Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
MORGAN
The longer I spent underwater, unable to shift back to my human form, the more I realized how much I loved having two legs.
I loved the two appendages even more now that my tail looked like it had been through a bad science experiment.
It seriously looked like someone had taken a wedge out of it to display on their charcuterie board.
The doctors visited me three times a day and talked in hushed voices before telling me everything would be fine. How could it be fine when a vital piece of my body was mutilated? I'd never be able to renew my status as an alpha if I didn't have the speed required.
I looked down at my tail that had just been unwrapped by the doctor. I couldn't wait to get back to land and not have to see it anymore.
"Ready to go, son?" Finn swam into my room looking more stressed than usual. He had been trying to track down Dylan Gale but was always two steps behind.
I was still pissed at him for lying to me about my parents, but over the past week, he'd stayed by my side, so I'd let my anger fizzle away. Hearing him call me son reignited what I had left smoldering.
"I'm not your son." I grabbed the bag that had a salve to spread on my tail and legs twice a day and strapped it across my body. "I thought Jax and Blake were coming to get me?"
A lot had happened in my absence, including another human being compromised by Dylan. Melissa would recover, but the aftermath left us all on edge. What was he going to do next?
"They're hosting a gathering to welcome you home." He didn't seem thrilled about that. "I tried to tell them that a party was the last thing you needed."
"It's exactly what I need." I really just wanted to go home and crawl into my bed, but he didn't need to know that. I swam ahead of him and out of the hospital.
The doctors had suggested I shift in the land facility and take a car back, but I wasn't about to miss an opportunity to swim when I had been locked up for almost a week. I had to agree to an escort though, now I was vulnerable.
I swam to the exit with Finn close behind. My tail moved the same, but the speed just wasn't what it once was. A dull ache set in just as I reached the exit. Add distance to the list of things that were not what they once were.
"Are you sure you're up for this? It's still healing." Finn's concern just made me push harder as I cleared the exit and entered the open waters.
Bubba appeared next to me and I took hold of his fin, appreciative of the boost. The last thing I wanted was to ask for assistance from Finn.
It took almost four times as long to make it to the cave. I surfaced and breathed in deeply. I had shifted a few times in the land facility so they could check my legs, but otherwise, I'd been stuck underwater.
I pulled myself onto the platform and shifted, my legs cramping as soon as the last of the scales disappeared. I gritted my teeth and rubbed at my calves as the cramping intensified. It felt like I was just getting my land legs again.
"Are you all right?" Finn was bobbing in the water next to Bubba.
"I'm fine. You can leave now." I only felt a small amount of guilt when hurt crossed his face and he sank below the surface.
I didn't understand what his deal was. He was much more involved now, and I didn't know what his endgame was. Now that Robert Kline was no longer in the picture, did that mean he was done being a vindictive asshole?
The cramping in my calves had eased, so I crawled to the bench and pulled myself up to sit. The worst part of it all was the pain. Sometimes my legs or tail would just cramp up or I'd have a stabbing pain where there was no more fin.
I pulled on the pair of loose, rip-away sweatpants the guys had left on the bench. For a while, I'd need to wear clothing that could easily be removed in case my body decided to shift.
I was thankful they knew me well enough to know that I needed to be left alone during the worst part of this. I stood on shaky legs and took a deep breath. It felt like my legs and feet were just waking up from being asleep.
I made it to the elevator and waited as the motor whirred inside as it brought the car down. Finn had said something about a gathering, and I hoped no one was upstairs to witness me walking like a toddler.
The elevator took me to the house, and as soon as the doors opened, I heard people laughing and music playing outside.
Fuck.
I should have just gone back down and stayed in the cave, but the idea of my bed was enough to get me shuffling down the hall. Everyone was outside besides Blake, who was in the kitchen preparing steaks and shrimp kabobs.
"What is this?" I gestured to the group of people outside lounging around the pool as I started to limp past him.
No one was actually in the pool since the fall weather had set in and the sun was hidden behind clouds. Most of them looked to be Riley's friends.
"We're having a barbeque." Blake frowned as I came to a stop and turned to glare at him. "What's wrong?"
"What's wrong?" I gritted my teeth and shut my eyes. He wasn't that dense, was he? "Why would I want people I don't know to see me at my weakest?"
"We just thought-"
"You didn't think." I laughed. "Unbelievable."
I made it to the stairs and stared up the staircase. I could hardly handle walking on a flat surface; how was I going to get up that many steps? It wasn't so much the lifting of my leg, it was putting my weight on one side for a brief instant while I walked up each step.
I had just lifted my leg and placed it onto the first step when Riley appeared at the top with the redhead next to her. I averted my eyes and grimaced as pain stabbed through my foot as I stepped up.
"Here, let us help you." Riley ran down the stairs and took my arm.
I shrugged off her hand and stepped back down, black dots spotting my vision at the impact. "I don't need your help."
I walked as quickly as possible—the speed of a ninety-year-old shuffling with a walker— to the garage and slammed the door behind me.
I had, of course, heard what happened with Riley, Ivy, and Coach Gale. It had infuriated me and was one of the reasons I had pushed myself to be able to come home so quickly. Riley needed my protection, even if I wasn't at one hundred percent.
I clicked on a small workbench light and stared at my other motorcycle. I wanted to feel the wind against my skin and the power, but it was too soon. I could barely walk, let alone control a piece of machinery between my legs.
Somehow, I managed to get on the bike without falling on my ass or dying from pain. I didn't remember much from the night of the crash, but I do remember being distracted by the thought of my parents being imprisoned. I didn't remember checking my bike like I usually did.
"Morgan?" Riley spoke quietly from near the garage door and took a tentative step forward. "Are you all right?"
I rubbed a hand over my face. I was sick of people asking me how I was when it should have been obvious to them. I wasn't doing well, but also didn't want to bring anyone else to my pity party. "I'm fine, vixen. Just wasn't expecting to have to be Mr. Sociable the second I got back is all."
She closed the distance between us and looked me up and down, no doubt assessing if I should even be sitting out in the garage like I was. I sat a little taller on the bike and her lips pinched together.
"You should be resting, not on the thing that almost killed you." She leaned against the workbench, the light behind her making her look angelic. "I missed you."
I looked down at the gas tank and traced a finger over the design. "Then why are you standing over there looking like if you touch me I'll break?"
She was quiet, and I looked over at her. Silent tears fell from her eyes and I went to move off the bike, but she stepped forward. "You'll hurt yourself."
"Maybe I want to hurt." That was the wrong thing to say because it just made her tears worse. I had never been good at keeping my mouth shut when it should stay closed.
"It breaks something inside of me when I see you hurting." She took my hand and kissed the palm. "I'm falling in love with you."
My mouth opened and my breath left me in a whoosh. She took my breath away and I didn't know what to say. I, of course, loved her, but repeating it back like an echo didn't seem to do my feelings justice.
"I know it's weird to have these feelings so soon, but I do. I can't explain it other than I want you around me always." She held my hand to her chest. "Don't ever almost die again."
I chuckled and brought my hand to her cheek, wiping the tears. "The whole time I was recovering, I thought about getting back to you. I'm worried you're going to be the next important person I lose."
She leaned forward and our lips met. I had missed the taste of her and the feel of her touch. She bit my lip gently and pulled away as I groaned.
"Let's go upstairs." She wiggled her eyebrows and I took her hand, placing it over my growing erection. "Morgan..."
"Take off your pants, vixen." I let go of her hand and flipped around so I was sitting backwards on the bike. I pulled my dick out of my sweats, stroking it as it hardened.
She cocked a brow and then looked back at the door to the house. "Someone might-"
"No one is going to come out here." I looked down at her pants that were still on. "Do you want me to get off this bike and help you?"
"If someone walks out here..." She unbuttoned her jeans and pulled them down torturously slow along with her panties. I was going to bust a nut before she even got on the bike.
She held her hands in front of herself and looked so cute acting shy. I was certain she was turned on by the idea of getting down and dirty in a place where we could be caught. Unless I had misunderstood Blake about the library.
I patted in front of me as she came closer. "Don't be scared. It's not going to fall over."
She bit her lip, and I took her hand for balance as she climbed on, facing me on the rear seat. It was elevated and gave me the perfect view of her glistening pussy. I didn't know if the bike would fall or not, but I'd sat on the thing plenty of times and the kickstand held just fine.
"Morgan, this doesn't seem safe." She spoke while looking down at my dick.
I tilted her chin up. "You're worried about falling off a parked bike when you healed yourself after being shot in the leg?"
I let her chin go and trailed a finger down to her spread legs. She inhaled sharply as I ran my finger across her wet slit. She was already drenched for me and I groaned.
"I'm more worried about you." She spread her legs farther as I traced her lips with the tip of my finger.
"Lay back a little and grip the sides of the bike." My command made her legs start to close and I pushed them apart. "I won't let you fall."
She complied, and I grinned, knowing that we were going to have some fun in the bedroom once I was in full working order. I put her leg on my shoulder and she hummed as I circled her clit.
"Don't tease." Her thighs trembled as I pushed in a finger, savoring the tight warmth that I'd hopefully soon be buried in.
I fingered her until she was writhing on the bike seat, getting her juices all over the leather. I'd never look at this bike the same again.
I pulled my fingers out and scooted back until I was reclining against the metal of the gas tank. I stroked a hand down my dick and her eyes darkened as she straddled me. I teased her entrance with the tip of my dick.
"What about a condom?" She was already circling her hips, ready to ride me.
"Blake mentioned he'd told you about the shots we can get, and I didn't want to be taken for a pup, so I got them." In one quick upward thrust of my hips, I was buried inside her. "Fuck, vixen, you feel like home."
She began rolling her hips, riding me on my bike like we were the only two people in the world. Every few thrusts, she grinded her clit against me, whimpering into my neck.
"Lean forward and grab onto the handlebars." I would pay a million dollars to be watching her ride me on my bike.
Her gripping the handlebars gave her some leverage and she began riding me like she was my ride or die. Her face was buried in my neck as our bodies slapped together.
I brought a hand across her ass, not too hard, and she clenched around me with a whimper. I did it again and again until she was milking my dick like she was racing to the finish line.
The cry of her orgasm echoed in the garage and my own orgasm swept down my spine as I came inside her. I felt every spasm of her tight channel as we came together.
She carefully extracted herself from me and then the bike and grabbed a roll of shop towels on the workbench. I watched her, wanting to imprint the image of her in my brain.
"What?" She handed me a few paper towels and picked up her clothes.
I rubbed the back of my neck as I watched her. "I just keep thinking this is a dream and I'm going to wake up to find you aren't real."
But she was real, and she was mine.