by Belle Harper
She had been gone a small while, the pain was not going to help me sleep any time soon. But I couldn’t stop thinking about her, about the fight. I knew I wouldn’t die. The assholes wouldn’t kill me, it wouldn’t be fun for them if I was dead. At least they didn’t inject their venom into me. I think that was more for Lexi’s sake then anything. Knowing that I was living with her. They wouldn’t want me raging out on her.
I heard my door crack open and the soft padding of her footsteps. I knew it was her, her scent had my cock stirring and my body alert with her being so close. She saw me naked earlier, I had wanted her to see me so many times before. Show her how attracted I was to her. Just not that way, injured and weak. But I think she liked what she saw. I swear I smelt arousal from her as she looked at my cock. Just a little through the fear she had for me. That was strong. But now she just smelt like herself, like roses. The ones my mom used to grow in our little garden.
I kept my eyes closed and my breathing even. I wanted her to think I was asleep and alright. I didn’t want her telling Jack and Grayson. They would demand to know who did this and I didn’t want to tell them where I went. I wanted to protect her, my wolf needed to keep her safe. I wanted to make sure no fuckwits tried to do anything to her… I felt very strongly for her. And I didn’t know how to express those feelings. They were something I had never felt and I didn’t want to fuck this up with her.
I felt a soft warm finger brushing the hair off my face, then she held the back of her fingers against my forehead. I think she was checking my temperature. Shifters always ran warm, but she seemed to as well. I wish I knew what she was, maybe she was a shifter? Something different, special. It felt like no one had done anything about finding out, and it was hard living with her and not showing off my shifter side.
I could hear her trying to move around quietly, then the door was closed. I thought she was leaving, but when I felt her move to the floor beside my bed my heart felt light and I got that nervous feeling in my stomach. She was going to sit with me. I cannot mess this up, this was huge.
For her and me.
I had a restless sleep, I couldn’t believe I had fallen asleep at all, but I had. Lexi just being here made me feel so relaxed. She was a comfort I didn’t know I needed. I opened my eye, the room was still dark, but I could see with the hint of light coming from window. The moon was still high in the sky, and Lexi was asleep beside me. Her head was on her pillow and she was breathing softly. Her full pink lips slightly parted and her hair fanned out around her. She looked so beautiful tonight, and now she looked like a goddess.
I saw her blankets were with her also. She had brought all that in, she didn’t just come to sit with me for a while. She intended on sleeping here with me.
Her left hand was resting lightly on her stomach, and I watched as her fingers twitched. That was when I saw her breathing become faster and shallow. She started to make sounds. Shit, I think she was having a nightmare. I had heard her have them before. They would wake me up, sometimes I would wake before I even heard her. Like I knew it was going to happen before it did. I always wanted to go to her. To chase them away for her, but now… now I could do that for her.
Her head thrashed back and forth. “No,” she called out. Her hand reaching out to something. I reached out and took it in mine.
“Shhh…Shhh…” I rubbed my thumb back and forth on the palm of her hand and her breathing slowed. She moved her body, turning towards me taking my hand in hers and hugging it tightly to her chest. It was an uncomfortable angle but I wouldn’t move or complain. I was so happy to have helped her, I watched as she fell deeper into sleep. Wishing she was beside me on my bed. I would wrap her in my arms, keep her safe and protect her always.
“Rafferty? Alexis?” I heard my name but I didn’t want to move. I was so happy right now even though I couldn’t feel my arm anymore. It had fallen asleep, holding onto Lexi’s hand and she was still holding mine, I could feel her warmth.
“This is not appropriate.” I cracked open my eye and saw Jack standing in the doorway looking right at me then glancing down to Lexi.
I tried to move, to explain it wasn’t what it looked like but I pulled on my half healed back and I groaned. Lexi gripped my hand tightly and sat up suddenly.
“Raff, are you okay. What hurts?” I closed my eye for a moment to catch my breath. This was going to take me all day to heal from. The gashes on my back were deep.
“Raff, what happened. Let me see.” Jack was beside me in a flash, Grayson followed him in, his expression changing as he took in the scene. Lexi in my room, Jack now hovering over my bare back making sounds I didn’t want to hear.
“Who did this? Tell me now. They will be punished Raff. This has gone on long enough. We need to address it now. We can’t keep you safe if you don’t tell us.” I could hear the pleading in his voice. I knew he meant what he said. I shook my head and tried to move away from him. They can’t keep me safe. No one can.
“Raff… I brought you some lunch.” I opened my eyes, my left eye was almost healed and I could see with it again. I was in and out of sleep for a while but when my eyes focused, I saw a smile greeting me. Lexi. All the breath left my lungs. That smile was for me. I could feel the corner of my mouth lift in return. It made me feel light… happy.
I shuffled up to sitting, swinging my bare legs over the side of the bed and moving the sheets to cover my now semi hard cock. I had put on some boxer briefs after Jack insisted. He said he felt more comfortable having Lexi in here with me only if I was semi clothed. I had rolled my eyes, like anything would happen between us. That was only wishful thinking. And even if she did want me, my body would not be able to do anything even if we wanted to. I was too injured. But he was serious about the clothing so I did it.
The bed dipped a little as she sat beside me and passed me a plate with a salad sandwich. Her scent wrapped around me like a warm hug, my skin feeling hot and electric. I didn’t look at her, worried she could tell how my body was reacting to her being this close. She leaned back and felt her gaze at my back.
“You are healing fast.” I took a bite of the sandwich, trying to ignore what she said But it was so hard, I wanted to tell her. I wanted her to know the truth about me… about the world I lived in. I was angry that no one had told her yet, they said give her time while they figured out what she was. But she needed to know now. Her scent called to too many shifters here, and I couldn’t protect her on my own. As much as I wish I could. Three wolves did this to me last night. I didn’t have a pack that would have my back. I was on my own. I was a lone wolf.
“Raff… you don’t have to tell them. But tell me. Who did this? Was it someone at school?” I could hear the concern in her voice but I shook my head. I didn’t want her to get involved. This was the first time I had a real confrontation with Kiba Pack.
Ranger only toyed with me at school, taunting me. This was the first time it went this far. Even though he wasn’t the one to inflicted the damage to my back, he was there. He watched on as his pack brothers ripped into me.
I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter.” I whispered. It wasn’t as if anyone knowing would change this. Jack and Grayson were Pack Kiba. The pack comes first. They couldn’t really do anything except tell the Alpha, and even then, it was like painting a bullseye on my back. I knew I was tempting fate by being at the Lovell’s party, but I still went.
I had to know, to see that she was okay. My wolf demanded it. He doesn’t like being far away from her. But I think it would hurt her more, knowing she told them I was there. Alerted them to my presence while I was distracted watching her. I thought for a moment last night at she was going to reach out to me. But she was afraid, she didn’t know who I was, that I was a wild wolf. And then it was too late, I wasn’t quick enough to get away, they knew those woods like the backs of their hands, I didn’t. They caught up to me lightning fast.
When I finished my sandwich, we just sat there. I placed the plate beside me and held my hands
together. I didn’t want this to end, this feeling of comfort when she was with me. She moved a little, her shoulder now touching mine. I wanted to talk to her, but I didn’t know what to say. But it was comfortable, just sitting with her in the quiet.
Then I did something I had never done before. My heart was pounding as I reached over and took her hand in mine. I felt a current of electricity though my hand, racing up my arm. That had to mean something, they way I was pulled to her… my wolf wanted to mark her as mine. I feared she would pull away from me. But she didn’t. Instead she laced her fingers with mine and rested her head on my shoulder as she took a deep breath. Her hair cascading down my arm, and I could smell her so strongly. I rubbed my neck on her hair as she let off a small content sigh. I was marking her, I couldn’t help myself.
Lexi was everything.
Chapter Twenty-One
Lexi
It was a feeling I had never had before. Just being here with him, trusting and he was openly trusting me. He held my hand, and I could see the scares under his tattoos. So many. I could see the tattoos were to cover them up, not something that had happened after he got them. I didn’t want to think about them anymore so I laid my head on his shoulder, the warmth from his body on my cheek was comforting.
I couldn’t believe I actually fell asleep in here with him last night. And not only that, I had the best sleep of my life. I could feel his chest rising and falling, then he rested his head on mine. And I let out a deep breath. This was a feeling I liked, I didn’t want to get used to it, but I also didn’t want to walk away from this. Whatever this was that was happening between us.
When I heard Josh calling out to me, I slowly peeled myself from Raff’s side. I had promised to play outside with him.
“I’m coming, just hold on a moment.” When he kept calling my name out. I chuckled when his little head popped around the door frame.
“There you are, are we going to play now?” I could see his eyes flash between me and Raff. The boys were still wary of him, but Josh seemed to be warming up a little more as he waved to Raff. You could see he was a little nervous. When Raff didn’t speak I turned to him and saw he was watching me. I gestured with my eyebrows and nodded my head to Josh. And the smile Raff gave me almost had me melted in a puddle. Fuck… he was so gorgeous, and I had told myself no getting involved with anyone. But now, with Raff… all bets were off.
“Hi, Josh.” His voice was light and happy, he glanced back giving me the same smile again. I knew, I wanted to be more than friends. This was bad…
My heart was racing, my breathing wild as I sat up in my bed. Another bad dream. I wanted to curse myself. I peeled the sheets down, the blanket I had put on top had made me too hot and I was in a pool of sweat. I pulled my sleep pants off and was about to take my tank top off when I heard my door click open. I froze holding it too my body.
“Josh?” I whispered. I was in my panties and not wearing a bra under this tank. When I saw the large body round the door I sucked in a breath.
“Raff.” He stood there in the doorway, the light from the bathroom illuminating him and making him almost look like an angel with his silver hair as his halo. He nervously ran his hand through his hair and looked over to me. I couldn’t see his face well, but I could feel his gaze on my bare legs. He was only wearing his boxers, the rest of his body on display for me.
“I… you were having a bad dream. I wanted to stop it, help you.” I looked around the room to see what I could put on. I didn’t want to put the sleep pants back on.
“Did you do that last night?” his head bobbed. My heart speed up at that. He saw me have a nightmare and he stopped it? I swallowed the lump forming in my throat.
I saw him shiver. Was he cold? I walked to him, getting close enough that I could feel his warm breath on my cheek. Looking into his eyes, I could feel the attraction between us. It was so strong. Like we were magnets, draw to each other. Needing each other. My breathing matching his as we stood there, staring into each other’s eyes. I could tell he was aroused without even looking. I didn’t want to break this contact so instead I reached out to his jaw and took it in my hand.
He had some stubble there, it was fine and fair like his hair, it felt rough against the tips of my fingers. I brushed my fingers along his jaw line until I got to his lips, his breathing sped up slightly and his lips parted. I licked my lips, I wanted to kiss him, I wanted him to kiss me.
I ran my fingers along his smooth bottom lip, when I pulled away he licked where my fingers had been. Like he was tasting me. I saw the movement of his hand and looked down. His hands were both clenched by his side. I didn’t know if that was because he was fighting this or something else was going through his mind.
“Raff,” I all but panted. I was so worked up, so aroused. I wanted him to touch me. I wanted to touch him more, but somehow, I knew I had to wait for him. For him to be ready. I reached down and took his hand and his fist loosened and held me tight. He was shaking. I looked up and his eyes were squeezed shut. Fuck.
“Raff, what’s wrong?” he shook his head, taking a few deep breaths he opened them and he looked down at me, his eyes hooded and dark. I walked him over to my bed, then stopped when I realized it was damp still from my nightmare. But Raff didn’t know and he sat down, right on the damp sheets. I cringed at the thought of him being on my sweat. But he just gave me a small smile and pulled me to sit with him. The air in the room had a small chill. But with him here, I felt so hot only wearing my tank top. I wanted to take it off, bare myself to him, but I knew that wasn’t right in this moment. This was just the beginning.
“Did you want to sleep… next to me?” He nodded and looked down to my bed. He could probably see the sheets were all a mess. But he surprised me when he stood and lifted the sheets and rearranged them, I slid under, I could feel the damp in the sheets but it was gone when I felt his warm body move in beside me. He laid on his back and didn’t touch me.
I rolled over to my side, facing him. He didn’t turn to look at me but he kept staring at the roof. I closed my eyes, breathing in his scent. He smelled so good. I tried to fall asleep but I couldn’t. I wasn’t sure what had happened but he wasn’t comfortable, he didn’t feel relaxed in here at all. I shifted a few times, trying to get myself comfortable.
“Shhh…” his hand pressed on my back, then slowly he started rubbing up and down. It was the only place we touched, and it was perfect. I started to relax at his touch and my eyes grew heavy.
“Knock Knock, Lexi time to get up.” I was so warm in my cocoon, my blankets felt heavy and so nice. I didn’t want to get up. I wanted to sleep like this all day.
When I heard Jack knocking on Raff’s bedroom door I realized that my warm blanket was Raff. My eyes flew open and I looked down to my waist. His inked arm was holding me to his warm, hard body. And there was one place that was very hard.
“Raff.” I whispered. I could feel him stir, and I tried to turn in his arms. But he held my waist tighter as he took a deep inhale. Was he sniffing my hair? His hips moved and I could feel his hard cock grind against my ass. Holy shit. He was really hard.
“Raff, we need to get up before we are caught.” I felt his body stiffen behind me and the instant he got up I felt cold. Missing him already. I rolled over and watched the surprised look on his face. He was looking to me, his bed hair looked so sexy and I couldn’t help glance down at the bulge trying to escape those tight boxers.
When his eyes finally met mine, they widened.
“I…” he swallowed and looked around the room and quickly moved his hands to cover his hardness. “I am so sorry. I was asleep and…” I shook my head and tried to hide the giggle that was bubbling in my chest at him trying to explain his morning wood. This Raff was very different to the one I met a week ago, that was for sure.
“It’s okay, it happens to everyone.” I am feeling a bit that way this morning after feeling him grind himself against me. He just nodded and dashed out of my room without another wor
d.
Breakfast wasn’t as awkward as I thought. When I sat down Raff sat closer to me. Obviously over the weirdness from earlier. I smiled and he returned it. The only weirdness that morning was Jack and Grayson. They eyed us a lot. I had no idea why, even Josh was looking at me funny. The crease in his brow was too cute as he angled his head at me.
“I know who did it… you know the hurting too Raff.” Josh said. The other two boys pounced on him and held their hands over his mouth. Jack and Grayson were up fast, breaking it up.
“Did someone tell you?” Jack demanded. Josh’s now watery eyes looked to Harry and Jaxon. Grayson pointed his finger at them.
“You have to tell us now.” He growled out, it was a scary sound. They both looked scared, I did too. I didn’t know he could be scary like that.
“I was playing with Jamie in the woods…he said… he said that it was Nash, Elijah, Austin, Saint and Ranger.”
I sucked in a sharp breath before I looked over at Raff. His eyes were on mine, I could see the pain swirling in there. He didn’t want anyone to know and I could tell from that look on his face that it was all true.
Ranger… I was going to fucking kill him.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Lexi
I didn’t even wait for Raff or the bus. I quickly got changed, no time for a shower. I was going to confront Ranger and put my fist through his nose. My phone was buzzing in my pocket, I looked down to see it was Jack. I turned it off. And I waited for Ranger to come to school. When he didn’t show I was angry, but then I saw Raff get off the bus. The kids on there always say nasty shit to him. I forgot, I should have been on there with him.