He let out a relieved breath and let her arm go before wrapping his big arms around her belly. She was content to stay in his arms for the remainder of the night. He was warm and secure. There was comfort here and he willingly provided it. Before long, he stood, and she found herself reaching for him.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he said. “I’m just going to turn out the lights and make sure we’re locked in. Why don’t you get under the blankets? I’ll be right back.”
She did as he suggested and snuggled under his covers. It was already warm underneath from their body heat. By the time he got back, she got comfortable with one of his pillows. He smiled at her, the most gorgeous, devastating smile and she couldn’t help but grin at him like a stupid love-struck school girl.
A girl could get used to this.
9
The birds were chirping outside the bedroom window when Beth woke up the following morning. She was still tired but content and warm, snuggled against Kaleb’s side. He was curled around her in an almost protective manner as he slept, his breathing soft and even. She could’ve stayed there all day comfortably, she mused.
When she stretched, his eyes opened. “Hey,” he said, his voice low and husky from sleep.
“I think that was the best I’ve slept in…I don’t know how long.”
The crooked grin on his face made her belly drop and warmth spread throughout her chest. He looked at her as if she was the only thing that mattered. The only thing he wanted. His smile is what made him so damn good-looking and it was all for her.
Kaleb grabbed her left arm and held it up. “Let me see.” He peered at where the scabs had been the night before but now there was nothing but smooth skin. The marks were gone as if last night hadn’t happened. He pulled her wrist to his mouth and brushed his lips against her skin.
“Do you heal this fast?” she asked him when he disentangled himself from her and pushed himself to the side of the bed. She followed suit, grabbing her t-shirt from the floor and pulling it on over her head.
“Faster.” Kaleb stood and thrust his legs into his shorts before going to the door.
It was crazy for her to think about. “I’m kind of jealous.” She ran her fingertips over his abdomen as she walked by him into the living room. Her fingers burned when she touched him, the heat coming off his skin was intense and just made her want to get back into the bed and snuggle against him some more.
He caught her by the fingertips as she stepped away from him, keeping her tethered to him. “One of the werewolf benefits. Want some breakfast?”
Her stomach growled as he asked the question. “Are we still going fishing?”
“Do you still want to go?”
“I do.”
“Then we’ll go,” he said, reaching out with his other hand and grasping her waist before pulling her against his chest.
Her breasts crushed against him and his cock twitched between their bodies, pushing into her hip and tenting his charcoal basketball shorts. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, breathing deeply.
“You ticked me off last night,” he confessed her after a long moment. He pulled her t-shirt to the side and kissed the skin of her shoulder, his mouth hot against her skin.
“How so?” Her head fell back, giving him better access.
He nipped her, his teeth dragging over the sensitive flesh. “You got into a fight with a werewolf and I couldn’t get to you fast enough thanks to Freddie.” He pulled back to look at her. “You got hurt. If Alex hadn’t…”
The emotion on his face gutted her. “I’m sorry.”
He gave a small shake of his head. “I don’t need an apology. I need you safe because when you’re not, I can’t control myself. I wanted to kill the both of them. If you hadn’t been injured and bleeding everywhere, I don’t know what I would’ve done. Even now I want to—”
She put her hand over his mouth. “I’m okay. I’m all healed up and no worse for wear. Kaleb, you did your job. Alex got Lacey off me. You were all squared up with Freddie, who looked like he wanted to murder the both of us. Really, I’m fine. You did good, wolf.”
When she moved her hand away from his mouth, she saw his small frown. It was clear that he didn’t necessarily believe her but he didn’t argue with her either. He glanced down and released her enough to pull the t-shirt back over her head. Kaleb cupped her breast as if feeling its weight before grazing her puckered nipple. Her belly clenched and she reached between them, pushing the shorts down his hips and grasping his erection in her hand.
A long groan escaped him as she stroked him, his cock smooth in her hand. She loved the way he felt, a wicked mix of steel and satin. A small bead of fluid leaked from the tip and she wiped it with her thumb before bringing it to her mouth and tasting it.
His chest vibrated against her when he growled. He kicked his shorts the rest of the way off, sending them flying into the bedroom. Fingers dug into her ass and she was lifted from the ground. Throwing her off-balance, she clutched his shoulders as he took two steps out of the doorway and pressed her back against the cool living room wall.
Kaleb balanced her against the wall and freed one of his hands. She hooked one leg around his hips as he reached between their bodies and found her clit. Roughly stroking the delicate flesh, Beth jumped at the sudden sensation.
“Too much,” she cried, bucking against his hand.
He held her gaze. He didn’t slow down or change the force behind the touch. Beth arched her back, needing him to never, ever stop what he was doing. The sensation was intense. Powerful and overwhelming.
“So wet,” he rumbled, his thumb pressing her clit now as he thrust one finger inside of her. He worked her and when she felt as if her knees would give out, he held her up with one arm clamped around her waist. His forehead pressed against hers, his breathing hitched and he waited.
He didn’t have to wait long. When her orgasm tore through her a few seconds later, he removed his hand and replaced it with the hard pressure of his dick. He pinned her against the wall and slammed into her when she was still reeling. Her body clamped down on him. With a growl, he buried himself inside her. All she could do was hold on as he pounded into her.
He found her mouth as if intent on possessing every bit of her. Beth kissed him with everything she had before biting his bottom lip. He exploded then, drowning her insides with his hot release and tore his mouth away from hers with a roar. Canines protruded and she pulled back, putting distance between his sharp teeth and her skin.
When he forced himself to released her she slid down the wall and landed on shaky legs. He took a step back, chest heaving, and his teeth slowly began shrinking back to their normal size. His hands were fists at his side as he leveled her with a single look that both terrified and thrilled her.
“I'm starting to think I shouldn’t trust you not to bite me,” she said softly.
“You shouldn’t,” he whispered, pain etched in his voice. He uncurled his hands and bent, snatching his shorts from the floor. He yanked them back on. “I’m going to end up biting you sooner or later.”
She stood there, back pressed against the wall, trying to figure him out but having zero luck. He seemed angry but it wasn’t directed at her. “Have you ever wanted to bite a woman before?”
His voice was barely a whisper when he admitted, “Just you.”
The warmth in her chest crept up her neck and into her face. His confession shouldn’t make her feel this happy, but it did. She was practically singing. With a grin she couldn’t suppress, she whacked him playfully on the butt. He startled, a confused look on his face as she walked passed him.
“We have fishing today,” she reminded him as she all but skipped toward Gabriel’s bedroom to find some appropriate clothes. “Breakfast, then fishing, and then maybe we’ll spend the rest of the day fooling around and doing dirty stuff. Don’t worry, you can wear a muzzle if it gets bad but I’m definitely going to want some more of that.” She wiggled her eyebrows at him.
<
br /> He laughed, the deep sound echoing throughout the small apartment.
Kaleb got dressed and made them a quick breakfast before packing a little cooler with a couple of beers, bottles of water, and sandwiches for later. They ate and headed out to Declan’s within the hour.
“This is Declan’s place?” Beth asked as he pulled the truck down the long gravel driveway toward the white cape cod style home.
“Yeah, he bought and renovated it a few years ago.”
“It’s nice.”
Kaleb parked in front of the garage before turning off the engine and shoving the keys on top of the sun visor. “He did a good job with it. It's really nice inside.”
When he hopped out of the truck, Beth went out her side. He left his cell phone on the seat and she did the same, but only after she’d watched him leave it there. He grabbed their cooler and headed around the back of Declan's house to the shed.
“It’s a bit of a walk,” he warned her as he opened the shed and flipped on the light.
It was a dingy little building but it served its purpose. The tackle box was left sitting on the wooden shelf, the rods hanging on the walls. Arrows were strewn along the top of the workbench. Declan’s compound bow sat in the middle, a small container of bowstring wax next to it.
Kaleb assumed he’d been prepping for the start of turkey hunting season before he ran off to Boston. Leaving equipment in the shed was something Declan didn’t do, it was usually kept inside with his other weapons.
“That’s fine,” she said, running her fingertip over the dusty window ledge.
He handed the tackle box to Beth since it was the lightest thing they had to carry before picking up two poles.
“I'm guessing you guys hunt,” she commented, nodding toward the bow and arrows.
“Occasionally.”
“That’s something I’d like to learn to do,” she said.
“Hunt?”
“No. I just learn to shoot a bow.”
He could see her wielding one. “I’ll teach you one day,” he said. “Let’s start with fishing today.”
It was a nice thought, he mused, picturing her holding the bow in the fall once the leaves changed. He’d love to see her smiling and happy, not worrying about warlocks or the council. Just being. But it was just a thought. A daydream.
Beth fell into step beside him as they headed through the tree line in the direction of the lake. He slowed when he realized she had some difficulty finding her footing a few times. He didn't want her to stumble.
He was used to the area. Between Declan's fifty acres and Malcolm’s one hundred acres that connected to the property, he’d been on just about every inch at one time or another. Every full moon, this is where he changed. Where he ran.
He liked that she saw it.
The glitter from the lake sparkled through the branches of the trees. He followed the narrow path a bit further before it broke through the trees, revealing a small beach.
“This is beautiful," Beth commented, stopping on the beach. The pebbles and sand crunched beneath her feet.
He hadn't thought about it that way in so long but she was right. The lake was large, glittering in the sunlight. Trees and brush surrounded the body of water, leaves springing up from the limbs. Small waves lapped the shoreline.
Kaleb started down the beach to where the green canoe sat, barely peeking out of the trees. He pulled it onto the beach, dropping the poles and cooler inside.
“Sit,” he instructed her and she cooperated, stepping inside and putting the tackle box down. “Can you swim?”
"Yes,” she responded.
“Good because we don't have life jackets.”
Beth frowned. “Are you going to dump me in the water?”
“I hope not.” He hesitated before adding, “It’s a possibility, you realize. Canoes aren't the steadiest things.”
“I know. My phone in the truck and I’m not wearing anything I care about,” she said glancing down at her long-sleeved maroon shirt, jeans, and sneakers. “If we go in then I get wet.”
He grinned. “I’d rather you were wet for other reasons.”
She was giggling as he pushed the canoe into the water. He jumped in and used the oars to drive them away from the shoreline.
They drifted out a little way before he started rowing them further away from the shore. After a few minutes he stopped, content with the area. They were in the middle of the lake and the water was deep. He dropped the oar next to him and carefully turned in his seat to face her.
She was holding onto the sides as the canoe wobbled beneath her.
“Okay,” she breathed when it stopped moving.
He grinned at her unease and picked up a pole, handing it to her. “We're here. Let’s fish.”
He got her set up, showed her how to drop the line into the water and let her go, explaining tidbits along the way. It really wasn’t difficult. Put the line in the water and wait for a bite was primarily what he told her.
She did it. Before long, they were both sitting in the canoe, nature making noise all around them, and waiting for something to bite the end of their lines.
“We never discussed what we were going to do with said fish once they were caught,” she commented.
“What would you like to do with them?”
“I want to say eat them.”
“We can do that.”
She frowned. “We’ll see. I'm going back and forth on that.”
“We can always throw them back,” he told her. It’s not like they needed the meat for food. There was still plenty in the fridge to eat at home.
“Can I decide after we catch one?”
“Sure.”
She seemed happy with that plan and settled into her seat a bit more. It was almost strange seeing her relaxed. Her face turned up to the sun, she soaked it up, a small smile playing on her lips. He was used to her being nothing but a bundle of nerves, quick to snap, and always needing to be on the go. He liked this other side of Beth.
“Kaleb,” she said after a long period of silence. “What happens later?”
He wasn't sure what she was referring to. There were many different options, between the relationship that was blossoming between them, to the warlocks, to the council, to what they were planning for the rest of the day.
“What do you mean?” He readjusted his grip on the fishing pole.
“Last night with Lacey and everything…I don’t know.” She sighed. “I don't even know what I’m asking.”
He glanced at her. She was biting her bottom lip, brows furrowed with worry. He hated seeing that look on her face. He wanted to make all the bullshit go away. Beth deserved to be happy, she didn’t need any of this. Lacey, the council, warlocks. It was turning into one thing after another. The only thing he wished she was worried about was whether the sun was going to burn her pale skin.
“Beth, I don't know what to say,” he finally said. “Last week I never would've imagined I would find myself sitting out on the lake with you, fishing. I never would've imagined all of this happening but here we are.”
“You think I should stop worrying so much?”
He frowned. She had reason to worry. “I think you should focus on the here and now instead of focusing on a future you can’t control.”
“I feel like I’m drowning sometimes,” she confessed softly.
“You’re not going to drown. You’re overwhelmed.”
“A few years ago, my parents moved to Florida, one of my best friends in the entire world took off for Massachusetts, and I stayed here just struggling to get by. I thought I was going to be homeless, I was seriously depressed, and just felt like my world was falling apart, but at least then I understood the world I lived in. Not so much anymore.”
He lifted the rod slightly so the bait would bounce in the water. “Your blinders came off and it’s going to take time to adapt, but the world around you isn’t any different than it was before. You just see more of it.”
“Y
ou don’t seem to worry about anything,” she said with a slow smile. “I’m jealous.”
“Oh, I worry plenty but I choose not to see anything right now except the lake we’re sitting on and the pretty girl next to me. Enjoy life’s little moments.”
“You always know what to say to make me feel better. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
He couldn’t help but grin at her. “Beth, you—”
The sudden quiet in the air silenced him. The birds and the other wildlife just seemed to stop. He dropped his pole in the canoe and straightened his spine. Putting his nose in the air, he smelled the breeze. It was an odd scent, one he couldn’t identify. Unfamiliar.
What was it?
They were standing downwind. A warlock would know better than to stand downwind from a werewolf. His ears strained, trying to pick up a sound. Any sound.
“What's wrong?” she asked him as if sensing his sudden alertness.
He held a finger up, silencing her. His eyes narrowed, searching for any sign of movement in the trees. Any hint of something that didn’t belong. The smell originated from the same direction they’d come. Had someone followed them?
He leaned forward to pick up the oar just as the loud crack rattled his eardrums.
One second Beth had been sitting in the canoe, trying to figure out what had taken Kaleb's attention to being thrown into the freezing water.
It all happened so quickly. Kaleb had leaned forward just as the rifle fire hit her ears. She didn't even have time to scream before she was being thrown into the water, her seat disappearing beneath her.
She was kicking her body to the surface when a hand closed around her arm and pulled her under the capsized canoe. Eyes wide, she gasped for air as her head broke the surface. Kaleb looked as scared as she felt.
“Trust me,” Kaleb demanded, his voice low and hurried as she treaded water. “I'm not going to let anything happen to you, just do exactly as I say and trust me.”
Gasping, she nodded. He'd get them out of this. “I trust you.”
“Deep breath,” he instructed before diving. She sucked in a lungful of air just as he jerked her beneath the surface.
Wild and Untamed (Netherworld Series Book 4) Page 16
