Chapter 396

Chapter 0396

“Just over five hours.” She waves her hand at what I’m sure is the surprise on my face. “It’s fine! You

must have been tired.”

I frown slightly. “Yeah… I haven’t really slept well for a while, and in nature… I feel at home.”

She nods as she rummages in her bag and pulls out two flasks.

“That’s great… here. I brought coffee.” She holds one out to me, giving me a smile.

A smile that makes me feel lighter.

“Thanks, you came prepared,” I reply, making her ruffle her hair as she tries to hide her

embarrassment. “Or did you just need an excuse to spend some time with me?”

“Well… I was waiting for you… so I couldn’t sleep, anyway. Take what you wish from it.” She nudges

me slightly.

I smirk. “I’ll take it that you really missed me and couldn’t sleep without my arms around you?” I

murmur, wrapping my arm around her. She blushes, rolling her eyes before she rests her head against

my chest.

“Maybe,” she whispers.

We fall into a pleasant silence, staring at the trees and the moon…

“I like it here,” she says.

“Yeah? Maybe someday we could live someplace like this- like permanently.

Close enough for you to get to work every morning too, but far enough that it’s just us and nature.”

Her heart’s racing and I wonder if I said too much. Was I jumping too far in?” Just an idea, doesn’t-”

She looks up, raising her flask to my lips, cutting me off. “It sounds magical. I’d like that.”

Me too…

I kiss the top of her head, wishing she could see how good she makes me feel.

“Someday then,” I say, before opening my coffee flask and taking a gulp of the hot liquid.

“It’s a little hot, careful,” she says with concern.

“I can handle hot,” I answer. Our eyes meet and she reaches up, kissing my lips. softly.

The taste of coffee lingers on our lips as I deepen the kiss, our tongues mingling, playing with each

others in an erotic sensual caress… The air is slightly cool, but the heat from our bodies and the fire

from the kiss warm our bodies.

Fuck…

I force myself back, feeling the blood rushing south.

“Kissing you is addictive,” she murmurs when we part, her voice breathless.

“Kissing you is intoxicating,” I counter huskily.

She raises her eyebrow. “Oh? Well then, being near you makes me feel safe.”

“Being near you makes me feel good,” I reply quietly.

Her heart is thudding. “You make me happy…”

eyes,

“You make me feel alive,” I murmur, kissing her lips again. We break apart, both breathing hard, but I

don’t break eye contact with her. There’s a look in her almost like she wants to say something more.

She smiles and looks down.

“Only alive?” she asks with a small smile.

“You really are going to push me to say more, aren’t you?” I say looking out at the treetops.

“Mhmm, I like compliments.”

I smirk slightly. “Ok then, since my Little Mate demands it. You know I didn’t eat just so I could get a

glimpse of you? Back when I was in prison?” I tell her, not knowing why I’m sharing such a stupid fact.

Her heart skips a beat as she turns slightly so she can see my face, and shifting my flask to my other

hand, my arm still around her. I lift her legs with my other, placing them over my thigh.

“Yeah?” her heart is thudding as she waits for me to continue.

Really… it’s the only thing that kept me going. An incentive until the next time you will be forced to

come to see me… even if you were always angry.” I look down at her, smiling faintly, but she’s no

longer smiling, her eyes full of sadness.

“Do

you… did you hate that I loved someone else?” she asks. “I know I said stuff to you many times…”

+15 BONUS

“No. The Sable knew a lot of what was going on… and it was clarified that your what the Sable had

wanted adoptive family was going to pull the plug on you anyway… but he refused. If it was up to us,

you’d be dead… He didn’t give up on you and fought for you to live.” The words sting because it’s the

truth.

I love her, yet I could have been the reason she died…

Her heart is thumping, and I force myself to look down at her. “Jai was selfless,” she says softly.

“I guess I’ll always be grateful that he didn’t give up on you,” I answer quietly. Her eyes are filled with

tears before she hugs me tightly, clutching her cup to my chest. I kiss the top of her head. “He would

have forgiven you for what happened. He would have been happy for us. I know it.”

She isn’t just saying it to make me happy; she believes it too.

Jai O’Dell… Beta of the Dark Hollow Falls Pack, you really were a saint.

You were everything I am not… yet we love the same woman… and I don’t care how good you were for

her – I’ll be better.

+15 BONUS

Chapter 0397