He stepped closer to me with hungry eyes, his fingers resting on my hips for a moment before snaking their way into the waistband of my panties. He paused again as if waiting for me to give him the all-clear.Was I doing this? Was I letting Ryder undress me? Where was this going and was I okay with it? My mind raced with questions while my heart raced with a combination of excitement, anticipation, and fear.I nodded.He slipped them down with the confidence that told me he'd done this many times before and the thought made me feel some type of way. I wasn't about to try and unpack that now though.Standing there, frozen to the spot, my mind was a mess of questions only I could answer, but the answers seemed elusive.His eyes lingered on me like a predator before I turned and stepped into the bath, seeking out the obscurity that the bubbles would provide. He watched me as I lowered myself into the water, then submerged myself below its surface to wet my hair. I tried my best to keep m
"You okay over there?"Ryder asked as I slid deeper into the water, my eyes still closed as my heart tried to find its regular tempo. He'd pulled his hand away a little while ago and had given me a moment to get a grip of myself, but I was still coming down from my high. "Kate?" he tried again, his fingers trailing over my exposed knee. I shuddered at his touch and giggled before nodding and immersing my lips below the water. "You're alright then?" he repeated with a smirk on his lips. I nodded, still partially submerged, a beaming smile on my lips. The water was beginning to get cold now though, and I was eager to get out as soon as I was capable of walking again. He leaned over the bath, his elbows resting on the side of it as he watched me with adoration. Reaching his hand out, he ran his fingers over my cheek, then cupped it gently. I rubbed my face against him like a cat seeking affection. "I'm fucking crazy about you, Kate," he confessed, a hint of vulnerability lacing his
Now that I was dressed, I stood there awkwardly, waiting for Ryder to take the hint and leave the room to give me a little privacy to talk to Tyler."Right," he said, the realization dawning on him, "I'll, uh, see what I can find for us to eat," he decided, heading out of the room and closing the door behind him.I sighed a breath of relief at having managed to avoid a slightly awkward conversation, and picked up my phone, finding Tyler's number before pressing the 'call' button.I was about to give up after it rang about 8 times without an answer, but then he finally picked up."Kate," he said breathlessly."I'm here," I replied, wanting to assure him that I hadn't dropped the call."Sorry, I didn't want to take the call in front of the entire meeting, so I had to excuse myself. How are you?" he asked, the words pouring out of him, hurried and urgent."I'm okay. My arm feels a lot better today. Hopefully, I'll be able to get the cast off tomorrow. How are things with you? You said yo
After hanging up, the room felt emptier and so did I. Tyler's absence was a void I couldn't seem to fill. At least I still had the promise of Saturday though. I headed out with a sigh, eager to burrow myself in Ryder's arms. He was standing in the kitchen, hidden behind an open cupboard. "Well, I can offer you cereal," he said, shaking two boxes in my general direction, but as I approached he noticed my miserable demeanor and set the boxes on the counter before meeting me in the lounge with a caring hug. "You okay?" he whispered down into my ear, holding me tightly. I nodded, but the truth was that I was once again fighting back my tears. "I'm sorry, Kate. If it makes you feel any better, he really wishes he could be here. And I'm not just saying that. I know how hard these last couple of days have been for him too," he explained, trying to make the pain a little more bearable by showing me that it was shared. I couldn't find the words to respond, so once again, I simply nodded
"Uh... I guess..." Ryder replied sounding unenthusiastic. "It's cool if you don't want to," I replied, not wanting him to feel pressured, but noting the difference between his response and Tyler's. "Who do you want to call?" he asked, seemingly testing the waters now. "My friend Jenna from back home. I was supposed to call her yesterday, but we all know how yesterday went," I replied with an exhausted sigh. "Okay, I guess I can make an appearance," he relented. I can't say he seemed thrilled about it, but he didn't appear to be totally against it either. I pressed the button to begin a video call. Within seconds, Jenna picked up, a beaming smile on her face. It looked like a warm sunny day in Colorado and she was out and about with the wind blowing through her hair. I smiled. She looked happy and gorgeous as always. "Kate! Where have you been? Why haven't you texted? I miss you!" her words came out in a hurried tumble and she sounded simultaneously hurt and excited. I grimaced
"Shit, Kate... I'm so sorry. What can I do? Ice? A painkiller?" he offered apologetically. "Painkiller..." I mumbled, clutching my arm firmly against my chest while tears welled up in my eyes. I breathed. That's just about all I could do. Ryder reappeared suddenly, standing in front of me with a glass of cold water in one hand and two painkillers in the palm of his other hand. I took them greedily. The pain wasn't as bad as it had been at times the day before, but why suffer when there was no need? I knew the pills wouldn't work instantly, but you can't blame me for hoping. He took the glass back and placed it on the coffee table, then he stood there awkwardly, looking at me with an expression of panic. "What can I do? I don't know what to do!" he said, his voice brimming with worry. "Did I fuck it up again?" he went on with concern now. "I'll be fine," I replied, trying to put on a brave face. He groaned before he took his seat beside me again, being sure to move carefully an
My sleep was a black void of nothingness, no dreams, no pain, no worries or troubles. Just blackness. It was peaceful. Movement roused me though, and as consciousness poured back into me, I became aware of Ryder's voice talking softly into my ear. "Kate... I need to get up. Can you sit up for a sec?" he asked, gently lifting me off of his lap and placing my back down gently on the couch. I groaned, missing his presence, but I didn't stir, still in a state of semi-consciousness. There was some shuffling in the background, an exchange of muffled voices, but nothing that concerned me, so I ignored it and tried to find my way back to the deep sleep I'd just been enjoying. Moments later, Ryder's footsteps returned and he gently lifted me again, placing me back on his lap as he rested his arm on my shoulder. His fingers absentmindedly traced over my skin in gentle, swirling patterns, snaking their way up, under the sleeve of my top. Suddenly, a delicious smell hit my nose, waking me
The admission hung between us. I took a deep breath before I revealed my own truth. "I don't know what I want to do either. You're my mate and Tyler is my mate, but the pack will need a Luna, and I don't want to be Luna, and I'm trying not to think about it because when I do, I start freaking out, and I'm freaking out now, and I don't know what to do!" I finished, breathing hard and heavy as panic gripped me. "If I won't be Luna, then I can't be his mate... But I want to be his mate. I don't know what to do," I confessed as my lower lip trembled. The thought of losing either of my mates was heartbreaking. I didn't even want to think about it, but I suppose it was a potential reality I might have to face. There was no way Tyler's parents would let him be mated to someone who wouldn't stand as the pack Luna. He himself would need that support. But it was a role I felt I just wasn't cut out for. I wasn't confident and charismatic like Tyler was. People didn't take me seriously. People