Chapter Ten
This was different.
Lisa sensed something was very different with Shadow. She couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was, only there was something. His movements were slow, teasing, loving. The way he touched her seemed like he was committing every part of her to memory. When she had gotten that text this evening from Adele, she had felt a little more in love with Shadow. She didn’t even need to tell him to take her friend home. He just did.
No Wolves Road was a safe town, and the packs surrounding the town knew they were not to attack humans. To do so would be breaking so many rules. It was safe for women to walk, to be themselves. Shadow still walked Adele home. She loved that about him. There was so much she loved about him.
Like, the fact he put the toilet seat down and cleaned the sink after he brushed his teeth. He always made sure the kettle had hot water for her to enjoy a cup of tea, seeing as she couldn’t stand the scent of coffee. Ice cream was always fully stocked in the freezer with many different varieties.
There was never anything missing from her grocery list. If he couldn’t find anything, he’d call and ask if there was something else she wanted. He kept the flowers in full bloom for as long as possible and waited until the last minute to deal with them. He took the trash out. He cooked when she was too tired.
Shadow was the perfect man, and now he wanted to snuggle with her. She loved that he wanted to hug. Each night, leaving him was getting harder. She did so because she thought it was the right thing to do.
They didn’t make any promises to each other. They hadn’t made any vows. She carried his child, that was all.
Lisa cried out as he circled her clit, flicking his tongue back and forth across her nub. The pleasure was intense. She closed her eyes and tried to breathe through it, as she was already so close to orgasm. So close. She closed her eyes, trying to hold back the pleasure, but Shadow’s wicked tongue was a master.
He knew what he was doing. He slid his tongue down toward her entrance, and he circled her before plunging inside, making her want his cock so badly. She had no choice but to keep hold of the headboard, even as she wanted to sink her fingers into his hair, to hold on, to press her pussy up against his face, but she held herself back.
Shadow slid his tongue back up, and this time he flicked his tongue back and forth across her clit, and there was no stopping him. Her orgasm built to a fever pitch, sending her hurtling toward the edge, and Shadow was the only thing holding her as he pushed her right over the peak, his name spilling from her lips.
He was the only man she had ever wanted. That had never changed. She wanted him, hungered for him. She wanted to be his everything, but at the same time, she didn’t even know if that was possible, if Shadow wanted her for anything more than to be the mother of his child. Did he just want her to warm his bed?
All her doubts started to floor her, but then Shadow moved up between her body and took possession of her lips. He reached for her hands and got her to finally let go of the headboard. She dropped her hands. Shadow wasn’t done with her. He sat against the top of the bed, and then moved her so that she straddled his waist.
Her stomach wasn’t too large, but he found the angle that meant he could be deep inside her. She held herself above him, and he gripped his cock, lining it up with her entrance, and she slowly began to sink down onto his length. Inch by inch, he sunk inside her, and she couldn’t hold in her whimper. It felt so good to feel his cock filling her. He was still big and it always felt like he was a little too big, like she wasn’t going to be able to handle him.
Closing her eyes, she gripped onto his shoulders and Shadow held her hips, his hands tender and yet tight, exploring her body. She opened her eyes and stared into his, wondering what she would find staring back at her. His sharp gaze somewhat softened as he looked at her.
He ran his hands up and down her back, tenderly. This was different. Lisa didn’t know what made this different for her.
“Make love to me, Lisa,” he said.
At first, she didn’t know what to do, so she didn’t even move, but then instinct took over. She wanted to make love to her man. To watch him lose control. She didn’t let him go.
She held onto him, and then started to work her pussy right over his cock, taking him deeper. Shadow helped by guiding her over his length and she closed her eyes, feeling him deep within her.
She loved this man. She wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.
Lisa cried out, feeling him touch a part of her deep inside, and she didn’t want it to stop.
“Look at me,” Shadow said.
She opened her eyes and finally allowed herself to look at him. There was no hate, no anger, she just loved him.
Lisa was tired of hating him, of trying to hate him. They were going to have a baby. Their lives were intertwined no matter what they did. She carried their child. Adele was right. There was no more space for animosity or hate. There was only room for love and respect. She had to let it go. Learn to forgive, and know there was no way Shadow would ever hurt her again.
She cupped his face, leaned in close, and kissed him. Lisa was done hating. She was done pretending she didn’t want to be with him.
Shadow tightened his grip on her hips and thrust deep inside her. She ground herself down, trying to take as much of him as she possibly could. She felt the change within him and knew he was close.
Staring into his eyes, she watched as he began to come apart, and she felt the pulse of his dick as he began to come. His hot seed spilled into her pussy, and even as he came, she kissed him, swallowing his cries. She let him have his orgasm, holding him as he did so.
During his release, Shadow moved them down the bed, keeping his dick within her, but now they were laying down and facing each other. His orgasm subsided and Lisa stared at him.
“You can’t leave,” he said. “You promised.”
“I don’t recall promising, but I’m not going to leave.” She looked into his eyes, and she wanted to ask him to not hurt her. To not fuck this up. She refused to spoil the moment. For now, they had each other, and that was enough.
****
One Week Later
Shadow stepped into the kitchen and glanced over at Lisa. She was baking again. Christmas was only a week away, but she’d been making gifts for the whole pack. Gift baskets filled with breads, cookies, cakes, biscuits, and any other sweet treat she could make. He wanted her to rest, but so long as she ate regularly and took breaks, her pregnancy seemed to be moving well.
He looked at her and couldn’t believe what an asshole he’d been.
“I love you,” he said.
Lisa looked up and the bowl in front of her stopped.
“What?”
“I love you,” he said, taking a step inside the kitchen.
“Shadow, you don’t have to—”
He held his hand up and didn’t expect her to stop talking. It was quite the shock to see her just go silent, pressing her lips together.
“I’m not just saying this. I’m telling you the truth. How you make me feel.” He took several more steps toward her, stopping at the counter. Now, all that stood between them was a counter. “I should have told you this before. From the moment I first saw you, I knew I wanted you, and I’d never felt that way about another person, not ever. I wasn’t a virgin, but I’d never felt so compelled by a woman.”
She tucked some hair behind her ear.
“I knew I needed to know you. I knew I had to find out your name, and everything about you.”
“Kind of stalkery,” she said.
He smiled. “And that feeling has never gone away. I have a gift for you.”
“Christmas presents go under the tree, Shadow.”
“This one can’t wait.”
Lisa frowned and she grabbed a towel, wiping her hands, and coming toward him. She took the gift from him and then tore open the wrapping. It was a welcome mat.
“ No doormat resides here ,” Lisa said, reading it aloud. “Shadow?”
“I don’t see you as a doormat. I never have. I don’t see you as weak or less of a person.” He reached out and cupped her cheek. “I don’t know how to make up to you that shit I said. It was nothing. I love you. Since you heard what I said, my life has been crap. I’ve hated it. I’ve hated not being able to be close to you. It breaks my heart watching you leave me each night.”
She’d not done it since he asked her to stay, but it was the fact he had to ask her to stay in the first place.
“I’m not keeping you around because you’re the mother of my child. I’m keeping you around because you are the love of my life, Lisa Bennett. I want to be your everything, just as you are my everything. One day, I hope you can forgive me. Also, there is something I want you to see.”
He pulled out his cell phone. He hated the technology, but it had its uses, mainly for getting in touch with Lisa. That was the only reason he purchased one. He never wanted to be apart from her. Shadow found the video, and then pressed “play,” turning up the volume.
“Have you got the angle right?” Shadow asked.
“Yeah, I’ve got it. You’re all in the shot, don’t worry, Lisa is not going to mistake this for being anyone but you,” Pam said.
Lisa frowned and he nodded down at his cell phone.
“I’m Shadow Storm. I’m the Alpha of the Storm pack. Many of you know I have been dating Lisa Bennett who works at the coffee shop in No Wolves Road. Many of you might also know I said some bad shit about her. Called her weak and said I was only using her, but that is wrong. I was wrong,” he said. “Lisa Bennett is the love of my life, and she is expecting my child. I’m so freaking grateful that she is expecting my child, because the truth is, I don’t know how I am going to win her back. She is not a doormat. I love her more than anything in the world. I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I want her as my mate, my wife, my partner, and the mother of all my children. Not just this one.”
“You’re rambling,” Pam said.
“I’m doing the best I can.”
He looked at Lisa and saw the tears in her eyes.
“You love me?” she asked.
“More than anything in the world.”
“Why don’t you get on your knees and beg a little more? That might work?” Pam asked.
“You’re being a pain in the ass,” Shadow said.
Lisa’s gaze went back down to the cell phone, and she began to laugh, and that lightened his whole fucking world, hearing that soft laugh, knowing he’d caused it.
“It’s freezing,” Shadow said.
“Yeah, and you need to freeze your ass off to make it up to her. Now, come on, let us hear you beg,” Pam said.
He stared into the camera, and Shadow looked down to see Pam had zoomed in.
“Lisa, I’m sorry. I know words will not work, and I know you are probably doubting everything I am saying right now, but I love you. I will never do that to you again. I swear it. Please, give me a chance, let me show you how good it can be between us.”
“You’re sounding desperate,” Pam said.
“I am desperate. I’m trying to get the woman I love to fall in love with me again.”
Pam tutted. “Lisa is already in love with you. What you’re trying to do is get her to forgive you.”
“I don’t deserve forgiveness.”
Lisa turned the cell phone off. “I don’t need to see anymore.”
“Lisa, I’m so—”
He didn’t get a chance to say another word, because Lisa cupped his face and pulled him in close, kissing him.
Shadow didn’t know for certain what this meant. Did it mean she forgave him? He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in close, not wanting to let her go. Sliding his hands into her hair, he felt her moan against him, and then she broke the kiss. She smiled up at him, and he stared down at her.
“Lisa?”
“I love you,” she said. “I never stopped loving you, and I forgive you.”
“What?”
She laughed. “I forgive you.” She cupped his face.
“But, I was so horrible,” he said, frowning.
Lisa laughed. “You’re questioning if I should forgive you or not?” she asked.
“No, no, I’m not questioning anything.” He pulled her close. “I never meant any of it.”
“I know that now,” Lisa said.
“I was scared,” he said.
She tilted her head back and frowned. “You were scared? Of what?”
“Of how you made me feel,” he said.
“And how did I make you feel?” she asked.
“Like I was the only man in the world.”
“To me, you are the only man in the world. You’re the only man I want in my world.”
And with that, she held him close.
Shadow pulled her close, kissing the top of her head and basking in what it meant to finally be with his woman. The barrier that had been between them melted away, he already felt the difference between them. This was his second chance, and he was not going to let this opportunity pass him by.