Chapter 21
WOLF
It’s been five days since getting cock-blocked by this fucking mountain lion that keeps eluding my brothers and me.
Due to sightings on at least two of the main hiking trails, we’ve had to double up on patrol duty, not to mention take measures to actually track this thing so we can lure it to its own part of the terrain.
At this point, we know it’s an adult male, but it’s popped up on several trail cams only long enough for us to gauge weight and possible age.
I’ve been working overtime, coming home after Molly has long since gone to bed.
I’m not happy about it, but neither is Molly.
A couple times I went ahead and crashed on the couch as she was sleeping diagonally across the bed.
I may not have been married for long, but if that’s not a blaring loud fuck off signal, I’m not sure what is.
Not to mention the plastic containers full of baked goods stacked on the counters.
So I’m not sure the missed opportunity for sex is what has her in a huff so much as my job taking up all my time this week.
I just know that I have to make things right soon.
I’ve barely seen her, and the brief moments I have, they have not been pleasant.
For the most part, it’s only been early in the morning before she leaves for work.
She’s barely spoken a word, she’s currently got about four different irritable expressions in rotation, and she’s been giving me her cheek instead of her lips whenever I go to kiss her goodbye. Talk about a step backward.
In the shower, I massage at the kink in the back of my neck from sleeping on the damn couch again.
Molly was still in bed when I came up to get in the shower, and as I stand under the pulsing streams of hot water, I strongly consider calling to her.
I have a niggling urge to just see what would happen if I asked her to join me.
Would we pick up where we left off, or would she tell me to—quite literally—fuck myself?
I close my eyes and let myself fantasize about her being agreeable to the idea.
If she were to strip down and stand naked with me surrounded by steam.
I’d tell her I’m sorry for this week and take my time kissing her lips, her cheeks, her neck, giving her all the extra attention for what I’ve missed out on.
I just know her soft skin against mine would feel so good.
I’d want to take her right in here, lifting her up and pinning her against the tile wall.
But then again, her first time probably shouldn’t be in the shower. We should do it in the bed so I can be more careful with her. It would probably be better for me too. And speaking of that, I should probably tell her. She shared her truth with me after all.
I reach down, grabbing my dick, wondering if I should rub one out before I head into work. It would probably ease some of the frustration, but then again, I don’t like the idea of getting myself off now that I’ve got a beautiful and hopefully still willing wife living under the same roof.
Wife.
I’m still trying to get used to that word. I’m starting to see a faint glimmer of progress; the point where it feels natural isn’t as far off as it used to be. Deciding to deny myself, I slam the water off and grab a towel, rubbing it over my hair.
After a quick shave, I head into the bedroom for some clean clothes. The bed is both empty and made. It’s early for Molly to be up, but I can hear her clanging around in the kitchen. Throwing on a clean T-shirt with my jeans, I trudge down the stairs and enter the kitchen.
Molly is leaning back against the counter, her hands wrapped around a mug of coffee. Her bare legs are crossed together at the ankle, and her brown hair is in a tangled knot at the nape of her neck. She doesn’t look up at me, but the oven is damn sure on.
“Whatcha baking?” I ask, not expecting to break the ice but determined to try anyway as I head over to the coffeepot and grab my travel mug out of the cupboard above it.
“Oatmeal cookies,” she mumbles.
“Nice.” I let the dark, hot liquid cascade into my mug before replacing the carafe while I rack my brain with something else to say.
For a man who once loved the silence, I’m sure hating this kind.
“I shouldn’t be home too late tonight,” I say.
Which is bullshit; there’s no reason I should be home early with that lion still on the loose.
But I’ll make it work, maybe talk to my brothers because something’s got to give.
“So you’ve caught the lion?” She takes another sip from her mug but doesn’t look up.
“No, not yet, but I can talk to Forest…” I trail off because she’s shaking her head as she lowers her cup. “What?”
“It’s not like you’re missing anything here,” she explains, setting the cup down and bending to flick the oven light on.
That’s not true. I’m missing so much.
She peeks through the oven window at her cookies, still avoiding my gaze.
Fine… I’ll blink first. “Molly… What’s going on?” I slouch against the counter.
She shrugs uncomfortably before forcing her eyes up to mine. “Is there really a mountain lion?”
“What?” I feel my brows draw in. “You were there when I got the call. Why would you think there’s not?”
“That was days ago, and there could’ve been one then, but…”
“Molly, it’s still out there,” I inform her firmly. “The little asshole has been evading us all week, but we know it’s still close enough to be a threat. This is a recreational area, and this is something we need to monitor closely. Why would you think I’m not telling you the truth?”
She bites the corner of her lip and sighs at the floor. When she looks up again, it’s clear she’s trying to school her emotions. “Did you ever stop to think about what it might’ve looked like on my end?”
I pause a moment. Did I? Nope. Of course I didn’t.
I finally shake my head as I try to go back to that day we got the first alert. And just as Molly starts to explain, everything clicks.
“We… We were finally connecting, Wolf. And I know that first call was real, but I can’t help but wonder if it was a bit of a relief to you to get it so that you could get away from me.”
“Get away from you?” My voice rises slightly because I can’t believe what I’m hearing. “Why the hell would I want to get away from you?”
“Because the last thing I told you before you left was that I haven’t had sex before!”
Shit.
“Oh my god…” I voice my realization out loud. “You did… And then I left, but I had to go, Molly.”
“I know you did, but then you stayed away—all week! What was I supposed to think?”
“Fuck, you’re right.” I let out another harried breath. Leaning over the counter, I let my head drop to examine the stone top. “I didn’t mean to do that.”
“Wolf, I want to believe you.”
I look up. “Why can’t you?”
“It’s not that I can’t, it’s just… I don’t know you enough to believe you.
” Ouch. But she’s not wrong, and she’s not done.
“At this point we’re supposed to be getting to know each other, and we haven’t.
Well, I mean we were.” She’s speaking rapidly, like she’s trying to get all her thoughts out before they retreat back inside her and turn into more pastries.
“I thought we were on the right path there for a little while. We got close. I thought we’d turned a corner and then…
You found out you married a virgin, and it’s been like ten steps back!
So I have to ask… Have you changed your mind? ”
“No.” I shake my head, pinning my eyes on hers. “Being a virgin has nothing to do with it at all.”
She scoffs. “Wolf, how can I be so sure about that?”
Before I decide not to, I tell the truth. “Because you married one too!”
Molly freezes, her hazel eyes glassing over as she stares at me. “You’re… You never?”
I stare back, letting her take in my truth. “Nope.” I sigh, ready for the barbs and the probing questions.
“Are you like…against?—”
“No, I’m not asexual or anything like that. I just never felt the need to jump through every hoop to make it happen, unlike my horny brothers.” I shrug, laying it all out and feeling unexpectedly good about it.
“But the other day, you… Wanted to?” she asks, twisting a dish towel in her hands.
“Fuck yes, and I still want to, have wanted to every goddamn day!” I’m surprised at how happy I am to say those words and even more surprised at how happy I am that she needed to hear them.
Her features have smoothed out some, and a faint smile has taken over her lips.
The sight relaxes me, and I wish I had more time to soak it in.
But, the oven timer goes off, reminding me I need to get going.
“Moll, it’s just been a shitty week.” I come around the counter to stand in front of her.
“With a situation that’s monopolized my time, and I’m sorry I didn’t see how it was affecting you.
I guess I’m still getting used to thinking of someone else.
” I place a hand on her hip, like I’m trying to anchor us both.
“But I will be home early tonight, and we’ll spend some time together. Okay?”
“Okay,” she whispers back with a nod.
“In fact…” I venture on before I can stop myself, ready to get stared at weird or smacked.
“I think tonight we should take our clothes off. See what happens.” I stare her down, not because I’m oh so proud of how that came out but because if I don’t know her reaction the moment she makes it, I might die of shame.
“Okay.” Her eyes sparkle with relief or happiness. I’ll take either.
“Okay.” I lean in and say, “Now gimme your goddamn lips this time.”
A small giggle bursts free from her mouth as she does what she’s told.