Chapter 42 Nora
Nora
The tavern closed quietly.
No drama.
No announcements.
Just chairs turned upside down, lights dimmed low, and the soft hush of a place settling back into itself.
Trigger tapped the register shut. “Same time tomorrow.”
Havoc grabbed his jacket. “I’m calling this a win.”
Saint stretched, yawning. “First normal day I’ve had in months.”
Wolf locked the door last.
Always last.
When we finally climbed the stairs together, the sound of the tavern faded behind us—laughter ghosting the walls, warmth lingering in the air.
I felt tired.
Not the bone-deep fear exhaustion.
The good kind.
The kind that comes from surviving.
Wolf’s hand rested at the small of my back as we walked down the hallway. Not guiding. Not shielding.
Just present.
When we reached the room, he opened the door and stepped aside, letting me go first.
Another small thing.
Inside, the room felt different now.
Safe.
Lived in.
Ours.
I kicked off my shoes and set them by the door. Wolf followed, closing it softly—but not locking it.
I turned as he shrugged out of his jacket. For a moment, neither of us spoke. The silence between us hummed—not tense, just full.
Wolf dragged a hand through his hair. “You were incredible today.”
I shrugged. “I poured drinks and didn’t panic.”
“You reclaimed your life,” he said. “That’s not small.”
Warmth spread through my chest. “You stood back.”
He snorted quietly. “That might’ve been the hardest thing I’ve done.”
I stepped closer and looked up at him. “But you did it.”
His eyes searched my face. “Because you asked me to trust you.”
“And?”
“And I do.”
Something shifted then.
Not urgency.
Not desperation.
Truth.
Wolf lifted his hands slowly, like he was asking permission even now. When I didn’t step away, his palms settled at my waist—steady, warm.
“You scared me,” he said quietly.
My breath hitched. “I know.”
“When I thought I might lose you…” His voice roughened, then steadied. “I realized something.”
I waited.
“I don’t know when it happened,” he continued, eyes never leaving mine. “Somewhere between protecting you and needing you safe… it became love.”
The word landed softly.
Totally, devastatingly real.
“I love you, Nora,” he said. “Not because you needed saving. Not because I chose you.”
“But because you chose yourself—and let me stand with you.”
My eyes burned. “Wolf…”
“I don’t say that lightly,” he added. “I don’t say things I can’t defend.”
I reached up, cupping his face gently. “I love you too.”
And that was it.
No fear.
No running.
He leaned down, resting his forehead against mine, breathing me in like the world had finally slowed.
“I’m here,” he murmured. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Good,” I whispered. “Because neither am I.”
His kiss came slowly.
Warm.
Deep.
Unhurried.
Not the kiss of adrenaline—but of homecoming.
His hands traced my back as he pulled me closer, and I felt the strength in him soften into something reverent. When he kissed me again, it was deeper—more sure—desire threading through devotion.
I tugged his shirt free, fingers sliding over skin I knew now carried not just scars, but choice.
The bedroom door stayed locked.
The light dim.
The rest of the world was distant.
Wolf guided me back toward the bed, every movement unforced. He paused once, searching my face.
“Tell me if you want me to stop.”
“I won’t,” I whispered, pulling him with me. “I want you.”
His breath shuddered.
“Wolf” I didn’t know if I shouted his name or sighed it. His hands had moved between my thighs, and he was driving me out of my mind. He knew just where to touch, exactly how much pressure to exert. I writhed in his arms, pleading with him to come to me.
I was desperate to feel every inch of him, to wrap myself in his warmth. His breathing became more labored, and that excited me even more. I would die if he continued to torment me.
I delayed as long as I could to give her as much pleasure as she was giving him.
Her response made it impossible to wait any longer.
I knew she was ready. My mouth covered hers, and I moved between her thighs and slowly sank into her liquid heat.
She was so tight, so hot, I groaned from the sheer bliss.
I stayed completely still inside her, panting as I whispered her name.
When I came to her, she cried out. The ecstasy was overwhelming.
“Ah, Nora.” I breathe her name. “Damn.”
She wasn’t content to let me catch my breath. Every nerve in her body was clamoring for release. I lifted her knees to take me deeper and began to move.
Oh, how she wanted to please me, to make me as crazed as she was.
She bit my shoulder, kissed my mouth, and moved to my neck.
She was panting now. I pulled back and thrust deep, and tears filled her eyes.
She was staggered by the intensity of the feelings gathering inside her.
My movements became more powerful, more all-consuming, more demanding. It was exquisite.
Even in the throes of raw passion, I had always been able to control my actions and set my pace. But I couldn’t control anything right now. I thrust into her again and again, powerless to slow down.
She was every bit as passionate as me. I saw the tension building within her, ready to burst with the need for release.
Wave after wave of sensation washed over her. She let it sweep her away like a roller coaster plunging to the ground and jolting every nerve, the waves of pleasure coursing through her. I thought she might cry. I could see everything she was feeling written on her face.
I kissed her, then buried my face in the crook of her neck, slow to recover, “Damn,” I whispered.
A curse word…and yet, I felt as though I’d just been caressed.
Wolf was panting against my ear. Or was that me panting? I was so shaken, I couldn’t hold a thought. The man had turned me into a blithering idiot.
I didn’t want to let go of him. Not ever. Crap, I knew I was screwed.
He rolled onto his side and pulled me with him.
Wolf held me and stroked me, his touch now tender.
Neither of us spoke, both content for the moment.
The minutes ticked by, and I fell asleep in his arms. In the middle of the night, I awoke.
Wolf was still there. I was surprised and content.
I closed my eyes and went back to sleep.
When I woke up again, he was gone. Then I heard the shower running.
I threw my legs over the side of the bed and joined Wolf.
He smiled as he pulled me to him, and we made love in the shower.
He kissed every scar on my body. He wanted to kiss away the pain I had gone through.
We stayed in the shower until the water turned cold.
Wolf reached out and pulled me to him. He kissed me until I was breathless. When our eyes met, Wolf bent and kissed me again.
The night unfolded gently.
Hands.
Murmurs.
Laughter softened by kisses.
Wolf moved like a man deeply aware of what he was being trusted with—not ownership, not protection—but intimacy.
When he finally held me afterward, wrapped around me like I fit exactly there, he pressed his lips to my hair and whispered:
“I love you. I’ll tell you every day if you ever doubt it.”
I smiled, eyes heavy, heart full. “I don’t think I’ll ever doubt it.”
Downstairs, the tavern rested.
The town slept.
And upstairs, with the door unlocked and the future finally unafraid—
I knew.
We were going to be okay.