Chapter Seven
For two weeks, there's complete silence on the case. There aren't any new leads, and thankfully, no other bodies have been found. I've not spent a ton of time with the pack, either. Between classes, my podcast, and shifts at the station, I've stayed busy. Lawrence, of course, joined me again in the studio for my shifts. This past weekend, Henry came with on Friday night. Then Banks came with him Saturday. They said it was because they were bored and wanted something to do, but Lawrence quickly called them out on the little white lie, saying it's actually because they wanted to see me. It's really weird, because as much as I've always been my own independent person, I've missed them, too. To the point where I've hugged Lawrence every day that I've seen him, and breathe in all of their scents off of him.
It's Friday afternoon and I've just finished editing my latest podcast episode when I hear a vehicle crunching down the gravel of my driveway. I stand to stretch and go look out to see who it is. The SUV has just stopped when Saint hops out and makes his way to the door. I pop it open at the same time he raises his hand to knock.
"Hi," I tell him, crossing my arms over my chest and leaning my shoulder onto the frame.
"Hey," he starts. "Sorry, I tried to call, but it kept going to voicemail."
I glance over my shoulder at my phone lying beside my bag on the couch. "Oops, my bad. I always silence it when I'm recording. That way it doesn't accidentally interrupt me. Makes it easier to not try and edit out."
"I understand," he says.
"Want to come in?" I ask. I feel kind of like an ass, standing in the doorway and not letting him through. However, at the same time, he has my number and hasn't spoken to me much at all this week. Only to let me know that there haven't been any new developments in the case and to check and see how I'm doing.
"Sure," he says, stepping inside when I move. "I was actually hoping that we could go out, though."
I shift my bag to the corner of the room, clearing up space on the couch and un-silencing my phone. "Where did you have in mind? Please tell me there wasn't another body found."
He shakes his head, taking a seat on my small couch. If I was a less-stronger-willed person, I may have giggled at big bad Saint sitting on a dainty, little, pale-green loveseat.
"No bodies since the last one, thankfully," he says. "There's a fall festival going on this weekend on the very edge of town. I was hoping you'd go with me."
"I can't," I tell him sadly. "I've got a shift tonight at the radio station."
"Lawrence is covering for you," he replies easily.
I fold my arms over my chest again and lean back. "What's the catch? Why are we really going?"
"It's a big event around here. Lots of people go," he says slowly.
I perk up at this. "You think the killer might be there, don't you?"
Dipping his chin once, he replies, "Yes, I do."
"So, this is like some undercover, dangerous, official police business, huh?" I ask, more excited than I should be.
He sighs, "I know. I shouldn't be putting you in danger. I suck at this, but we agreed---"
"The case comes first," I finish for him. "Absolutely."
"I need a cover. I'm just a regular guy, taking his girlfriend on a date," he says.
I can't explain why, but him saying it like that makes me sad. Do I want the case to come first? One thousand percent. Does it still sting a little that he's only doing this and calling me his girlfriend because of the case? Yes, to that, too. Standing, I go to walk by him, asking for a few minutes to get ready.
He grabs my hand before I make it past him. "Real dates as my girlfriend once this is over, yes?"
With the sting not hurting so bad, I nod, smiling softly before going to change my clothes. I dress to match him in jeans and a long sleeve shirt, knowing it's supposed to get cool tonight. When I come back into the room, he's over by the window checking the locks on it.
"I check those every day," I tell him.
"Good," he says. "Doesn't hurt to check them twice."
I don't argue with him, because I agree, it doesn't. Grabbing my phone and some cash out of my wallet, I stuff them in my pockets and grab a jacket.
"Ready?" he asks.
"As I'll ever be," I retort.
On the ride over, I ask him continuous questions about the things we need to be looking for and how I might be able to spot someone acting suspicious. He humors me, answering all of the questions that I have. I don't tell him that I'm nervous. Not about what we're doing, but doing a bad job and disappointing him. I tuck it all deep down, and put myself in the shoes of a girlfriend simply enjoying the evening with her boyfriend. Which is all acting in itself, too, because how does someone who's never had a true boyfriend know what to do?
I wait until Saint gets out and comes around to open my door for me. He leans in to put his mouth close to my ear. "You ready?"
His sweet, cinnamon scent drowns me for a second, completely shutting down my brain. My eyes closed as he was speaking, and they're slow to open back up so that I can look at him. I nod, and he takes my hand. We spend the next few hours walking around hand in hand. Saint buys us corn dogs and lemonade then cotton candy. Thankfully, after we ride the Ferris wheel and this other spinning ride. Because the latter just about made me sick. I didn't even know that I could get motion sick. After all of that, we come to a small stand promising a prize for everyone. All we've got to do is throw a small bean bag in an even smaller hole. A secret I've never had the chance to ever tell anyone is that I used to play cornhole in my parent's backyard for fun. So, this game is easy. Saint, of course, makes it look even easier. He's like a dang professional, hitting his hole every single time. The man hands him three more bags and says that if he hits every one, he can take home whatever prize he wants. Sounds kind of like cheating, because he hit all of them with the ones he paid for. Saint plays along, though, not missing a single one.
When the guy asks him which prize he wants, he turns to me, "What'll it be, babe?"
My heart trips over itself, making me point to the first thing in sight. A giant, furry black bear with a tiny red heart on his chest. "That one."
The guy hands it to Saint to give to me. Excited whether this is real or not, I reach up on my toes and press my lips against his cheek. We walk around a bit more afterwards, coming across a live band toward the back of the festival. They've got a dance floor laid out where couples are enjoying each other with the music.
"Care to dance?" Saint asks, reaching out a hand for me.
"Sure," I tell him, finding an empty chair to set my prize in before adding, "I have to warn you, though, I've been told that I have two left feet."
He barks out a laugh as he leads us to the floor. In a move straight out of the movies, he spins me quickly then pulls me back to him. It steals my breath as I look up into his gaze.
"Maybe you just didn't have the right partner," he says, his smile growing as our feet move.
Hell, maybe he's right. He takes us around the dancefloor, spinning and dipping me in ways I never ever saw myself being able to do. As much as I'm enjoying it, I'm grateful when the song switches to a slow one. Not only because it gives me the chance to take stock of our surroundings better and the people around us, but I need a quick break from the spins. I'm not sure I'm fully recovered from the ride.
I lay my head sideways on his chest, people watching as I tell him, "Thank you for tonight. It's been fun."
His sigh is deep and blows his hot breath through my hair at my ear. "It really has. I don't do stuff like this anymore."
I pull back to look at him. "Why not?"
He shrugs beneath my hands. "Stay so busy, I guess. Besides, this job sometimes ages you mentally and wears you down sometimes."
"So, what you're telling me is that when this is all done and over, that I need to make sure to keep you doing things like this?" I ask, knowing good and well that's what I plan on doing.
"Maybe," he says, rewarding me with a soft smile.
This close I can see all of the small freckles dotting his nose like he used to spend a lot of time in the sun. His dark-brown eyes flick down to my lips, making my belly do flips. Damn the consequences , I tell myself as I go up on my tiptoes and offer my mouth to him. He's just tall enough that he'll have to lean down the rest of the way for the kiss, and he doesn't disappoint. As his lips press against mine, there's almost an immediate sizzle that races through my body. It's like I can't get enough of him. Then I part my lips and let him inside. By inside I don't just mean his tongue, either. His sweet, cinnamon scent engulfs me, burying itself deep. His compassion to help other people and protectiveness of what he feels needs it, has drawn me in and trapped me in his web.
I swear, I could kiss him forever, but the sound of thunder has us pulling apart and glancing toward the sky.
"I didn't know we were supposed to get a storm tonight," I whisper to the sky.
"I didn't either," he says curiously.
A lot of people are leaving, because the band has stopped playing. Even more are leaving the park as a bolt of lightning streaks across the sky.
"Guess that means the night is over, huh?" I ask, stepping away and moving over to where I left my bear.
Saint is right on my heels, so he runs into my back when I abruptly stop. Glancing around to make sure I'm in the right place, I ask him, "I did set it right there, didn't I?"
"Yes," he replies while also looking around for it.
Another bright bolt of lightning and rumble of thunder has a few of the girls around us screaming and running toward the entrance.
"Maybe some kid picked it up," I suggest.
He takes my hand and pulls us in the flow of people. Putting an arm around my shoulders, he tucks me in tight against his body, kissing my temple. "I'm sorry. I will get you another one."
Who needs a fake bear when I've got one practically hanging onto me for dear life right now ? I don't tell him that. Instead, just enjoy the feeling of his body against mine. As soon as we step into the SUV, the bottom drops out of the sky, pounding rain against the windows.
It takes what feels like forever to get out of the festival traffic, but worth every second that I get to sit in here with Saint, replaying the night in my head. He's quiet the whole ride to my house. I worry about what has his mind occupied, but I convince myself not to ask in case it's disappointing.
When we get to my house, he pulls as close to the small porch as possible.
He glances over at me. "Ready?"
"One, two," I start.
Then together we blurt, "Three!" and jump out of the car, making a mad dash for cover. We're still both drenched by the time that we make it. I laugh as he shakes water out of his hair and it goes everywhere.
I unlock the door and turn back around with every intention of expressing my gratitude for the night. Even if it was just undercover for the case. Doesn't make it any less fun. But words don't happen as Saint closes the distance between us in one long stride and slams his lips down on mine. Once again, like at the festival, I'm completely consumed by him.
He walks me backward until my back touches the wall so that he can press his body against me. His hand comes up, gently grasping my throat, tilting my head back even further so that he can kiss me even deeper. When I can feel him starting to slow down and I know that the end is coming, a small whine leaves my throat. His reaction is instant. With a soft growl, he grabs the back of my thighs and lifts, bringing me up to his level as I instinctively wrap my legs around his waist.
Holding onto the sides of his face, I take as much as I'm willing to give him in return. Which is everything. Rain pounds the roof of my tiny house, falling down to hit the ground in little plops. All the while the thunder rolls around us with every flash of light. It, nor us, stopping for the other.
Saint pulls my back away from the wall and begins to walk us inside. He kicks the door shut behind us, and reaches back to what I'm assuming is to lock it.
The tiny house has its perks. There's only one place the bed can be in here, and he makes a beeline for it, walking past the small kitchenette and the stairs leading up to the loft. My bed is huge and covered in pillows, some of which we'll have to throw off to make room for him.
He sets me down on the edge of the bed and stands to his full height, leaving my face level with the hardness straining behind his jeans.
I look up at him through my lashes.
"Tell me to stop," he says through a quiet, strangled voice.
I don't want to, but I don't want him hating himself in the morning, either. So, I remind him, "What about the case?"
"To hell with the case," he barks gently. "I've sacrificed every happiness I've ever been due for others. I don't want to sacrifice you, too. Tell me this is as far as you want us to go."
Otherwise...
It's unspoken and doesn't need to be said out loud. I want the otherwise. As much as I want to help him solve this case and help the girls and the community, I want to be selfish, too. I shake my head slowly, giving him his answer. His low growl is loud in the small space. Then his lips are back on mine, and I don't know where I begin and he ends. There's a flurry of clothes being removed all while the storm rages outside. Our tongues tangle and dance around each other as he stalks his way onto the bed, pulling my body with him up to the pillows. The insane amount of strength that it must take to do it, only succeeds in having more slick seeping out of me, like the wet spot where I was sitting wasn't enough. My body is more than willing and past the point of being ready for him.
He buries his face in my neck, marking the spot with his scent and his tongue before working down to my breasts where he showers each one of them with attention. He works both nipples into hard, stiff peaks before moving his lips down my belly. I grab the sides of his head as my stomach gets squirmy on the inside. But it's nothing compared to how it feels when his mouth finds my clit. My back arches off the bed as I grasp his head even harder, possibly leaving scratches under his hair.
He bites and sucks on it until the sensation becomes too much. I try to push his head away, but he growls a deep sound from his chest, shoving his face hard into the spot and thrusting one finger and then two inside of me and nothing else matters anymore, because my body tingles as I fall apart with a shout that mixes with the sound of the thunder.
Slowly, he climbs back up my body, taking turns licking his lips and my skin. When he kisses me again, I can taste myself on him. I never realized just how much of a turn on that is. Probably because I've never had a guy, or a man in Saint's case, go down on me and ravish me the way that he did.
By the time that he's slowly starting to push inside of me, I'm ready and willing to take all of it. Lifting my hips, I use my heels to dig into his cheeks, letting him know just how badly I want him. He still takes his time until he's buried as deep as he can go. His face finds my neck again and he nuzzles it with his face.
"Saint," I whisper against his ear.
Losing what seems to be his last thread of patience, he raises up and grabs my hips. From then on, it's a wild ride of who can take who harder and faster. For every time he pulls out and thrusts back in hard and deep, I raise my hips to meet him. Beads of sweat have broken out across both of our bodies. That's when I start to feel his knot swelling.
It sends a jolt of panic through me. It's the only reason I can explain why I tell him, "I've never been knotted before."
He groans, thrusting one more time before he pulls out. I want to take it back and tell him to forget I said anything, but I don't get the chance to. Grabbing my legs, he flips me over to my belly in one quick move before covering my body with his.
"Present for your alpha, omega," he barks in my ear.
If I thought the slick seeping out of me was bad before, I can literally feel it pouring almost as bad as the rain outside. I whine because, of course I've watched alpha and omega porn, but I've never actually presented to anyone before. Seeming to sense my distress, he grabs my hips and lifts me to my knees before pressing a hand against the middle of my back, forcing my chest against the bed. It leaves me defenseless and completely at his mercy. Another whine leaves my throat right before he slams back into me.
He keeps his hand on my back to keep me from being able to lift my upper body as he fucks me harder and harder. Then his knot begins to press against my entrance and my body decides it wants to fight him. The more I struggle, the harder he holds me down until he locks into that place inside of me that is meant for alphas like him. I buck against him as we both start to come. The more I try to pull him out, the better it feels until I'm finally spent and crash against the bed. He whispers praises against the skin of my back before lowering the rest of his body to cover me. One of his arms goes under my head while the other wraps around my torso and we lay with me underneath him, trapped in more ways than one while we both come down from the stars.
"I'm sorry if I was too rough," he murmurs in my ear, nuzzling his face into the hair behind it.
"Mmm," I reply. "Don't be. That was the best sex of my life."
He makes a sound of approval in the back of his throat right before he starts purring. Between his weight pressing down on me, his cinnamon scent blocking out everything else, the sound of both his purring and the storm outside, I fall asleep faster than I ever have in my life.
I wake up sometime later with Saint soft inside of me. He must've moved us to our sides once I fell asleep then passed out himself before his knot went down. I'm not complaining. I rather like the feeling of waking up like this with him still inside of me and wrapped up tight in his arms.
The storm is still in full swing outside, so it can't be too much later. Lightning is flashing every couple of minutes, lighting up the room before plunging it back down into darkness again. I lay for a few minutes listening to it and enjoying this feeling and moment of peace Saint has given me.
When the next rumble of thunder hits, I swear it sounds like it rattles something on the porch. It's got me alert enough that I'm trying to listen for more than the plops of rain outside and the rumbles. The next round of lightning illuminates a shadow on the window of the door, but when I turn quickly nothing is there. Maybe because I'm spooking myself out, but I can't stand not knowing.
Gently extracting myself from Saint, I throw on his shirt from the end of the bed before slowly walking to the door. I peek out between the blinds making the hole as small as possible. The storm must've knocked the power out, because none of the streetlights or houses around have any lights on. It's darker than I've ever seen outside. A chill races down my spine that has nothing to do with the lights. If there were any good moments to snatch someone up and kill them. Tonight, would be the night. No lights. Too loud to hear someone scream over the storm. I hope like hell that I'm wrong. That the very ominous feeling in my gut has to do with spooking myself.
Another flash of lightning illuminates the yard. I get a good look from the trees to my left all the way to the street and to the main house to my right. Nothing is there. I let out a sigh and step away from the door. The loudest thunder yet sounds out just as I turn and run into a body. I scream and start punching. I've got a good three licks in before Saint's nakedness and voice registers.
He yanks me to him, putting my face against his chest. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. I called out to you but you must not have heard me."
Grabbing the sides of my face, he tilts my head up to look at him. "Are you okay? What are you doing up?"
I nod, but all I can manage to get out is the word, "Storm."
My heart is still racing ninety miles a minute as he takes my hand and leads us back to my bed. He crawls up and gets under the cover before reaching out a hand to me. I strip his shirt back off, wanting to feel him against me again. I crawl up after him and settle underneath the warm blanket. He rubs my back and starts purring again until I fall back asleep.
The next morning, the rain is still coming down in a monsoon, but the worst of the storm seems to have passed as the lightning and thunder aren't happening anymore. We woke up again a few hours ago and what feels like only just went back to sleep after another round. There aren't any sounds in the house other than Saint's soft snores and the pitter-patter of rain hitting the collecting puddles outside.
I cuddle into his side, accidentally waking him in the process. He sucks in a deep breath through his nose and exhales as he wraps his arms around me and tightens them. "Good morning."
"Morning," I tell him quietly with a kiss to the stubble on his chin.
"Sounds like the rain is just never ending," he mumbles.
I smile and close my eyes while listening to it. "I like it. You can hear it really well here in the tiny house."
He buries his nose into my hair. "You know what I like about the tiny house? That I can wake up with you in my arms like this."
"You don't regret it?" I ask with my eyes still closed, dreading the answer.
"Look at me, Darci," he demands, lifting my chin from his chest. When I do, he says, "Not a snowball's chance in hell. I told you last night. I'm willing to risk it all if I have to. Once I make my mind up about something like that, there's no going back."
I press a kiss against his lips, smiling as I do. We lay in the warm bed cuddling and talking around listening to the rain for a little while longer.
He finally stretches and asks, "Want to come over today?"
I don't think it's a question that needs answered, but I do anyway. "Yes."
“I’m going to have to get you a gift,” he mutters to himself. “Since we lost your prize last night.”
There’s only one thing I can think of that I will gladly take in place of my big, black bear, and we’re headed to the perfect place for it.