Chapter 23: Companionship

SERAPHINA

Two days had passed since my rendezvous with Alek, and my body was still bearing the brunt of his passion. Despite the ointments I’d applied, a vivid bruise peeked out from the edge of my collarbone. Accompanied by distinct scabs, it was a telltale sign of my intimacy with a species that Garrick’s kind was known to despise.

The guilt was a live wire on my chest, growing more intense with each passing moment spent with Garrick. Garrick had whisked me away for an early dinner, a welcome distraction from the impending meeting with Chen that I was more than willing to postpone.

We agreed to keep things casual. Garrick’s charming smile and a bouquet of sunflowers were hard to resist, even without the looming meeting. Jack, my only other romantic reference, had never hand-delivered flowers to me.

Our date began at a bowling alley, where I discovered my lack of skill. After a disastrous first game and a half, Garrick’s suggestion to hit the bar was a welcome one. I was adamant about not using bumpers, despite our adult status.

After two hours of conversation and a few drinks, heading back to his place to check out his movie collection seemed like the perfect plan. At the time.

As we entered his home, I began to second-guess the situation. I hadn’t considered what he might discover beneath my clothes if things escalated. The change of scenery had transformed the situation into something more intimate in my mind.

“Make yourself at home. I know it’s not as grand as your place, but—”

I playfully smacked his arm, giving him a mock glare as I kicked off my shoes. “Enough with the comparisons,” I teased, trying to ignore the fluttering in my chest.

He only brought up the subject when he felt inadequate in some way. He grinned, kicking off his boots and heading for the kitchen.

“Want another drink?” he asked.

He was already rummaging in the fridge.

“Sure,” I replied, settling at the bar after hanging my jacket on a chair and placing my purse in front of me. Garrick was quick to retrieve two beers, sliding one my way.

I tried to steer the conversation away from tricky topics like Alek, my doctor, and work. But work was a pressing issue I needed to discuss with him. If I was going to broach a difficult subject, now was the time.

“I—I can’t give as big a raise as you were hoping for.”

Garrick raised an eyebrow, taking a long sip of his beer before leaning on the countertop across from me.

“Is that what’s been bothering you all night? You’ve been…restless.”

I blushed, wondering how he could read me so well. My concerns about him were growing the more time we spent together.

“Our non-dates always feel like dates,” I said, my tone a mix of teasing and accusation. I wanted to make it clear that we needed to define our relationship better.

He grinned, leaning across the counter toward me. His proximity sent a thrill through me, blurring the lines between friendship and something more.

“Maybe I’m just charming.”

I laughed, emboldened by the alcohol, and pushed his face away. I traced his smile with my fingers, giggling. Then I took a sip of my beer, unable to meet his gaze.

“I’m not saying you’re not. But things are so…complicated.”

“I don’t see what’s complicated,” Garrick said, shrugging and taking a sip of his beer. His gaze never left mine.

“I want to fuck you too.”

I burst out laughing, covering my mouth as I blushed. His bluntness caught me off guard, sending butterflies fluttering in my stomach.

“That’s not the point!”

“It isn’t?” he chuckled, moving around the bar to invade my personal space. He took my beer from my hand and set it aside.

The dynamic between us shifted, and I wasn’t prepared for the intensity of the sexual tension that filled the room.

“It is, but I just… It also isn’t. I—” I tried to explain, but his gaze on my lips distracted me.

His tongue flicked out to wet his lower lip, and I was captivated. The closeness felt charged, like a low dose of a drug. One I ~really~ wanted.

Being with Garrick made me feel safe, a feeling I hadn’t experienced in a long time. My anxiety seemed to melt away when I was with him. That sense of safety shattered when his gaze fell on my neck.

Panic surged within me as his fingers brushed the fabric aside, revealing Aleksandr’s bruise. The golden hues of the bruise were unmistakable, a stark contrast to the other shades of purple and gold.

It was as if the other shoe had finally dropped, echoing loudly in the silent room. Time seemed to stand still as he let go of the fabric, allowing it to fall back into place. He pulled away without meeting my gaze.

“Garrick, let me explain. I—”

His reaction was as predictable as the age-old feud between wolves and vampires. He turned his back to me, his face a mask of darkness. He strode toward the bedrooms, his hand lashing out to punch a hole in the nearest wall.

His hand remained lodged in the drywall, his shoulders trembling with tension. His chest rose and fell rapidly, as if he was struggling to keep his wolf at bay. I froze, my mind instinctively shifting into self-defense mode.

I knew I was no match for a werewolf, but I also knew Garrick wouldn’t hurt me. My heart pounded, magic simmering just beneath the surface. I held my hands up defensively, my eyes wide as I studied Garrick’s rigid back.

I wondered what he would do next, yet I felt an odd sense of calm amidst the chaos. It was like being in the eye of a storm.

I felt an overwhelming need to justify myself, like ants crawling over my skin. Garrick slowly withdrew his hand from the wall, rubbing his wrist as he kept his back to me. His voice was rough, but clear.

“Is it over?”

I thought about lying, but what was the point?

“No,” I admitted, unsure if it had ever really begun.

If given the chance, I wouldn’t refuse Aleksandr again.

“It was just sex, it wasn’t planned, it just—”

My anger flared, my mind lighting up with the response I should have had. I let my anger grow, fueling the reaction I knew was right.

My eyes darted to my purse. I considered the jack I’d removed earlier.

“It’s honestly none of your business who I sleep with. We were never exclusive and this wasn’t supposed to escalate, I never—”

Garrick turned around, a wild look in his eyes that scared me more than his earlier display of anger. I took another sip of my drink, watching him warily, ready to grab my purse and its hidden weapons if necessary. I was determined to stand my ground and maintain eye contact.

I would not back down.

As soon as I set my glass down, he advanced, pulling me off the stool and into his arms. His mouth descended on mine, his tongue exploring me as if I were his only source of sustenance. His hands roamed my body, one kneading my ass while the other tangled in my hair.

The sensation made my head spin and my body respond. For once, everything felt right as the world faded away and our lips met, his tongue tasting mine. Electricity sparked with every touch.

I pulled back to catch my breath. Garrick’s mouth moved to the sensitive spot behind my ear. A low purr rumbled in his throat, sending a shiver down my spine. My arms wrapped around his head, my fingers threading through his hair, pulling him closer yet pushing him away when things got too intense.

“Please,” I whispered. “We can’t.”

“We can,” he replied huskily. “We can do everything together. We can find the orb you’re looking for, touch, make love—”

His teeth grazed my ear, sending another delicious shiver down my spine. “We can do anything we want.”

“But—”

“Shut up,” he murmured, guiding me toward the couch. His fingers deftly unbuttoned my jeans as we moved, leaving them gaping open as my calves hit the sofa.

“—and enjoy me if you want to enjoy me.”

With a final glance at me for silent consent, my jeans and panties were around my ankles in seconds. Garrick’s movements were swift and confident as he lowered me onto the couch, returning to my mouth to continue our kiss.

His fingers traced patterns on my stomach and back, his movements smooth and comforting before he broke away to remove my shirt. His lips barely left mine, savoring me as he took his time. His hands stroked my arms and his body pressed into mine as I slowly reclined.

I adjusted to the narrow couch and his large frame, feeling as if I were melting into the material as he covered my body with his. The sensation of his jeans against my soft, trembling flesh made me gasp into his mouth.

Garrick didn’t hesitate. His hips ground against mine, the heat of his arousal evident even through the fabric that was quickly becoming soaked with my desire. His hand traced the length of my body, appreciating every curve before gripping my thigh and hitching my leg around his waist.

He pulled back slightly, breaking our kiss and locking eyes with me as he unzipped his jeans. I held my breath, anticipation coiling in my chest as I watched him. One hand lay limp by my face as I caught my breath. The other rested on his shoulder as I lay still.

He shifted his hips, the tip of his cock teasing my entrance. I glanced down, taking in the sight of his impressive length poised to enter me. Garrick took his time, running it over my clit while his other hand caressed the back of my head.

My chest heaved and my legs trembled. All I could do was shift my hips as the spark between us grew. I felt a magical connection pulling us together, as undeniable as my need for him inside me.

Garrick was patient, slowly sinking into me. Inch by agonizing inch, he watched my reactions. My eyes widened, my mouth forming a silent “O” as his warm, pulsing length filled me.

His cock throbbed as he fully sheathed himself inside me, stretching me to accommodate his size. We both seemed to exhale in unison, a shuddering breath that echoed the intensity of our connection. His gaze locked with mine as he gently brushed a few stray hairs from my face.

His body remained still inside of me, the rough texture of his jeans pressing against my bare ass, his shirt draped over my naked body. My fingers instinctively reached down, tracing the contours of his torso and sides. I explored the body that was so intimately entwined with mine.

His leg, previously propped up between the couch and his body, lowered as he adjusted his position, balancing on one arm. He pulled off his shirt. I responded by urging his cock forward, inch by inch, with my hips.

I squirmed beneath him, silently pleading for him to start. The sensation of him pulsing and stretching something deep within me was driving me to the brink of madness. I began to grind my hips in response.

Garrick set a leisurely pace, slowly shifting and moving his hips. His movements spurred me higher, yet also kept my impending orgasm at bay. The sensation of his cock invading and stretching me was maddening, and I struggled to match his rhythm.

Our slow, synchronized grinding was somehow more intimate, the buildup more intense. I found myself panting in anticipation. His kisses were as light as a feather on each mark Aleksandr had left on me, yet each thrust that accompanied a kiss was somehow more purposeful.

Each kiss was punctuated by a high-pitched moan that I couldn’t suppress as he slid home. The feel of his jeans against my bare skin added to the sensation.

“Garrick!” I gasped, my hands clutching at his back as he began to thrust more intensely. My hips struggled to keep up with his pace as my orgasm loomed.

“Say my name again,” he grunted, momentarily easing back from his deeper thrusts as he savored my words. “Say it again, Seraphina, I need to hear it.”

“Garrick!” I moaned, my hips rising with my thrusts in a desperate attempt to keep him inside me. My body ached for his cock and the pleasure it was giving me.

Hearing his name on my lips seemed to be his breaking point. His mouth crashed down on mine, all pretense of taking it slow abandoned as he began to fuck me. My walls collapsed around him, and I cried out into his mouth as my body began to shake.

My pussy quivered around his cock with each thrust. Garrick was relentless, plunging into me over and over. I yearned for him, all of him. My only comfort was knowing that he couldn’t impregnate me as I wrapped a leg around his hips.

I accepted every bit of him, even as my body shook, lost in the pleasure only he could provide. Garrick accepted my silent invitation, gripping my other hip as he shifted to hit an even deeper spot.

My thighs began to shake from the force of another orgasm tearing through my body, a testament to our compatibility. It was as if our bodies were made for each other. As he began to release inside of me, the sensation of his cum felt like a soothing balm deep in my belly.

He continued to thrust into me a few more times. The world seemed to fall away around us.