by Rowan Thalia
"You look comfy," Ranger hums as he walks outside.
"I am," I take a sip of my drink through a smirk.
Things have changed quite a bit between the wolves and me in the last week. Ranger asked Ty and me to move in with him, and he's having Ty's house renovated to fit the whole pack. There's an unspoken vibe in the air that I get to choose how our pack will function. After the meeting, everyone agreed to just try it out and see what happens. I'm learning the hard way that saying and doing are two different things. I haven't had a chance to speak with either wolf alone, but the trial period of existing together seems to be going smoothly so far.
"If I make us lunch, will you sit and talk with me?" He mumbles, face turning red.
A nervous tingle runs through my veins, and I bob my head. Ranger leans against the doorframe, steals my drink, and chugs it down. I laugh, realizing how much it took for him to ask me to talk. Ranger isn't precisely the talking type. His lip curls up at the side in a sexy smirk. He plops down beside me, toppling us to the ground.
We land in a heap, my body on top of his. When my laughter subsides, I lean up and look down into his eyes. His irises glow citrine with his wolf, and my core tightens. We haven't been together since we mated, and my wolf is more than ready to remedy that right now.
"Faith?" Ranger growls when I straddle him.
"What? We're mated, and you haven't touched me since," I push my lip out.
"That's because … I'm still trying to wrap my mind around what you want. And I know you didn't really want to be mated to me," he looks away.
Sweat breaks out on my forehead. I can feel his mixed emotions through the bond, and I feel bad that he feels like I don't want him. That isn't the case at all. We're more similar than I like to admit at times. How do I show him he's wrong? One thing is for sure, we share the same underlying, primal need to be with each other. Why not start there?
"I may not have been ready to be mated. But I do need you," I husk as I dip my face into the crook of his neck.
Ranger's chest heaves as I work my way up to his neck, feathering kisses and gripping his hair in my fists. His body is hard between my thighs, and I scoot backward until I feel his bulge against my core. He lets out a long groan. It's like the cupid girl with pink hair from my book blew lust dust in my face. Every hair on my body stands on end, and I break out in goosebumps. I wish we were already naked.
"Faith, this is not the talking I had in mind," he grunts.
"Fuck now, talk later," I hiss as I close my lips over his open mouth.
The ripping sound of my shirt as Ranger tears it from my back is answer enough. I bite his bottom lip and dive deeper into his mouth with my tongue. There's a well of energy rising in me, making my skin feel hot and tight. Rubbing my body along Ranger's, I whimper for relief. He plucks my bra from my body, torques our bodies around, and lays me beneath him with a wicked gleam to his wolf eyes.
"You asked for it," he murmurs as he kisses and bites his way down my chest.
I did ask for it, and I don't plan on taking it back. My body is alive with feeling, and I want more. Ranger's mouth devours my skin, and his hands make easy work of my pants, ripping them apart and throwing them to the side. I lean up on my elbows, watching his face peeking up like alligator eyes between my thighs. His tongue rakes between my slit, sending a tickle of pleasure through my core. I'm suddenly super pleased with my decision not to wear panties this morning. I throw my head back and bite my lip as the pulse of pending orgasm swirls through my lady bits.
"You taste so fucking good, Petite Louve," Ranger's breath brushes against my swollen bud.
His arms wrap around my legs, spreading them open as he dives back in. Goddess! My body tightens like a coiled snake, and I buck against his mouth. From my toes to my hair, every fiber of my being twists into a knot, waiting to be set free. I wriggle and whimper, begging him to let me come. I feel his mind brush against mine before he plunges two fingers into my wetness and sends me over the edge. Everything pent up inside of me is set free, my body implodes with a wave of ecstasy. I let out a sigh of relief and relax in his sure grip.
Spent, I lay against the hardwood melting into the planks. Ranger chuckles. He scoops one arm under my head and the other under my feet. Rising quickly, he walks us down to the end of the porch and lays me on the wicker chaise. The glow in his eyes as our noses touch sends a thrill down my spine. I wonder what it would be like for our wolves to mate.
'Your wolf isn't old enough yet, love,' he smirks.
My bitch chuffs but agrees before snuggling back down in the recesses of my mind. I giggle and pull Ranger's mouth to mine. Our kiss goes from silly to molten in seconds. The space between us is suddenly too much, and I ache to have him inside of me. I wrap my leg around his and reach down to stroke his rock-solid cock before centering it at my core. Even though the mate bond is settled, there's an energy between us that pulls us together like magnets. Ranger lets out a grunt of satisfaction and eases himself inside of me inch by inch, stretching me with his girth.
"I want to see you come again," his voice is gravelly.
He pulls back, staring down at me as he thrusts his hips forward slow and hard. With one hand on my hip and the other pinching my nipples, he masters my body effortlessly. The slow churn of climax builds, and my body tightens in response. I clench the woven wood above my head, trying to steady my body and deny myself until it hurts. When I can't take anymore, I lock eyes with Ranger. The heat in his eyes is the end of me, my body flies into the galaxy once more. From my core outward, everything pulses with pleasure. I cry out.
"That's it, baby," he hums.
Ranger purses his lips and slows his thrusts. His hips swirl, and he plunges deeper and deeper with each movement. I watch his deft fingers flick my clit until the sensation overwhelms me, and I let out a keen. From my position, he glistens like a sexy as hell God with dark, glowing eyes. It should be a sin to look so hot. I almost ask him to stop, but I don't, and my body ignites before crumpling beneath him like ash.
His strokes become surer, and his grip tightens. Through the haze of my euphoria, I watch his face twist in concentration, and his mouth falls open. He lifts my legs over his shoulders and starts to fuck me harder and faster. Wanting to bring him the same pleasure, I lift my hips tightening my core around his cock. Ranger moans. He winks at me before wrapping my legs around his waist. Knowing what's next, I whimper with delight. My mate leans forward, bites down on my shoulder, and explodes inside of me. I hug his body with mine, wrapping every limb around him like a python. At this moment, I belong to him and him to me. We collapse together on the couch in a tangle, lips meeting and hands weaving through each other's hair.
"You're amazing," he whispers, and I smile in response.
"We are amazing," I correct him and sink into his arms. "What did you want to talk about?"
"Hmm? Oh, I was going to ask you to sit down with Ty and me to talk about it… things. I'm not blind, now that we're living together, I see how you two have a different relationship than me and you. I don't know if I like it, but I see what you are talking about. The same with you and the other wolves. I guess I'm ready to figure out how we can be the way you want," he sighs.
"You talk like you're still unsure, yet you're building us all a big house. You're confusing, wolf," I tease, ruffing his hair, He scrunches his nose in response. "We can sit down and talk if that's what you want. It will do us all good. But you have to promise not to be a dick."
He snorts, leaving us both chuckling. It's nice to be like this, able to laugh and be real with each other. Maybe we can be close, now that we're not always at each other's throats. Although I do miss the angsty heat we had going, perhaps I'll have to create fights so that we can have angry sex once in a while.
"You do realize you're projecting, right?" He throws his head back in laughter.
"Damn it. I'm gonna need to learn to control that," I giggle.
"Nah, I like hearing you in my head," he pulls
me in for a slow kiss.
"Yeah, well, how come I never hear you? Why are you so much better at keeping me locked out?" I crinkle my nose.
"I'm used to blocking my thoughts when I go out so that other pack Alphas can't pick me up," he shrugs. "I'll teach you as long as you promise not to lock me out all the time."
"Deal," I perk. I thought I had blocking mastered, but having a mate bond makes things different, I guess. Or maybe I was never good at blocking, and no one in my pack told me.
"What deals are being made when there are no clothes on out here?" Ty steps onto the porch with a massive grin on his face.
"Ranger's gonna teach me to block his ass out of my thoughts!" I sing.
Ranger deadpans and makes a 'huh' sound with the most wolf-like, chagrined face I've ever seen. Ty bursts out into laughter, holding onto the railing for support, and I suck in my lips to keep from joining him. Ranger goes nuclear and begins to tickle me in retribution. In less than a minute, I'm choking back sobs from his assault.
"Ranger, I'm going to pee myself," I gasp. "Stop!"
"I'll do the marking around here, thank you," Ranger clucks as he picks me up and sets me on my feet.
All I can do is laugh and sprint for the bathroom. This could work. I mean, the guys have been friends for a long time, all I'm doing is changing how they relate to each other a little bit. I wonder if any of them have had girlfriends … like humans? The thought makes me simmer inside with jealousy, and I decide that's a question I'm not asking. No one should ever know the body count of their lovers.
It feels like the bathroom is a million miles away, but I finally get there. The door is open, so I breeze in only to stop short. Lewis has his cock in hand, pissing. I find myself staring from the doorway like a perv. It's the biggest dick I've ever seen, and I can't look away.
"Faith?" he coughs. "Shit, I'm sorry I didn't think to shut the door. Usually, it's just us guys here. And ... uh, you know you're naked, right?"
"Yeah, I know I'm naked … staring at your cash and prizes. I'm sorry. I have to pee, and I ran in … wow, this is awkward. I figured I'd get a peek, but maybe under different circumstances," I laugh, turn toward the wall, and grab a towel from the rack to wrap around myself.
The toilet flushes. Lewis laughs, "Touche, sexy. Thing is - I can't leave if you're standing in the doorway. Which means you can't pee." His voice is gravelly.
Meaning to turn to get out of the way, I pivot bumping right into his body in the small space. I wobble, and Lewis braces my arms with his hands. My cheeks are burning when I look into his eyes. Lewis and I are almost the same height. His bright, hazel eyes sparkle with mischief. There's a tingle in the air between us, a tension born of attraction. Before I can think too hard, I lean forward and press my lips against his. Lewis hums and wraps his arms around my back, returning the kiss with more heat than a ten-alarm fire.
Our lips part slowly. I'm grateful for Lewis's grip because my knees are wobbly. This man is a fucking superb kisser. We stand there, faces inches apart for a solid minute. I check with my wolf, and she's still solid on the fact that we should have the whole pack if we aren't sticking with just Ranger. She's become a greedy bitch in the last week. Well, so have I, I suppose.
"I should let you pee," Lewis breaks the kiss, his forehead against mine. "Can we pick this up again later?"
I bark out a laugh and nod. Lewis squeezes my arms, turns our bodies so he can get around me and backs out of the door with a wink. My insides flip around like fish inside of my stomach. I take a deep breath before closing the door and attending to my now urgent need. I'm glad there are no clothes to bother with, I barely sit when the floodgates open. It's like a mini orgasm when I finally pee, it feels that fucking good. I sigh and lean back against the toilet like an old lady. Today is going to kill me.
'Want to run,' my wolf snorts.
I agree. My legs crack when I stand, and I groan. The shower is calling to me, but I flush the toilet, wash my hands, and exit to find Ranger instead. Everyone here has seen me naked, except for Brandon, so I don't even bother with the towel. They should be comfortable with my nudity anyway; we're wolves, right?
"Ranger!" I call as I prance through the living room. The clash of dishes leads me toward the kitchen. I push open the door just a crack and peek inside to see Lewis and Ty washing dishes while Ranger digs in the fridge. I clear my throat to get his attention. His body turns, arms full of sandwich fixings, and a smile breaks out on his face.
"Petite Louve, what can I help your hot little body with?"
The guys at the sink stop turning their heads. Both smirk and lean against the counter. Guys. I enfold my arms stepping fully into the kitchen, refusing to hide my body. If I were in wolf form, I'd shake my fur right now to show them how relaxed I am. Instead, I turn my lip up and lift my chin.
"My bitch and I want to go running," I state.
All three guys immediately start stuttering. "Yeah, well, what if there are more of your old pack lurking?" Ty mumbles.
"It's not really safe," Lewis agrees.
"Not at night," Ranger sets the food on the counter. "But maybe we could take a drive to the Redwood forest today. In Millie's territory, I'm sure she won't mind."
Ty raises his eyebrow. "We haven't talked to Millie since she spelled the property for us, and you two …" he ends with a cough.
My chest burns, and I stare at Ranger. "You two, what?"
He scratches the back of his head, eyes on his feet. "We had a thing one night. We were drinking and … it didn't end well. It honestly didn't mean anything. It was a long time ago. I'm sure she'll let us run in her protected forest," he stutters.
Ty and Lewis break out into laughter, I'm sure they've never seen Ranger look so sullen. I want to be mad, but I can't. It's the past, and he's so fucking cute right now. I step forward, wiggle my way into his arms to nuzzle his neck.
"Then call and see, I need to get out and stretch my legs," I whisper.
"Hmm. I can stretch them again if you'd like?" He chuckles, kissing the top of my head and hugging me.
"I'd like that too. Maybe we can all go for a session together," I bite my lip and wait for him to be outraged.
"Maybe one day," was his reply, and I hold my breath in astonishment. It's more than I thought I would get from him, and I'll take it.
"Why don't you go shower and get dressed while I make lunch and call Millie?" Ranger offers.
"Sounds good," I back out of his hold. Before I leave the kitchen, I scamper over and wrap my arms around Lewis. He breathes in my scent and kisses my forehead. I turn to Ty next. A low growl vibrates in his throat, and he wraps his arms tight. Ty holds me a minute longer, and I pull him with me toward the exit. He hesitates, making eye contact with Ranger first, but comes willingly after the Alpha nods.
"Shower with me?" I ask as we make it into the hallway.
"You bet," he breathes.
I'm as giddy as a schoolgirl on her first day when we load up in Brandon's vehicle. The dark blue Highlander is the only rig spacious enough for all of us at once. We drew straws to see who had to sit in the back, and I got the short one. Thank the Goddess I don't get carsick because the winding roads around here are brutal.
"Radio requests?" Brandon calls over his shoulder as he starts the engine.
"Country!" I yell from my seat.
Ty and Lewis make an approving sound, but Ranger groans. Brandon laughs before reaching down and turning the station. As the guitar chords of my favorite song roll through the cabin, Brandon sets the car in motion, and we're off. Excitement flutters in my belly and I tuck my feet underneath my body as I settle into the leather seat. I can't wait to get my first real look at the redwoods that surround our small town.
"I'm glad we're taking you to Millie's," Ty turns in his seat to face me. "We haven't gone in a while, and I miss it. You're gonna love the trail we use!" His green eyes light up.
"When was the last time you guys did go?" I ask as I take his hand in mine.
"Hmm, it's been a year or two, I guess. I can sit back there with you if you want?" He grins.
"By all means, come squeeze in the third row with me," I tease as I move my legs off the spot next to me.
Ty unbuckles and hops over the back of the seat. Lewis grumbles when he gets a face full of ass and uses the opportunity to punch Ty in the leg. There are a few growls between the two, but Ty makes it safely to the back after a minute of maneuvering. I don't know why we didn't just start out this way, but hey, I've got him next to me now, that's all that matters.
"You realize we placed bets on who would get to sit by you, and when you didn't choose, we were all left scratching our heads - right?" Ty whispers as he snuggles up to me.
I look him in the eye and deadpan, "You'd think ya'll would have realized by now, I'll never choose."
"Thank fuck," Lewis breathes from in front of us. There's a brief pause before everyone chuckles, including me.
"If we're all being open about this new thing, I'm kinda miffed I'm the only one you haven't kissed," Brandon eyes me through the rearview.
Ranger stills, his head facing the window. Part of me feels terrible, I know his wolf side still isn't entirely on board with sharing me. With a catch in my throat, I scan the car and offer a weak smile.
"Your time will come, Bran," I whisper. "It'll happen when it happens naturally like everything else has so far."
"You fuckers better recognize that she's my True-mate during all of this. Let's try to keep the sharing talk to a minimum until my wolf relaxes on the topic, will ya?" Ranger gruffs.
"Roger that," Brandon dips his head, still making eye contact with me through the mirror.
The tension in the car is too much, and I fumble with something to say. "How about those … uh, what's the sports team up here?" I ask loudly.
Ty squeezes my hand as he bursts into easy laughter. Everyone joins, even Ranger, who turns in his seat and winks. Glad to see him in a better mood, I lean back in my place and hum along with the music. Lewis rolls down his window, a blast of pine laced air hits me, and I sigh. There's a hint of moss or peat in the pine scent that makes me want to turn wolf and jump out of the window right now.