Chapter Fifteen

 

 

“What do you mean she was arrested?” Brandon asked on the other side of the line.

“I don’t know if she was or not,” I said between huge gulps of air, “but she was taken down to the station so–”

“All right. I’ll get her. Make sure things are sorted before we get home.”

Nodding, I said goodbye to Brandon, then hung up the phone. I’d already unplugged the waffle iron, but I went back into the kitchen and worked on the dishes anyway.

As I did, I couldn’t get the image of Dova getting in that patrol car out of my head.

She isn’t in trouble, I told myself as I scrubbed a serving dish for the fourth time. She just went down to put in her statement. It was only partially true, but it calmed me down all the same.

They couldn’t arrest her for something like this. They couldn’t keep her in jail.

Still, the longer it took for Brandon to bring her home, the more I wondered if I was wrong.

I’d been in the valley for less than a month. I didn’t know their laws as well as everyone else.

Could Dova get arrested? If so, then what did that mean for me? Would I still be able to stay? Would I be able to get her back?

The sound of a car door opening and closing pulled me from my thoughts, causing me to leave the dishes where they were.

As soon as I reached the front door, I opened it, running right into Dova.

“Thank god,” I said as I took her in my arms. “Did they do anything? Are you hurt? Hungry? I didn’t eat the waffle, so it’s still on the counter and–”

“Easy,” Dova said with a half-smile. “Take a breath.”

Tears bit at the backs of my eyes, but I held them back, relieved now that Dova was home. “S-sorry. I just… I was out of my mind.” The words came out in a hurried mess, and at first, I thought Dova might not have heard me.

However, when I went to say it again, she walked me into the foyer and said, “No one’s pressing charges. It was all a complete misunderstanding.”

“I–” My voice caught in the back of my throat. I wanted to believe her. I wanted to trust how they did things in town. But my gut told me something was wrong. There was something she wasn’t telling me. “No charges?”

“No,” Dova said again, pressing her forehead to mine. “They just wanted my statement and to file some paperwork, that’s all. It’s the same thing they had Bryce do for them.”

“H-he was there?”

“I’ll let you guys talk,” Brandon said as he closed the front door behind him. “I’m not going into work just yet, so if you need anything…” He placed a hand on my shoulder, then continued toward the kitchen.

“Bryce was leaving once we arrived,” Dova said as I watched Brandon go.

“Wait. Why didn’t they ask me for a statement?” That’s something they would’ve done, right?

“Because I asked them not to,” Dova said, oblivious to my thoughts. “You don’t need to be seen in a place like that.”

Because folks might get the wrong idea. Dova didn’t say as much but I could see it in her eyes. This whole time, she’d been protecting me.

“Did they come here for me?” I asked, my voice strained.

“No. I was the one who messed up and caused trouble. I only asked him to leave you out of it since you were their original target. You might still have to go down if anything comes of it, but for now, my statement along with Bryce’s should be enough.”

I hadn’t even considered going down to make a statement. I just figured I would’ve been the one locked in a cell. That said, as much as I hated to see Dova go down on her own, I was thankful for her foresight.

For her care and devotion.

“Thank you,” I said as I tucked my head under her chin.

“For what?” She drew back, then lifted my chin so I’d meet her gaze.

“For knowing what I need. For–” A shiver raced down my spine when she looked at me then. Those weren’t her eyes. “Your wolf.” She was right at the surface, same as my fox, both reaching out to each other as we stood in the foyer.

“Upstairs.” The word came out in a low growl. “Now.”

Trembling from the sound of her wolf, I took her hand in mine and raced up the steps as fast as my legs could carry me. When I didn’t move fast enough, Dova nudged me forward, her eagerness to be alone pushing me forward.

“Are you sur–”

The breath rushed from my lungs as soon as we entered my room, my body pressed between Dova and the wall behind me.

“Dova, I–”

“The entire time I was down there, there was only one thing I could think of,” she said, her voice as low as it had been before.

“How unfair the justice system is?” I bit my bottom lip when she looked at me again, her eyes full of fire.

“You.” She seized my lips with her own, pinning me between herself and the wall as soon as my knees gave out.

“I-I thought we wanted to wait,” I said once I was able to come up for air.

“And what does your fox say?”

I laughed at one of her favorite memes, then stood up enough so I could whisper in her ear. “That we’ve waited long enough.”

Whatever I’d planned to say after that was lost beneath Dova’s aggressive touch, her hands on my skin, and her heavy scent. As much as I wanted to ask her what the cops had said, as much as I needed to know things would be okay, I couldn’t stop. Not holding her. Kissing her. Or breathing her in.

After all this time, we were finally ready. Tonight, Dova would be mine.

“Is this okay?” she asked, her voice calm now that we were alone.

I leaned into her touch when she cupped my cheek with her hand. “Mm-hmm.”

“Sorry about before,” she whispered, backing away so I could have some space.

“No,” I said, drawing her back in. “I like it. Your wolf.”

I’d run with her and had seen her in her pelt a few times in the past, but seeing her like this? So aggressive and gentle all at once? It made my heart swell to know she was mine.

My only.

The one I was destined to be with.

“And I like your fox,” Dova said as she trailed kisses along the back of my neck and collarbone.

“Oh?” My voice shook as I spoke. “Because of her aggression?” I was making fun of myself, of course, but if it bothered Dova, she didn’t let on.

“There are so many reasons why you’d want to walk away, and yet, here you are, giving your heart to me.”

“You’re the only one I’ve ever met who’s gentle enough to take care of it.”

“And I will protect it,” Dova said as she nipped the side of my neck. “Your fox.” Another nip behind my ear. “Your heart.” Lower now, down my arm. “You.”

I sucked in a breath, holding on to her for balance when she moved her hand under my shirt. She was so close now, so close to where I needed her most, but as soon as I tried to speak, a wave of warmth washed over me.

It started deep inside my chest, then spread down into my stomach which was full of nerves. There were so many things I wanted to say, so much I wanted to do. All I managed was a small murmur and something along the lines of bed.

Thankfully, Dova got the hint, helping me over to the mattress so we could lay down.

“Better?” Dova asked as she removed my shoes.

I couldn’t form words. Whenever I tried, my lips refused to move. So as soon as she joined me on the bed, I pulled her in close.

“If this is too much, we can stop.”

I shook my head before she could finish. “Want this. Need it.” I needed us to be close. As close as possible.

“You’re worried,” she said as she cupped my cheek with her hand. “But I promise you, everything’s fine.”

“I know. I just hated seeing you go down in my place.”

“Hey, I didn’t go in your place, all right? I’m the one who messed up. You were just defending yourself.”

“And you were defending me,” I said, sitting up enough so I could kiss her on the lips.

“That might’ve been my wolf,” Dova admitted while dropping her gaze. “She’s very protective of you.”

“And I’m protective of her. Of both of you.”

Dova made a soul of approval, then pressed her forehead to mine. “I’m so very lucky. You know that, right?”

“I do.” Because I felt lucky as well. “Out of all the places Mark could’ve sent me, I’m glad he sent me here. To you.”

“We would’ve found each other. It just would’ve taken more effort on our part.”

That might’ve been true, but finding her and letting her into my life so soon after things fell apart? It was almost surreal.

“I keep waiting to wake up,” I said.

“Not yet.” Dova’s voice was as low as mine. “Not until I’m done with you.”

I wanted to ask her what she meant, but as soon as I tried, Dova got up, stripping out of her clothes.

I’d seen her strip before. I’d seen and memorized every one of her curves. But we weren’t getting ready for a shift. We weren’t going out on a run.

“God, you’re beautiful.” The words left my lips before I could pull them back. “As a human and a wolf.” Her dark hair, her pale skin… everything about her reflected the person I wanted to spend my life with.

“And so are you,” she said, repeating something she’d said once before as she joined me on the bed. “And I don’t mean your scars.” Her eyes softened then, the fire behind them now a soft glow. “Your kindness, the way you open your heart. You have every reason not to trust, but you still do.”

“Just my pack,” I told her. “But most importantly you.”

This time, when she leaned in, I didn’t wait. Reaching up behind her neck, I tangled my fingers in her hair and covered her lips with mine. Above me, Dova released a hiss of breath, then relaxed, sinking in my arms.

My heart raced as she lay on top of me. It skipped at the thought of touching her skin. Of tasting it.

Forcing back the butterflies in my stomach, I kissed her lips, then moved to her cheek, the bottom of her jaw, all the way down the side of her neck and along her arm. As I moved, Dova’s eyes closed. Her breath got heavy. Her body shook.

But I didn’t stop. After picking up her scent and realizing she was safe, I pressed on, moving with purpose as I ran the backs of my fingertips over her ribs.

Dova scrunched her face, holding back a laugh. “Stop it. That tickles.”

“It’s a good tickle,” I told her as I rubbed the spots I’d just gone over. “It gives you goosebumps.”

“There are other places you could touch.” The words belonged to her wolf.

“I will,” I promised, dipping my head so I could kiss her collarbone. “But why rush?”

“Because then we can do it again.”

Now it was my turn to tremble, and god if she didn’t take advantage of it. As soon as I lost my hold on her, Dova placed her hands under my shirt, pulling it up and off before leaving it to fall to the ground.

My skin prickled at the cooler air, causing me to shiver as Dova looked on.

“Beautiful.” She offered me a shy smile, then moved my hair away from my neck so she could kiss the soft spot behind my ear. “I could hold you down. Pin you to the bed.”

I cleared my throat when my voice refused to work. “But?”

“I want tonight to be special.”

“It will be.”

“Just between the two of us.” Meaning without her wolf’s aggression.

“I…” A part of me wanted to beg for her wolf, for her to hold me down just like she’d said. But the thought of having Dova take her time? That sounded good as well.

“I want to treat you,” she said. “To protect you. To soothe you.”

“But I–”

“I know you’re okay,” she said, practically reading my thoughts, “but I won’t be if I give in to my wolf.”

“Does that mean we have to stop?”

“No. I just want you all to myself.”

Her body warmed against mine, growing hot as her heart raced up toward the surface. It pounded so hard that I felt it as though it were my own, skipping a beat whenever we kissed.

With her lips on mine and our bodies pressed chest against chest, I finally let go. I let go of my worries and of my stress. I pushed my fox back, making room for the woman at my side.

“You okay?” Dova whispered.

“Mmm. I feel like I’m at a disadvantage.” She was completely naked, whereas I was still partially clothed.

“Too many layers,” Dova agreed as she placed an arm between us.

My heart stuttered as she moved. My body squirmed when she reached the area between my legs. Heat radiated from her touch as though it was her hand on my clit instead of the underwear I’d put on.

With the fire spreading between my legs, I lifted my hips away from the bed to show her I was ready, then moved my hand to her breast.

Dova groaned from my touch, pressing her legs together as she removed my pants.

Afraid we might be taking too long, I helped Dova with what was left of my clothes, then kicked them off the edge of the bed.

“Better?” Dova asked as she snaked an arm underneath me.

“Much. You?”

“Almost.” Her voice was deeper than I was used to. More throaty and feral. “But soon.”

Nodding, I glided my hand across her chest, giving each breast the attention it rightfully deserved. As I did, Dova kissed my lips, prying them open with her tongue.

Intoxicated by her scent and dizzy with need, I kissed her back. Hard.

This was what I wanted. It’s what I’d been aching for since the day we met. It wasn’t the sex I needed. It was the closeness to her, the taste of her lips, and the heat of her skin.

I’d had fantasies about this, but none of them compared to the real thing. None of them ever came close to–

“Oh god.” I exhaled hard, releasing a hiss of breath as Dova kneaded my breast.

It wasn’t so hard that it hurt, but because I was deep in thought, I hadn’t noticed how close she was.

“Too much?” Dova asked, sitting up.

“No,” I assured her, doing the same in return. “Just enough.”

Dova hesitated a moment, but as soon as I settled back down on the bed, she continued, moving her hand down to where I needed it most.

My fingers itched to touch her, to tease her skin. My body ached for her, to fill a void I didn’t realize I had until now. It was a deep feeling, one I couldn’t explain. But it felt like fire. Great flames spreading outward.

Dova must’ve felt it too, because before I could speak, she straddled my leg with hers.

On my back, pinned between Dova and the bed, I didn't have to see her eyes to know it was her. She was the one on top of me, not her wolf. She was the one gently grinding my leg.

So as she thrust forward, I lifted my hips, holding back a whimper as I tried to feel as much of her as I could.

“I’ve needed this,” she said, breathless. “I’ve dreamed of doing this for so long.”

“And how does it end?” I asked, my voice shaking a bit.

“With us exhausted and laying on the floor.”

“Mmm, I like the sound of that.”

Dova clenched her jaw, then held me up against her. “I don’t want to stop.”

“But?” I urged, already knowing the answer.

“I want more.”

And so do I. As badly as my body cried for release, now wasn’t the time. So after one more thrust of my hips, I let up, turning to Dova as she lay on her back.

Sunlight streamed in through my bedroom window, casting long shadows across her face. It didn’t matter how many times I looked at her and how much time we spent together. I’d never get over seeing her like this. Open and vulnerable. As though I was someone she could trust.

And that’s when it hit me, why she meant so much.

“You trust me,” I said as the realization set in.

“Of course, I do.” Dova sat up and reached for my hand.

“No, I mean, I just realized that you trust me. Like this.” I gestured at her naked form and where she’d been seconds earlier.

“That’s what you do when you give someone your heart.” Her voice was barely audible in the otherwise quiet room. “You give them everything.”

“Everything?” I swallowed around the hard lump in my throat.

“Everything.”

Tears bit at the backs of my eyes, threatening to fall as I crushed her lips with mine. A new wave of warmth washed over me, causing my heart to skip.

You’re the one I want, I thought, gritting my teeth to keep them from chattering. You’re the one I’ve been looking for. The one I’d been fighting for.

And now that she was here, now that we’d found one another, I didn’t want to let go. Not of Dova, her wolf, or this moment.

Lost in thought, I almost didn’t hear Dova when she asked me if I was okay. Unable to trust my voice, I offered her a nod, then moved my hand between her legs.

If Dova had any questions after that, they were gone now, replaced by moans of pleasure as I circled her clit with the pad of my thumb.

Dova’s mouth opened in a silent cry as I used slow, fluid strokes against her skin, sending ripples of pleasure all throughout her body. Her body tensed when she got close. Her face twisted as she fought back. She clawed at the bedsheets and held her breath, calming herself just enough until I started up again.

Dova bucked her hips, then pulled them back. “Lynn. Please.” The need in her voice ignited a fire inside my chest.

I could’ve drawn this out all day, but as much as I loved watching her squirm, I wanted to see her come undone just as much.

So with Dova on her back, I moved down to the foot of the bed, positioning myself between her legs. Without words, Dova placed her hand in my hair, caressing me the best she could when I kissed the inside of her thigh.

Her body squirmed as I trailed featherlight kisses up her leg. Her breath hitched when I teased her clit with the pad of my thumb.

I smiled as she writhed on the bed, holding back a whimper when she moaned. And just as she was about to fall over the edge, I stopped, giving her a moment before using my tongue.

A sweet taste found me then, inviting me in for more as Dova’s hold on my hair tightened. Winching from the momentary pain, I hooked my arms around her legs, holding her still. Then, with slow, languid strokes, I moved my tongue upward, never quite touching her clit.

Dova groaned, thrusting her hips up at me once I was close enough for her to do so.

Her body jolted from the brief contact, causing her to tremble as I continued lapping at her sensitive skin.

Whenever she moaned, I felt it on my clit as though she were the one on top of me instead of the other way around. The bond we had was strong, so it was no wonder I felt her need as though it were mine. Still, the thought of teasing myself while going down on her did cross my mind. It was a thought I quickly chased away, however, doubling my efforts on Dova instead.

At one point, Dova pulled me up, hoisting me on top of her so she could kiss me hard.

With Dova’s scent still fresh in my mind and the room spinning around us in wide circles, I lost focus enough for her to take over.

Before I knew it, I was on my back with her hand dangerously close to my clit.

Like her, I begged without words, arcing my back away from the bed as soon as she touched my sensitive flesh. Devoured by need, I held her close, then guided her hand when she went to pull it away.

Smiling against my lips, Dova moved her fingers down past my clit. When she placed one inside of me, that was it. All of my thoughts and my ability to speak were gone, replaced by a building desire for release.

Vaguely aware of Dova’s lips on my skin, I felt more than heard her laugh into our kiss, her fingers stroking me ever so gently, sending me higher and higher as I blindly tried to do the same.

“Don’t worry about me,” I heard her say through my delirium. “Just enjoy yourself.”

That wasn’t how I worked. If I was going to tumble over the edge, I was going to take her with me.

So with a little more determination on my part, I surfaced long enough to join her on the bed, both of us in need, both writhing as we kissed, whimpered, and touched.

My body burned with fire. It begged for release. But I held back, delighting in the delicious moans I coaxed out of Dova whenever I teased her clit.

“I'm close.” Dova’s voice was barely audible over the pounding of my heart.

“Wait for me,” I begged, thrusting up at her seconds later when I felt myself wavering a bit.

Dova gripped the sheets to either side of me and closed her eyes tight. My body tensed, then relaxed, only to tense again when I took a breath.

A part of me begged to let go, to fall over that razor-thin edge. The other part demanded I open my eyes and watch Dova as she slowly fell apart.

“Look at me,” I demanded, my voice short and clipped.

“Can’t focus if I–” Dova’s voice cut out, her body growing stiff as she tried, and failed, to hold back.

“That’s it,” I soothed. “Let go.”

“But. But I–” Dova clawed at the blankets, shaking off her wolf long enough to speak. “Oh god. Lynn, I–” Dova gritted her teeth. She held her breath.

In the end, it wasn’t enough. As soon as I put my finger inside of her, she threw her head back and came.

Wave after wave of aftershocks ran through her, causing her body to tremble so much that it wasn’t long until I lost my grip, following her right over the edge.

By the time I surfaced for air and my body had cooled, Dova had us under the covers with her head resting in the nook of my arm.

“That was–”

“Good,” I said before she could finish.

“Just good?” She sat up and frowned.

“God, I can’t even begin to tell you how much I needed that.”

“Shifting isn’t the same, is it?” she asked as she lay down, draping an arm across my stomach.

“No,” I agreed, smoothing back her sweat-dampened hair so I could kiss her forehead. “It isn’t even close.”