Chapter 7 #2
Rowen moaned low. “Goddess, that was…amazing.” She was a panting mess beneath me. Just the way I liked it.
“Catch your breath, princess,” I told her, kissing down her spine, pulling free from her. “We’re not done.”
I woke in a tangle of Rowen and blankets.
I felt rested. Restored. I looked at my sleeping mate.
Her body was covered in the evidence of our night, and I winced.
We were shifters. Bruises healed quickly, so the fact Rowen was still marked with the evidence of our lust made me feel a moment of guilt.
Right until she opened her eyes and smiled at me. She tilted her head in invitation, and I obliged, dipping down to kiss her softly. “Are you okay?”
“I feel great,” she answered, cuddling into me. “You?”
“I have no complaints.” I grinned, laughing when she smacked my belly, the slap echoing in the room. I pulled her closer. “Last night was perfect.” I kissed her again. “You, my beautiful wife, my mate, are perfect.”
Rowen snuggled into me. Her head on my chest. “You’re pretty perfect yourself,” she said, kissing my chest. “I love you.”
I pressed a kiss to her head. “I love you, too.”
We lay for a long moment, content. The world and the pack troubles beyond our door, distant for now. But it wouldn’t be long before we would need to get out of bed, open the door, and welcome it all back inside again.
“Do we have more time?” Rowen asked, seeming to read my mind. “Or do we need to face reality again?”
“Five more minutes.” I slipped my finger beneath her chin, tilting her head up to look at me. I kissed her gently. “Five more minutes.”
It was some time later that I was in the kitchen making us coffee. I was showered, and Rowen was now in the shower. We agreed that showering together would just delay us more. Though when she walked past me to go into the bathroom, it had taken willpower not to follow her inside.
The door opened, and I looked up as Killian popped his head around the door. “Safe?”
“You have a window,” I told him lightly. I heard the shower turn off. “But my mate is naked in there, so the window might be tight.”
Killian rolled his eyes, coming in and closing the door. “I don’t need that information,” he scolded me. “Tell me you slept at least?”
“I had a very good night’s sleep,” I told him, recognizing the need in my beta to ensure I was okay. “Before Rowen came home and after. Much later.”
“Will you stop?” he asked with a shake of his head. He waved his hand in a circle. “You’re very…Zen.” He frowned when I laughed. “Yeah, I don’t like it.”
The bedroom door opened and Rowen came out in her combat pants and a simple black tank. Her chestnut hair was loose and damp over her shoulders. Her smile for me was everything a man could want when his wife looked at him.
“Hi, Killian,” Rowen greeted, reaching up and kissing me gently. “I happen to like relaxed Wolfe. I say we keep him this way.” Her eyes shone with promise.
“You guys are sickening,” he muttered. “I’ll come back when you’re both…not this.”
I sighed and saw the same resignation in Rowen’s eyes. “No, we’re ready.” I detangled myself from her. “I made coffee.” I checked the pot. “Won’t be long.”
Rowen looked at the living room as if seeing it for the first time. “I’d offer you a seat,” she said with a frown. “But…”
“We’ll fix it,” I told her, pouring three cups of coffee. I took mine and Rowen’s and sat on the floor, my back against the wall. “It’s not the end of the world.”
“No, the end is happening outside.” Killian got his coffee and sat on the floor too. “Do you remember the outside?” He was only half-teasing.
“I do.” I took a drink. “I decided that I don’t like it; I’m staying in here.” I was only half-serious.
“Well, tough.” He drank his coffee, and Rowen hid her smile behind her cup. “The pack is fine,” he told us. “Your druid looks smug.” He glared at Rowen. “Why is that? Why do they look like they won something?”
After our bodies were sated last night, we had spoken for a little bit before sleep claimed us. Rowen had explained what happened, and I had told her I’d felt her battle but not known the cause of her fight. It made sense.
It didn’t make any sense, but still…it made sense.
My head was going to overload if I thought about it too much. I had faith in my Goddess and faith in the Hollow to protect my mate. Just before I drifted off to sleep, I decided I didn’t need to understand the details, just believe it was right for Rowen as long as she was happy.
And she was. Her smile said more than her simple assurances. My mate had a purpose. That’s all she ever wanted: to protect her pack and feel needed. I was happy for her. I was more than delighted when I saw her nose crinkle in despair when she explained she had to become the druid’s apprentice.
Once we settled this business with the Pack Council and stopped their attempt to destroy us, I’d enjoy watching Rowen battle against the druid every day. It would provide years of entertainment.
We just needed the years of peace to enjoy it.
“They have a new student,” I told Killian, realizing that neither I nor Rowen had answered him. “Rowen’s a druid.”
“In training,” Rowen added hastily.
Killian’s mouth formed an O. I nodded. He grinned. I couldn’t stop my smile. He started to laugh, and I joined him. Rowen reached over and managed to punch us both, and we laughed even harder.
Brand and Diesel walked into the house and found Killian and me holding our sides, aching with laughter, while Rowen glared murderously at both of us.
“What’s in the coffee?” Brand asked Diesel, and that only set Killian and me off again.
“You owe me furniture,” Rowen snapped at Diesel. She pushed to her feet. “Your alpha is an ass.”
I caught her hand and pulled her down onto my lap. “It’s funny.” I kissed her cheek. “Admit it, it’s a little bit funny.”
“What’s funny?” Brand asked, taking up a spot on the floor.
“Rowen’s going to be the druid’s apprentice,” Killian told him gleefully.
Brand, to give him his due, quickly hid his smile behind his hand. Diesel wasn’t so subtle. He bellowed with laughter.
And my mate sprang for him.