Chapter 16
The last of the equipment was loaded onto the UTV and secured so it wouldn’t come loose during their journey. Axel had thought of everything. Hopefully.
His heart continued to hammer a painful rhythm in his chest. For too many reasons. Some of which he didn’t want to dwell on.
“How about one teensy little hint?” Rebecca stood by, her arms crossed as she watched him skeptically. She was dressed for hiking.
That had been her plan this Saturday morning.
“You’ll see soon enough, lass. Just get on. Here—” He motioned her forward. She stepped up to the vehicle and then climbed in.
He spent longer than necessary buckling her into the harness. His fingers might have lingered. It was especially satisfying when her breath hitched as he checked the buckle around her chest, grazing the underside of her breast.
He needed the closeness, especially knowing what would come later. So he took his time, breathing in her scent. Letting it calm him before he got cold feet.
Then he rounded the vehicle and climbed in. It rocked with his weight. He fastened himself into place though it was unnecessary, given that a fall from this wouldn’t hurt him.
It had rained all day Thursday and Friday, making the ground soggy. Not an ideal day for hiking. And certainly less ideal for the UTV he kept stored in his workshop. But they’d make do.
They had a lot of ground to cover.
“Ready?” He looked at Rebecca, lingering over her features.
She was grinning. “I’ve always wanted to ride in one of these.”
He’d cornered her this morning over breakfast—told her there’d be a change of plans. That they’d be taking the UTV out today, that he had something he wanted to show her. She’d been wary but eager, especially when he packed lunches for them, making it clear they’d be gone a large part of the day.
She’d spent the time after breakfast getting the bunnies set for a day away, ensuring they had plenty of toys to keep them occupied in their absence. He might have stolen a few moments to watch her with them, feeling almost jealous over the way she doted on them.
He was mollified by the fact that he’d get her to himself the majority of the day.
It was a rough ride as the UTV bobbed along, climbing and descending the terrain. He knew the layout of his land, knew what routes to take. There were no paths or tracks—nothing groomed. But that’s where the UTV excelled.
Every time he went over a bump or sailed down a dip in the forest, his little witch made an excited noise. Soon enough, he was grinning too. There was something about feeling the breeze against your skin and the exhilaration that came with the vehicle’s speed.
Most of the time, it wasn’t as fast as he could have run in wolf form. But they had a lot of ground to cover. He’d meant what he said the other night. That they’d get Rebecca’s magic back. Do whatever it took.
And that meant he couldn’t hold back anymore. Couldn’t let his selfish desire to keep her close overshadow what needed to happen. It was especially clear after Ambrose Blackthorn overstepped one too many times.
The gobshite had since sent several more texts. But it was the call from her mother that had blindsided Rebecca and sent him over the edge.
He’d overheard the whole thing.
Rebecca didn’t know—hadn’t heard him come in last night. Her parents were pressuring her to marry into the Blackthorn family. They’d called her selfish for wanting to postpone the wedding when she could marry him tomorrow and bind their families together. Break the curse.
Over his dead fucking body was he letting his mate marry that fucker.
Which meant he could no longer avoid the one thing he’d spent the majority of his entire existence avoiding.
The vehicle ate up the miles that would have taken all day for Rebecca on foot, while he could have easily run the distance in his wolf form.
But it was all the gear they were hauling that made it especially desirable.
He didn’t know what they would find when they got there.
He wanted to be prepared for all eventualities.
She hadn’t seen what he’d packed, since he’d prepared the packs before dawn.
But she’d know soon enough.
An hour melted into two. It was a bone-jarring ride, even for him. The engine was loud, and they had to shout to be heard, so there wasn’t much talking. That was probably for the best.
He’d owned this land for over twenty years. Spent the first five meticulously mapping it out. Some parts were more familiar than others. Some parts he avoided more than others. One place in particular, he avoided at all costs.
Which was why, when he pulled up to the cave’s entrance and cut the engine, he barely recognized the site.
“Is that…? Is this…?” Rebecca’s voice was breathless, her gaze fixed on the black, yawning mouth, nestled in the deep ravine of the forest. Her hands trembled as she fussed and fumbled with the harness. He reached over to help her. She barely noticed, stumbling out of the vehicle, her eyes wide.
He climbed out and waited, standing a safe distance behind her.
Every hair on his body stood on end. His muscles were coiled tight. His breathing already erratic.
He kept his eyes on Rebecca. Not the cave’s entrance.
So he saw the moment the realization sank in.
The betrayal in her expression cut him to the bone.
He’d been prepared for it, but it still hurt. It was an expression he never wanted to see on her. Certainly not directed at him.
“You knew this was here.”
He said nothing, his tongue cemented to the roof of his mouth.
“You knew this was here—of course you did.” She let out an incredulous, angry laugh. “It’s your land. Why wouldn’t you? When I told you I was looking for a cave, you never said you didn’t know where it was. How could I have been so naive?”
“You aren’t naive.” He didn’t like that. The way she blamed herself. “I had the opportunity to tell you, and I didn’t. You trusted that I would, and I didn’t.”
“And why is that, Axel?” She crossed her arms, her gaze colder than he’d ever seen it. “You know how desperate I am to break this curse. You know I have a stalker ex trying to manipulate me. So, please. Tell me why?”
His throat worked as he swallowed. It was like his mouth was filled with sand. “At first, it was because of what you are—a witch. Trespassing on my property.”
“We moved past that weeks ago,” she burst out, cheeks flushed with anger.
“Yes, then it became something else.”
“What?” Birds took flight at her raised voice.
He took a step back, cowed. Because for the first time, he could see what she would be like with her full magic. Truly formidable. And yet, that didn’t scare him. Not like it might have weeks ago. Because he knew her better than that. Knew she would never harm him with her magic.
He licked his lips. “I… I like being near you. Thought that if I let you search on your own, it would take you longer.” He ran a hand through his hair, failing to hide his growing agitation.
It was this place. That dark opening. He wanted to be as far away from it as possible. Yet, he wouldn’t dare retreat. Not now.
Rebecca’s expression softened, but only slightly. “You didn’t tell me because you wanted to spend time with me?”
It sounded almost childish, the way it came out. If she knew the true extent of it, she might understand. But he couldn’t tell her. Wouldn’t.
“And now?” She lifted her brows. “Let me guess, Ambrose’s threatening messages.”
At the reminder of Blackthorn, he growled and closed the distance between them, even if it meant putting himself closer to the cave’s entrance. “I will not let that manky bastard marry you. He doesn’t get to have you.”
“Of course. Everything makes sense now.” She let out another incredulous laugh devoid of humor. “I can’t believe you hid this from me.”
He could think of so many arguments, so many variants of the same explanation. But every single one was an excuse.
So he did the one thing he could. Something he’d never been particularly good at. “I’m sorry, Rebecca. It was badly done.”
Her lips parted. “Did you just apologize to me?”
“Aye, lass.” His accent had thickened. “Can ye forgive me? Let me help you fix this. Break your curse.”
“I…” She exhaled, then turned towards the cave’s mouth.
The wind picked up. It carried a chill characteristic of October.
A strand of her hair came free, crossing her face, across her mouth.
Her lush lips. Lips he couldn’t stop staring at.
He reached out and brushed the strand back, hooking it behind her ear.
Her gaze cut to his. He saw the emotion there. Anger warring with something softer.
“You really didn’t tell me because you liked having me around?”
He sucked in a breath. “I do.”
“But you said—”
“I know exactly what I said. And that was badly done as well.”
“You were trying to push me away. Even though you wanted me close.” He hummed in confirmation. “Why?”
“Can’t tell you.”
“How about you try?”
“No.”
She sighed. “Fine. Then I suppose there’s no point to this conversation.”
She turned and walked away from him, toward the cave’s entrance, a determined clip to her steps. With every inch of distance between them, he felt colder, emptier, and more afraid.
His breaths sped up and he surged forward, closing the distance between them. If he could stay close, he might keep himself under control. When the scent of her chamomile and honey intensified, he felt calmer. His skin itched a little less.
“You’re doing that thing again, Wolfie.”
“What thing?” he growled.
“The thing where you follow me around.”
“I like following you.”
She stopped walking. Just stood staring at the cave entrance. When she glanced at him over her shoulder, something had shifted in her expression. “I can see that.”
Was she pleased? Good.
She started walking again. “So…all the little gestures, the meals, my bunnies, decorating the house. Was it because you felt guilty?”
“I was a right ass.”
“Yeah, kinda. You did a good job crushing my heart and hurting my feelings. Didn’t stop me from replaying our kiss over and over. Imagining it each time I touch myself before I fall asleep. In your bed.”
She kept walking, but he’d stopped dead in his tracks. Because there was only one image playing in his mind. The sight of her in his bed, hair fanning the pillow, legs splayed, her fingers stroking through her slick folds, writhing in his sheets.
“Fuck.” His blood rushed south and his cock instantly hardened.
When Rebecca turned to look at him, there was a knowing glint in her eyes.
“Little witch,” he growled.
Her eyes darted down, fixing on his pants. She licked her lips. “Hmm. Looks like you’re struggling with a biology problem, Wolfie.”
He stalked forward, took her by the waist and spun her around. She let out a puff of air as he pressed her against the rock wall next to the cave’s entrance. Then he was on her, his mouth fused to hers. His tongue pressing inside, forcing entrance.
Demanding to claim her.
She moaned and he swallowed it up, eating the sound with a hungry growl.
The notes of her scent changed, sharpened with the tang of lust. It made him harder. Made his balls ache.
Until Rebecca had come along, he’d forgotten what this felt like. This painful need for release. It had been decades. Now, he was taking himself in hand almost daily, usually in the shower when she was at work, forced to make himself come just to take the edge off.
His mouth grew rougher, one hand cupping her throat, the other gripping her thigh, pulling it up around his until her hips were better angled to the press of his cock. He ground into her, hard. Then pulled his mouth free. “How did it feel? When you touched yourself thinking about me?”
Her eyes were bright and slightly glazed. “Good. Good. It felt…good.”
“Bet it didn’t feel as good as the real thing.”
She licked her lips, which made her tongue brush his. His chest heaved. “I bet you’re right,” she decided. “We should test that theory.”
“You’re playing with fire, little witch.” He flexed his fingers around her throat and she let out a little whimper. “You like that?”
“Yes.” The word was breathless.
“You want me to rut you right here against the rock? Squeeze your soft little throat while you come on my cock?”
“God, yes.” Her pupils blew wide. The effect this had on his male pride was phenomenal.
Every thought in his mind honed in on the scenario playing out in his mind.
Her legs wrapped around his hips. His cock filling her.
He’d start slow, with deep, torturous thrusts.
Then he’d give her the roughness she craved.
He’d rut her hard enough that the sounds of their flesh echoed against the rock surrounding them.
“Fuck me,” he breathed, pressing his forehead against hers.
“Are you going to push me away again?”
“Didn’t work out so well last time, eh, lass?”
“Not really. No.”
“What do you want from me?” The question was out before he could stop it.
“For you to make me come would be a good start.”
His chuckle was rough. “Tell you what? Let’s get your curse knife. And when we get back, I’ll make you come as many times as you want.”
Her eyes widened. “Yeah?”
“But there will be conditions.”
Her expression turned guarded, suspicious. “What sort of conditions?”
“No sex—penetration,” he amended. “I’m going to eat your cunt so many times you’ll be begging me to stop.”
Her flush deepened. “I… Oh. Right. I guess I can work with that.”
“Good.” He backed up, putting space between them. The sudden distance made everything turn cold, like she’d kept all the heat for herself. Which was ridiculous, since wolves didn’t much mind the cold.
“I’ll get our supplies,” he gritted out, trying to tamp down the ache in his balls. He turned and strode for the UTV, opening the packs. He removed industrial grade headlamps, hard hats, and other things like rope, gloves, and spelunking gear.
“Wow, you really came prepared.”
“Not sure what we’ll need.”
“You’re…not?”
“No.”
“But…this is your cave?”
“So?”
“What are we going to encounter when we go in?”
“No idea.”
She balked. “You haven’t been inside?!”
“Nope.” He didn’t explain. Instead he loaded their hiking packs and handed one to her. Then gave her a hard hat and fastened his into place, even though it wasn’t necessary for him.
“Let’s go.”
“Okay…?” She stared at him, confused.
Turning on their headlamps, they set off. He braced himself for what was certain to be one of the most horrible experiences in centuries. And his little mate was about to witness every minute of it.