“Mmm…” Willow hummed to herself, her eyes still closed. Her
husband and mate’s hands cupped her breasts like he’d done so many times
before, but this time, it felt as though it was the first time.
It always felt as if it was the first time with Jasper even
when it felt new and different too. He always muddled her brain in the best
ways.
She didn’t care if she sounded like some dreamy-eyed
romantic because, frankly, she was. Sure, the world was crazy and falling apart
around them, but she had Jasper. She’d be okay.
Of course she’d fight alongside the rest of them and prove
herself as a wolf, but right now, in this little cabin, she and Jasper were all
that mattered.
As her mate was currently running his hand down her belly
toward the soft hairs on her mound, she put away any thoughts of war and
ugliness and focused on him. Honestly, she could barely think straight as it
was. She just needed to hone in on that hand of his and those nimble fingers.
“Oh God,” she moaned as he flicked his thumb over her clit. She
leaned back, craning her neck so she could find his mouth. His tongue met hers
as he slid his fingers in and out of her heat, his thumb running circles over
that little bundle of nerves. Her nipples hardened against his palm cupping her
breast as a wash of hot tingles went over her and she came on his hand, rocking
back and forth to let the pleasure last.
“Jasper, gods, I can’t take anymore,” she whispered, and he
growled against her neck.
He moved his hand, making her whimper at the loss, then
pulled her thigh up so he could slide between her legs. She loved this
position, her back to his front while they lay on their sides. There was
something so intimate about it, so special.
“Are you sure, my wolf?”
She arched her back, moving her butt closer to him, wanting
him. “Take me, please.”
He chuckled against her skin, the rough sensation almost
making her come again. “You changed your mind rather quickly.”
“Shut up. I’m allowed to want you in the morning, so please,
please, just fill me.”
“As you wish,” he said then bit her shoulder. His fangs slid
into her skin, marking her as his mate again, though it felt like the first
time. The bond flared between them as their wolves howled. Their breath and
heartbeats synced as he marked her once more.
She came again, surprised she could do so soon after the
last. Jasper’s cock filled her until she felt ready to burst—but in the best
possible way. He pumped in and out of her, his hand on her neck, forcing her
gaze to his over her shoulder. She moved her hips in tune with his, thrust for
thrust. Their bodies rocked together, their breaths coming in pants.
“Love you,” he whispered, and she smiled.
She’d never get tired of those words.
“Love you too.”
He thrust again, this time harder than before while his
fingers brushed her clit. They came together, their names on each other’s lips
as his seed filled her.
She’d never get tired of that either.
“That was the best way to wake up in the morning,” Jasper
said after he’d pulled out and turned her so they were face to face. “Wish we
could do it every morning.”
She kissed his jaw, the stubble scraping her lips
deliciously. “If we did it every morning, it wouldn’t be as special.”
He raised a brow, and she laughed.
“Fine, it would still be special. I was just trying to make
it better since we have Brie trying to walk in on us every morning.”
“Is it wrong that I kind of miss that? Well, not that, but I
miss our little girl. I know we’re here for a break and to breathe, but I want
to see her soon.”
She smiled, falling in love with her mate all over again. “I
wouldn’t love you as much as I did if you were any different. Why don’t we shower
and get dressed? Then I’ll make breakfast while you call her. I want to talk to
her too.”
He nipped at her lips, a soft growl sending pleasure through
her body. “As long as we shower together, that sounds like a deal. And I’m not
going to ask if you need help cooking this morning because I know that’s your thing
and you actually like doing it. So weird.”
She smacked his ass as they laughed. “Shut it. I’m not
weird. I just like baking.”
His lips met hers, a soft kiss filled with promise. “I like
your baking, so it’s a win-win. Now jump in the shower. I want to watch your
ass move as you walk.”
With a roll of her eyes, she got up and made sure to add an
extra wiggle in her step. From the way he growled and then pounced on her, she
had a feeling the wiggle helped.
A lot.
Once they were finished showering and recovering from weak
knees, she went about making their breakfast. While she was setting up, she
called Brie and listened to her little girl gush before she gave the phone to
Jasper. Since she’d made omelets the first time she’d cooked for him in his
house—which had gone on to become their house—she made them again. Cailin had
been amazing and had helped her pack everything she and Jasper would need if
they were to stay a week by themselves.
She heard Jasper on the phone with Brie as their daughter
talked about her day and all the time they’d missed. It put a little clutch in
her heart that she wasn’t there with her baby to rock her to sleep, but she
knew Brie was in good hands. Willow just had a touch of mommy guilt. She’d
already talked to Brie and now Jasper was on round two. There was no doubt that
little girl had Willow’s big, tough mate wrapped around her finger.
It was freaking adorable.
When he hung up, she was just setting down their plates, the
smell of cheese, eggs, and bacon making her mouth water. She loved cooking and
didn’t care who knew it. Cooking for her mate though?
Priceless.
She could fight alongside him as a wolf and provide for him
in ways that he couldn’t. That was what mating was about, finding ways to work
together and fulfilling each other’s needs. She wasn’t as strong as he was, but
it didn’t matter that she didn’t possess the fighting skills he’d honed over a
century. She’d learn what she needed to and then make sure their family was
safe in other ways.
Jasper had his talents.
She had hers.
It was perfect.
Well, it would be once they found a way to balance it all.
That was one of the reasons they were there after all.
“Have fun with Brie?” she asked as Jasper walked toward her.
“She’s enjoying time with Grandpa and Grandma and is talking
a mile a minute. I don’t know if my parents realize just what they signed up
for.”
She smiled and started to soak the pan she’d cooked the
omelets in before Jasper gripped her wrist. “I’m just soaking it, Jas.”
“Let it stay in the water then. Don’t you think about doing
the dishes. I’ll take care of them after we eat. You cooked. I’ll clean. You
want to sit on the porch and eat? Get some nature in while we can?”
She raised a brow. “You do realize we live in the middle of
a forest and get nature all the time, right?”
“Yes, but this is alone nature. It’s different.”
She snorted but picked up their coffees and followed him out
as he carried their plates. Shuffling a bit, she sat next to him on the bench.
The air was crisp and fresh, much like it was at home, but maybe because they
were alone, it felt different.
They ate in silence, enjoying their surroundings. Her wolf
nudged at her but only to get closer to Jasper’s wolf. They’d have to go on a
hunt soon, but not today. Today was all about the man and the woman. Their
wolves would have their turn.
“See? Nice, right?” Jasper asked as he put down their
dishes.
“It’s beautiful. I’m glad we both got a chance to come out
here.”
“Thanks for doing this, Willow. I know I’ve been hard on
you, or at least I feel like I’ve been.”
“What? Of course you haven’t been. Why on earth would you
think that?”
He turned toward her on the bench, his expression a mixture
of stress and guilt. It didn’t make any sense to her why he’d look like that,
why he’d feel this way.
“I’ve been putting you and Brie to the side, or at least
inadvertently doing so. I feel like I’m lost. I can’t do everything I need to
do, and I’m not even thinking of things that I
want
to do. I hate this.
Did you know that Kade kicked my ass while we were training? He didn’t even
mean to punch me that hard, but I was too slow to duck. I’m tired, Willow, and
I don’t know what to do.” He ran his hands through his hair, his mouth in a
frown.
She’d never heard the defeatist tone coming from him before.
She cupped his face and brought his gaze to hers. “Stop it. Just stop it. We’re
here because we are going to figure out a way to make things work. You can’t
put the weight of the world on your shoulders. You need to share the load.” He
opened his mouth to speak, and she cut him off. “No, listen to me. You are a
good Beta. You care for your Pack like they are your own flesh and blood. They
can’t ask for anything more than that. You also can’t do it all.”
He inhaled, and she kissed him softly, needing his touch
just for the brief moment.
“Jasper, honey, you aren’t a failure. You might be tired,
but I can see the circles under your eyes fading even as we speak. Just being
out here and knowing we have time to work things out for you, us, everyone is
helping you. You know it just as I do. Now, as for when we get home? Well,
you’re not going to be alone there either. Cailin is going to be your new
assistant.”
He blinked, and then a slow grin spread over his face
“A Beta’s assistant? I was thinking I needed something like
that, but only in passing.”
She kissed his nose then rolled her eyes. “See? This is why
we’re mates. We totally think along the same lines. Or at least we do when you
get a full night’s sleep. Now, Cailin can’t do it all, but that’s why you’re
there, to tell her what to do.” She frowned. “Or at least tell her as much as
she’ll let you. You know Cailin. She’ll want to take charge.”
Jasper snorted a laugh—exactly what she’d intended—and
relaxed. She leaned against him, and he wrapped an arm around her.
“She’s a little obsessive about details,” he agreed.
“And exactly what you need. Now what is this about you
fighting Kade?”
She felt him move ,and she looked over her shoulder at him
running a hand through his hair. “We were training with Logan, and I caught a
punch with my face when I should have ducked. I know it was because I was
tired, but hell, that’s not a good enough excuse. What if I’m not good enough
to protect you and Brie? What if I’m so
tired
that I end up getting you
or our daughter hurt? What if I’m not good enough?” he repeated.
She moved to sit on his lap and cupped his face, bringing her
forehead down to his. “You’re stronger than you think you are. Plus, you were
fighting with Kade and let your guard down. You’re allowed to do that. You
don’t have your guard down now, do you? No. You’re looking around us at this
very moment, and I can feel your wolf checking for intruders and anyone near
the wards. You are looking for them. You are
always
on guard.”
“I have to be.”
“Of course. I’m trying to do the same thing. So we can’t cut
back on that, we can’t cut back on our family, and we can’t cut back on your
duties as Beta. But what we
can
do is let Cailin and others take some of
the work. You can learn to delegate. It’s okay to do so. It’s okay to ask for
help.”
He let out a shuddering breath. “You undo me with your
strength.”
“I wouldn’t be as strong without you. That’s why we work so
well together. That’s why we’re fated.”
She kissed him softly then leaned back again, needing
time just to be in his arms. They sat there for a while, on watch as always but
as relaxed as they’d ever been. She knew they’d have to go back to the den soon,
and she honestly couldn’t wait to see Brie again, but just then, it was only her
and Jasper.
Nothing else mattered.
Her wolf sensed it before she could.
She sat up, her body on edge, though she didn’t know why.
“Jasper?” she whispered, and he squeezed her arm, his body rock hard behind
hers.
Her mate stood and Willow followed, her gaze on the tree
line. Their cabin was surrounded by large trees that reached toward the sky and
blocked most of their view. She knew the wards were near because she could feel
their magic pulsating, but it wasn’t a bad kind of tingle. No, it was more like
the wards were comforting her, letting her know that they were there to keep
the intruders out.
The Centrals, though, with their tainted demonic blood,
could slide through the weakest points of the wards if they tried hard enough.
Usually it took the demon, Caym, by their side for it to work, but sometimes, a
stronger wolf could make it through.
She inhaled, trying to pick up the scent of whatever was
putting her on edge. She could scent her mate, the warm and dangerous forest
mixed with the smells of man, as well as the small animals around them.
There was something, though, something coming.
“Willow, you should go into the house,” Jasper said, his
voice low and spoken in that deadly calm that set the hairs on the back of her
neck on end.
She raised her brows, though she knew he couldn’t see her.
“I can have your back.” She pulled out her cell phone and had it ready to dial
Kade if needed. “I will call Kade if we need backup, but I can’t tell what’s
out there. Plus, I might not be able to fight like you, but I can still fight
better than most. Let me help.”
Jasper looked over his shoulder quickly and gave her a tight
nod. “We’ve done training with the two of us, but I don’t want you hurt, baby,”
he said when he turned back. “I think there’s one wolf out there trying to
breach our wards. They aren’t through yet, so it’s probably a scout looking for
weaknesses.”