Chapter 32 #2
Garrett shrugs. “It’s a love-hate relationship. I love when he listens to me and he hates when I don’t listen to him.”
I giggle, then break into a smile. This shifter always seems to make me laugh, even when I’m not ready to.
He smiles in turn, then the smile fades as he drops to his knees so he’s at eye level with me.
“This was one of those times I had to figure out where I’d screwed up, and fast. I won’t risk losing you, Angel.
Letting you walk away because I’ve got too much pride to admit I screwed up? Ain’t happening.”
“I see why your wolf gave up on warming you. You’re both strong-willed and stubborn. Sounds like you spend a lot of time fighting with each other.”
“Never used to be that way.”
Only these past two years. That’s what he’s thinking. I don’t even have to ask him. I see it in his eyes.
Along with a request. Forgiveness.
I can’t stay mad at him, not when he tries so hard…
“You just gonna stand there shivering?” I ask as I lift my blanket, inviting him in.
“You sure you want to warm up a messed-up shifter who has a hell of a lot of learning to do?”
I don’t believe I’ve ever seen my brave shifter look so nervous.
“I guess that makes us a matched set.”
He slides in beside me and a hand brushes my shoulder as he pulls the blanket over us. Such a simple, unintentional touch, and already I crave more.
Lying on his side, he stares at me, as if there’s nowhere else he’d rather be. We’re inches apart, but he’s not touching me. He doesn’t need to. Those teal eyes have already caught me.
“You sound better. Did you go for a run, too?”
“Running doesn’t calm me, not like you.”
“You’re observant. Don’t really miss anything.”
“I miss a lot. That’s why I’m struggling, Garrett. I didn’t mean to blow up at you.”
“I think I needed that. I mean, I made assumptions about you, instead of asking… or trusting in you. I’m sorry, my sweet angel.”
I smile. A moment later, his hand moves beneath the blanket. My heart begins racing.
His hand hovers by my face. “May I?”
When I nod, a single finger traces my lips. “I love your smile, Angel. Never lose it, especially because of me.”
A heated shiver travels through me, awakening nerves everywhere. This isn’t the place for more, not with two other women sleeping in the cabin. And yet, for once, I don’t care about what anyone else thinks, sees, or hears.
The way he looks at me…
The cabin fades away.
It’s just us now.
Softly, I kiss him on the lips. He responds, a bit hesitant, as if he’s letting me lead. Maybe he’s afraid I don’t truly want him.
My hand cups his cheek and I deepen the kiss.
My fingers move on their own, memorizing him—his warmth, his strength…
his heart. They slide down the thick cords of his neck, over hard pecs, circling a tightened nipple before dipping lower.
I’ve never had the opportunity to explore him like this, trace every plane and valley, admire him without worrying about the consequences.
He doesn’t touch me, but he’s not stopping me either, as if he’s letting me take charge. Deciding not only my course, but his as well. That’s not what I want, not with him.
“You can touch me,” I whisper, my mouth barely brushing his, as my hand traces washboard abs. I’m afraid to lose that skin-to-skin contact… right now it’s the only thing holding me together.
“I’m not sure I can control myself if I do,” he whispers back. No suggestion of going elsewhere for privacy or apologies for being rough earlier.
“You’d never hurt me.” My hand glides past that prominent V, towards his cock. With one finger, I slowly stroke his length.
“You’re killing me, my angel.”
“Shall I stop?”
“Your decision.” His breathing turns raspy, short, and his eyes close.
I’ve already made my decision.
His breath catches as I wrap my hand around his hard, warm cock. When I remove my hand, his eyes open again.
“You disappointed?” I ask.
“In myself, yes. Never you, darlin’.”
“You’re a charmer, Garrett.”
“No one’s ever accused me of that.”
I wrap my left leg over his and press my lower half against that still hard cock. “Make love to me, shifter.”
“Are you sure?”
I guide his cock to my entrance and move the tip along my pussy.
His lips press against my ear. “You’re so fucking wet, Angel.”
“Make me yours, Garrett. Right here, right now.”
His hand lowers to my hip, strong, but not forceful. Then, he slides into me, torturously slowly. I nearly whimper from the fullness of him, from the tenderness as he presses against my lower back, holding me still.
With his breath warming my neck, I feel every delicious inch of him as he buries himself deep. But then he stops.
“I won’t break,” I whisper.
“I can’t move, not yet.”
“Why?”
“Need to commit this to memory. Don’t want to forget a single detail.”
Fear. Because I haven’t been able to commit to his pack… to him. I’m still not sure I can. Despite how much I’ve come to love many of the shifters here… this isn’t my pack. It’s not home. But in this moment, I know one truth—I don’t want to lose Garrett.
“It’s okay,” I say. “We don’t have to do this.”
“Just fuck already,” Ellis mutters. “And let me go back to sleep.”
I start to laugh, because there’s no shame, no regret, just pure joy, despite being caught. Or maybe because of it. Let them all know—we’re a couple.
Garrett’s lips cover mine, swallowing my laughter. The kiss turns sensuous, and my shifter begins sliding in and out of me as he claims my body… and my heart.