Chapter 9 The Proposition
CHAPTER NINE
the proposition
IVER
Gravel crunches beneath the soles of my boots as I step out of my truck in front of Cheyenne’s cabin, the slam of my door echoing in the quiet night as I shove it closed behind me.
The front light is switched on, casting a soft orange glow over the porch from the weathered sconce beside the door.
It swings open before I can even take a step, the floorboards of the old porch creaking as my mate steps outside, blinking in surprise when our eyes meet.
“What are you doing here?” Chey asks breathlessly.
She clearly wasn’t expecting to find me loitering in her driveway, but fuck, it’s good to see her.
It’s been days– three, to be exact– and I’ve been aching to set eyes on my mate.
We’ve been texting nonstop since our movie night, but she’s avoided making plans to meet up in person, always finding some sort of excuse as to why she can’t.
It’d hurt my feelings if I didn’t know it’s just a defense mechanism.
She wants to protect herself; prevent a repeat of what happened the last time we hung out.
I meant it when I said we’d work through this together, though, and we actually have to see one another to do that.
“You wanna go for a ride?” I ask, throwing a thumb over my shoulder toward my truck.
She purses her lips, amber eyes flickering over me skeptically. “Where?”
“It’s a surprise,” I answer with a grin.
She folds her arms over her chest, pinning me with a stare. “You should probably know that I’m not a huge fan of surprises.”
“But what if it’s a good surprise?” I challenge.
She stabs a finger into her chest. “Riddled with anxiety, remember?” she asks, arching a brow.
“Sounds like you could use a ride up the mountain to look at the stars, then,” I reply, winking as I beckon her with a flick of my head and slap a palm against the roof of my truck. “Hop in, beautiful.”
Chey cocks her head, chewing on her lower lip as she considers my offer.
I’m hedging my bets on the hope that she’ll have a harder time turning me down in person, relying on our bond to act as my wingman. Just as it’s pulling me to her right now, she has to be feeling that same tug in her chest drawing us together.
“Okay, just let me throw on my shoes and grab my keys,” she concedes with a sigh, her golden blonde hair whipping behind her as she pivots on a heel and rushes back inside.
I grin to myself as I lean back against the side of my truck, waiting for her to emerge. Two tortuous minutes later, she reappears, locking the cabin up behind her and bounding down the path toward me.
She’s dressed casually in leggings and a t-shirt, but it’s warm enough tonight that she shouldn’t need a jacket. Summer is at its peak, which means the day’s heat often lingers well after the sun goes down.
Cheyenne slides me a coy smile as she passes by, rounding the front of the truck to get in on the passenger side. I slip in behind the wheel as she does, and after buckling up and cranking the key in the ignition, we hit the road.
My wolf has been wily the past couple days, keening to see our mate, and now he’s finally settled. Chey’s scent fills the cab of my truck and I drag it into my lungs like an addict, biting back a groan as it overwhelms my senses.
I missed the way she smells.
I missed her.
And from the way she keeps glancing over at me from the passenger seat, color rising to her cheeks, I’d venture to say that she missed me, too.
Our conversation flows easily as I navigate the forest roads of the six-pack territory, and it isn’t long before I’m pulling off at a scenic overlook where the trees give way to a full, unobstructed view of the night sky.
Shifting the gear into park, I cut the ignition and unfasten my seatbelt, climbing out of the truck.
Chey follows suit, watching curiously as I grab the stack of blankets I brought along from the back seat and go around to pop the tailgate.
Climbing up into the truck bed, I unfold and spread them out, arranging a comfortable spot for us to lay down and stargaze.
Then I step back over to the tailgate, extending a hand to help her up.
She places hers in mine with a shy smile, climbing up and scooching back to settle onto the blankets. I drop down beside her and stretch out with a relaxed sigh, folding my arms behind my head and looking up at the expanse of stars overhead.
“I can’t remember the last time I just looked at the stars,” she breathes, shifting her weight to get more comfortable.
“Gotta take time to enjoy the little things,” I murmur. “My family used to do this all the time when I was young, we’d play this game where we’d look up at the stars and map out our own constellations.” I turn my head sideways to look at her, arching a brow. “Wanna try it?”
She turns her head to meet my gaze. “Sure, you go first.”
My lips curve into a grin and I look up again, eyes mapping out images in the night sky overhead.
It’s so clear tonight, the stars shining like diamonds against the blanket of blackness.
I easily pick out some traditionally familiar constellations, like the big dipper and Orion’s belt, as well as a few made-up ones that are only recognizable to me and my family, like the little wolf and the Alpha’s barbell.
My eyes trace the patterns in the sky as I use my imagination to piece them together into a picture, just like I used to when I was young.
“Alright, see that bright one right there and the two little ones next to it?” I ask, extending an arm and pointing a finger.
She squints as she tries to discern what I’m pointing at. “Yeah, I think so…”
“Follow those stars that curve down to the left,” I say, gesturing. “Totally looks like a magician’s top hat, right? See the way that line of stars makes the brim?”
She squints harder. “Oh damn, you’re right,” she gasps. “I can totally see it.”
I glance her way, grinning. “Your turn.”
Chey rolls her eyes with a sigh, angling her head up to the sky again. “I’m probably not gonna be any good at this,” she mumbles as she narrows her eyes, pursing her lips in consideration as she looks at the stars.
I’m only looking at her.
The glow of the night sky illuminates the soft contours of her face, shadows clinging to the hollows beneath her cheekbones and the dip of her cupid’s bow. Cheyenne Clark is so damn beautiful it hurts. I couldn’t look away right now if I tried.
“Okay, I think I’ve got one,” she finally declares, lips curving in a victorious smile as she raises a hand and points up at the sky.
I snap out of the trance I’m in, refocusing my gaze to follow where she’s pointing.
“See that cluster of stars right there? The two really bright ones with the dimmer ones in a curve underneath?”
“Mhmm,” I hum as I identify the cluster she’s describing.
“Totally looks like a smiley face.”
I snort a laugh, shaking my head.
“What?” she huffs, turning to face me.
“A smiley face?” I tease. “That’s the best you can do?”
“Hey, I thought it was pretty good for my first try,” she scoffs, waving me away as she turns her gaze skyward again.
I chuckle to myself as I follow suit, the two of us laying there in companionable silence for a few minutes as we look at the stars and listen to the chirp of the insects.
“Thank you,” Chey murmurs quietly.
My brows pinch together as I push up on an elbow, glancing down at her. “For what?”
She blows out a breath, gaze hooking on mine. “Showing up, bringing me out here… I’ve been in my head since the other night, and I just…” she trails off, throat bobbing with a swallow. “I really needed this.”
Pride swells in my chest, my inner wolf fucking preening. Look at us, taking care of our mate. “Of course,” I drawl smoothly, beaming her a grin. “Whatever you need Chey, I’m here.”
She suddenly sits up, carding her fingers through her hair as she glances down at me, brow arched. “How about a kiss?”
I curl up to sit beside her a little too quickly. “Are you sure?” I question, searching her amber eyes.
She sinks her teeth into her lower lip, nodding. “Yeah, I feel like I just need to rip off the band-aid, ya know?”
I hiss a wince at her wording. “Man, you make it sound like a chore,” I tease.
“Get back on the bike?” she rephrases, cocking her head.
My brows lift, and I resist making a joke about what kind of ride I can offer her, raising a fist to my mouth and clearing my throat instead.
She obviously knows where my mind wandered, huffing a sigh and waving a hand. “Ugh, you know what I mean. Instead of being scared of what’ll happen if we try again, I just need to keep at it, try to work through my issues with being touched.”
“About that,” I murmur, eyeing her. “I’ve been giving it some thought, and I’ve got a proposition for you.”
Chey squints back at me suspiciously. “A proposition?”
I nod, holding my hands out to her, palm up. “Take my hands.”
“Okay…” she replies slowly, reaching out for them. Sparks bloom between our skin on contact, a pleasurable sizzle sinking into my veins.
Mate.
“Maybe it’s not about physical touch, but having control over it,” I suggest. “So, my hands are yours tonight. Put them wherever you want, and I won’t move them unless you do.”
She arches a dubious brow, glancing down at our hands, then back up to my face. “You really think that’s gonna work?”
I shrug a shoulder. “Worth a try, right?”
Chey stares into my eyes, and I can practically see the wheels turning in her brain. I know she’s nervous. I know she’s scared she’ll freak out again. But at some point she’s going to realize that no matter what happens, I’m not going anywhere. We’re in this together.
Sliding her hands beneath mine, Cheyenne pulls them toward her body, turning my palms in to rest against her waist. “Like this?” she asks tentatively.
“Exactly,” I nod. “You’re in complete control.”