by L. P. Maxa
“Yup. Easy-peasy.”
Keller shook his head, tightening his grip on Molly’s chair, fighting the urge to overturn the whole damn dining room table. “Yeah, I’m not super pumped about that idea.” Keller glared across the table at Baze, gritting his teeth at the understatement he’d just spewed. “I just convinced her to stop being so damn nice to the asshole. And now she needs to ask him to coffee? Great, he’ll love rubbing that in my face. Which will cause me to go off on him, which will cause him to punch me, then I’ll shift and kill him.” He shook his head. “Bad idea, Baze.”
Molly snorted. “Keller, calm down. Let me help you guys. And that wasn’t a question. It was a statement. Who cares what Brooks says to you? You know the truth. You’re the one I’ll be with at the end of the day. Have some self-control.”
This time it was Corey’s turn to snort. “Yeah, they don’t have that. Any of them. They are all male whores who drink too much, cuss too much, and growl too much. Not a lick of self-control in this room. Welcome to the family.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Molly
Keller had been tense and quiet the whole walk back to his house. He was holding her hand, but she could tell he was a million miles away. Once they got inside, she couldn’t take the loaded silence for one more second. “What’s wrong?”
He kept walking toward the kitchen, not making eye contact when he replied, “Nothing, darlin’, I’m fine. You want something to drink?”
“Bullshit.” Molly refused to let things fester. He’d promised her there would be no lies between them and she was going to hold him to it. “Stop being such a vag and tell me what’s bothering you.”
Keller slowly spun on his heel to face her, eyes wide. “Did you just call me a vag?” When she only raised an eyebrow in response, he took a step toward her, continuing, “You want to know what’s bothering me? Well, let’s see—I’m pissed that Baze thinks it’s okay for you to ask out Brooks. I’m pissed that you so willingly agreed to go along with it. I’m pissed that Brooks is being such a dick, and I’m pissed that your safety has the ability to ruin my damn day.”
“So basically, you’re pissed? Great range of emotions there, Keller. Anything else? Might as well get it all out in open.” Molly threw her hands in the air. Was this their first fight? Was it odd that their first fight hadn’t been because he’d accidentally claimed her and he was a supernatural being?
“Oh I’ve got range, darlin’. I’m irritated that I can’t read you. I’m nervous that when I ask you to stay the night, you’ll say no. I’m terrified that something bad will happen to you and that my whole world will come crashing down.”
Molly pursed her lips. Well, hell. She thought they were going to fight instead all she wanted to do was hug the bastard. “Keller.” She couldn’t help the way her voice softened. “I know that you aren’t thrilled about me questioning Brooks. But I want to help. This is my family too now. I need to feel like I can do my part. I’m a big girl. I’m smart. I promise I won’t put myself in a bad situation with Brooks. As far as reading me, that will come with time, I’m sure, which we have plenty of. And as far as staying the night? I’ll never say no.”
Keller met her gaze; the fire in his eyes matched the heat in her body. “Will you stay here with me tonight?”
“Yes.” Molly bit the inside of her cheek to keep from giggling. He looked so serious and seductive she didn’t want to sound like a schoolgirl.
“Will you stay with me tomorrow night?”
She narrowed her eyes at him; what was he getting at? “Yes…”
“And the night after that? And the night after that? And every night for the rest of our lives?”
Molly suddenly felt like the room was tilting. “Are you asking me to marry you?”
Keller chuckled. “No. I’m asking you to move in with me.”
Molly let out a deep breath as the room righted itself. Moving in together? Could she do that? Did she want to do that? “Yes.”
Keller crossed the room in a few long strides, grabbed Molly by the ass and hauled her up against him. She wrapped her legs around his waist and opened her mouth for him when he kissed her. So much heat. She tried to pour all the affection she had for him into that kiss. All the elation she felt at knowing that she would be falling asleep next to him each night into that kiss. He carried her to the door and made sure it was locked. Then carried her around the house turning off lights and closing blinds. All the while, she never let her mouth never leave his body. She wanted him to feel like he was being worshipped. She wanted all the worry to leave his mind.
Gently, he laid her on the bed, where he pulled her shirt off and unclasped her bra. He lightly ran his fingertips down the sides of her body until he came to her shorts. Her skin was covered in goosebumps and she was shivering in anticipation. He took those off then ripped her panties. It turned her on to no end. She wanted more; she wanted him to be rough and possessive. She wanted her shifter.
Keller kneeled down in front of her, grabbed her legs, and pulled her ass toward the end of the bed. “I want all of you. I want everything I had last night, except this time, no holding back. No pain, no clouded memory. Watch me, Molly. Watch me love you.” Her legs had started to shake. He dipped down and ran his tongue from her core to her clit. She lost herself in the feel of his mouth against her body.
Her hands ran through his hair, holding him in place, holding him right where she wanted him. “Don’t stop.”
It only took a few minutes for him to make her scream his name. He kissed her thighs and her stomach, ran his hands down her legs and grabbed her ankles, wrapping them around his waist as he moved slowly up her body. All the while, her eyes never left him.
Molly moaned when Keller’s tongue entered her mouth, the exact same moment his dick entered her core. The sensation was over whelming. He was so damn sexy—his boyish blond hair at odds with a body that was all grown male. Molly raked her nails down his back, arching into him. Meeting him thrust for thrust.
Keller used one hand to hold himself up and put the other one under her ass. Holding her lower body up at an angle. Molly gasped; the new position had him hitting the most amazing spot deep inside her core. “Oh god, Keller, please. Don’t. Stop. Oh god.” Molly couldn’t remember ever finishing that strong or fast before. After he’d pumped his last thrust, her muscles felt relaxed and all the tension drained from her body.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Keller
Keller smiled to himself as Molly came down from her high. If she thought they were done, she was crazy. He rolled them over, putting her on top, never leaving her body. “Again.” He placed his hands on her hips, guiding her movements. “Harder, Molly. Ride me like you did last night baby. Let go.” He moved his hands up her sides, rolling her nipples between his finger and thumb. “Good girl. Just like that, Molly. God, you feel so good. Don’t stop, baby.” He knew he could get her to come again by putting her on top; she would take what she needed and he would give it willingly. Only when she began to shatter around him for a third time that night did he feel like he had done his job. Her tight body milking his dick sent him spiraling with her. He wrapped his arms around her when she collapsed against his chest.
“Wow. I did say yes, right? I am so moving in with you.” Molly rolled off of Keller, panting as she lay on her back. “I need water. Are you thirsty?”
Keller sat up. “I’ll get it, darlin’. Just lie down and relax.”
“No, I’ll get it. I need to grab my phone and set an alarm anyway.” Molly stepped out of the bed and buckled in a heap on the floor.
“Holy shit, Molly, are you okay?” He peered down over the side of the bed and tried his hardest not to laugh.
“Uh, yeah, I’m fine.” She used the edge of the bed to pull herself back up.
“Darlin’, did you trip on something?”
“Nope.” She grabbed his t-shirt, pulled it on, and headed toward the living room. “My knees buckled when I tried to st
and up.” She stopped and looked back over her shoulder. “Do. Not. Laugh.”
Keller chuckled quietly to himself. “I am a sex god.”
“I heard that.”
“You felt it too.” He put his hands behind his head.
Molly climbed back in bed a few seconds later and his was still smiling. “Could you at least try and not look so happy with yourself? I mean it’s been awhile since I’ve had sex like that. Plus, I taught a class and ran three miles this morning. It wasn’t all you.”
“You are a yoga instructor and in excellent shape. And I made you come so many times in a row you fell down. It was all me, and you’ll never convince me otherwise. Sorry, darlin’.” He held his arm out. “Now come here and let me hold you.” He wrapped himself around her, resting his hand on her hip. They were spooning, his front to her back. He’d never done this before. He had never wanted to do this before. He grabbed her long blonde hair and piled it up on top of her head, then he nuzzled the back of her neck, breathing her in.
“Uh, Keller? Not that that doesn’t feel amazing, but, um, is that a wolf thing? The licking?”
Keller stopped immediately. Was he licking her? Holy shit. He was licking his mate. He had no idea when his kisses had turned into a tongue bath. He hadn’t even known he was doing it until she pointed it out. “I, uh, I didn’t realize I was doing that. I, it’s…” Keller ran his hand through his messy hair. “It is a wolf thing. Do you want to learn a shifter fact?” He guessed now was as good a time as any to start teaching shifter culture.
“Yes.” She nodded once and shuffled back against him further.
“So wolves are territorial, right? You, uh, in a sense belong to me. Not only is what I was doing an affection thing, it also marks you with my scent. It lets other people know you are mine.” He winced even though she couldn’t see his face. “Does it bother you? I hadn’t intended to mark you like that.”
Molly was quiet for a few moments and he tried not to get too nervous about her silence. “Truth?”
He placed a kiss in between her shoulder blades. “Absolutely.”
“I have never felt more loved or more wanted in my entire life. I don’t mind at all. Part of me feels like I should mind, but I don’t. I want the world to know I’m yours. I want the world to know that we belong to each other.”
Keller wrapped himself around his girl and continued his wet kisses and tiny licks. He’d never thought much about his future, about settling down and having a family. But right here, with Molly in his arms, it was all he could think about. He wanted to spend the rest of his life loving this girl.
He smiled when she let out a content sigh.
Minutes later he felt her whole body relax as she drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Molly
Molly woke up the next morning and quietly got dressed. She had to get home to shower and change before her sunrise class. She guessed she needed to start packing up her tiny apartment. She didn’t really want to wake Keller, but she couldn’t bear to leave without saying goodbye. In the end she settled on a note on her pillow next to him. She couldn’t stop smiling the whole drive home. Last night had been amazing. The sex was…wow. There wasn’t really another word for it. And she got to do it again, every night, for the rest of her foreseeable future. Bad. Ass.
Just as she had hoped, Brooks was in class that morning. He was extremely polite and respectful. Such a polar opposite from the jackass that both Keller and Riley had described at dinner. She made her way over to him after their session was over, trying to figure out the perfect smile to give him. She didn’t want it to seem flirty, but she didn’t want it to seem giddy or creepy either. Ugh. What a weird issue to have at seven o’clock in the morning.
“Good morning, Agent Brooks. Your form is improving with every class. Nice job today.” Was that okay? Should she not have mentioned his form? Would he take that as sexual?
“Thank you, Molly. I’m only improving because you are an excellent instructor.”
Molly gave him a genuine smile for that compliment. “Well, thank you. That was nice of you to say.”
“Uh, I was going to head next door for some breakfast, would you like to join me?” His brown eyes held hope, and a small touch of desperation she’d failed to notice before.
His invitation certainly took the pressure off of her. “You know I think I will join you. I was just thinking I should grab some breakfast before my next class.”
By the time they’d ordered at the counter and then found a spot to sit Molly had run out of small talk. The weather, current events, muffin ingredients, the meaning of “Namaste”…they’d gone over all the safe, easy topics. “How are you enjoying your time here in Haxton, Agent Brooks? Have you had a chance to do any hiking?”
“Nah, no time for fun things like that. It’s all I can do to make it to yoga a few times a week. It really is beautiful here though. So green.”
Molly grinned over the teacup. “Is it another color where you’re from?”
Brooks chuckled. “Nah, I live in Boulder. But I’m really enjoying the small-town vibes here.”
“Must be hard to be out of town for so long. I don’t know how you do it. I get homesick so easily. Do you think you guys will be finished soon?”
“Not much to be homesick for, to be honest. I’ve been married to my work for the past twelve years or so.” He took a cautious sip of his hot coffee. “This investigation is taking longer than expected, but hopefully we’ll get what we are looking for soon.”
Molly tried on a coy smile and it felt gross. “What you are looking for? Like, a clue? Or like a confession? How scandalous.” She couldn’t stand the fact that she had brought out the ditzy flirt. It was degrading. Baze owed her a beer tonight.
Brooks chuckled again, wagging his finger. “Now Molly, you know I can’t discuss the investigation with you. Why are you suddenly so curious? Does this have anything to do with Keller?”
Molly managed a lighthearted giggle when her insides were suddenly churning. “No, Keller’s never really mentioned the investigation. When I was growing up I went through a phase where I desperately wanted to be a private investigator. I would go around our neighborhood looking for lost dogs and spying on everyone.” Where the hell had that lie come from? Man, she was fast on her feet. Baze owed her two beers.
“Where did you grow up?”
“Laguna Beach. What about you? Are you Colorado born and raised?”
“No, I grew up out in west Texas. Flat and brown.”
“Oh yeah? Keller is from Texas too. Small world.” Could that be their connection? Could they be from the same small town? Wouldn’t Keller recognize him if that was the case though?
“Speaking of Keller, would he be mad that you are having breakfast with me?”
“Why would he be? It’s just breakfast with a friend.”
“He seems to be quite protective over you. Always sure to show that you are his and no one else’s.” The strong female in her wanted to school him. She wanted to tell him that while she was Keller’s, she was also her own. And that was something that would never change. But. That was not at all relevant to her current goal, so she kept her empowered mouth shut on the subject.
Instead she waved away his statement. “Oh, you know, just that stereotypical alpha-male behavior. I’m sure you act the same way with your girlfriend.”
“Well like I said, not much time for dating. But when I did have a girlfriend, I let her be her own person.” Let her? Asshat.
“Are insinuating that Keller controls me? Because I can assure you, that’s not the case.” Okay, she couldn’t hold it in that time. She had to stand up for herself.
“No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.” He glanced down at his watch. “I need to head to campus. Thank you for having breakfast with me, Molly.”
Molly was panicked; she hadn’t gotten anything good yet. Crap. Keller was not going to like what was about to spew from her lips. “Uh
, Agent Brooks? Same time same place tomorrow?”
“You don’t need to prove to me that Keller doesn’t control you by having breakfast with me again, Molly.”
“I’m not. I’m just not done talking to you yet.” Totally wasn’t a lie.
“Okay, then I would like that very much.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Keller
Keller opened his eyes and glanced to the left. Molly was already gone. He figured she would be. In her place was a folded piece of paper.
Didn’t want to wake you :) Have a great day!
Love, Molly
He smiled and put the little note in his nightstand. He knew the guys would give him hell for keeping a note from his girl, but he didn’t like the idea of throwing it away. Last night with Molly had been the best night of his life. He knew he should probably count the night they mated to be the best night of his life. But it wasn’t. And the fact that she agreed to move in with him meant he got to relive last night all over again. Whenever he damn well pleased.
Keller had just closed his eyes, hoping to catch another thirty minutes of sleep when he heard his microwave ding. What the hell? He grabbed the baseball bat from under his bed and slowly made his way through the living room. He rounded the corner to the kitchen, bat raised and poised to swing. Then he groaned and dropped the bat by his side. “Coop. What the hell are you doing in my kitchen at eight o’clock in the morning?”
Corey smiled brightly at Keller, her eyes darting down and then back up again. “Nice wood, Kel. What is it with you guys and your baseball bat weapons? Get a gun, much more effective.”
Keller turned around and headed back to the living room, collapsing on the couch and pulling a pillow over his lap. “Seriously, Coop. It’s early. What’s up?”
“First of all, it’s not early. I know for a fact that you have a class to teach in like forty-five minutes. Second of all, I checked my email this morning and it looks like it’s my day to talk to the Feds.” Corey sat down opposite him in the leather armchair. She blew on her reheated chocolate croissant before taking a massive bite.
