Now…

  Now it’s something else entirely, and it makes my heart race.

  He’s close... so close I can reach out and touch him.

  So I do. I reach out and pull him to me, and his eyes catch mine.

  “There is nothing you could say or do that would ever drive me away.” His voice is low, and husky, and I know he’s telling the truth, because the way he says the words is full of promise. His eyes gaze into mine, and he runs his thumb over my cheek, and suddenly the embers of yesterday ignite into a raging fire.

  He wraps his arms around me, pressing his erection against my thigh, and I can’t help but fixate my gaze on his lips.

  Lips I’ve kissed plenty of times.

  Lips that always leave goosebumps on my skin wherever they touch me.

  Lips that know how to drive me crazy, if I let them.

  I wish I could formulate words. But I can’t.

  I can barely focus on anything except this moment.I can barely focus on anything except him.

  Dustin senses my apprehension, and plants a soft kiss on my lips.

  “Tell me what you want, Jade,” he whispers.

  My breath catches in my throat.

  I look up at his eyes and find home.

  “You, Dustin. I want you.”

  Chapter 36

  Dustin

  The sweetest words I’ve ever heard ring through my ears.

  You, Dustin. I want you.

  I’ve wanted to hear those words every day since I’ve met Jade. Every single day. It’s finally here and the way it makes my entire body react, it’s more than I could have ever imagined.

  I don’t wait to bring my lips to hers, fear taking over me, worried she’ll change her mind. That she’ll run away, fight me like she normally does.

  So I don’t give her the chance.

  Our lips crash together in a heated kiss. She parts her lips, and a sweet moan escapes. This… this is what I’ve been waiting for from her. All of the times we’ve kissed she’s never given me all of her. Not once. Not until now. This is Jade Hollow. The one I’ve been in love with for as long as I can remember.

  The entire world disappears around us. It’s only her and I. That’s all I’ve ever wanted, needed. Just her.

  I tighten my grip around her and grind my aching cock against her lower belly. She best not try to pull the “I need a bath” shit because I don’t want to hear it. She is perfect. Always has been, always will be.

  My hands reach down and grip her ass, squeezing tightly. I’ve always liked her ass, looking at it every chance I get. I’ll put my dick in there one day, but today won’t be that day. I pull away from her lips and find her neck. Sucking, licking, and biting. Each nip draws a moan from her throat. I know how much she loves this, how it drives her mad. Her nails tear at the skin on my back and I breathe out a husky laugh.

  “Too much, baby?” I ask, running my tongue up her neck. Her hardened nipples brush against me as she tightens her grip, running her hands down my arms, fingernails biting into my flesh.

  “More, Dustin. I want more,” she whispers.

  I nip at her jaw as I pull her legs up and drop to my knees. I lay her flat on the soft, cool earth. She wraps her legs around my waist tightly, as if she doesn’t want me to go anywhere. As if she is worried I may leave.

  I will never go anywhere without you, I think.

  Resting my forearm on the side of her head, I use the other to brush away a piece of wild hair from her face. Her hand finds mine and she locks our fingers together. She’s so beautiful like this, and those gorgeous eyes are focused on me. Only me.

  “Dustin, I—”

  I press a kiss to her lips. “I know. I’ve always known,” I softly whisper back. Her eyes are filled with so much passion, so much heat, and dare I say love? I’ve always known I loved her. I’ve always known how she felt about me. She just needed the time to realize it herself. And that’s okay because in the end, we’re right where we should be. Together.

  I sit back on my knees, memories flooding my mind of the last time we were in this position. The last time she was beneath me, naked like this. She was my first and she will be my last. Everyone in the middle doesn’t count. Everyone always says you’ll never forget your first, and I haven’t. I couldn’t forget Jade if my life depended on it. I wouldn’t change a thing about our story, even if it isn’t the best one. It’s just how it was meant to be.

  I grip myself, sliding my cock through her slit and lining myself up. I push inside of her slowly, taking my time, wanting to enjoy every second, feel every inch of her. I’m driving myself wild over it. I could just fuck her. Hell, I want to. My wolf wants to, but I can’t bring myself to do that this time. This is more than just a fuck. This is Jade and I solidifying something that was meant to be years and years ago. This is us connecting on a whole other level.

  Her eyes flutter shut as I find her clit, massaging it with my thumb. She squeezes my cock with her pussy and it almost throws me over the edge. I still for a moment, not wanting this to end just yet, and take in the sight of her beneath me. Hair wild, splayed around her in the grass, skin golden in the morning light, lips swollen from kissing me. I grind my hips against her, moving my thumb in small circles, building her up. When we did this the last time, she never got there. It’s a regret I’ve lived with ever since.

  Not this time.

  Not ever again.

  As her chest begins to move faster, her hands reach out, looking for something to grab. They settle on tufts of grass. I move my thumb faster and thrust into her harder.

  “Oh, Dustin,” she groans, biting onto that plump bottom lip of hers. It’s a bad habit she has, and I know she doesn’t realize how it drives all of us fucking wild.

  Knowing she’s about to come has me picking up the pace with my hips. I thrust into her once more, the sounds she’s making as I do bring me right to the edge. I’m too close to stop this time, but I know she’s right there with me. I can feel it as we reach that peak at the same time. She clenches around me as I pump my release into her. My hands find her face and I lean down, kissing the side of her mouth and whisper in her ear, “You’ve always been mine.” Her hands travel up my ribs, and slide down my arms before covering my own.

  “And you’ve always been mine,” she responds.

  I kiss her softly on the lips before getting us both to our feet. I pick her up and carry her to the water with full intentions of washing her up and treating her like the queen she is.

  Jade deserves every good thing in this world, and I promise to give that to her until my last breath.

  As I wade into the water, she squeezes me tightly, a satisfied hum leaving her lips as I ease her body into the lake. I run my fingers through her hair once we’re in up to our necks. She tilts her head back, allowing me to get it wet.

  “If we had soap I’d give you a proper washing,” I say to her. She smiles and my insides curl. I fucking love when she smiles.

  “You can make up for that another time.”

  “Bet your ass I will.” I reach out and squeeze it for good measure.

  “What is your fascination with my ass?” she asks, opening an eye to look at me.

  I just shrug. “It’s mine. I can touch it whenever I want.”

  Her smile falters and I worry I said something wrong. This is just Jade, though. This is what she does. She gives me a taste, just a tease, and then rips it all away. My chest aches at the thought of what’s about to come.

  “Dustin, wha—”

  “Whatever it is, Jade, we can figure it out. Don’t run from this, don’t push me away anymore,” I plead.

  Her cool, wet fingers trail down the side of my face, brushing along my jawline and then over my lips. Her verdant eyes search mine, and I run my hands through her dark, wet hair.

  She nods slowly. “Okay. We’ll figure it out.”

  I wash her up as best I can in this lake, and it should do the trick until we’re back indoors. I meant what I said about giving her a proper bath, once all this… insanity is done with. It won’t be long until we’re together in our own house, with our own bathroom. I’ll bathe her every night, if it’s what she wants.

  “You guys alright in there?” I turn to find Ranger walking over to us in nothing but his birthday suit. I swear, it’s like he knows how annoying he is and he does it on purpose. I roll my eyes as he walks right into the water, no hesitation. The guy has no inclination as to when he shouldn’t interrupt. He just squeezes himself into any and every conversation like a fucking cockroach. You can’t ever get rid of him.

  I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like it though.

  I just don’t think I’ll ever admit that out loud.

  Ranger has been around as long as Jade. They’re kind of a package deal. You can’t have one without the other. I’ve always loved him like a brother, and brothers are supposed to be annoying, I guess.

  “We gotta get going soon,” he says before dipping underneath the water. When he comes back up, he runs his hands through his light brown hair, slicking it back. “Big day today.” He waggles his eyebrows at us, looking from me to Jade, no doubt judging how she’s still in my arms, naked. Ruining my moment, like always.

  This day started out right, I only hope it ends the same way. They filled me in on the plans for today and all I can do is hope Maverick is as good a person as everyone claims he is.

  Chapter 37

  Jade

  I missed this.

  I don’t think I knew how badly I missed the Dustin of my youth. The one who was playful, kind, and giving.

  The one I trusted with my heart, mind, and soul.

  Growing up in Starfall Creek, especially as a teenager, sex was everywhere. It was on everyone’s mind, especially those of young shifters who would one day take their alpha’s places, or become wives and mothers.

  I’d never been one to refrain from commanding what I wanted, in any way shape or form, but somehow I found it harder than anything to form those five words.

  You, Dustin. I want you.

  I know it might take awhile for us to break our bad habits.

  I know Dustin’s come from being brought up in a home much different than mine—with a less loving father.

  He was expected to be an alpha, my alpha as luck would have it, so it wasn’t his fault the words that came natural to him tended to set me on edge.

  But I push down the need to fight him because it doesn't matter. Not right now, anyway.

  Ranger’s amber eyes settle on me, and in the light of morning the water droplets run down his chest, reflecting the sunlight.

  His tattoo stands out, black ink against tan, defined muscles, and I almost stop breathing at the sight.

  Good lord. When did that happen?

  I blink, shaking the weird light tricks from my mind.

  The other day I thought Dustin was about to cry. And now this. I really need to get out more.

  I swim away from Dustin’s arms regrettably, following Ranger out of the water. Once on the shore, Ranger shakes his head, water splashing everywhere like he's a damn dog.

  He pulls on his pants, as I come up next to him.

  “Please, please, tell me all the details when we get back to the clubhouse. I’m dying for the sequel.” He smirks at me, raising his eyebrows.

  I shove him lightly.

  “Only if you’ll tell me your secrets too.”

  He looks at me in question.

  “I mean, you two looked so adorable cuddled up together this morning, you could be a hallmark movie.” I bat my eyelashes at him.

  “Ohhhhhh. Yeah, nothing to tell there.” Ranger smiles, but I sense he is hiding something.

  “Yeah, sorry nothing to tell here either.” I shrug as I leave him and Dustin in my dust on the way back to the clubhouse.

  Dustin drives the Escalade over to Hollow House, which isn’t far by any means. I think he just wanted to show off. Put me up front with him—so the others could see—and away from them.

  As Ranger would say, alpha wolf shit.

  I bite my tongue and focus on the task at hand.

  Mom has the door open, letting the air in the house, and before I am even close enough to the kitchen, the smell of cinnamon rolls has my mouth watering.

  Mom looks up from her baking tray, and raises an eyebrow at me.

  Ranger flanks my side, like always, but I can feel Dustin and Rev quietly shoving each other for the other side.

  “And then there were four…” Mom gave me a curious look.

  The blush that crept up on my cheeks was inevitable.

  This was a bad idea.

  “We’ve been expecting you,” she says as Ranger walks up to the fridge, poking around.

  “Where’s Dad?” I lean on the countertop, eyeballing the fresh tray of cinnamon rolls that surely must have come straight from the oven.

  “He’s at a council meeting right now, but he should be back soon.”

  “Where's the triplets?” Ranger asks through a muffled bite of something.

  Ranger always refers to my sisters as the triplets, even though they aren’t the same age.I am the oldest at twenty-five. Scarlet is twenty-three, same as Ranger, and Hannah and Melody are nineteen and twenty.

  They all look similar in appearance though, taking after my mom. Blonde, tall, green eyes, and like most of the female shifters, total smokeshows.

  Ranger pushed himself up and sat on the counter, legs dangling, with a muffin or something in his mouth; which was quite a sight.

  “Hannah and Melody left about an hour ago. I think they’re meeting up with some friends to go four wheeling.”

  “Where’s Scarlet?” I ask, dipping my finger into the bowl of icing and then sucking it off.

  “Working on her recital.”

  My sister is a top notch pianist. She is obsessed with two things in life: her piano and Ranger. The last thought bothers me a little more than it should for some reason.

  I remember who’s with me, too little too late, as I feel Rev behind me, pressing an avid erection against my ass.

  “Save some for me?” he purrs into my ear.

  I dip my finger back into the icing, and hold it out towards his lips, casting him a heated glare.

  He doesn’t take his eyes off mine as he shamelessly licks the white icing off. In front of my mother. My cheeks flush again.

  “It’s Reverie, right?” Mom doesn't seem phased.

  “Excuse me for a minute…” I feel heated and need some air. I push off from the counter, heading around the corner.

  I scour the next room, looking for Dustin.

  Hollow’s Pack House is huge.

  Traditionally, the Starfall Alpha’s House is big because it needs to house the alpha pack, which in older days there were a lot more packmates.

  It also needed to be capable of housing a growing family, and visitors from other compounds from time to time. We have more bedrooms than we know what to do with and the living room is larger than the others in the neighborhoods. Dustin sits in the corner by the large, brick fireplace, lost in thought. I pause before heading into the kitchen.

  I want to go to him, but something inside of me tells me I better not. Whatever it is he needs to work out, he needs some alone time to do it. I can’t explain it. I know normally I would poke him, bait him into an argument. Play with fire. But something… changed in me. Last night, when I thought I’d lost him for good. This morning, when he’d made love to me on the edge of the lake. When he’d opened his heart again. Things are different now.

  So I turn my head, and head back to the kitchen, leaving him to his own devices.

  I like where we are at and I want to move forward. No more steps back.

  I approach the island, to attempt to steal a fresh cinnamon roll, but instead I find my mother smacking Ranger lightly with a spatula, evidence of icing in the corner of his lips. For some reason the sight makes my stomach flip.

  “But I’m hungry!” He groans dramatically.

  I roll my eyes and settle my gaze on Rev.

  With my mother distracted, I saunter over to him. He is mixing batter in the bowl she’s abandoned.

  “So, do you always make it a habit of embarrassing your dates in front of their mothers?” I sprinkle cinnamon on the tray of open rolls.

  “Only the ones I really, really like.” Rev smiles darkly.

  He’s changed since the bite, but this flirtatious, sexy side of him was always there hiding, I think.

  I saw it only a little bit when we’d gone to Casey’s Bar, when he’d kissed me in the Jeep.

  When he kissed me under the blanket, with Dustin in the next room.

  “Do you think she knows?” He looks at me in question, his voice taking a more serious tone.

  “Knows what?” I roll up the remaining dough.

  “That I’m… different.” His voice cracks on the last word.

  “I don’t know. You don’t smell different.” I shrug. Rev sets his bowl down and slowly shifts closer to me.

  Close enough to whisper.

  “I bet I’d smell a lot different after going for some dessert of my own.” I don't miss the heat in his voice, or the way my thighs clench at the sound of it.

  I look up at him through my lashes.

  “I bet you would.”

  “Jo, baby, I’m back…” My father’s voice trails off, as I’m sure the shock registers. I can feel the temperature in the room drop.

  “Jade.” My dad’s eyes settle on me, and I feel more on the spot than ever.

  “Hi, Dad.” I waved nervously.

  Whose idea was it to tell my dad again?

  Chapter 38

  Ranger

  Jo Ellen Hollow can be scarier than any alpha, even Maverick.

  Especially in her kitchen.

  The woman is the best cook around Starfall Creek, and it isn't unheard of that her pies are highly approved of.