Chapter 13 - Shawn
As the sun begins to sink towards the horizon, I take Sara’s hand and start to walk back towards the center of town. The place is so small, the walk isn’t a long one, but after such a long, hard day, the lack of vehicles seems like a personal affront.
Sara holds my hand as we walk, smiling and waving to people as we pass by. While I was helping repair houses, she was in the gardens with the women, pulling weeds and helping them plan a new crop.
The most confusing thing about this place is that it actually should be self-sufficient. These people don’t need to be in poverty. So how has this happened?
It didn’t escape my notice that Jackson shut down any talk of Talon pretty quickly and controlled every conversation for his own benefit.
When we come up to the main buildings and the center of town, Sara doesn’t let go of my hand, and I’m surprised and pleased. She holds on to me all the way to the house, even though there is no one to see us.
Is she warming up to me?
“You look tired,” I say as we come into the kitchen. “Why don’t you freshen up while I make some dinner?”
“You’re just as tired as me—probably worse,” she says. “You were climbing all over rooftops and putting up patches in walls.”
“Yeah, but I’m a tough guy,” I joke. “That’s nothing for big muscles like mine. I can go for miles yet.”
“I bet you can,” she says, smiling. “Okay, I’ll go take a shower, but only if you promise not to work too hard until I get back. We should cook together.”
“Okay,” I agree, excitement beginning to stir deep inside me.
Don’t get ahead of yourself. This doesn’t mean you’re getting anywhere with her yet. Take it slow.
Even though I promised Sara I wouldn’t start without her, the moment she’s gone, I start peeling potatoes and chopping vegetables. By the time she comes back, I’ve got mashed potatoes and salad waiting, and I’m almost ready to fry the steaks.
“I told you to wait,” she says, coming in to look over my shoulder.
“I know, and I broke my promise,” I reply. “But I just like taking care of you.”
She stares at me, and the moment stretches out between us. I keep looking into her eyes, those deep, velvet, brown depths that draw me in, dark portals flecked with stars of gold.
“You really mean that, don’t you?” she asks.
I nod. “Yes, I do. I’ve moved around a lot in my life, never really put down roots, but I’ve always had a deep desire to help people. It’s what led me into my work.”
“What kind of work?”
“Ah, well, I did a lot of aid programs, moving supplies, rebuilding houses, that kind of thing.”
It’s not really a lie. I did that sometimes.
“That’s it?”
“I have many skills,” I answer. “Why don’t you sit down and let me serve. The steaks are almost ready.”
Sara goes to sit down, and I fill the plates, bringing them to the table. When she takes her first bite of mashed potato, she makes a little sound of pleasure.
“You really do have a lot of skills—you’re an excellent cook!” she says.
“Yeah,” I mutter, shrugging off the compliment. “I don’t know, I’ve just got a knack for it.”
We sit in silence for a few minutes as we focus on our food, and I demolish my steak so fast, I wonder if I should cook another.
I worked my guts out today. I should probably hunt something. My wolf is hungry, too.
“Shawn,” Sara says, breaking my train of thought.
“Yes?”
“What did you think about the conditions in town today? I’ve lived here my whole life, and I didn’t know it was that bad.”
“I’m shocked, honestly,” I say. “I can’t understand how Talon let this happen if he was such a good guy. I’m sorry to say that, Sara. I know he meant a lot to you.”
“No, it’s okay,” she replies. “But I don’t think he knew.”
“What do you mean?”
She sighs. “The children told me they weren’t supposed to talk to Talon. It’s obvious that my father had been spreading all kinds of lies around the place. I knew my father was doing some dirty things, but it looks like it ran a lot deeper than I ever guessed.”
“Interesting,” I say, my mind racing over the possibilities.
Even if the town was afraid to talk to Talon and he was relying on the old man for information, it’s still a major failing on his part that he didn’t notice this going on.
“The town will resist help from your friends in Eccles,” she says. “Well, I should say, they’ll take your help, but I doubt they’ll ever trust you.”
“I’m aware of that,” I reply. “But I’ll make sure I keep everything in hand. Don’t worry, Sara. Everything’s under control.”
She hesitates for a moment as if there’s something she really wants to say, but appears to think better of it and goes back to her food.
If she was about to warn me that the old man would be coming for me next and turning the pack against me, I’m well aware. I have to stay close to the people here, so they listen to me instead of him.
With some dismay, I realize that might not be possible. I’ve been here a grand total of two days, and the pack has been isolated for generations. If Jackson could turn the entire pack against Talon, who was one of their own, then he would have little trouble doing the same to me.
“Shawn?” Sara asks. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, fine,” I answer. “Just thinking.”
“Staring off into space?”
“I do believe that is the hallmark of thinking too deeply,” I chuckle.
“I didn’t really pick you for a deep thinker,” she says.
I laugh. “Well, I have been into philosophy every now and then.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah. Watts, Blavatsky, Joseph Campbell.”
“Wow!” Sara says excitedly. “I’ve read books by all of them, right here in Talon’s library.”
“Oh? Talon was into philosophy?”
“No,” she laughs. “Well, maybe. The library was started by his great-great-grandmother, so there are all kinds of books in there that I’m sure Talon never even read. That’s why it’s interesting to me that I happen to have read the same ones as you. Did you study them much?”
“I was…stuck in an isolated place once. I happened to have those books on hand and didn’t have anything else to do but read. I didn’t expect to enjoy them so much, though.”
I dance around with my words, not wanting to reveal I was on a deep-cover stakeout in a house that didn’t belong to me.
“What did you conclude from their teachings?” she asks eagerly.
“Conclude? Nothing. I sure as hell want to think about it a lot more, though.”
“And talk about it?” she asks, a little shyly.
I nod. “I’d love someone to talk to about this. My friends aren’t deep thinkers.”
“Then I’m glad we found something in common,” she says, smiling.
I smile back, a sense of true contentment rising in me. All I’ve wanted is a chance to get to know her, and now that I have it, I won’t let it go to waste.
“Why don’t you let me clean up,” she says. “You can go and shower, then we’ll talk a bit more.”
“I don’t know,” I reply. “I should clean up.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she says, standing up to clear the table. “Shoo! Get out of here before I change my mind.”
“Okay,” I chuckle, heading for the bathroom. I shower quickly, and by the time I get back, Sara has finished with the kitchen and is pouring brandy into two glasses.
“Should we go and sit in the garden?” she asks.
I nod in agreement and follow her out to the covered courtyard.
For about an hour, we share our thoughts on different philosophical theories, the banter moving on to gardening, cooking, and back to literature as we work our way through the bottle of brandy.
Even though the tough topics of our problems in the pack are still looming over our heads, it feels good just letting it all go and enjoying each other.
Ironically, this is what the marriage tie is supposed to do—bind the outsider to the pack’s values and people.
While Sara talks, I let my eyes travel over her, my gaze becoming more fixed as I slowly dissolve into a drunken haze. I can’t stop looking at her plump, full curves, her beautiful red mouth, and her graceful hands.
A worker’s hands—rough, calloused, and strong. She’s been through a lot, and she’s come out of it tough and capable.
I want to ask her about how she grew up, but I’m afraid to break the mood. I let her take over the conversation and enjoy watching her until she suddenly blushes and turns to face me.
“I’m sorry, I’m blabbering, aren’t I? I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—I don’t usually drink, and it’s gone to my head a little.”
“It’s totally fine,” I say. “I’m enjoying the conversation, anyway.”
“Okay,” she laughs. “So, what was I talking about?”
“I have no idea,” I reply, reaching out absently to brush back a strand of her long, golden hair. “I was too busy looking at you.”
She blushes a furious shade of red and looks into her lap.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” I say quickly. “I hope I didn’t offend you. I’ve had a bit too much to drink as well.”
“No, it’s okay,” she whispers. “I’m just not used to people finding me nice to look at.”
“What the fuck?” I mutter. “Are you serious? You’re gorgeous.”
“Really?” she asks, looking up at me with shimmering eyes. “You really think so?”
“Yes!” I exclaim, sitting forward to touch her hand. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
“Now I know you’ve been drinking too much,” she chuckles.
“Look, maybe,” I say. “But it’s only given me the courage to say what I was already thinking. From the first moment I saw you, I’ve wanted to get to know you. I consider myself extremely lucky that my chosen bride is beautiful and smart.”
She looks away, trying to hide her blushing cheeks. “Well, obviously I’ve had way too much to drink,” she says. “Because I’m starting to believe you.”
I slip forward to kneel on the floor at her feet, my hands coming up to touch her cheeks. She freezes like a deer in crosshairs, every muscle strung tight, ready to flee.
Don’t. Stay. Please stay.
“You’re beautiful,” I whisper, trying to put as much meaning as I can into the words. “And I am honored to have you as my wife.”
Something breaks in her, and the tension runs out of her body. She leans forward, relaxing into my grip, and I rise up a little until our lips touch.
At first, it’s the lightest of touches, the barest graze of skin. I’m ready to pull away when Sara grabs my shoulders and leans down further, pressing her lips to mine.
A groan rises in my chest as heat streaks through me, all my pent-up desire mingling with the brandy and rushing every drop of blood in my body straight to my cock.
I’m held in her grip—her hands on my shoulders, her lips locked on mine.
I don’t dare move as she deepens the kiss, our lips getting hot and slick as she explores with her tongue.
Sara leans forward, putting her full weight on my shoulders and keeping me pinned on my knees. I tilt my head back, letting her kiss me, the soft, experimental flicks of her tongue teasing me as the intensity builds with agonising slowness.
A little moan of pleasure eases through her lips, and her hands loosen on my shoulders, running down my upper arms. As she tilts forward, I reach up, gently touching her shoulders to hold my own balance.
She slowly trails her fingers back up to my shoulders, tracing lightly up the back of my neck and making goosebumps explode down my spine.
My legs are starting to cramp, and my cock is painfully trapped against my pants as it slowly gets harder than it's ever been, but I don’t dare move.
With another happy sigh, she puts one hand on the back of my neck and rests her forehead against mine. Her other hand slips under my collar, down my chest, pushing the edges of the shirt out of the way as she caresses me with her fingertips.
The light touch sends shivers running down my belly, and my aching cock presses painfully against my pants. I tighten my grip on her shoulders, straightening up a little as I try to relieve the pressure.
“Hmm…” Sara mutters, stroking my chest as her other hand grips my neck. As I pull back, I see that her eyes are closed, and her deep red lips are curved with a soft, drunken smile.
I lean in and press my lips to hers, my hands tightening on her upper arms as I pull her towards me.
A groan rips out of my throat as I pull her closer, my lips roughly shoving at hers as I search for her tongue with mine.
For a moment, she submits to the kiss and goes limp in my hands, and something inside me breaks.
I grip her upper arms and lean upwards as I pull her down, ready to hurl her onto the floor and indulge myself in every inch of her gorgeous body.
Suddenly, she sits up, pushing me away with both hands. I rock back on my heels, almost dizzy enough to fall straight on my ass.
“I’m sorry,” I gasp, trying to regain my balance as I stagger to my feet. “I—ah—I should probably just leave you be and go to bed. Goodnight.”
“Wait,” Sara says, grabbing my hand before I can walk away.
“Yes?” I ask, looking down at her. She’s more beautiful than ever with her hair tousled, her eyes bright, and her mouth flushed red from our kiss.
“Can you—would you like to sleep in the big bed tonight?” she asks hesitantly, as if it’s difficult to get the words out. “With me?”
I tighten my hand on hers, feeling my blood rushing with heat again as lust rises in me.
“Yes,” I answer. “Yes, I would.”