about them?"
She was crying now, too. Her hands stroking over my hands, wrists, and forearms where I held her. She was so ashamed that she wouldn't meet my eyes as she cried.
I stroked her cheekbones. "Look at me. Please."
She sniffled. It took a minute for her gaze to meet mine, coming and darting away. But eventually, she did it, tears glossing the color.
"I love you. God, that word isn't even strong enough but it's all I've got. All I want is you happy and safe. I realize that this life isn't easy for you. Hell, it's not easy for me. Nothing was this complicated before, but the wolf, the pack, system is something we have to acknowledge with all these other wolves around. You're used to being selfless, and I love that about you, but in this I need you to be selfish right now. Stingy with your life. Fight to keep it. If the fire of you burns out, I'm nothing but smoke. Please, tell me you understand."
The tears spilled over once more, dripping down her face and over our arms. Each tear stung me like acid because I was the one to cause them.
"I do," she whispered finally, eyes sincere. "I understand."
She wasn't just telling me what I wanted to hear. For once she took what I said to heart. I hadn't been trying to flatter her or compliment her. I was stating facts about myself. We were so intertwined that whatever happened to her affected me. Mentally, physically, emotionally. And I knew that what I did affected her.
Clearing my throat, I gathered her up in my arms, on my lap and just held on for all I was worth. Her face was buried in the hollow of my throat, tears running down my skin to soak into my tank. Again, searing me like chemicals.
I buried my face in her hair and silently cried with her.
TriciaPov
"You're never gonna take that shirt off, are you?" Embry whispered in my ear as his hands snaked over my hips.
Giggling, I bit my lip. "Well, if you're asking me to…"
He growled.
I laughed. He'd gotten mad at me for teasing him with less than a week to go before my birthday. By the time the day came, he'd probably be chomping at the bit. I knew I would be. His skin was like smooth, warm caramel under my fingertips. "But no, I wasn't planning on it. I'm warm."
He growled again, but this time as if he were angry at the shirt for doing his job. "I can keep you warm."
"This is true, but what about when you're not around?"
I was currently slicing a pizza that had just come out of the oven. Though it was evening, I was only wearing one of Embry's button-downs and panties. Since he had the weekend off from patrols, and my parents were out of town, we'd decided to not leave his house. I could totally handle that. Though we had left long enough to get me a bag of clothes and for him to stop in to ask Seth about any events. Apparently, Jake was out of commission for the night...and not in a good way. Something big had gone down concerning Nessie, but I had been too busy with Brayden to listen. That kid was just too cute. I'd caught Embry watching me out of the corner of his eye multiple times.
"Hmmm," Embry hummed against the nape of my neck. "Then I guess I can give the shirt some credit.
Rolling my eyes, I held a slice of pizza up to his mouth. He took a bite and rubbed his fingers over my hipbones. He'd gotten over the hesitation of touching me. Those hands had snuck under the shirt so many times to caress my hips and waist, just barely missing the underside of my breasts. Every time his thumbs moved away, my body mourned what could have been. Of course, I'd put my bra on so he wouldn't have really been touching anything, but still. The heat of him seared me to the core.
"That's good," he said.
"It's a frozen pizza. That's kind of surprising."
"Can you make a homemade pizza?" he asked, a clear challenge in his voice.
I narrowed my eyes. "If you're challenging me, challenge accepted. You just don't have what I need in the house to make it."
"Well, that I can fix."
"You? Grocery shopping?"
He assumed an insulted expression. "I beg your pardon, but I have managed for a while."
"Since your mom left?"
He shrugged. "I'm still alive, aren't I?"
"But not well taken care of." Reaching up, I patted his cheek. "I'll fix that."
"You're too good to me."
"Pffft, please. I think you have it backwards."
Sliding a few pieces on a plate, I handed it to him, and then made up my own. Before I sat down, I grabbed a coke for him and filled a glass of water for me. Eventually, I made it to the couch. Embry had started up another movie, but I really wasn't paying attention.
"So anything eventful happen?" I asked.
"Ness got attacked by one of Walker's new wolves. Well, I don't think the guy was Walker's but you know what I mean."
I choked on water. "Oh my god. Is she ok?"
He nodded having just taken a bite. After he swallowed, he said, "Yeah, she's good. A few bruises around her neck. Passed out for about five minutes. But she's awake, aware, and healing."
"Damn. Anything else?"
His chewing became animated as if he were debating telling me something.
"What? Spit it out," I said, and then realized what I'd said. "Not the pizza. Eat that, then spit out whatever you're not telling me."
He did his own choking around the food as he laughed. "Ok, ok. I surrender. You'd never be able to give me the Heimlich." Sliding his plate on the coffee table, he took a slow sip of his coke.
"Any day now, Embry. What's going on?"
Sitting back, he sighed, took my plate from me to set it beside his before taking my hand. "Your brother. Uh…"
My heart was racing now. "What about Walker?"
"A lot has happened in the last couple days. But they're engaged and want to get married tomorrow night."
I'm pretty sure my jaw hit my chest. "Tomorrow? What about Mom and Dad?"
He shrugged. "According to Walker, they just want to be married. Later they'll have a big day for loved ones. But he wants you there tomorrow. Carlisle's marrying them. But there's also something else."
"There's something else bigger than my brother getting married?"
He nodded "Oh yeah."
His little game was starting to piss me off. "You'd better start talking or I will march straight back home...dressed like this."
A growl ripped through the room before he gripped my hips and pulled me over his thighs. I had no choice but to straddle his legs.
"You will not. Nobody else gets to see you like this. Only me."
His fingers digging through my hair had my breath catching. "Only you," I breathed.
"Good." He pushed my head down so that he could bury his face in my neck. I ran my fingers through his hair, brushing over his scalp. He growled against my skin. Warm lips pressed a kiss just over my pulse. "What else do you have to tell me, Embry?" I breathed through the fog his skin on mine caused.
Pulling back, he brushed my hair out of my face.
"Christa and Walker are also taking in a six year old little girl. Her name is Haleigh."
I just stared at him, convinced he was going to pop a grin and say that he was joking. But he didn't.
"Seriously?"
He nodded. "I haven't met her but those who have love her. I guess we'll see her tomorrow night."
That surprised me. "You'll go with me?"
"Of course. If you don't want me to, I won't, but-"
Rushing forward, I planted my lips on his. "I love you," I whispered against his lips.
He wrapped his arms completely around me to pull me against him. And then he shocked the hell out of me by turning to push me against the couch cushions, his weight settling on me. Spreading my legs to make room for his hips, the rough material of his jeans rubbed over my thighs and my core. My panties were thin, cotton, and damp causing a delicious friction as he moved against me. Those hot hands gripped my hips and moved up, the shirt catching on his wrists and moving up, baring more of my skin to the room. With a growl rumbling through his chest, his thumbs pressed over my ribs, applying pressure as if he wanted so bad to push his own self-imposed limits and touch me. My body ached for him to touch me, but his control won out.
Breathing hard, he pulled back to rest his forehead against my shoulder.
Wrapping my arms around his shoulders, I urged him to collapse on me. Stroking the nape of his neck and shoulders, I said, "It's ok. I understand. It's ok."
"I just want you so much."
"I know because I want you, too. Rethinking making us go to Thanksgiving?"
Though he tried not to, he laughed. Leaning up on his elbows over my shoulders, he dropped his head into my hair and laughed, a true smile stretching his luscious lips.
When he finally got enough air, he said, "I think your dad would track you down, and then, finding you naked in my bed, he'd kill me."
As heat flooded me at the image, I bit my lip and wiggled under him. "Naked in your bed, huh? I like the sound of that."
Closing his eyes, he had a full-body shudder rock through him. When he opened them again, heat filled them. Slowly, so slowly, his mouth descended on mine once more.
Right then and there, I decided that I could totally get used to nights like this one. My birthday couldn't get here fast enough.
WalkerPOV
Haleigh and I finally made it home. I'd driven slowly over the ice-covered streets. As soon as her feet hit the carpet, she took off for the kitchen where Christa was cooking. Smelled like baked chicken. My stomach rumbled.
"Hey, sweetheart. You wanna help?"
Leaning against the kitchen doorway, I crossed my arms over my chest as Haleigh climbed up onto a kitchen chair to help stir what looked like noodles.
"Don't get too close, ok? You'll get burned." Sensing me watching her, Christa turned around to smile at me.
I grinned back.
She was wearing sleep shorts and a tank like the ones I wore but for girls. Her blonde curls were twisted in a messy, loose braid over her shoulder.
"How's Ness?" she asked.
"Good. She was asleep when we stopped at the house, but the bruises were fading. Carlisle said they'd given her some deer blood."
"That's great. Any sign of Ma...you know who?"
I shook my head even though she couldn't see it. "Nope. Tried to follow his trail north but he took to the river. Gavin's gone, too. My guess is they went to find Tristan." I pushed off from the door. "Look, there's something I need to talk to you about. It's about the trip to Denali."
She lifted the wooden spoon she was using to mix the mashed potatoes. "I've always liked those sisters. I hope they're ok."
"Christa, you're staying down here."
Slowly, she turned around. "What?"
"Jacob, Caden, and I have decided that the females are going to stay on the rez. All the females."
Turning around, she glared at me. And then seemed to realize that Haleigh was watching us. Smiling at her with tight lips, she said, "Keep stirring, sweetie. I'll be right back." Stepping in close to me, she hissed, "No way. I'm going with you."
I rested my hands on her shoulders. "No, you're not. You're going to stay with Nessie and our pack. And keep Haleigh safe. The two alpha females need to stay here. We have enough wolves to leave a patrol around the rez. Nessie is going to help get all the females down here tomorrow, including Rebecca and her husband, and Sue. We'll also leave some wolves on my parents' place. Please, Christa."
The glare heated. "Fine," she snapped. "But I don't like this."
"And I realize that. But we have Haleigh now. We promised not to leave her. One of us has to keep that promise if something happens."
"Shut up. Don't you dare talk to me like that. Nothing is going to happen."
I stroked her hair. "It's better to prepare for the worst so that if it happens, we'll be ready. If not, we'll be pleasantly surprised."
Sighing, she rested her forehead on my chest. "I hate you."
Chuckling humorlessly, I stroked her back. "Tell me something I don't know. I hate chaining you. But this needs to be done."
"Miss Christa, the bubbles are getting bigger," Haleigh said from the stove.
Without a word or touch, Christa spun away from me to finish dinner. Which turned out to be chicken parmesan and really quiet besides whatever we said to Haleigh. Her first taste of chocolate ice cream was definitely something to remember. After dinner, the three of us settled into the couch to watch another movie. Haleigh just couldn't seem to get enough of them.
It took both me and Christa to get her ready for and settled in bed. Surprisingly, Christa had told her that she needed to stay in her own room tonight so that she could get used to it. I'd expected Christa to tell her that she could sneak in later, completely obliterating our plans for the night. Though I seriously doubted they were still happening. She was still pissed off with me.
When we were both settled in our-Christa's?-bed, I lay on my back, hand up cradling my head, as I stared at the ceiling. She was on her side, back to me.
"I suppose marrying should wait until I come back," I said to nobody and everybody.
Her only response was to stiffen. Probably because she decided not to marry me at all, which wouldn't surprise me. I'd bossed her around instead of asking first.
Swinging my legs off the bed, I grabbed the pillow and pushed up from the bed. I took one step away before I heard the bed move, felt fingers dig into my tank and pull me back down onto the bed. Before my brain could catch up, she slung her leg over my hips and sat on me, my erection dangerously close to the warmth of her. Taking my wrists, she pinned them by my ears on mattress. The pillow had ended up somewhere else.
"I hate you right now. I'm pissed off," she growled, glaring at me. And then she softened as she leaned down to hover her lips over mine. "But I wouldn't miss marrying you tomorrow for death itself." A whisper of a kiss was breathed over me. "Consider this our first newlywed argument." She gripped my wrists harder. "And for the record, don't you ever boss me around again. Ask nicely."
"I think I learned my lesson at dinner," I breathed, stretching my neck up to finish the kiss, but she pulled back.
"Not yet, you haven't."
Leaning up and forward, she wrapped something silky around my wrist. And then tied it to the headboard. Quirking an eyebrow, I watched her move to the other side, tugging on it to make sure there wasn't much give.
Not even a blush touched her skin. "I kept these after my dad left. It's nice to put them to use."
Neckties I realized.
I gripped them the best I could and pulled myself up a little. This I could totally handle. She watched me like the predator she was and the prey that I'd become. Pure lust shot down my body to harden me further. Still straddling my waist, she fisted my tank at the top hem and pulled, ripping the fabric down the middle. My entire body flexed in a ripple under her gaze. Slowly, she leaned her upper body down over me, flicking her tongue out, eyes on mine. Warm, wet lines from her tongue ran over the muscles of my stomach. Panting, I slammed my head back into the mattress and gritted my teeth as that tongue, and only her tongue, just the tip, traced over my torso. Every muscle that twitched, my nipples, no piece of flesh untouched.
Biceps bunched as I pulled at the ties, my hands itching to dig into her hair, to push her closer to me. Now I understood what she meant. She was torturing me for how I'd talked to her before dinner.
Torture was a good word for it when she traced her tongue along the skin just above my boxers. My stomach flexed again which made the heat in her eyes burn hotter. I was in good shape with good muscle definition. Women apparently liked that. Especially my woman.
Speaking of my woman, she dipped that tongue below the elastic of the shorts and I held back a yell as she caressed the tip of my erection. It jumped wildly as if it, like me, had stopped expecting to be used tonight.
Apparently, she didn't like that I'd held back the yell because she growled and fisted the boxers just as she had the tank, ripping them apart. Instantly, my erection stood up, begging for attention.
I knew I was in trouble when her grin turned evil and tongue danced over her straight, white teeth. As I clenched my jaw, she lowered her face down, down, down...a hiss escaped me when the tip of her tongue circled the head of me.
"God!" I growled pressing my head into the mattress.
Panting again, I was relieved when her warm hand gripped the base of my shaft, squeezing gently.
"Though I've never done this before, I've always wanted to do it to you. Even those times you were an asshole to me." Her breath played over the wetness she'd left behind, making my skin shrink. I pulled at the ties, bucking my hips to try for friction.
Didn't happen.
She gripped me hard, finally coaxing a groan out of me. "Uh, uh, uh. Stay still."
Closing my eyes, I tried to calm myself down enough so that I wouldn't break anything or bust her in the face. The calm didn't last, however, when she draped her naked body over the lower half of mine.
Oh god, oh god, oh god. Her pearled nipples traced the insides of my thighs, so damn close, as she gripped the base of my shaft again. So slowly that fist moved up and down with the sexiest pressure. Even the fact that I was dry didn't bother me even though I was told it could get uncomfortable. Nope. I was damn good as her speed picked up.
And then her mouth was added to the mix.
Peeling my eyes open, I had to watch as hers closed so she could concentrate. Those luscious lips and erotic tongue played over me, giving me that wetness. She groaned as she slid my shaft down her throat, so far that her lips touched the base. Keeping herself down on me like that, I felt her throat constrict as she gagged before pulling up, leaving a trail of wetness behind.
"Oh, god, do that again. Please," I begged. Never thought I'd beg for something like that, but it had been pure heaven and I needed another dose.
She squeezed me to the point where it was almost pain, but I so didn't mind.
"Not yet. I'm not done trying other things." She didn't like me talking. I figured that out when she gagged me with another tie.
And then she was back on me, exploring, tasting, nipping, sucking. All the while that hand moved over the parts that her mouth weren't on. Letting up, she licked me from base to tip and then bobbed up and down the top half as her hand gripped and slid over the bottom. Jes-us, Mary, and Joseph, I wasn't going to last. This was way too good even if she was torturing me. I'd happily be tortured this way every night.
Just as my lower stomach and back clenched, the sac below tightening with the need for release, she let up. Peeling my eyelids back open-didn't realize I'd closed them again-I saw her crawl over me, her core poised over the tip of my shaft. I almost came right then and there, the sight was so erotic. I bit the inside of my cheek until I tasted blood to calm down enough. Gripping me again, she stroked once, twice, and then positioned me at her entrance.
Even from here I could see she was pink and soaking, glistening from need. I hadn't done any foreplay on her. She'd be so wet, so tight. Her sun-kissed skin was glowing, flushed with pleasure, nipples hard and dark though I hadn't been able to give them the attention they deserved. Her breasts were perfectly rounded, just more than a handful.
My study of her was cut off when I felt her rub herself with the head of my erection. Fuck! The evidence of her pleasure dripped down my shaft in one thick line that I could see. My hips bucked without my brain's permission, or maybe my brain was on the same page as my body. She'd sensed the movement a second before and held herself off of me so that I wouldn't thrust up inside her. Dammit! My body was tight, itchy. Shudders rippled over my skin causing it to twitch. The muscles, too My arms jerked at the bonds that held my hands. I could easily grow a claw and cut myself free, but this was part of the game. Which made it hot as hell.
She met my eyes with a wicked glint. Begging with my eyes, I growled through the gag and then whimpered. The wolf finally showed up, wanting her as much as I did. It was strange how we were two different types of wolf, yet mine recognized her, knew she was ours, our mate.
Christa finally took sympathy on us both and slid down over me, sheathing me inside her. We both shouted, mine muffled, as we both fought her body. As expected, she was wet, but tight. And I wasn't small. My body fought for each tight inch until she was finally sitting across my hips. Her eyes were closed, breathing heavy, bottom lip between her teeth. I bucked my hips up a little to let her know that I needed movement.
She got the memo. Her hips started to move, slowly at first as if stretching herself on me. Her hands, which were resting on my hip bones, moved. Never leaving skin, she smoothed those hands over me, her thighs, over her flat stomach, to cup her breasts.
Mary, mother of-fingertips tweaked her own nipples and her head fell back with a moan. And her hips started to swing. In a circle. Back to front. She rode me every way that she could with her hands otherwise occupied. One hand moved back down her stomach to press into her sweet spot, moving in circles, applying pressure. Another moan left her before she fell forward, bracing herself on her hands once more that were again pressed over my hip bones.
"Fuck, Walker. So damn deep. So fucking big."
Finally, she lifted herself up. My shaft was soaked with her pleasure, thighs coated in it as she sat back down. Over and over she rode me. Up. Down. Around.
I couldn't help it anymore. I had to participate. Planting my feet into the mattress, I raised my hips up, forcing my shaft further into her on her fall back down onto me. She let out a surprised gasp as I held myself there for a long moment before falling back to the mattress. Breathing hard, she moved her hips up and back, and I took that opportunity to pay her back. Catching her off guard, I hammered into her. Sitting still, braced on my body, she let me, taking each thrust hard and fast as I pounded for all I was worth. Her body bucked forward, face scrunched up as if the pleasure was too painful.
"Ooooo," she moaned.
With a growl, I thrust up inside her and kept the position. Deep and hard inside her, she gasped and fell back, bracing her hands on my knees and lifted her pelvis creating a new angle that wasn't as deep. Still her her spot though.
I thrusted. She danced. And together, we both built the pressure that was tightening the oxygen in the room. Built the electricity crackling in the air.
"Oh, god, Walker! Please, come! Please!"
A moment later, her body clamped on mine where it was sheathed inside her, and she let out a hoarse yell. Luckily it wasn't loud enough to travel seeing as how there were little ears in the house now. But with her orgasm, her body milking me, mine nailed in the spine. Sac tightening up my next thrust was the last. My body couldn't fight for those inches anymore with her muscles relaxing a tensing so much.
I exploded the next instant, very happy for my gag. Because I did yell. Or tried to. My entire body tensed, one huge flex that bent the bars of the headboard with a whine.
When the last of my hot seed was milked from me, I collapsed, sweaty on the bed. Christa followed, breathing hard, equally drenched. With a very shaky hand, she managed to reach up, take out the gag, and cut the ties free with her own claw. Immediately, even though my arms were dead tired from the pulling and tensing, they managed to wrap around her.
"Lesson learned," I breathed into her hair.
She laughed in that way that said it was both painful and amusing at the same time. Since I was still inside her, but extremely sensitive, I hissed with the movement. Pulling my hips back, I fell out of her, well worn out.
"Seriously, Walker." Her voice wasn't any smoother than mine had been. I reached down to pull the covers up, using my last bit of energy to make sure we were modest, just in case. She could use me for a body pillow any damn day.
"Hm?"
"Just ask next time. And I'm marrying your stupid ass tomorrow. Don't even think of backing out."
I kissed her forehead. "Wouldn't dream of it. All I'll dream of is what we just did. So hush and go to sleep so I can get started."
She laughed again, her breath warm on my chest. "That order is one I can live with. Alpha."
"Good. I'll always be your pain in the ass. Promise."
"Always."
And that was the best "I love you" a man could ever ask for before drifting off with his woman safe in his arms.
RPOV
After what seemed like years, Jacob and I pulled apart. His face was just as red and blotchy as mine was. With an ache in my chest for everything he'd said, all the emotions he'd finally let out, I pulled away and went for the bathtub. I needed a moment to myself to think through things. Jacob had let me go with a kiss to my wedding ring. No words were spoken between us as I went down to our bedroom and started the bath.
Slipping into the hot water, my body decided to tell me about all its aches in one moment. Everything hurt right down to my hair follicles. I sunk down so that my neck would get some of that hot water magic.
My thoughts kept drifting back to my husband upstairs. The whole time he'd been talking, he'd been a giant wound. Open, raw, and bloody. Every word had sliced through my heart. Every tear like acid on my soul and skin.
He'd been right about everything. I hadn't even thought twice about darting out of the house. Which had been childish. I wasn't that girl anymore. I was a responsible woman who took care of her people when they needed me. All I'd done was toss that aside.
"Dammit," I growled to myself. "What the hell is wrong with you, Ness? You're not this stupid."
This wasn't the old pack anymore. Things were changing. Status and dominance lines were being drawn, everything starting to align instead of staying scattered. The wolves, all of them no matter the type, needed to know that I stood by Jacob's decisions and followed his orders, believed in them. It was the whole "go ask your mother; go ask your father" type of thing on a much bigger scale. What Jacob ordered is what should be followed. Period. And that included me. I was an adult. Old enough to be married, to make love. It was time I started acting like it. My man was the most important thing to me. I'd protect him if I could, but otherwise, I followed him. I'd let him lead me.
An hour and a tub of cold water later, I stepped out of the tub, dried off, and dressed in my pajamas. When I got up to the kitchen, Jacob had heated up some leftover taco meat. There were two plates on the counter as well as two empty glasses. He was digging in the fridge and emerged with a jug of sweet tea. Holding it up, he asked a question with his eyes. I nodded.
After pouring the glasses, we sat down at the table and ate in silence. It was awkward at first. And then Jacob paused with a taco halfway to his mouth, frowned, put said taco back on his plate. Standing up, he moved his plate and glass around the table so that he was in the chair next to me. Reaching under the table, he gripped my thigh to drape it over his and gripped my hand afterward. Then he smiled and started eating once more.
With my own small smile, I ate, too, though not really hungry. I ate because my husband had thought to make me food. What kind of wife would I be if I declined?
After dinner, in a much more companionable silence, we moved around the kitchen to clean it up. Going for the couch a few minutes later, he turned on the tv, back to UFC and sank back into the couch. I wasn't sure if he wanted me to join him, but I know my body was itching to be tucked next to his.
Chewing on my lip, I went to stand next to the couch. He glanced up with a half smile before returning his gaze to the tv. I hugged my middle and was about to turn away when he looked at me again, really looked at me. With a gentle smile, he lifted his arm, offering space for me to cuddle into.
I took it with a sniffle. He wrapped his arm around me like he did every night and kissed my hair.
Putting my hand over his heart to grab his attention, I whispered, "I promise."
Grinning, he gripped my fingers and pressed his lips to my knuckles.
"Thank you," he whispered into my ear.
Forgiveness had never sounded so sweet as I rested my head against his chest and soaked in his warmth.
Um, yeah. In. Tears. Anyone else? Love you guys! xoxoxoxo