Chapter 34
CLIO
The axle took longer than I expected because of a rusted bolt.
I dealt with them every day, but with a hydraulic torque wrench when I didn’t have to put any muscle into it.
This stupid bolt had me standing on the lug wrench, then jumping on it to get it to turn.
Thankfully, the trailer was on the back side of the stable, so the only one watching had been Cletus from the pasture. Or heard my swearing.
Sam wasn’t here for me to talk to, but at least I could do this for him. I could try to show up for him the way he had shown up for me.
Once I got the rusted bolt loose, the work went quickly. I’d heard about cooks putting love into the food they prepared. I poured my gratitude for Sam into this work. Hoping he’d receive this little favor for what it was–an act of love.
I finished up, trying to formulate a plan. Should I leave him a note? Send a text? Call? Wait for Wes to tell him I showed up?
I went around the corner carrying my toolbox, and I ran into a wall.
A hot, muscled wall that I bounced off of.
My toolbox dropped to the ground with a clatter.
“Sparks.”
I looked up from my spilled tools. “Sam,” I breathed.
He was here. He was here.
“I came–”
“I went–”
I bit my lip because we spoke over each other.
He quieted.
I was reveling in his presence. Oh, how I’d missed his scent. How he looked. Felt. There were dark circles under his eyes, but he looked freshly showered and shaved, and the way his eyes were glued to my face told me nothing had changed for him.
“I went to the shop to see you.”
“I was here,” I said, realizing I was an idiot.
He smiled softly. Carefully. “Yeah, I know.”
“What were you doing–”
“You fixed my trailer.” We spoke over each other again.
“You said the axle was broken, and you needed it for the rodeo,” I explained.
“You–” he cleared his throat “–you did that for me even though…?”
“I did it because you needed it fixed and because I fucked everything up.”
Suddenly, I found myself wrapped up in Sam’s strong arms. “You didn’t fuck anything up, Sparks,” he said softly. “You aren’t sure of me yet, and that’s okay–”
“No, I am. I am sure of you, Sam. More sure than I’ve ever been in my life. You’re mine, and I’m yours.”
“Sparks.” His voice hitched.
“I’m sorry I panicked. I’m sorry I’ve been closed off from the start because of what Ted and his pack did. I didn’t give you a fair chance.”
He stroked my hair. “No, I get it. You were scared. Your most important job is taking care of your pup, and you felt threatened.”
My vision went blurry. “Sam,” I whispered. “I’m so sorry. I compared you to Ted. Compared your pack to his. I was wrong.”
He shook his head. “You were being careful.”
“Too careful. You didn’t give me any reason to doubt.”
He blinked hard. “Thank you.” He kissed the top of my head. “I should’ve proved myself enough so that no matter what anyone said, I was the one you turned to for answers.”
Silly man. He’d proved himself plenty.
“I love you!” I blurted.
Sam swayed on his feet, like my words nearly bowled him over. Then he cupped my face and said fiercely, “I love you so much, Clio. More than anything. Do you believe that?”
I nodded.
“I want you to feel safe with me. With the pack. So I want you to know, if there’s ever any situation–if you ever feel uncomfortable or threatened by my pack–I will leave it in a heartbeat to be with you.”
My eyes widened, and my mouth fell open. “What?”
“I choose you. I choose JT. I choose us.”
“I choose you, too, Sam. I choose us.”
Sam grinned. “You sure? There’s no going back now.”
I knew I was sure because I felt so buoyant I thought I might float right off the ground. “I’m sure.”
“You’ll be my mate? Carry our pups?”
“Are you going to claim me?”
His eyes turned that pale, silvery blue. His wolf wanted me. “Hell, yeah. How–”
“Audrey and Becky told me.”
His cock pressed against my belly, like he was excited by the thought.
“I’d have told you all about it, but we hadn’t gotten there yet.
I was taking my time with you. Waiting to tell you I’d put my mark here.
” His fingers slid down my neck and beneath the collar of my flannel, then tapped a spot on my shoulder.
His lips followed the finger, and he scraped his teeth against my skin.
I began to heat. Soften. A shiver of recognition rippled through my body. I wanted that bite.
I wanted to be his.
It seemed crazy–I’d only known this guy for a couple of weeks, but I was certain. Sam was the one.
Everything that happened with Ted happened to get me and JT here. To Cooper Valley. To this moment.
Fate had conspired to send me Sam, the perfect man to help raise my child. The man who put me first–even over his pack. The man who wanted to mark me as his and spend the rest of his life with me.
“Yes.” I looked up into Sam’s hungry wolf eyes.
“Yes, you want it there?”
“Yes, to everything. I’m all in, Sam.” I pulled my hair to the side and tugged the neckline of the flannel away to expose my shoulder. “Mark me.”