Chapter 11
eleven
JADE
Abby, Stella, and their mates had everything taken care of as far as Emmy and Finn’s mating process by the time Wyatt and I emerged from the climax.
None of us thought it was going to go well, but it was going, and there was no way to stop it.
I felt a tiny bit bad for not being there to help from the beginning, but ultimately, I felt too amazing to have much guilt.
Wyatt and I were mates, and it was just plain fun.
We spent the rest of my two weeks off of work watching movies, hiking, and even working in his garage when a woman who needed help with her minivan came by and asked with tears in her eyes.
The way Wyatt agreed without hesitation made my chest burn with pride.
He was a good guy.
A really good guy.
The way he took care of me, spent time with me, and tried to make me happy, was incredible. I felt like a million bucks when I was with him, and tried to make him feel the same way.
On our last day before my job started, we sat on our porch with a bottle of champagne to celebrate. I was sitting on his lap, and he was sprawled out on a large lounge chair.
The champagne wasn’t going to get us drunk, but just the act of drinking it made me feel a little more human. It was the same thing I would’ve done to celebrate if I wasn’t a werewolf, though I would’ve limited myself to a small amount rather than even almost risking a hangover on my first day.
“You’re going to be a real fucking scientist, Hoover,” Wyatt said with a grin, as I took a swig from the bottle.
“I know. It’s insane. I’m all jittery.” I shimmied my shoulders a little. “I can’t wait to start.”
“Distraction will help.” Wyatt took the bottle from my hands and tipped it back for a swallow. “Truth or dare.”
“Truth,” I said.
“What are you most excited for about the job?” he asked.
“Learning. Finding out more about how werewolves work. Figuring out how everything functions and trying to see if I can make a difference in the process.” I took the bottle. “Truth or dare?”
“Dare.”
“Jump in the lake.” I gestured toward it.
The water was still freezing cold. I had no idea if it ever got warm where we were.
Wyatt looked over, like he was actually considering it.
“I was kidding, Jones. It’s freezing cold. I was going to ask you if you ever want to have kids. We should’ve talked about that sooner.”
“I haven’t thought about it. I could probably go either way,” Wyatt said.
Then looked back at the lake.
His hands landed on my hips.
“Don’t even think about it,” I warned. “I am not going for a swim.”
“How about a dip?”
“No.”
“Truth or dare?”
I shot him a warning look. “I’m serious, Wyatt. Truth.”
“Do you want to have kids?” he asked.
“No,” I admitted. “I like them, but I’ve never thought about them as part of my future.”
“I get that.”
His grip tightened again.
“Truth or dare?” I asked, hoping it would distract him. He was obviously still thinking about the swim.
“Dare.”
“Don’t take me anywhere near the lake.”
H flashed me a wicked grin. “Alright. Truth or dare.”
“Truth.”
“Give me a play-by-play of your last sexual encounter with someone other than me in excruciating detail.”
I narrowed my eyes at him.
His grin widened.
“You’re lucky you’re so hot,” I said.
“I know.”
When I scowled, he kissed me. I was going to end up in the water. I should never have brought it up.
I sighed dramatically after he pulled away. “Alright, Jones. Give me the dare.”
“Fuck me in the lake.”
“It’s so cold that I won’t be turned on, and you won’t be hard.”
He considered it, then nodded his agreement. “Jump in the lake with me, and we’ll have sex in the shower afterward.”
Dammit.
“If we freeze to death, it’s on you,” I warned.
“I’ll take full responsibility.”
Wyatt stood up, lifting me to my feet with him. “Ready?”
“Never.”
He laughed, scooping me into his arms and striding toward the edge of the porch.
Was he seriously going to jump off the—
Yeah, he was.
I screamed as he launched us into the lake.
The water felt like pure ice.
But you know what?
I was starting my dream job the next day.
And I was permanently mated to the sexiest man I’d ever met, who also happened to be smart, fun, and have a great sense of humor.
I could survive a polar plunge or two.