Calm Before the Storm 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Carl

I’d been making good time all day, and I was almost there. Almost home. Just a few more hours, which I could easily cover overnight, but I figured I could use some rest.

Once I got back, we’d dive right into work, finally kick-starting our master plan. I wanted to be sharp for that. I was excited to see how much progress the team had made while I was away.

I hated to admit it, but I was also getting physically tired. My wolf muscles were starting to feel tight, and my joints were beginning to ache.

I slowed down as I approached my favorite waterfall. Both my human and wolf senses picked up on it.

~The distant sound of water rushing.~

~The smell of fresh earth softened by cold springs.~

Waterfalls with caves were perfect for camping. The moss served as a mattress, and the sound of the rushing water would lull you to sleep. You’d wake up to the most peaceful scene.

But wait—

What was that other sound? That other smell?

My nostrils widened, and my ears perked up.

~Werewolves.~

And specifically…

~It can’t be.~

No way. That couldn’t be right.

They’d have her locked up safe and sound in some tower of that palace, like fucking Rapunzel. Surrounded by a moat filled with hungry alligators.

But then again, if I could escape from Shadow Moon, maybe Quinn could too. But she wouldn’t do that. She wouldn’t leave her precious Jaxon.

So why did her laughter sound so clear in my ears?

I ran faster through the woods until I reached the clearing at the top of the waterfall, where I could see everything below.

Through the mist, on the rocks next to the pool, sat a couple. They were camping. They’d set up a tent, caught some fish, and were now starting a fire.

Sure enough…

~Quinn and Jaxon.~

My Moon Goddess and my brother.

I had to fight the urge to howl with laughter at the absurdity of it all.

~What the hell?~

~What are the fucking odds?!~

What were they even doing there?

Running away? Clearly, things at Shadow Moon were worse than I’d thought…

~If only they’d asked me to stay~, I thought, grinning to myself.

I managed to resist the urge to confront them right then and there. Or to mess with them through our mind-link.

That would be a surprise.

~Hello again, old friends. It’s been a while.~

But no, that wouldn’t be smart.

A new motivation—to get home, to share this news with my pack—was now coursing through my veins. It gave me a renewed sense of purpose.

I’d deal with them soon enough.

Feeling wide awake, even as the sun set behind the waterfall, I turned and ran off.

Jaxon

Our evening was perfect.

I managed to set up the tent with only a few minor mishaps.

Quinn teased me. “You’re definitely more of a palace-dweller than a mountain man.”

But by transforming my top half into a wolf and using my sharp teeth to catch two fresh, plump fish, I proved her wrong. Quinn joined me in the water, and we had a blast, splashing and swimming.

And now, the tent was standing strong on the shore. The fire was roaring.

While I gathered firewood, I let Quinn enjoy some reading by the water. Her wet hair clung to her back as it dried. She was wearing just her cutoff jeans and one of my loose t-shirts.

She looked so content and peaceful, and so incredibly beautiful, I didn’t mind doing all the work.

Well, not too much.

We devoured a dinner of charred fish and all the snacks we’d brought for the trip. Then I surprised Quinn with a special dessert.

From my backpack, I pulled out marshmallows, graham crackers, and a chocolate bar.

“S’mores!” Quinn exclaimed, tearing into the ingredients.

“It wouldn’t be a campout without ‘em.”

“Wow, Jax,” she said, looking at me with admiration. “You really went all out. This is even better than our first date.”

“Hopefully Alex won’t interrupt this one,” I joked, though it wouldn’t have surprised me.

I’d purposely left my phone in the car, so I wouldn’t be tempted to keep checking it.

Quinn skewered a couple of marshmallows on a stick and held them over the flames.

“Why ~did~ you do all this?” she asked. She wasn’t accusing me, just curious.

I knew she was just wondering, but I still felt a bit insecure.

~Is it too much? Did I go overboard?~

“I don’t know,” I mumbled. “To say sorry. And thank you. And I love you. All that.”

Night had fallen. Stars dotted the sky and crickets chirped all around us.

When Quinn didn’t say anything, I quickly added, “Plus, things are getting serious, you know? I’m about to meet your mother.”

She laughed. “Oh my God, you can’t really be nervous about that? Jax, we’re mated. I don’t need my mom’s approval of you.”

“I know, but still…”

Quinn looked deeply into my eyes, silencing me. The fire reflected brightly in her dark pupils.

“Thank you, Jaxon. I really appreciate it,” she said softly.

Then she squished the half golden, half burnt marshmallows between a piece of chocolate—which she’d broken off the bar without following the lines—and the crackers. It all crumbled and crushed together.

Not exactly how I would’ve made a s’more. But whatever.

Quinn took a big bite, not seeming to mind the mess. We clearly had different ways of doing things. I was careful, while she was…

“I’m making a mess,” she said, laughing.

Indeed, her mouth was covered in crumbs and melted chocolate.

“Kiss it off me,” she insisted.

I couldn’t resist teasing her. “Gross.”

Quinn swiped the back of her hand across her face. “Oh, bite me.”

We both grinned, leaning in until our lips met.

~Wow.~

She smelled like a campfire and tasted like s’mores.

So incredibly sweet.

Quinn

Jax’s arms wrapped around my waist as I looped mine around his neck.

We kissed, surrounded by the soothing sounds of the forest.

The fire crackled next to us, our tongues sliding together in rhythm.

I threaded my fingers through Jax’s curly blonde hair. He followed my lead, running a hand through my tangled locks as he cradled the back of my neck.

Our free hands found each other.

The moment was so peaceful. So tender.

Jax pulled back, nodding towards the small tent. “Let’s take this to the bedroom,” he suggested.

I couldn’t help but laugh.

When I first met Jaxon, I never thought he’d be capable of this. Taking me on woodland adventures, making fun desserts, cracking jokes. He’d always seemed so serious and guarded.

This wasn’t a ~Beauty and the Beast~ situation. I hadn’t been sweet and kind to him from the start. I didn’t coax the kindness out of him.

I wouldn’t let anyone control or confine me—because I was just as much a beast as he was. And a true beast refuses to be caged.

And Jax understood that.

But somehow, along the way, we’d met in the middle. We’d both opened up, shared, and compromised. Seeing him now, so relaxed, was special.

After Jax put out the fire, we crawled into the tiny tent and picked up where we left off.

He switched on a lantern, and his skin glowed in the soft light.

He pulled off my t-shirt—or, ~his~ t-shirt, which I was borrowing—and then removed his own.

We didn’t have many layers left to shed.

I unbuckled Jax’s belt and helped him out of his jeans.

I wriggled out of my shorts and lifted my hips so he could slide off my underwear.

When I pulled down his boxers, his erection sprang free.

Now completely naked, Jax moved over me, casting a shadow on the tent’s nylon walls, and positioned himself at my entrance. “Ready?” he asked.

I nodded, and then let out a groan as I felt him fill me slowly.

Deliciously.

All the way in. We both shivered and sighed in pleasure.

“Jax…” I moaned.

“Quinn,” he whispered back into my ear.

He started moving in and out, and my hips instinctively rose to meet him.

Still slowly. Steadily. Deeply.

I clung to my mate’s chest and shoulders for support, my nails digging into his skin.

With each thrust, I could feel the heat building inside me.

He nipped at my lower lip. I gasped and arched my back.

Jax’s movements quickened, growing more intense. As he picked up speed, my eyes rolled back.

We were so close together in that small tent. Sweat started to dampen Jax’s hair and pool on my collarbone.

I felt myself nearing the edge.

“I’m about to…” I began, wrapping my thighs around him.

“Me, too,” he panted between heavy breaths.

And then, with one final thrust, the heat inside me exploded and warmth spread through my entire body.

~Oh…~

The sensation never ceased to amaze me. It was always so intense. Always so wonderfully thrilling and passionate.

My body tingled with lingering sensitivity as Jax planted a trail of kisses up my neck. Finishing the path, he pecked my forehead.

“Let’s get some sleep,” he suggested.

Naked and still tingling, we slipped into the sleeping bag together. It was just as intimate as I’d imagined. Jax spooned me, his body fitting snugly around mine, one hand resting on my stomach.

“Goodnight,” I whispered, content in his warm embrace. “I love you.”

“I love you, too, Quinn,” he replied. “Sweet dreams.”

I smiled. What a difference from last night. Soon, his breathing slowed as he fell asleep.

But my mind was just starting to race.

My phone seemed to taunt me:

~Text your mom, you coward. Do it.~

A howl echoed in the distance, a reminder of the rogues.

Nervously, I snuggled closer to Jax. I had a feeling sleep wouldn’t come easily tonight.

Deep down, I could sense it.

~This is the calm before the storm.~