Chapter 28 - Jack
Voices and laughter swirl around me, the happy sounds enhanced by the clink of glasses and the stomp of dancing feet. A huge crowd made up of both packs has come to the opening of Sam’s bar.
Of course, the kid can’t legally own it yet. Lena and I do, but it’s all his ideas and his management. He decided he wanted to make a fun meeting place for wolves of both packs to hang out. A place where everyone is welcome.
I can see Sam over in the restaurant section, chatting with Mother and a few older ladies from Decker’s pack. During the day, Sam plans to run a restaurant section by himself, with the bar opening later at night with help from senior members of both packs.
The combined effort we are putting into running this place is a direct expression of how far both packs have come. We truly feel like one family now, and today’s celebration isn’t just about Sam, but our sense of community.
“There you are,” says Lena from behind me. “Where did you disappear to?”
“I told you I was getting drinks,” I reply, tapping the counter. “It’s just that service in this place utterly sucks.”
“Excuse me?” Jenks answers, sliding across to me from the back of the bar. “Are you demanding I use my powers to bend time for the frivolous cause of making your drink?”
“Indeed I am, great liquor wizard,” I shoot back. “If you’re going to be a regular bartender in here, then I strongly suggest you do something about your wait times.”
Jenks takes a step back, clutching his chest. “Drinks are an art, you uncultured swine! To rush a cocktail is to make angels weep! Curses on you, you heathen brute!”
“Jenks, no one in here is ordering a pisco sour,” I say wryly. “Or a mojito.”
Jenks’ face cracks in a real smile, and I know I finally got him.
“More’s the pity for that. Shall I get you your dull, ordinary, extremely simple beer?”
“Indeed, great wizard. Either that, or close the place down and give up. If you make this kind of speech every time you get someone a drink, you’re utterly fucked.”
“Jack,” Lena says firmly. “What about me?”
“You’re not drinking alcohol,” I answer, turning around.
Bundled in her arms, curled up sound asleep, is the tiny shape of our son. Every time I see him, I’m struck by love all over again. From the moment he was born, I’ve been in awe of him. And the strength of the woman who brought him into this world.
Without even thinking, I reach out and take him from Lena, cuddling him against my chest and rocking him. Lena laughs.
“What did I ask for, Jack?”
“Oh, damn,” I mutter. “A strawberry ice cream soda.”
“Yeah. Like, fifteen minutes ago.”
“Don’t blame me, blame Jenks!”
“Blame me for what?” Jenks asks, appearing behind me. When I turn around, I’m shocked to see a pitcher of dark beer and a tall glass full of strawberry soda, topped with ice cream and whipped cream.
Maybe he really is a wizard.
“Thank you, Jenkins,” Lena says, taking a big sip of her drink.
“My pleasure, dear lady. I am happy to deal with you any time you desire. Your husband, on the other hand, is a rough brute who should be fed and watered at a trough outside the door.”
“I know,” Lena agrees, sighing. “But we endure.”
“Oh, lord, help me,” I mutter, moving away from the bar. “If this is what it takes to get a drink in this place, I’m walking back to Silver Meadows with my son.”
I head for the restaurant area, looking for Mother. Before I can get to her table, Sam intercepts me.
“Hey, Jack.”
“Hi, Sam,” I say, smiling. “Opening bash is going great! I’m not sure about making Jenks your bar manager, though. The place might fall apart within the week.”
Sam looks over at the bar, watching Jenks flamboyantly pouring drinks with great enthusiasm.
“I’m just happy he left the red leotard at home,” Sam mutters. I can’t hold in my laughter.
“Agreed. The vest is a bit much, though.”
Instead of his over the top, weird costume, Jenks is wearing fitted black pants and a dark blue dress shirt covered by a sleek, well-fitting vest. It would be an entirely normal outfit if it wasn’t for the bright stars and moon pattern on the vest, matched by his famous wizard’s hat.
“Didn’t I tell you?” Sam laughs. “We’re officially calling the place ‘Wizard’s Den,’ and Jenks is going to be a full-time bartender.”
I let out a low whistle. “Your disaster, my friend. Good luck with that.”
“Well, actually, it’s yours because you went guarantor on the business loan and contract, and Lena owns the bar.”
“Fuck. You’re right. Get me a sniper rifle so I can take out Jenks before he destroys all of us.”
“I don’t know,” Sam laughs. “You might just wing him, and we wouldn’t want to piss off a wizard.”
“Are you boys going to stand here and gossip all day?” Lena asks, joining us. “Or should we clear a space with the grannies so you two can discuss cookie recipes?”
“How dare you,” I say, scowling. “The very idea I’d share my cookie recipe is insulting to me.”
“I’ve got no problem joining the grannies’ table,” Sam says. “They have the strongest brandy in the place. Don’t light a match anywhere near them.”
“How would you know?” Lena asks suspiciously. “You’re not old enough to drink.”
“I almost am!” he protests. “Besides, I don’t know. I just overheard.”
“Mother made you do shots, didn’t she?” I mutter, and Sam’s cheeks color up.
“Okay. Maybe once.”
We’re all chuckling as we head over to the grannies’ table. Gina is there, bouncing Natalia on her lap. Mother sees us and holds out her arms.
“Hand over my baby grandson!” she cries. “Little grandbaby, tiny boy pup, look at you!”
“Gods help us when she finally picks a nickname,” Sam grumbles.
“Can’t be worse than Babykin,” I shoot back.
Mother glares at us. “Graham the Gray will do quite well, I think.”
“How come he gets a cool name?” I almost yell. “Even Bae gets a better nickname than me.”
“Yeah, just try holding a meeting, trying to maintain everyone’s respect and have this one come in calling, ‘Alpha pup, do you want cream in your coffee?’ It’s completely emasculating.” Bae appears on the other side of the table behind Gina, with Decker by his side.
“Yeah, I can see how that would be rough,” I agree. “Real men drink their coffee black.”
Bae shoots me a look that might have turned into a verbal sparring match if Lena hadn’t come up and wrapped her arms around my waist from behind me.
“Take me for a walk, Babykin,” she laughs. “I need some air, and Gray will be fine with Grandma for a bit.”
“I am not getting over this, Mother,” I say, pointing at her. “You are going to be paying for my therapy for the next sixty years.”
She winks at me. “I gave you my car. That should cover it.”
“Because you bought a new one for yourself!”
“Oops,” she laughs. “What was I supposed to do, though? You were never going to give mine back.”
“I have to get out of here,” I mutter, and Lena tugs on my hand and takes me out the back of the bar.
We walk a short way through the park, then onto a hiking trail near the river that leads to a lush meadow. The afternoon sun is at just the right angle to light the edges of the grass shimmering gold. Bees and small birds dip through the air, tending the flowers. Somewhere overhead, I hear the call of a hawk.
We sit down together, enjoying the sunset. The setting reminds me of our first few dates, and especially our picnic in the woods.
“Jack,” Lena whispers, touching my face. “I can’t believe it’s been a year.”
“Neither can I,” I answer, cupping her cheek. “Everything seemed to happen so fast.”
Her smile wavers just a little, and I know she’s thinking about her father. I don’t say anything, because I know it will take time for her to heal.
She might never, but the only thing she needs right now is to know that she is safe.
I lean over and kiss her. She immediately returns it, pulling herself closer to me. I open my arms, and she slips into my lap, wrapping her legs around my waist.
I run my fingers along her back, using the lightest of touches to make her shiver and writhe. She leans her head back and laughs, holding onto my shoulders as she grips me even tighter with her knees. Her strawberry blond hair shimmers in the setting sun, and her eyes glow with bright green lights. The sound of her laughter is the sweetest music I’ve ever heard, and I feel like the luckiest man alive that I get to hear it every day.
Lena digs her heels into my back and rocks her hips against me. I see the coy look on her face and look down, enjoying the sight of her body in the light dress as she stretches back.
“Oh my lord,” I mutter. “You’re not wearing any panties.”
“Oh, no,” she giggles. “I didn’t realize you’d be so offended. I guess I better put them back on.”
“Don’t you fucking dare,” I answer, shoving her back until she has to let go of me. As her legs unlock from around me, she falls back on the thick grass. I flick up the end of her long skirt and grab her hips to drag her close and bury my tongue in her pussy.
Lena cries out, her hips bucking under me. I gently tease her clit with the tip of my tongue, waiting for her cries to get breathy and light before changing to hard pressure with the flat of my tongue.
She grabs my hair in one hand, tugging on it just a little as she rocks her hips back and forth. I wrap my lips around her clit and suck, loving the sharp cry she makes and the way her body thrashes against me. I can feel her shivering as I flick my tongue out and tease her clit some more.
Lena lets go of my hair and wraps her arms around herself, lost in sensation. A moan of absolute pleasure rings through me as I slide my tongue down and wriggle it deep into her pussy.
She screams, just once, a short, intense sound. I grip her ass and drag her closer, filling my mouth. Lena comes hard, gripping my hair again as I lap deeply into her pussy, sucking up as much of her delicious cum as I can.
When I finally come up for air, Lena is shaking, her hands over her face. I trail my fingers up her thighs as I settle between them, undoing my pants to set my cock free. I hold myself up above her, waiting for her to look at me.
“I thought I’d give you a break from my tongue and my lips,” I whisper. “It seemed as though you were getting a bit overwhelmed.”
Lena moves her hands away, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Don’t hold back on my account, big guy,” she mutters. “I could handle it just fine if you stayed down there all day.”
“Ah, but then you’d never get to enjoy this,” I answer, pressing my hips forward so she can feel my cock. She grins and bites her lip.
“And why can’t I have both?”
I laugh softly, kissing her.
“You have both at your service, all day, every day, for the rest of your life.”
“Good,” she whispers, wrapping her arms around my neck. I feel her knees dig into my sides as she rocks her hips against me, and I thrust forward a little, teasing her. She laughs, kissing me as she twists her body, making my cock slide against her hot, wet pussy.
Through the intensity of our kiss, I can feel her rocking her hips back and forth, trying to slip me inside. I wriggle away, trying to tease her, but she suddenly digs her heels into my ass and gives one long, hard thrust, joining us together.
I lean back, looking down into her eyes. She smiles softly, stroking my face. I press my hips forward, and I feel her deepest muscles answer me, wrapping around my cock as she gets more aroused.
Lena grips my shoulders, tugging me down to her. Our lips touch, and she reaches out with her tongue, exploring my mouth. For a few moments, there is nothing but the sensation of our kiss and the ecstasy of our bodies joined together.
She grips my shoulders harder and starts to rub her hips up and down. I press forward, letting her feel how hard I am. She gasps against my mouth, urging me on.
“You want this?” I whisper, moving my hips back and forth a little. She nods, looking up at me with wide, pleading eyes. She makes a small sound, almost a sob.
I tighten my grip on her, bracing my knees against the ground. I start to thrust in long, slow strokes. Lena writhes under me, opening her thighs and holding onto my shoulders. I keep up the steady pace until I feel her pussy spasm and clench against me, and waves of goosebumps fly across her skin.
I stay perfectly still, hips pressed forward, watching the orgasm shudder through her.
“Oh, Jack,” she whispers, shaking her head. “Wow, fucking wow.”
“I’m not done, my love,” I answer.
I bend down and touch her lips lightly with my own. I tease gently, letting our tongues touch as I start to thrust again. My long, slow strokes quicken in time with her breath. I feel her hands wrap around my ribs as she loosens her thighs and clings to me.
I’m lost in her body now, my cheek pressed against hers. I can hear every lovely cry of joy as it escapes her throat and bursts from her lips. She’s screaming and urging me on as my cock thickens inside her, stroking every inch of her. Her pussy suddenly clenches around me, squeezing me when I’m at my absolute hardest, and the orgasm takes me by surprise, slamming through my body.
I can feel my cock pumping and jerking inside her as her pussy spasms against me, and it’s almost as if I can feel every single inch of my skin tingling with the intense rush of pleasure that just exploded through my every cell. Gasping, I slip out of her and reach out to pull her into my arms and hold her against my chest.
Her breath matches mine in a hard, slow rhythm. As we watch the sky and wait for our hearts to settle, the pleasure doesn’t fade. It’s more than physical—more than sex. The physical side is an expression of our love, but the true magic is us. Together.
Forever.
*****
THE END