“What a weathercock!” I laughed kissing him repeatedly.
“To us then!” he said, finally ready to drink.
“To us!” I repeated, charmed.
The champagne was delicious. It fizzed in my mouth and in my blood, just like my heart fizzed for Johan. I nibbled a couple toasts Johan — well, Adélie rather — had made, which were just as tasteful.
My hair fluttered about because of the wind, and it took away some of the stifling heat. The sea was singing a lullaby, the beach released of its people, and the quietness of nature took over. It was perfect. The sun finally set, and it reminded me of my grandma’s funeral. She would have been beside herself with joy to see me this relaxed and tranquil. I was over the moon myself.
Johan kissed me passionately, and the sun vanished. I teased him some more — I just loved to. Being close to him, laugh, annoy him. He wasn’t entirely wrong when he talked of our friendship. Because beyond us being soulmates, I now had the feeling that he was the best friend I could ever have. The one who made me laugh, who comforted me when I was sad, who understood me and who’d always be there for me. I finally had someone I could rely on no matter what, and it was… relaxing.
After our little picnic, we strolled on the beach, hand in hand. Neither of us wanted to sleep, so we did our best to delay our coming back to the house. Johan talked of the stars. I gazed at those, then at him, and suddenly I was starry-eyed. I insisted that we climbed the pier to look at the waves crushing the rocks. And even when it was time to go back, we took a few detours, talking — we’d do whatever it took not go back. From time to time, we stopped walking to make out randomly in the streets, and I always needed a couple minutes to catch my breath and snap out of it.
We reached the house eventually, in spite of all our efforts not to. Unfortunately, our day together was over. It had been amazing… I knew that the days to come would never resemble that one, and it saddened me. Tomorrow, problems would come knocking at our door and piss me off. “True, but I’ll always be here to make you smile again,” Johan reassured me.
And, as if by magic, a smile blossomed on my lips. He was right, and often so. From now on, he’ll always be by my side, even if I had crappy days. He’ll always turn them into happy ones. And I’ll always be here to piss him off. He laughed and led me to the annex. I dropped the wicker basket and the blanket on the floor and went downstairs. In the bedroom. He joined me two seconds later.
Now that we were alone, I could let go. I violently grabbed his shirt and pulled him towards me so I could kiss him. He growled happily against my lips and grabbed my thighs. I instinctively jumped and wrapped my legs around his waist. He pushed me up against the wall as I pulled his hair, and the whole annex trembled. So did I.
Johan abandoned my lips and went down my neck. His kisses drove me nuts. He ventured on my collar bones and my upper chest while I relished in the sensations that both burned my skin and my soul. It was heavenly, I could picture it with my eyes closed. Every time his mouth touched my skin, I received an electrical shock. But moreover, I selfishly felt desired and loved, and that was what I enjoyed most.
I opened my eyes, panting, and looked into his, burning with desire and love. I dove right into his lips, and instantly forgot about tenderness. I bit his lips, he moaned, and that was the last I saw of control. It just vanished. I managed to push him on the bed, but he dragged me down with him. I took his shirt off, and also took a second to admire that beautiful body of his, and covered it in kisses. His neck, his shoulders, his rock-hard pecs, his ribs, his flat stomach, everywhere. For now, he let me do it, sighing and moaning, his own hands wandering carelessly about my body.
I wanted more. Much more. And so did he, I could feel it. His own desire only made mine greater, rushing against me like the waves against the rocks. I took his pants off, and he chose that moment to reverse the situation. My she-wolf wasn’t pleased but I mean… Two alphas have to make compromises sometimes, and it was now my turn to make one. Besides, I trusted Johan. I may be “submitted” to him right now; I didn’t mind because I knew he wouldn’t take advantage of it. We were on the same page. Our egos weren’t that big, neither of us wanted to constantly be the dominant one. I wanted us to be equals, and since Johan thought so too, I guess we were indeed.
My man started taking my shirt off, and he did in a slow, despicable manner that made me want to slap him, and not in a good way. He was taking his time, looking deep into my eyes, which seemed to be both a way to ask for permission — which I gladly gave him — but it was also very defiant of him. Once that was off the table, he took my skirt off, and here I was, laying on his bed in my underwear, which didn’t even match, but he seemed not to care. He looked at me from every angle, and his mere gaze made me burn inside. He seemed fascinated and driven by that beautiful sight — me.
A sudden rush of stress tickled my mind. I was half-naked in front of another person, and even though it was Johan I was talking about, I did feel a little uncomfortable. He slowly leaned on top of me and grazed with his lips the skin section right above my bra. It was reassuring, he did so very slowly, and proved that he was no wild beast that merely wanted to possess my body.
So I relaxed and gave into his touch. They were those almost imperceptible, light touches of his hands or his lips, but I shivered and sighed with pleasure. He seemed to be pleased with the situation. I sensed his mouth loved to explore my whole body. He breathed in my scent and appeared unable to let our bodies part. His burning hands roamed my hips, my legs, and I could feel, see and sense his pleasure, which was already pretty close to ecstasy.
His lips ventured on the inside of my thighs, went down my knee, and then up to my underwear. He stayed in this region for a while, and eventually, he gave me a chaste kiss on the lips. He then laid by my side, and stuffed his nose in my neck, motionless and burning with desire, but he didn’t do anything more. “What the hell are doing?” I whispered.
“Nothing,” he answered, and rubbed his nose against my neck.
“Yeah, I know. That’s the problem.”
“Mad’... we have all the time in the world.”
“What? You can’t just lead me on like that and then leave me hanging!” I scorned, frustrated.
He laughed and raised his head so his eyes sparkling with mischief could look into mine. “I’m leading you on? You’re the one who threw yourself at me, remember? I’m the victim in all this!”
I was going to kill him. He wanted to play rough? Very well! I decided to sulk. My back faced him, and I crossed my arms while he laughed. Laughing, really? I did my best not to punch him. I started, shivering, when his arms held my waist and he dragged me back against him. Dear God… Just any touch drove me crazy. He was the devil itself. He imprisoned me in his arms and kissed my neck softly. “Don’t be mad, Mad’,” he begged. “You’re just… breathtaking and I really, really want you right now.”
“Johan, this is not helping. I’m literally gonna jump on you if you keep saying stuff like that,” I grumbled, wiggling against him.
“Buuuuut,” he said again, laughing still, “I’d rather wait. It was the toughest decision I ever had to make, and I assure you it’s really hard for me not to jump on you too, but I really think we ought to make this moment special, and not just a random one when we’re driven by our urges.”
“Pffff…” I only answered.
I could feel him smiling against my neck, and I rolled my eyes. Life was unfair! I sulked for a couple more minutes before giving up and facing him. I stared at him for a while, caressing his cheek. His nearly naked body burning against mine was making it hard to focus. It was dreadful. He was torturing me. I intertwined our legs and he held me tighter. There, better! He kissed me repeatedly. I couldn’t help my wandering hands; he was just too perfect!
“Stop it, it might get into my head,” he teased as his hands grabbed my butt. “You’re perfect.”
“Pffff…” I said again, troubled by his touching that beautiful beh
ind of mine.
“It’s very, very beautiful,” he whispered in my ear. I gently punched him, because it really was mean of him to torture me like that. He stroked my back, and I his torso. He handed up taking my hands because apparently my touch was a little too pleasant. An eye for an eye… “Mad’?”
“Yep?”
“Does it mean we’re in a relationship now?”
I framed his face with my hands and kissed him lovingly. He kissed me back, and I received as much love as I’d given. Yes, it was love. Nothing else. “Does that answer your question?” I whispered against his lips.
“I think so.”
He smiled, and I smiled back. Snuggled in his arms, I took pleasure in thanking him mentally for that beautiful day we spent together. And I also tried to get into his head, even though I was far from being as good as him.
Our silent discussion went on in the night, but I fell asleep eventually in the arms of the man I loved. The last things I saw were his eyes greyer than the sky during a storm, filled with love and tenderness, just like mine. I’d finally found my soulmate. The man without whom I wouldn’t live. My Johan.
Chapter 32
The morning was off to a great start, and I don’t mean it sarcastically. It was not like it was every day. Yet yesterday’s morning had been great, and it may mean that today’s won’t be as great. I’d rather not think about it though. I was going to make it great. Happiness and luck were just a state of mind. You had to be positive to draw good things into your life. It could be hard, but right now, Johan’s presence made it look so easy. He was lying in front of me, half-naked, and it was a real sight for sore eyes. I’d slept like a baby, reassured by his body close to mine, holding me tight. I had no trouble sleeping on a regular basis, but now… I was going to actually enjoy it.
I rubbed my face in his neck and down to his torso, still half-asleep, and sighed with pleasure. If I could wake up like this every day, then life would certainly be perfect. I stayed like that for a while, motionless, even though I was dying to wake him so I could kiss him, see him smile and laugh with him… Pfff. I was nearly ashamed of myself. I’d never been in such a flutter with a man. I looked like a crazy person. It was kind of hard to accept, but I’ll manage. That immoderate link and desire to be around each other that we shared, was scary.
It looked like addiction, and if I wasn’t careful, I could OD. I didn’t want to become one of those girls who can’t live without their boyfriends and giggle like hens. I didn’t want to depend on him and lose that independence I’d been starting to build in all aspects of my life. I never needed anyone to survive, and even though relying on one’s friends was a liberating feeling, I’d rather rely on this ability that I had to make it on my own.
Impatience eventually got the better of me, and I woke my soulmate with a couple kisses. I started on his torso, then in his neck and went up to his face. A smile stretched his lips, and he uttered a fake growl. He forced me on my back and started complaining. “Maaaaaad’ you can’t torture me like that so early in the day,” he grumped. “You’re cruel…”
“A simple good morning would have sufficed,” I smiled while putting my legs around his waist, and my arms around his neck.
“Good morning my wickedly beautiful wolf…” He kissed me by my lips, and smelled my neck, breathing in my scent. It was a simple gesture, yet I’d suddenly turned into goo. Yep, that was the best simile I could make, and the most appropriate. Goo. Jelly. Flabby, unable to do anything, slowly collapsing now that seconds were turning into minutes thanks to Johan’s dizzying touch.
“That’s better,” I congratulated him playing with his hair.
“I want you to wake me up like that every day,” he demanded, holding me tight.
“I’ll think about it.”
He smiled and stayed for a while with his head near my neck, his arms around me, his body on top of mine. For once, I didn’t lose my patience. I felt good. I played with his mane of hair, my fingers caressed his back and followed the lines of his muscles, and I then ventured on his ribs and his arms. He shivered with pleasure and lust, but he remained still and quiet, relishing in that moment of tenderness before the day actually had to start and turn into a mess.
“Yo lovebirds!” Esthelle yelled from above us. Damn it. What did I say about the messy day?
Johan growled. “Did I forget to lock the door last night…?” he sighed, peeved.
“I think you did,” I said, trying not to laugh.
“You were too much of a distraction.”
“Time to get up!” the little witch raved.
“So now this is my fault?” I said mischievously, clinging onto him.
“Something you should know…” he sighed again. “Esthelle has gotten into the habit of waking me up every day…”
“I feel you; she often wakes me up too.”
“Johaaaaaaaaaan! You said today you’d do anything I like!” she insisted, banging on the trapdoor.
“Fuck…”
“What was that? How rude, Sir Alpha,” I teased while he kept on whining desperately against my neck. “You’re gonna love having your crotch waxed.”
“Pleaaase save me!” he begged, and I burst into laughter.
“We’ll be right up!” I yelled towards Esthelle, while Johan thanked me by covering my body with kisses.
I heard the witch leave the room grousing, and I smiled. She was one of a kind. But in spite of how much I cared about her, I wasn’t planning on coming up so soon. I needed many more minutes with my man. Adélie had been nice enough to give me a week off after everything that had happened, and I only had a couple days left. I wasn’t planning on letting those go to waste. I did feel uncomfortable about not working, when the witches had been so kind as to offer me a job and a place to live, but I guess it was for the best. I wouldn’t have been feeling super good, and I knew they had many other waiters and waitresses, as well as a girl that filled in as manager when they were absent. Since Esthelle was here, they had probably asked that girl to take over for the day. It wasn’t reassuring. What on earth had they planned for us?
“Shall we go?” Johan suggested, rubbing his badly shaven cheek against mine.
“Dressed like that?” I asked, pointing out the fact that I was in my underwear. “I guess I could, Milo would certainly enjoy the show…” Johan growled angrily and bit my shoulder possessively. Every time I mentioned Milo, he was a little more angry. I tried my best to recover my senses after that nasty bite — nasty in a good way — and I kissed him tenderly. “I was kidding,” I whispered, looking deep into his eyes. “I’m sorry, I just like to tease you.”
“I’ll forgive you,” he started. “But only if you wear one of my T-Shirts today, to prove that you’re mine.”
I rolled my eyes at him and didn’t mention that I was my own woman and that I didn’t belong to anybody else, because it would have been hypocritical. I liked the idea of him being mine, so I couldn’t hold him accountable for wanting the same thing of me.
His lips started tickling my ribs, and I just… lost it. “If… you want to…” I floundered.
“I want you to.”
He let me go, and I sat up. I was shaken, and while I ran my fingers through his hair, I wondered how on earth he could find me “wickedly beautiful” when it was a given everyone looked like crap when they woke up. You know what they say, each to their own. But I had to take a shower either way. There was no way I would have breakfast with everyone else with that face and these clothes. Or more accurately, lack of. I looked at the bathtub, hidden behind the screen. Maybe…?
“You can shower there, obviously,” Johan said, following my train of thought.
I sensed he was desperate to come with me, but he was too respectful to ask. He didn’t want me to imagine things or think that he was a pervert because he wanted to see me naked. He was cute. For once, I appreciated his restraint. I knew it was hard for him because he was also human and he wanted to make me his, but his lack of eag
erness was welcomed.
I hesitated.
On the one side, I’d never been prudish, and being naked wasn’t a problem for me. But that was before Ryan, and on the other side, after that asshole had dared touch me, I had trouble feeling as comfortable as I used to.
You have a choice, Maddie. It’s your own body, you can show it to whoever you want. You can show it to Johan, or not.
The voice in my head was right. With Ryan, I hadn’t had a choice. Now, it was different, I had a choice, and I wanted to. I trusted him. He would never take that choice away from me, and that was the most precious thing he could give me. The only thing that mattered. And so, since I knew he’d never ask, I stepped forward. “You wanna come with me?” I said, kissing his lips.
“Do you want me to?” he asked, caressing my back.
“One hundred percent.”
“That’s not enough. You should be a zillion percent sure.” I rolled my eyes at him and grabbed his arms so that he might follow me. I climbed inside, and he gazed at me for a while, as if that little brain of his was arguing whether or not he should join me in. He ended up doing so, but he seemed uncomfortable. That takes the cake! “May I?” he asked, grabbing my bra strap.
I nodded, and he made it slide over my shoulder, before repeating the same gesture with the second strap. I turned around so that my back faced him, and he unhooked the whole thing. It slid down my feet and I tossed it away. I turned again, took his boxers off, as well as my own panties.
“Mad’...” he started to say, but I shut him up with a kiss.
I started the water. I did my best to wet my body, and thus quickly understood that there was no way the situation could escalate. Two people showering in a bathtub was neither romantic nor sexual. It was uncomfortable. I ended up roaring with laughter pretty quickly, and so did Johan. We just couldn’t help splashing each other with water, and squirming to clean ourselves. My soulmate seemed to be at the end of his tether, and my stomach hurt because of all the laughter. It was a ridiculous situation, but then again, so were we.
She-Wolf I Page 41
