Everybody here is watching you
'Cause you feel like home
You're like a dream come true
But if by chance you're here alone
Can I have a moment before I go?
'Cause I've been by myself all night long
Hoping you're someone I used to know
You look like a movie
You sound like a song
My God, this reminds me
Of when we were young
Let me photograph you in this light
In case it is the last time
That we might be exactly like we were
Before we realized
We were sad of getting old
It made us restless
It was just like a movie
It was just like a song
I was so scared to face my fears
Nobody told me that you'd be here
And I swear you moved overseas
That's what you said, when you left me
You still look like a movie
You still sound like a song
My God, this reminds me
Of when we were young
Let me photograph you in this light
In case it is the last time
That we might be exactly like we were
Before we realized
We were sad of getting old
It made us restless
It was just like a movie
It was just like a song
When we were young
It's hard to admit that
Everything just takes me back
To when you were there
To when you were there
And a part of me keeps holding on
Just in case it hasn't gone
I guess I still care
Do you still care?
It was just like a movie
It was just like a song
My God, this reminds me
Of when we were young
When we were young
Let me photograph you in this light
In case it is the last time
That we might be exactly like we were
Before we realized
We were sad of getting old
It made us restless
Oh I'm so mad I'm getting old
It makes me reckless
It was just like a movie
It was just like a song
When we were young
“My God…” Julia murmured in a soft, breathless whisper, as the piano notes faded into the wilderness. “That has to be the best welcome back ever.”
“Thank you,” Ray silently mouthed to Kate, glancing down at her over his shoulder. “I had to distract you somehow, mess.” He whispered back, returning his attention to Julia.
“You did a lot more than just ‘distract’ me,” she purred, easing back to look up at him. “I loved it, I really did.”
“Listen, I know you’re tired and everything but…” he faltered. “The night’s still young, and you still haven’t seen my favorite view of my town. Are you interested?”
“How can I say ‘no’ to you?” She continued to whisper, as a broad smile lit up her face. “Come on, pretty boy. Take us there.”
Chapter Twenty
Delighted that his plan had worked out perfectly, Ray could not stop smiling. He had moved her, and now, he could at last enjoy a romantic night with her. The bumpy road leading to their destination prevented him from using his motorcycle, but that would be a small price to pay. A few minutes afterwards, they were in his truck, on their way out of Paxton. However, when Ray turned left and into Shandaken, he felt her glare upon him.
“Don’t tell me your favorite view of your town is up on the roof of one of those crappy bars,” Julia grumbled, leaning closer to him.
“It’s not,” Ray retorted, as his smile broadened to a grin. “It’s actually out of Shandaken. We just have to pass through it; there’s no other way for us to get there.”
“Good,” she replied, giving a nod of satisfaction. “I do like this town. The view to the mountains is breathtaking. It smells clean, you know? Locals are friendly. Some of them can get a little too nosey, though. And their bars are not what you’d call ‘nice.’”
“My mess got drunk in one of those bars,” he teased, casting a sideways glance down at her. “If she hadn’t, I wouldn’t have known how cute she can be.”
“Do you intentionally leave the disgusting part out?” Julia wondered, as a wave of curiosity washed over her face. “Do you remember what happened after you drove me to Monica’s?”
“Well…” Ray chuckled, turning to her. “I never witnessed the ‘disgusting’ part. But, even if I had, I’d still think you’re cute. You were really funny that night.”
“You should have seen your face, when I asked you to join me on the couch,” she teased back, pointing up at him. “That look was priceless.”
“You startled me,” he admitted, as she scooted closer to him. “I wasn’t expecting you to invite me like that.”
“When I ran into you in that bar, I wished I hadn’t had so much to drink,” Julia lowered her voice, reaching her arm out to touch his thigh, as they neared the town border. “We would have chatted more; I would have gotten to know you a little better. It would have felt more like a date. But, I prefer how things turned out, even though I pretty much made a fool of myself.”
“You didn’t,” Ray disagreed, his tone calm, as he averted his gaze from her to look at the road up ahead. “Ok, you did pass out in front of a bunch of people; but, that night, you showed me how true you are. You did it during Dean and Kate’s mating ceremony, too. It took a lot of guts to parade in front of those shifters. They all stared at you, but you just kept on going.”
“If I’d stayed at our table, chances are I would have yelled at you,” Julia persisted, as he turned right and off of the main road. “Ok, where are we going?”
“It’s a really bumpy ride,” he informed her, their bodies rocking, as the suspension system of his truck creaked and squeaked. “But, trust me, it’s worth it. Close your eyes.”
“Yes, sir,” she acknowledged with a grin, rolling her eyelids shut. “I hope it’s as romantic as that lake. What is its name again?”
“Clover Lake,” Ray croaked out. “It’s an amazing place, but it doesn’t even come close to this one; not to mention, Raul and Dean have been using it a little too much lately.”
“I sense a little frustration there,” Julia spoke, as her smile narrowed. “What’s the matter? You don’t approve?”
“It’s not about my approval,” he pointed out, as the truck rolled to a halt. “It’s about their lack of imagination. I mean – come on you guys – go somewhere else for a change. I get the fact that it’s ten minutes away from our property, but don’t you ever get bored. Anyway, wait here. Don’t open your eyes yet,” He reminded her, as he turned the truck engine off. Ray set the truck’s emergency foot brake, and opened the driver’s door. A quick glance out into the view curled his lips into a crooked smile, as he moved round the vehicle. Grabbing the handle, he swung the passenger door open.
“Ok, where are we?” Julia asked, as Ray took her by the hand. “I hear water flowing. I smell pine.”
“Acheron River,” he muttered, easing her out of the truck. “I used to love coming here as a kid. Day or night, it didn’t matter. Nothing and no one could bother me here,” he continued, leading her away from the vehicle. Then, Ray turned left, and paced towards the shore, his heartbeat escalating, as he stared down at the glistening rocks. “Ok, you can open your eyes now.”
Julia swung her head to the left, as her eyes snapped open. In an instant, she thrust her free arm up, and put her fingers over her mouth, as a gasp of amazement escaped her. Hundreds of town lights spread out in the distance, flickering in the deep darkness of the night. The moon was casting its sparkling light upon them, illuminating the bluff they stood on, painting the pine forest on the far s
hore a soft shade of gray. Peace, beauty and tranquility reigned, only disturbed by the gentle ripple of the river that flowed beside them.
“Holy God…” Julia whispered, tearing her gaze from the forest to look up at Ray. “It’s so beautiful out here. Way better than the lake. Look at it. Listen to it.”
“I had a feeling you’d like it,” he said, his voice low as he turned to face her. “I wish I could lend you my sense of smell, just for a few minutes.”
“Why?” She chirped, a smile lingering at the corners of her eyes, as she snaked her arms around his waist. “What do you smell?”
“So much…” Ray whispered, gazing down into her eyes, as he lifted his hands up to her face. “Pine, rosewood, cedar, balsam fir, wet soil, and…” He paused and slowly leaned over her, as he cupped both of her cheeks; “…bittersweet almond. You smell like a spring morning.”
“Oh, Ray…” Julia sighed helplessly, angling her lips, as she tilted her head up. Her kiss swept him off his feet, sending sparks of bliss through his body, as he skimmed his hand down the side of her neck. But, this was more than just a kiss. It felt more like a ritual, a bonding of their two souls into one. With each passing second, it was pulling him away from reality, and into her world, a world of kindness, fragrances and beauty. Julia’s scent was pouring into his nostrils, filling him with warmth, and a certainty that he had yet to encounter: she was the one. Ray needed no prophecies, to know that she was his. He didn’t need any witch to foresee his fate. They belonged together; he could feel it in his bones. He could smell it in the air, every time he was around her; as if an invisible force drew him in closer to her.
“You’re too sweet …” Julia whispered, lazily raising her eyelids to gaze at him, her mouth less than an inch away from his. “That’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”
“I’m just being honest.” Ray gave a short laugh, trailing his thumb across the base of her neck, as his other hand crept up and into her hair. “My wolf and I love the way you smell.”
“Speaking of which…” She put a little force in her voice, as heat blazed up her neck and landed in her cheeks. “Could you please, um…?” She faltered. “Show him to me?”
“What?” Surprise sent his raspy tone two octaves up. “You want to see the wolf? Here?”
“Yeah,” Julia gave a quick nod; “pretty please?” She made her voice sound sweeter, as she tilted her head to the side. Her request sounded nonsensical to him. They were in the middle of a romantic moment, and yet, she wanted to see his other side. Still, he couldn’t deny much to that cute face. Julia’s freckles wrinkled, and her eyes, the deep-brown that could see right into his soul, made his heart melt.
“Alright,” he nodded, reluctantly. “You may want to take a few steps back, though. And I still have to get rid of my clothes. I don’t want to go home naked.”
“Yes!” She cheered, jerking her fist and her head down in excitement, as he dropped his arms. Ray put his hands on either side of his tee, as his backward strides led him away from her. Her gaze landed on his chest, as he pulled the tee up and over his chest. That hungry look was enough to give him impure thoughts. He had been planning for this for days, and, in truth, the desire to claim her right there and then was raging within him. But, he wouldn’t lay a hand on her, not yet at least. Ray tossed his tee over to her, and then unbuttoned his jeans. Kicking his shoes off, he pulled them down his legs and off his feet. He threw the pants to her, readying himself for the transformation. In the blink of an eye, pointed ears sprouted from his head, as his jaw grew and stretched. His human skin was replaced by silver fur, his legs thinning and shortening, as his hips reshaped. The dark-green in his eyes gave its place to a sky-gray shade, as they widened. Yipping in excitement, he wagged his tail, as his snout rose up in the air. Julia bent her knees, reaching down towards him, her gaze settled on the beast, as a glorious smile burst upon her lips.
“He’s gorgeous,” she whispered, bending her head towards him, as she threaded her fingers through the ruff of fur around his neck. “Just like my Ray.” Sweet laughter filled his ears, as he nudged his muzzle against her cheek. But, the wolf had been out long enough. He had served his purpose. Now, he had to hide underneath his human skin. Julia gasped in surprise, as Ray shifted back into human form. The river beckoned; he would not resist the urge. Three, quick steps brought him closer to the edge of the shore. Bending at the waist, he tucked in his chin and then tilted forward into the water. Cool moisture overwhelmed his senses, as the dark water of the river engulfed him. Ray emerged, exhaling deeply, as he swept his hair out of his face. He was about to ask Julia to join him, but, as soon as he opened his eyes, he realized that he didn’t have to. She had taken off her blouse, staring down at him, as she undid her pants.
“You could have let me enjoy him a little more, you know.” She smiled, heading towards the shore. “What’s the problem? Did you get jealous of him?”
“Not really,” he claimed, returning the smile, as she got out of her tight jeans. “I’ve just been meaning to take a dive in this river for a while now.”
Stepping onto the edge of the shore, Julia closed her eyes and pushed off. An exaggerated scream ripped through the air, as her body fell into the water with a splash. Ripples of desire shot through him, as she emerged. Her red curls were drenched; large drops of water were racing down her face, her neck and her chest, as she pushed her hair back from her face. Julia reached behind her back, and unclasped her red bra, as a seductive smile formed on her face. She tossed her bra up on the shore, as Ray got closer and closer.
“Come here, my little doll…”he said, his voice a raspy whisper, as he curled his arms around her back. Her smile fled her face, as he pulled her close. Ray tilted his head down, holding her in a tight embrace, as Julia threw her arms around his neck. Never before had her kiss tasted like this. Passionate, filled with demand, joy and love. Yes; Love. Her lips surrounded his mouth, sending warmth inside him, luring him once again into her magical world, as he glided his hands up her back. Sweeping his tongue along the seam of her mouth, he felt the weight of her breasts on his chest, as she pressed herself into him. A sigh of arousal left her lips, as she wrapped her legs around his waist. Ray’s cock brushed against her ass cheek, as his tongue crept into her mouth. Julia flexed the muscles of her inner thighs around him, forcing a deep grunt from him. They felt soft and supple on his skin, sending adrenaline rushing through his veins, as he pushed his tongue into hers. More wetness spread along his fingers, as they found her hair. Ray chose to slide his left hand down her back, and tangle his other one in her long, silky strands, feeling his pulse quickening by the second. Julia’s nails grazed the back of his neck, as their tongues twisted in a sensual dance. He felt his cock throbbing, as his fingertips made contact with the soaked lace of her thong.
“God, you turn me on…” Julia’s lust-ridden sigh sounded like music in his ears, as she tipped her head back. Ray groaned low in his throat, as her delectable flesh filled his palm. Still, something felt wrong. He might have been relishing this, but it vividly reminded him of their first encounter, back in her apartment, and he wanted this to be different. Opening his eyes to slits, he noticed that the shore behind her and slightly to the right was not as steep. Splaying his fingers over her butt cheek, he tugged at her lower lip, as he shuffled off towards the desired spot. Julia slid one hand up and into his dripping wet hair, as she clutched the crook where his neck and shoulder met. Ray planted a fiery kiss on her chin, feeling her hot breath on his skin, as he eased her down onto the rocky shore.
“My pretty boy is so dirty…” she teased, as her lips curved into a sexy smile. “He wants to seduce me in the outdoors.”
“Say the word and we’re going home,” he uttered, scanning her face, as he pulled his arms out from under her.
“Oh, no,” Julia whispered, gently shaking her head sideways. “We’re not going anywhere.” At that, she reached both of her hands up to his face, and pulled him down onto her,
moving her legs apart, as she tilted her head back. A pleasurable sigh fled her, as his lips landed just below her chin. Ray covered her ankles with his hands, as Julia’s arms went around his upper back. Trailing his fingers up her calves, he began to kiss his way down her neck, teasing her moist skin with the tip of his tongue. She scraped her fingernails across his shoulder blades, as his lips neared the valley of her breasts.
Ray caressed her outer thighs, feeling his large, stiff cock rubbing against her stomach and the fabric of her panties, as Julia stroked his masculine flesh. Snaking his tongue out of his mouth, he squeezed her thighs first, and then hooked his fingers into the waistband of her panties. Julia raised her legs in the air, as he rolled them down, running his tongue between the globes of her breasts. Pulling her underwear off her feet, he planted a fiery kiss on her flesh, eager to worship her, as her hands traveled down his back. Ray reached up over his head, moving his mouth over to her right breast. He drove his right hand into her hair, as he used his left one to cup her cheek. A sensation of pressure and wetness on his pinky puzzled him, as his upper lip nudged against the hard peak of her nipple. Julia had taken his finger in her mouth, swirling her tongue around it, sending him one step closer to heaven. Ray’s tongue encircled her sensitive spot, but he could not continue to tease it like that. Her hardness enticed him too much; he could not resist the temptation.
“Yeah, baby…” Julia moaned breathlessly, as he trapped her nipple between his lips. Her body stiffened, as he grazed his teeth over it. Sliding his hands down her face, Ray flicked it with the tip of his tongue, loving the sexy groan that rang in his ears. But, this wasn’t enough for him. The soft roundness of her breasts had hypnotized him, compelling him to do much more. He pulled it into his mouth and sucked, his tongue dancing around her nipple, causing her to arch up against him, as she greedily grabbed his skin. Tracing his fingers down the underside of her globes, he laid more and more kisses on her swollen nipple, before squeezing her breasts. Ray had lost control. His senses were being drawn into a world of pure ecstasy, and his mind was dominated by a single thought: how to satisfy Julia; how to quench her lust, until she cried out with pleasure. He flicked his tongue over her nipple, and ran it across her chest, covering both of her breasts with his hands. Once more, she lifted her legs up in the air, and brought them to her chest. The feel of her inner thighs against his cheeks gave him an idea. Immediately, he wrapped his arms around her legs, as his mouth found the crook of her knee.
A Wolf's Touch (Wolf Mountain Peak Book 3) Page 10
