44. Isabella
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
ISABELLA
I’ve been fucked stupid.
That’s the only explanation for how slowly my brain works right now. But with every single bite of food that Nick places in my mouth, I don’t feel anything but happy about it.
Being fucked stupid is underrated.
We’re toward the end of dinner when Nick’s knot goes down and cum leaks down our legs.
“You’re so good,” he murmurs, pushing the cum back inside with two fingers. “So good, baby.”
I melt into his attention, loving every single touch. “You’re not too bad yourself.”
He chuckles, sucking his fingers into his mouth.
“Can I taste, too?” I ask softly, licking my lips.
He takes the unused napkin and wipes up the mess we made first from between my thighs, before offering his fingers. “Anything you want.”
I never thought I’d want this. To taste myself, but I practically salivate as I wrap my lips around his fingers. Flavor bursts on my tongue.
Us.
It shouldn’t be as hot as it is.
“That’s it, baby. Don’t we taste fucking delicious together?”
I nod around his fingers, hollowing my cheeks just before releasing him. “Next time I’m licking you clean directly.”
He puts me on my feet, replacing my pants, and follows, awe in his eyes as he presses our foreheads together. “You’re a goddamn dream, do you know that?”
“Mhmm.” I boop his nose. “I’m a delight.”
His grin is like something out of a poem. The sunshine on a summer day. The light in a dark room. Hope. I can’t help but mirror it.
In one fluid motion, he strips off his shirt. “Come on, Iz. We only have a couple of minutes.”
I take his offered hand until we reach the door.
“I won’t be able to speak to you, but I think you’ll be able to understand general emotions. Wolves can be pretty expressive. I will, however, be able to understand you. So if you want to leave at any time—for any reason—you just let me know and we’ll go. Okay?”
He’s nervous. Despite everything we just did, there’s a nervous energy in his hands and voice. I shouldn’t take it offensively, but there is a part of me that’s a little disappointed.
Why doesn’t he trust me?
I swallow it down and focus on supporting him. Georgie said this is as vulnerable as it gets, and I want him to know I’m here.
“I’m with you, Nick. Let’s do this.”
With one last look at my face, he backs up. The moon rises above the tree line, and I take my own step back.
Will this hurt him? We never spoke about the actual transformation. Will it take a long time?
He shoots me one more nervous smile before his head snaps back, and his body launches forward instantaneously. It’s so fast that I can’t see the actual transformation. In his place stands a gorgeous wolf with the fur the same soft brown shade as Nick’s hair.
He huffs, shaking out his coat. It’s so shiny it reflects the moonlight.
“Nick?” I ask the giant creature. “Are you okay? Did that hurt?”
The wolf pads forward slowly, cautiously, as if giving me time to run away. He butts his head against my chest, nuzzling against me. He’s nearly as tall as a regular human, even on all fours.
“Oh,” I exhale, tangling my fingers in the soft fur. It might be a different form, but it’s still Nick. I can see it in his clear, kind eyes, the ones I adore so much.
Nick barks as if he’s laughing. Can wolves laugh? I’m not sure. But the way he gazes up at me? That’s all Nick—that devotion, care, and love.
“Shall we join Georgie and Dane?” I ask, scratching him behind the ear. “I probably should have met him before this, huh?”
He huffs an agreement, leading me to the woods. He’s fast enough that he has to pull back to a little trot so I can keep up.
“Oh well. I suppose I’ll give him a proper greeting when you all shift back.” We walk through the trees, the animals seemingly accustomed to wolves. Squirrels run around as if this is just a normal day.
Are there other werewolves in the area? “Wait. You took all your clothes off before you shifted. Does that mean a bunch of naked people will be walking around in the morning?”
He meets my gaze and gives the wolfy equivalent of an eye roll, which I’ll admit I kind of deserve.
“It’s a valid question for a newcomer.” I cross my arms, secretly reveling in how even in wolf form, Nick can do a snuffle-laugh.
A soft howl comes from behind a tree, and a slightly smaller, red-coated wolf walks toward us.
Georgie.
I’m not sure exactly why I’m so confident, but I am. That’s my best friend.
Best friend.
I’m so happy she trusts me enough to see her like this. As vulnerable as this is for Nick, it’s vulnerable for her, too.
“Hey Georgie,” I softly say as she gets close. “I love your fur.”
Georgie stands taller, shaking her shoulders just a little to show off how the red glows in the moonlight.
“You’re welcome,” I chuckle. I move to give her a little pat, but Nick butts my hand away, standing in front of me with what I can only describe as a pout.
Okay, then. No touching anyone but him.
“You’re a possessive puppy, aren’t you?” I lean down and kiss the tip of his nose.
Georgie’s bark fills the forest, startling a group of birds who caw and yammer as they all fly away.
An annoyed rumble rattles through Nick’s chest and into mine, but his eyes are soft and…happy.
“You know, it’s really quite weird being the only one who can talk,” I say. “Oh, well.”
At that, one last wolf enters our little clearing. A solid black wolf that would be utterly terrifying based on his sheer size and unfamiliarity, if not for his warm golden eyes.
“Dane?” I turn to Nick.
He nods, nuzzling my chest in a way that soothes the nerves just a little bit.
Dane slowly approaches, head lowered.
“It’s, um, it’s nice to meet you,” I say. “I’m sorry I haven’t been to your flower shop yet. I was hoping we could set up a flower garland for the stage and maybe make some arrangements on the picnic tables for the anniversary event. Actually—”
Georgie and Nick let out matching snort-wolfy-laughs, and even Dane cracks a grin-like thing.
“Right. Probably not the conversation for right now,” I mumble, smiling despite myself. I get chatty when I’m nervous, and it’s not like anyone else can fill the space with talking.
Nick bends his front legs, using his head to motion toward his back.
“Oh, did you want me to get on?” When we talked about this—me riding him while he runs in the woods—it never felt like it would actually happen.
I awkwardly climb aboard, marveling at the stretch of my legs over his back. He’s more like a bear than a wolf in size.
“How am I supposed to, you know, not fall off?” I ask, sizing up the ground as he lifts himself back up. “You don’t have a saddle.”
Georgie barks another laugh, Dane joining her this time before they trot off into the trees.
Nick snaps a playful pretend bite at my leg before trotting after them. The muscles of his shoulders and back ripple underneath me, and I grasp two fistfuls of his fur in my hands.
“I wasn’t kidding!”
He snuffles in reply but continues forward, gaining speed as we move through the trees.
Oh God, I’m going to fly off his back and slam face forward into a tree, and that’s going to be how I die. I’m not even going to get to see all the hard work I put into the town anniversary party pay off.
Just perfect.