by Ripley, Meg
“Really?”
She nodded and wiped her tears away. “I didn’t think you had feelings for me because you were always dating someone. You were in such high demand that I didn’t know how to get your attention. I didn’t know how to win you over, and damn, I tried everything I could.”
“You couldn’t win me over because you already had me,” I admitted. I reached up and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “You wanna know the real reason I dated so much? I’ve been trying to find someone who measured up to you—in any way. None of them did; not even close. As soon as I knew a girl couldn’t compare to you, I’d ditch her. My whole purpose was to find someone just like you so I wouldn’t have to risk messing up our friendship.”
“Do you realize,” she said slowly and pointedly, “that if we’d had this conversation in high school, we could have spent all this time together instead of pining for all these years? God, it’s like some kind of tragic romance novel.”
“It seems so.”
She burst into laughter and I had to join her. As I watched her laugh, I felt tension melt from my body. Her words hadn’t fully sunken in, but as they crept closer to my heart, the pain faded.
“What’s that look for?” she asked.
I pulled my mouth into a half smile. “You really love me?”
“I do.” She put her hands on my face and leaned down to kiss me, and I never wanted her to stop.
“So…”
We both turned as Cooper walked into the room. The joy from two seconds before ignited into rage. I looked at Kylie and we both shared the same angry expression.
“I think I owe you both an apology,” Cooper admitted.
I glared and Kylie crossed her arms. “You think so?” she snapped.
I sighed. “Let’s hear it.”
“I’ve been standing out here, listening.” Cooper smiled sheepishly. “So first, I’m sorry for that. But I was pissed at you, Jace. You didn’t explain to me why you dated around like that. I thought you would do the same thing to Kylie and I didn’t want her to get hurt. Especially”—he turned to her—“because I know about your feelings for him. I thought he’d break your heart, so I did mislead you.” He shook his head. “But it wasn’t my place to do such a thing. It was wrong, and I’ve caused you both a lot of unnecessary pain. I’m sorry. If you want to be together, I’ll fully support your decision. You two have been my best friends for just about my entire life, and I want you to be happy.”
“We were ready to give you hell, buddy,” I noted.
Kylie harrumphed. “Who said we’re still not going to? Cooper, you almost destroyed everything! How dare you take this into your own hands and twist his words like that! You almost got me killed!”
That got both my attention and his.
“How?” he asked.
“When I heard Gabby trying to call on the walkie, I called everyone. At the time, I didn’t know everyone was out following a false lead. I couldn’t get a hold of anyone and Jace was the only person left. So instead, I went myself. But the perp almost got me, too! If Jace hadn’t come after me when he saw me shift, I would be dead or tied up in that awful cabin right now.”
Cooper pressed his lips together. “Well, you should have called him, even if you were angry with him. We all have to work together.”
“Yes, but I’m very stubborn; you know that,” Kylie scoffed. “And I didn’t want to.”
I laughed. “Very true.”
Our conversation was then halted by the appearance of the majority of our clan, who poured into the room and took over the place. Kylie ran to Hunter the moment he was visible. I realized she hadn’t even seen her cousin yet in the chaos, and Cooper had said earlier they’d be heading home that night. Hunter’s guys from the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve were all cool, and I was honored that they stopped by to wish me well before heading back north. I mean, I’ve known Hunter forever, too. But back in the day when he’d visit, he was always the aloof, older cousin off reading alone while Cooper, Kylie, and I played in the yard.
Though I loved my clanmates and appreciated their support, I wished they hadn’t stayed for so long; my conversation with Kylie had me reeling and I wanted a few minutes to quietly contemplate what had just happened. There were so many visitors, and they were so loud, a nurse had to come tell them to keep it down.
“You missed the best part,” I told them.
“What’s that?” Max asked.
“The part where I told Kylie I’m in love with her.”
“And that I’m in love with him, too,” Kylie added, squeezing my hand and bending over to kiss me.
The atmosphere in the room changed instantly. They all looked from me to her and back.
“Wow,” Max said. “Didn’t see that one coming…”
And then a chorus of cheer erupted from the clan. Hearing “congratulations” felt a bit weird; I hadn’t really done anything except be around her. It was like they were assuming much more would come of this. Like a wedding.
I swallowed hard. I should have thought about that part. About what would happen if everything came together and Kylie and I did end up together. Obviously, she’d want to be married one day. And have cubs.
“Took you two long enough to figure it out.” Becca rolled her eyes at me. “I’ve known this was coming forever.”
“Right?” Hunter added. “Even back when we were kids, you’d pull on her pigtails and chase her around, and she’d doodle hearts all over her notebooks with your initials in them.”
“Sounds like true love right there,” his clanmate, Quinton, agreed.
Kylie gasped, her cheeks turning a bright shade of crimson. “You saw those, Hunter?”
“You bet I did. And then there was your journal…”
She looked at him incredulously. “You didn’t…”
“What do you think I spent all my time reading while you guys were horsing around?” He laughed, putting Kylie in a playful headlock while giving her a noogie.
I chuckled. “Next time, maybe point it out and help a brother?” Had I been so blind? Had everyone seen it but me?
The room was full for a long time and it felt good to be surrounded by people who loved me. Especially Kylie. But one by one, they trickled out and I was left alone with her again.
“Finally,” I breathed.
“I know.” She pressed her forehead to mine, then kissed me softly. “I hope they let you out soon. It’s my turn to take care of you.”
“Maybe in another day or so,” I said. I ran my nose along her neck, inhaling her bear scent. “So, what is it like to shift with a major injury?”
“Painful,” she admitted. “But the weird thing is, while I was in bear form, I was my old self again. Like my bones were only injured when I was human.”
“Interesting.”
“I guess there hasn’t been too much research on the whole shifter-with-orthopedic-surgery thing. Especially since we usually heal faster than most.”
“The doctor said something like that to me,” I added. “That I’m healing faster than expected.”
“Good. As long as he doesn’t get suspicious.”
“No, nothing like that. But fast enough to go home in a day or two.”
“I don’t think I can wait much longer.”
I laughed. “Okay, horn dog. Chill.”
“Oh, you don’t want it? I guess you’ve had so much sex in your life, it’s not that interesting to you.”
I shook my head. “Come on. That’s not it. I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anyone before. I wish I’d never slept with another single woman.”
“Too far,” she said. “You don’t have to wish away your past life just because I wasn’t part of every second. We’re together now, and that’s what matters.”
I sighed. “You’ve always been better at living without regret. Teach me how to be like that.”
“Just appreciate what we have now. Like…an empty hospital room.”
A nurse c
ame in not two seconds later. She took my vitals, checked the IV, jotted down some progress notes, and left. She was only there for about five minutes, but it was long enough to interrupt us.
“I guess the empty hospital room won’t do us much good after all,” she said.
“We might not be able to have sex, but surely we can make out a little.”
She giggled and slid her chair closer to my head. She kissed me and ran her fingers through my hair.
“You know, I could…” She reached under the blankets and below my hospital gown. Her warm hand made me rock hard almost immediately, and she began to stroke me, kissing me all the while. I enjoyed every moment of it, even if I was slightly paranoid that a nurse or doctor would walk in.
She sped up her stroking and slipped me her tongue, and as it met mine, they slowly danced together. I playfully nipped at her lip and gasped. “God, Kylie,” I groaned against her mouth. Her hand felt so incredible, it made my head swim—so much that I had to lay back and close my eyes.
Not long after I let myself relax fully, she had me at my peak, letting out a shuddering moan as I came in her hand. She discreetly cleaned me up with a few tissues and kissed me again.
“Thank you,” I whispered, still panting and recovering.
“I just want to take care of you every way I can,” she cooed.
“And I will let you—especially if you’re going to do that.” I winked, but my head started to pound and my wound throbbed. “Can you—” I had to pause as a wave of pain and nausea washed over me. “Tell the nurse I need pain meds?”
Kylie hurried out of the room and came back with the nurse a few moments later. She added morphine to my IV, and I felt a rush of warmth soon after. The medication made my eyes droop.
I squeezed Kylie’s hand and closed my eyes, knowing she would be waiting for me when I woke up.
20
Kylie
When Jace was finally well enough to come home, we decided he would come to my place to convalesce. I had gone to his apartment and gathered the things he asked for, then set up a spot for him in my room. I set his books on the bedside table and hung his clothes in my closet, stopping to stare at them for a moment.
Was I being too forward? Assuming he was going to sleep in my bed with me for as long as he stayed there? We certainly weren’t living together yet. Were we even officially dating yet? This won’t work.
I thought about giving him my room and taking the couch so he’d be more comfortable. But his main problem was getting around. From the couch, he was much closer to the bathroom and the kitchen. The couch was plenty comfy, but would he think I was being selfish by keeping my bedroom and making him sleep on the couch?
I let out a growl and balled my fists. Okay, okay. Stop this. You are way over thinking this. It’s Jace. Jace, who you’ve known and loved forever. Who’s loved you back for a long time. Nothing has changed between you except that now you know.
I took in a few slow breaths before opening my eyes again. Right. It was just Jace. Of all the people on the planet, my brother was the only person I was more comfortable around than Jace. He would never think I was selfish, and he would probably love sleeping in bed with me. I flushed at the thought. I’d just wait and see what he wanted to do.
I picked him up at the hospital, and as we drove home, I thought of my homecoming from the hospital not that long ago. Jace had been there. My whole family had taken shifts being with me and sleeping in my room. Jace stayed many nights to help me since I couldn’t put weight on my leg at all for weeks. Maybe that gave me the answer, then.
“I was thinking,” I said to him, “Would it be best for you to sleep on the couch like I did when I hurt my leg? It was better for me because I was closer to everything there. Or you can have my bedroom, if you’d prefer.”
“I’m not kicking you out of your bedroom. The couch is perfect. And it is closer to everything, so even better. Thank you for doing this.”
I laughed. “It’s the least I could do after you took care of me so well when I got injured.”
“It was nothing.” He reached over and grabbed my hand, smiling at me. “I did it because I love you.”
“Yeah. If only you would have told me then.”
“You could have said it first, you know.”
“Oh no.” I shook my head. “Be the pathetic girl who fell for the boy next door and tried to seduce him? I don’t think so.”
“You’re right. That would never happen. You wouldn’t have to try to seduce me. I’d be more than willing.”
When I pulled into the parking lot, I went around to his side to help him out. Luckily, I didn’t need my crutches anymore by that point, but I wasn’t 100% pain-free yet. With his arm over my shoulders, I let him lean on me as we hobbled to the door.
“Well, we have one more thing in common,” he said.
“What’s that?”
“We both limp now.”
“Yeah, great.” I laughed. “Now we’ll never be able to dance!”
“We’ll just have to make up our own moves. We can call this one ‘the zombie.’” He let his foot drag behind him a little and jerked his arm up and down while moaning.
I shook my head. “It’ll be the latest dance craze for sure.”
“Right? People still love ‘Thriller,’ don’t they? It’ll be the new ‘Thriller!’”
We got inside and rode the elevator up to my floor. When we entered my apartment, I guided him to the couch, and he stretched out and groaned.
“Where are my pills?” he asked.
“Right next to mine.” I poured us glasses of water, put them on a tray with our pills, and carried it to where he was. “To us recovering well,” I said as I popped my pills in my mouth.
He tapped his glass to mine and did the same. “To us.”
We finished our water and sat in silence for several minutes.
“You make me so happy,” he said.
“I think that’s the pain pills kicking in.”
“Ha. I’m serious, Ky. There’s no one like you on the planet. Trust me, I’ve looked.”
I squeezed his hand and moved closer so I could nuzzle my face into his warm neck. “You make me happy, too.”
“We just have one problem.”
“I think Cooper really is fine with it.”
“I didn’t mean that,” he said. “If we each have a bad leg, how are we going to have sex?”
“Not while standing up, that’s for sure.”
“It might take some practice,” Jace said.
“Mmm. Right. Lots of practice. And we’ll have to try a lot of different positions.”
“Right. Find the one that works.”
“Exactly,” I agreed.
“I guess we’d better get started then.”
I giggled and kissed along his neck. He made a soft groaning sound that turned me on.
“Last time,” I cooed into his ear, “you were on top. What should we try first?”
“Are you able to sit and have your knee bent?”
I pulled my mouth into a half smile. “You want me on top?”
He nodded and returned a seductive smile. “I would like that, if it won’t hurt. I’m a lot more limited than you are right now.”
“All we can do is try it.”
He ran his hands along my back, but I wondered if I would be okay sitting with my knee bent so much. Maybe there was a way I could hang it off the end of the couch. Or if he sat in a chair?
“You okay?” he asked.
“It’s getting better. How about you?”
“Getting there.”
I reached over to put my hand on his crotch. “More than getting there,” I noted.
He closed his eyes. I rubbed him through his pants for a minute, then climbed over him, my bad leg hanging off the side of the couch so it could be straighter and have more room to move.
“Let me know if you’re hurting,” he warned.
“I will. You, too.”
He laug
hed. “Fat chance of that.”
I rolled my eyes. “We don’t need you reopening your wound or something like that.”
“We’ll be careful.”
“Yes. Careful,” I agreed. “Do you think we can carefully take off your shirt and pants?”
I helped him wiggle out of his clothes and then awkwardly pulled mine off. I spent some time just kissing him, feeling his skin against mine, both of us wearing nothing but our underwear. He let his fingers trail over the skin of my back to my neck and breasts. My nipples hardened under his touch, wanting more of him. But I wanted to not only be careful, but slow. Deliberate. I wanted to enjoy him that time, whereas the first time was more like a mad dash.
I pressed my lips against his mouth. His hard-on rubbed between my folds, making me even wetter. It’d been so good last time, I could hardly wait to feel him inside me again, but I drew it out slowly so I could savor every second. I kissed along his jaw and down his chest, pinched his nipples gently and he made a laughing moan.
“Ahh,” I said. “Could there be another ticklish spot on Jace that I didn’t know about?”
He covered his nipples and laughed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
I tried to get his hands away, to no avail. I sighed. “Don’t worry, I’ll get you when you’re not expecting it.”
“I’ll just tell you right now,” he said in a serious tone. “If you do, there will be payback. And this isn’t exactly the kind of situation where you can run to Cooper for help.”
“I never ran to Cooper for help from you! We were always on the same team!”
“Always?” He tilted his head at me. “Do I have to say it?”
I pulled my eyebrows together, thinking. Then it hit me. “Oh no, come on. I was 10! You can’t hold that against me.”
“I was grounded for a week because of you.”
“Aww, poor little boy.” I poked at him. “I am so sorry that one time in my life, I called out for Cooper when you had me pinned while we were playing. And that he clobbered you for it. Funny. I didn’t think he’d still do something like that, but the way he reacted to all this…”