CAN'T WAIT Box Set

by Wyatt, Dani

  I should go back, but there’s a flicker of light ahead and I wonder if I’m seeing things. Visions have been haunting me since I left the cabin and I hear my father’s voice telling me to be aware of the signs around me and follow what feels right.

  Pushing ahead on the trail, the ground is slick, and the trees look as though they are covered in glass. Light reflects in odd arcs and the flicker I saw ahead of me streams out onto the path again.

  I see a small cabin in the distance. It’s about a quarter the size of the one I’m staying in. The light disappears again but as I come up closer, I see a small porch and a silver blanket covering a hunched figure. “Hey, you okay?” I step around closer and the shape under the blanket shifts then freezes. “It’s not a good night to be out here. I’ve got a cabin, it’s not much but it’s warm and I can offer you a bite to eat.”

  I take one of the two steps going up to the tiny sheltered overhang and a hand comes out to pull down the silver fabric.

  I nearly topple backwards as those eyes that seem to hold stories about how my life will unfold from here pierce through the dark and wrap beams of white light around my heart.

  I’m on my knees in front of her in the next second, unable to fathom how many coincidences brought me here.

  “I’m okay.” She forces the words out, shaking, and I see a blue tint to her full lips.

  “You’re not okay, but you’re going to be.” I grit out. I glance around, see a backpack leaning against the wall and grab it. After I hitch it up onto my shoulders, I reach down, find the crook of her legs with my forearm, sweep my other arm around her back and pull her up and against me.

  “I said I’m okay.” Her words are tight, but she doesn’t fight me. In fact, one of her arms comes up to lock around the back of my neck like she’s holding on for dear life. As I take a step backward, I see the flash of a blade in her other hand. I nearly fall down the steps onto my ass, but there’s no way I’m dropping her. “I said I’m okay.” She repeats but I hear no malice or fear in her words.

  I’ve got her against me now and I never want to let go. As I touch her, my mind is inundated with visions of us laughing together. Me kissing her. Her naked, under me, calling my name.

  Before I get us on the path toward my cabin, I bend my leg, placing one foot on the steps and supporting her weight there as I release my hand from the crook of her legs. I take hold of the bowie knife and try to pry it from her fingers as I whisper into her ear, over and over, “Let go. I’ve got you now.”

  4

  Teah

  I take a deep breath, the scent of him washing through me like a tidal wave of safety.

  I’ve spent plenty of nights outside. Just part of how I grew up. My parents thought it was a necessary skill.

  Only last night, soaking wet, unsure where I would be tomorrow, what my life would become, I’d dropped my forehead to my knees, shivering and sobbing until my fingers and toes were numb and I gave in to the realization that I had no idea what was next for me.

  Seems I didn’t fit into my old life. And the new one wasn’t what I’d hoped for either.

  I had no idea where I was supposed to go. What I was supposed to do. Where I belonged.

  Huddled on the porch I was dancing the light from my flashlight on the ice-covered trees, listening to the fall of branches all around me, wondering if the sharp pain of one falling on the roof of the tiny porch could be the way I go out.

  I’ve barely lived. I’m just twenty-one years old and this is my first time out in the world without my parents to guard my every thought and give me editorial on all the evils of society.

  Now, I’m holding onto a neck so solid it feels like a sturdy tree meant to anchor me. His voice in my ear, telling me everything will be okay, and his arms wrapped around me so tight I feel I’m becoming part of him.

  When his arms first looped around me, another vision enveloped me, only this time it felt comfortable. I saw us together, me sitting on a countertop as he made me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Even in the dim light from the crazy red moon, I took in his features. I knew it was the man from the restaurant and it was as though a movie starring us began playing in my head.

  “What the hell were you doing out here?” His voice cuts through and I feel the warmth of his breath with each word against my cheek.

  “Trying to sleep.” I know his question is more than the practicalities of what I was doing out in weather like this, sleeping on a porch in the middle of a forest, but it’s all I can come up with at the moment.

  “Okay.” He breathes deep and I feel his chest fill under me as he lifts me higher and tighter against him. “Well, I’ve got better accommodations for you. What’s your name?”

  “Teah.” My teeth chatter as I answer. “What’s yours?”

  “Just call me Lock.”

  My voice shakes with each word. “Thank you for coming for me, Lock.” My words are honest, like he came for me purposefully. Not that he just happened upon me.

  He takes a long moment before answering.

  “I know this may sound strange, but it was impossible for me not to come for you, Teah.”

  He doesn’t say anything else and it feels like he carries me forever. Out of the corner of my eye I can see lights. A cabin larger than the ones where I’d taken shelter comes into view. Ice and rain are covering us both and I’m shaking uncontrollably as he takes me up the stairs and through the door.

  The sofa where he places me is next to a fireplace where a low fire burns. He strips me of the rest of the silver blanket and throws his soaking army jacket on the hearth.

  “These clothes have to come off.” He takes my backpack off his shoulders and leans it against the couch. “You are soaking.”

  “So are you.” I manage through chattering teeth.

  “So I am.” He leans down and opens the top of my pack. “You have dry clothes in here?”

  I nod and reach over and tug out a pair of jeans and a T-shirt.

  “I’ll let you change in here in front of the fire. I’ll be right through that door. When you’re done just let me know. And if you’re hungry, I’ve got a few things. Not much, I’m afraid, I’m a shitty cook.” He turns and walks backwards a few steps then stops, his eyes settling back on mine.

  “I’m okay. Not that hungry.” Food isn’t what I want. There is something I want inside of me but it’s not food. And I’ve never felt this sort of craving.

  “Okay. Take your time. I’m patient.” He flashes me a smile and my belly twists and flutters but he doesn’t move any farther toward the bedroom. He drops his head and I hear him let out a long exhale.

  “Everything okay?” Nervousness ticks inside me.

  “No.” His head is still bowed as he answers, and there’s an aching in my chest. “I’m not okay.”

  He looks up and starts toward me. Long strides with eyes focused on me and his lips tight.

  I shift on the sofa as he squares his body in front of me, heavy hands coming to my shoulders, his fingers digging in.

  “What’s wrong?” I whisper, unsure what this manic energy is I’m feeling. But I know I feel like my heart is either about to be broken or mended.

  “I don’t want to go in that room without you. I don’t know how to explain this, but I feel like I’ve known you my whole life. Like I’ve been waiting for you to come back to me. And now that you’re here, I don’t want you out of my sight.”

  The visions I’ve been having since I saw him in the restaurant start again, and for a moment I panic, only this time, there’s another one and it makes all my fears subside.

  It’s clear.

  Real.

  Us.

  In bed.

  And I know it’s the bed in that room where he was going, and he’s on top of me and a wash of heat and pleasure surges through my body.

  In the vision I feel safe.

  I feel at home.

  “What do we do?” I ask in a hush, giving in to this feeling that he knows the
way forward and I am here to follow. His hands come to my cheeks and his lips are on mine. Waves of desire flood every nerve ending in my body as he pulls me up and carries me down the hall and into the bedroom, whispering in my ear.

  “God.” He pulls me harder against him. “We are going to do so many things.”

  5

  Lachlan

  It’s difficult for me to believe she doesn’t recognize me. I mean, I don’t think she does. If she recognizes me, she’s hiding it pretty fucking well.

  She’s looking at me with a mix of nervousness and trust in her emerald green eyes that has my dick practically punching through the front of my wet jeans.

  Inside the small bedroom, I sit her on the edge of the bed and crouch down in front of her, my hands lightly skimming her shoulders before moving down her arms to clasp her freezing hands in mine.

  I want this woman in every way. Her scent invades me, flowing through me like a mating call from some long-lost time. I’m half intoxicated, the room floating around me with only one dim light on the bedside table illuminating half her face, and I see the anticipation there.

  “You okay?” I check, wanting her to know I care. Not just about claiming her, because in my soul I feel this woman belongs to me already, but I want to know how she feels right now. I want to know how she feels always. Forever.

  From now until the end of time.

  “Yes.” She nods on a soft smile, her hands fidgeting in her lap.

  The blue tint to her lips is nearly gone and I lean forward, not willing to even consider that we are not about to do what we are about to do.

  “I want you to know, I realize how crazy this is.” My lips are so close to hers I can taste her. “But I know this is right. I knew it from the moment I saw you in the restaurant. I want you, Teah, and not just your body. I want you to hear that. Do you understand? I want all of you.”

  Her eyes search my face before she answers. Her breath is warm on my lips. “I understand. And at the same time, I don’t. I can’t believe this is real, but it feels right.”

  My muscles feel strung too tight, like they’re going to snap at the slightest movement. I want to throw her down and bite and mark her until she understands what it means to be mine, but the smallest rational part of the man in me roars for control. I need her to know the feelings that are behind my words and deeds.

  Her eyes widen, sweeping me into them and the drunk feeling makes my head spin.

  “This is going to sound crazy, but there’s something about us you need to know...I need to tell you what happened when I first saw you.” I pause, feeling the speed of my heartbeat increase, and looking at her I know what my life has been missing. “When I walked into the restaurant yesterday, I had this vision. It was us. It was like when people say their life flashes before their eyes on their deathbed. Only this, this was our life we haven’t lived yet. Our life that is to come. I saw it all, Teah. It scared the shit out of me to be honest, but I knew I had to find you. I knew I would find you.”

  Shock covers her face and I release her hands and bring mine to her neck, needing to feel her pulse there. It’s fast, and the way her damp hair falls over the backs of my hands cools my hot touch.

  “I can’t believe you said that.” She shakes her head, her eyes lowering on a long exhale. There’s wonder there, but something else as well. Almost like...fear. “I saw the same thing.” She gulps. “Except we were—”

  “Wolves.”

  There’s a beat of hesitation, then, “What does it mean?”

  “I don’t know. I only know what I want it to mean.”

  When she raises her eyes again and meets mine, I see all the answers there I need. Her breaths move faster over her lips and her pulse jumps under my fingers.

  I lean back in, closing the space between our lips, and take her mouth with mine. I’m greedy, needing her in my life, but right now I need her wrapped around me.

  When I withdraw, both of us breathless, the pain from my cock pressing upward throbs. “Just tell me, Teah. Tell me you want me. I’ll take it from there.”

  The next empty moment feels like an eternity as my hands on her neck give a gentle squeeze, so she understands I’m right here. That I’ve got her.

  “I do. I want you.” She breathes out and I take her mouth on a groan.

  My tongue splits her lips and finds hers. Fighting for breath, I rise without breaking our kiss, laying her back on the bed and climbing over her.

  Her flavor coats my lips, my tongue, all the parts of me that understand this is different. Something bigger than us is happening here.

  My heart is in my throat, beating like a warrior’s drum, making me feel wild, as though I’m about to come out of my own skin.

  When I look at her, I realize what I’ve been missing my whole life. What I never came close to with anyone else. How anyone before her fades away, as though this is my first time. And in so many ways, it is.

  That thought sends my primal core into a rage. What if she has someone else?

  Fuck, it doesn’t matter. She’s mine now and I’ll deal with whatever is necessary. But in my soul, I know she belongs to me and only me.

  “Teah.” I pull back, needing to know. “There’s no one else in your life, is there?”

  My statement comes out between gritted teeth and thankfully she shakes her head and licks her bottom lip.

  “No one. Truth? I’ve never been with anyone.” Her eyes lock to mine, looking for my reaction. Her eyelashes flutter over those wild green eyes that see into my soul.

  “I’m honored beyond words, Little Wolf.” The words tug at my heart and catch in my throat.

  Relief washes over me, and I begin to tear at her clothes. A possessive beast replaces the Lock that came before this moment. Knowing no one has had her in the way I will only serves to secure our futures together. I will take her. No one else will ever know her the way I do, and it gives my life a purpose I didn’t know until right now.

  She stares up as I strip her of the cold damp fabric. Raising her legs, I pull her jeans down, turning them inside out as they go. When she’s down to her white bra and panties I stand over her, looking down and admiring what’s about to be mine.

  All mine.

  “Beautiful doesn’t begin to be sufficient.” I manage, pulling my shirt off and tossing it into the pile of her clothes. “Looking at you, I feel everything I’ve been missing in my life. Like I’ve been chasing you for so long, Teah. Chasing us.”

  I can’t believe this is really happening. Every word shocks me and feels more authentic than any song I’ve ever written. Any lines in a movie I’ve recited.

  I’ve felt so alone for so long. All the days of being surrounded by people who only wanted something from me evaporate, and all I feel coming from Teah is love.

  Yes.

  Fuck.

  Love. I feel loved.

  “Take your panties off.” My voice hardens as the need races through me.

  She does as I ask, lifting her ass and wiggling the damp panties down her legs, kicking them off the edge of the bed onto the wood floor under my feet.

  “Good girl.” I reach down and trace a single finger from her lips, down between her tits, over the soft mound of her sweet belly and stopping just above her slit, feeling the small patch of dark curls under my finger. “Now your bra.”

  I keep my eyes trained on hers as her mouth opens and her arms bend, and she lifts her back to comply. A moment later the last of any fabric keeping her from me is gone and I choke back the moan that catches in my throat.

  She’s wet. I glance down and see it glistening on her bare lips. Her nipples are a dark pink, hard and tight, making my mouth water.

  Her body is perfection. Her tits would fill both of my hands and my mouth, full and womanly in contrast to the sweet cheeks and innocent eyes I see looking back at me.

  When her tongue comes out to glance on her lips, her knees fall open to display more of the damp pink slit that has me ready to come undone
.

  “I’m going to kiss you there, you know that, don’t you? That’s why you are showing yourself to me isn’t it, Teah? You want my mouth on you. You want my tongue slipping inside of you.”

  Her lips fall open on a sigh and her hands drift down to settle on her belly, her dark hair in a wild swirl above her head.

  She nods as I pull my shirt off, kick my boots to the wall and hear them thud and tumble with the force.

  “I want you to kiss me everywhere.” Her tiny voice dances in my ears as my eyes stay fixed on her cunt.

  “And I will. Over and over. There is not a part of you I won’t taste. Now spread your legs, I want to make you feel so good, Little Wolf.” The name slips out for the second time, and I see in her green eyes that it strikes her somewhere deep.

  I lower my mouth to just above where I see her folds and clit poking out and draw a deep breath as I loop my hands around her thighs, pulling her open wider for me.

  When my mouth connects, her slick flavor filling my mouth, I moan and slide my tongue up and down. I memorize every texture and fold before slowly pushing the tip inside her opening, feeling her nectar slide down my throat as I swallow, wanting that part of her inside me, making her mine.

  I drag her ass up and off the bed, pulling her harder into my mouth as I tongue fuck her and listen to the amazing sounds she makes as her body stiffens, then shakes as she releases the first of what will be millions of orgasms given by me over the rest of our lifetime.

  The swell of pride at having her cum in my mouth is better than any applause or award I’ve ever received. I’m bigger and happier than I can remember being in my life, and all because this mysterious girl tugged on my heart and whispered unspoken words to me that we were meant to be.

  “That’s my good girl. Give me all of you, Teah. All of you...”

  6

  Teah

  This moment is so surreal, I’m barely holding onto reality.