4 - Five Years Ago: Steal my name from my lips

Ava’s POV - 5 Years Ago

I’m not usually a reckless person. But tonight I feel it. A stirring sense of restlessness in the bottom of my stomach. Maybe it’s just the alcohol, or maybe I need a way to escape the pit I’ve fallen into. Should I be afraid as I follow a handsome stranger, off into the dark? There’s a small voice at the back of my head, telling me that this is a bad idea. That I should be sensible. Fuck it. I’m always sensible. I’m always the sober ride home from the club. I’m always the one looking out for everyone else.

Now I can’t think of anything else, because Mr. Gorgeous has stopped walking. We’ve stepped out from trees into a clearing. The ground drops away ahead of us, towards the rushing water of the silver stream. But I can barely hear it over my own frantic heartbeat. I’ve never done anything like this before, snuck away with a stranger.

‘Are you alright?’ His voice is low and husky, and it does something to my insides. My core feels hot. Like I’ve taken a shot of burning tequila. I pull in a shaky breath and look back over my shoulder, into the darkness where we’ve come from. Behind all the rows of tree’s I can just about make out the flickering lights of the disco set up, and hear the thumping of the bass. Should I be afraid of the man before me? I look back at him. Am I alright? No. I’m not alright.

‘I’m glad to be away from the crowd,’ I admit, but it’s hard to find the words. Just looking at him, I feel off balance. I can sense the aura of his wolf, he’s not pressing down on Seren, but his presence is powerful. That’s dangerous. I don’t think that Seren could fight his wolf, I don’t think she could resist him. But my lips part and I try and suck in another breath, but it’s really hard with him standing so close, like my lungs aren't working properly. My thoughts are racing and yet I’m struggling for a single, sensible thing to say.

‘I can see that,’ he’s frowning though, looking me over, ‘we can go back?’ He suggests.

‘No,’ I respond automatically, ‘I don’t want to go back.’

‘Oh…it’s just. You don’t seem that comfortable, and I can understand that,’ his voice drops, ‘I probably would tell my Sister she shouldn’t walk off with strangers.’

I can’t help but laugh at that, some of my tension easing as I look up at him once more. I’m caught by his beautiful green eyes. There’s a blood moon in the sky tonight, and everything has a strange pink hue. It makes the world seem smaller, cosy and maybe even romantic. But I can’t look away from the stranger in front of me.

‘You probably won’t believe, that I’m not in the habit of sneaking off with strangers,’ I say quietly and he grins. He takes a step closer and I can scent him. The smell of his wolf is driving Seren crazy and it’s all I can do not to moan out loud. He smells like pine and peppermint, and something mixed with sandalwood. My knees are weak and I feel a lump, building at the back of my throat.

‘Tell me your name…’ he murmurs as he looks down at me. ‘That way we won’t be strangers.’

I can’t look away from those emerald green eyes and I know that I’m totally lost. He hasn’t let go of my hand and he lifts it, pressing a kiss to the back of my fingers. They spark, as though he’s made of lightning. The intensity of his touch almost hurts. I can’t breathe, I can’t think. I can’t even remember my name.

My lips part and I just stare at him. Goddess, I’ve never wanted something so badly, as I want the man before me. His broad shoulders are filling out the dark blue suit and for something so ordinary, it’s never looked so good. He’s as handsome as any sin I could ever name.

I want to kiss him. I want to touch him, and Seren is whimpering, pacing within my thoughts and eager, desperate for the touch of his wolf against her. I don’t even care what he’s called or where he’s from. I bite my bottom lip and I move, before I can talk myself out of my own insanity. I lay my free hand on his shoulder. On my bare feet, I choose to put aside all the pain from Bella and Josh’s betrayal. All the lies that are running through my family and friends. I choose to lose myself in the moment.

I press my lips against his, and there is a pause. A breath between us. I panic. Heart skipping a beat. I’ve drunk too much. I read too much into this, he’s not interested. I’ve made a fool of myself. But kissing him, even for a heartbeat, is the best thing I’ve done in a long while. I draw back, cheeks burning with embarrassment. Ready to apologise. Ready to turn and run. But he catches my other hand and holds me still. I want the ground to swallow me whole. But I’m not a coward. I force myself to look up at the man, watch the expressions racing across his face before he bows towards me.

His lips brush over mine. By all that is holy, he’s kissing me back?! He’s kissing me back! He’s already stolen the air from my lungs, my own sense of self and I’m utterly lost. Thoughts jumbled together in a mess. There is only him. Seren is pressed against his wolfish aura and I feel the touch of his wolf against her. A quiet moan escapes my lips and his tongue presses against my mouth. His hands are in my hair, holding the back of my head as the kiss deepens. His tongue strokes against mine, and I’m utterly lost. Melting against him with a gasp.

He drops a hand to the small of my back, holding me tight against his hard body. I arch, leaning back as he devours me. I give myself. Everything I have, heart and body and soul and Seren is wrapped up in his wolf. I’ve lost her too, she’s completely enamoured with the power of his aura. I’ve never felt anything like it, never imagined anything could be so intense. So magical.

With Josh, Seren was disinterested. She didn’t hate his wolf, but she didn’t like him either. She accepted him. But this is different and I remind myself that I’m not thinking about Josh. I’m not thinking about any of that. In fact, I’m very determinedly not thinking at all, as my mouth is ravaged by the tongue of a stranger. A perfect stranger; in every way. I can taste whiskey on his lips and I push closer still. He’s stroking back and forth at the base of my back, sharp little tingles of pleasure are racing up and down my spine. I don’t feel like I’m in control anymore, but maybe I lost that the moment he first looked at me.

I’m clinging to him as the kiss breaks. I’m panting against his lips. His breath mingles with mine. I need more. He’s like a drug and a single kiss has me hooked for life. Craving and needing more.

‘Don’t…’ I whisper and can’t believe myself, ‘please don’t stop.’

He growls and bends, the sound sending little shockwaves of pleasure through my body. His arms wrap under my body and he lifts me up. My legs go around his hips, the long satin skirts of my dress hitched around my waist. He turns and I’m pressed against the smooth bark of a silver birch. My arms around his shoulders as he kisses me again. His hands digging into the flesh of my bottom as his mouth slants back and forth. He needs my cheeks and I gasp, breath catching as the kiss breaks. My lips move against his jaw, the stubble scratching my delicate skin. We’re bathed in pink moonlight as he gently nips the patch of skin below my ear. I whimper, head tilting back as he summons my inner wolf. There’s something dangerous, primal in the action and he licks the skin to soothe it. He’s pushing me against the tree trunk, hips rocking back and forth. I hiss, feeling the press of his erection against the exposed lace of my panties.

This isn’t enough. I’m secure in his hold, my legs tight around him. So I’m brave, dropping my hand down over his shirt, I fumble with only one hand, fighting to free him from the buttons of his dress shirt. One of the buttons pings off, lost forever in the night and I swear beneath my breath. But he only laughs and moves to kiss me again. I can feel the full force of his erection and groan aloud. The sound swallowed by his kiss as he helps me unfasten the rest of the buttons, until I reach in. With a trembling hand I smooth over his pectoral muscles and groan again.

‘Keep making noises like that, and I’ll have to take you now,’ he speaks between kisses. The press of his body as needy as insistent as my own trembling form. I feel like I’m made from lava, he’s set me on fire and I can’t wait. I don’t want to wait. I’m ready and I need this. I need him.

‘Do it,’ I dare him, panting hard. He looks across at me, eyes flashing in the darkness. ‘Take me,’ I breathe.