Chapter 42

Rafe scooped her up in his arms, grabbed her shirt from a nearby branch, and started walking home. Ruby considered protesting. She was perfectly capable of walking. But of course Rafe knew that and he was carrying her anyway. It was kinda nice.

Ruby snuggled against his chest and breathed his piney scent. It was really nice, actually. Supremely nice to be carried for once. To have someone to lean on. For the first time in a long time, Ruby could rest. She could listen to her Mate’s steady heartbeat and not worry about bills or her sister’s episodes or her next shift at the bar. Not that those things wouldn’t still be waiting for her in the morning, but now she’d have someone by her side when she woke up to face it all again.

And being back with Rafe made her feel pieced together again. Her heart seemed to beat in sync with his, her breath matching his inhales and exhales. Being held by Rafe lit her up inside, filling in all the dark spaces.

They made it to his cabin just as the first drops of rain began to fall. Lightning lit up the trees around them, thundering crackling in its wake.

“Guess you’ll have to stay,” Rafe said, setting her down on the porch. “Think Lena will be okay?”

“She basically kicked me out. She’s done with babysitters.”

Rafe huffed and pushed open the door. His home was small and cozy and far messier than Ruby would have expected, but Rafe didn’t give her much time to explore.

“Let’s get you cleaned up.” He tugged her into the bathroom and ran the hot water in the shower.

Ruby bit her bottom lip, happiness bubbling up so fast and fierce she thought it might spill out. “Okay, fine, but later I’m snooping through all your stuff.”

He gave her a shy smile. “Fine.”

“And I want to see your workshop.”

He removed her bra with a deft flick of his fingers and let it drop. Ruby shimmied out of her skirt. Rafe’s hands skated over her hips and into the dip of her waist. Steam filled the small space.

“You can see everything.”

“Hm, okay.” She reached for his shorts but he grabbed her hands.

“Ruby,” he warned.

“Yes?”

“I’m trying to take care of you.”

She pulled her hands from his and slid his shorts over his hips. His cock was hard and heavy in her hand. Werewolf genes. Goddamn.

“I think this is a very good way to take care of me.”

“Ruby, you’re hurt.” His fingers ran over her bandaged arm and for the first time in the past several hours, she felt the pain emanating from the wound. “You need to rest.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead and ushered her into the shower.

“At least you can join me.” She tugged him in with her, making it far too crowded in the tight space, but seeing Rafe wet and soapy would be totally worth it.

Apparently, he felt the same way about her because he wasted no time lathering her up. His big hands gently washed away the dirt and the sweat from their little romp.

He eyed her injury like he wanted to resurrect those wolves just so he could kill them again. She ran a hand across his chest. “It’s okay. They’re gone. I’m safe.”

Rafe blew out a long sigh. It would take him a long time to believe she was safe, she knew that. After everything he’d lived through, she knew it would take more than a little fucking and biting for him to trust that she was really here and safe and his, but Ruby would tell him every damn day.

“And what if they’re not?”

“Rafe—”

“No, really. This isn’t me being … me.” He shrugged and ran a hand through his hair, sending water droplets down his forearm. “What if they keep coming until they get what they want.”

A shiver ran up Ruby’s spine, remembering Knox’s little visit to the bar. But bringing up Rafe’s brother was the last thing she wanted to do right now. “Then we’ll face it together.”

He stared at her a moment longer before nodding. “Together.” He ran his assessing gaze over her one more time. His eyes turned dark with hunger and Ruby bit down on a smile. His thoughts had turned to more pressing matters. He tore his gaze away to pour shampoo into his palm and Ruby groaned as he massaged it into her scalp.

“Turn,” he commanded and she did.

He lathered her hair, his fingers digging into her scalp as the warm water ran over her breasts and stomach. She moaned and she felt his cock slide against her ass.

“Turn.”

She giggled and did as she was told, letting him rinse the suds from her hair. Face to face now, his cock slipped against her soap-covered stomach.

“Rafe, please.”

He groaned, pressing against her more urgently, water trickling down between them. She ran her fingers through his wet hair and licked the water dripping off his jaw.

“Not here. You’re hurt enough for one day.” He turned off the water and they stepped out of the shower into the steamy bathroom. Ruby was wrapped in a towel and hoisted onto the bathroom counter before she could protest, Rafe’s mouth between her legs before she could breathe.

“Shit.” She leaned her head back against the mirror as Rafe worked his tongue over her clit, sending pleasure skittering down her legs and curling her toes. He hummed against her, the vibration making her moan.

“I knew,” he said, his head still between her legs. “I knew as soon as I tasted you that you were mine.”

“Rafe.” She groaned his name, all other language evaporating from her head. It didn’t take long, her orgasm winding tighter and tighter until finally rolling through her like a wave. Rafe placed a kiss on her thigh as she ran her fingers through his hair. “Seriously, so good at that,” she murmured.

Rafe huffed a laugh. He stood, his gaze landing on her hands. “I did that?” His eyes went dark as he studied the scrapes on her palms.

“Nope.”

He narrowed his eyes at her.

“I crashed. It was dark. It’s not a big deal.”

“Not a big deal,” he repeated in disgust as he lifted her off the counter and carried her to his bedroom. He deposited her on the bed.

“Are you going to carry me everywhere now?”

“Maybe.”

He left the room and Ruby could hear him digging around in the medicine cabinet. The rain was pouring down outside, drumming loudly on the tin roof. Every few minutes a flash of lightning lit up the cozy room. Ruby grabbed one of Rafe’s oversized T-shirts from a chair in the corner and pulled it over her head.

Rafe returned with a small white box in his hands and his shorts back on his beautiful body. “Gimme your hand.” He sat on the edge of the bed, his brow furrowed in worry as she presented her scraped palm.

“It’s fine.”

“It’s not fine. You’re hurt.” He wiped peroxide on the scrape and Ruby hissed. He glanced up at her, the furrow deepening.

“Just stings a little.” She gave him a weak smile.

He huffed and gingerly unwrapped a Band-Aid and pressed it to her hand. “Next time we have sex in a bed. Like normal people.”

Ruby scrunched up her nose. “But do we really want to be normal people? Sounds kinda boring.”

Rafe bit down on a laugh. “I don’t think we could pass for normal.”

“Me neither.” Ruby patted the spot beside her on the bed. “Come keep me warm.”

Her werewolf moved his little first-aid kit aside and sprawled out next to her on the bed. Ruby rested her head on his chest, listening to the storm howl outside the window. Rafe stroked a hand through her hair and down her back. He traced circles on the skin of her arms, his fingers moving back up her body until they found the bite mark on her neck. Ruby closed her eyes, savoring the feeling. The feeling of his hands on her and the feeling of belonging to someone.

“I think you were right.”

“Oh?” His voice was a rumble beneath her ear. “About what?”

“Maybe I am like Lena. A little bit anyway.” She lifted her head, leaning on her elbow beside him.

“Why? Did something happen?” His expression turned immediately murderous like he could terrify any visions she might have right out of her body.

Ruby shook her head, her hair ghosting along Rafe’s skin. “Just a memory about a dream I had a long time ago. I think maybe it was a vision. According to Callie’s big, ancient books, clairvoyance runs in families, and the more I think about my aunt, the more I’m convinced she had that type of power, too.”

Rafe tucked her hair behind her ear, studying her like he was waiting for her thoughts on the matter before formulating his own.

“And when I was coming to find you, it was like I was pulled here. My body knew where to go. I don’t know.” She shrugged. “Felt kinda magical.”

“Sounds kinda magical.” His lips tilted into a smile. “It’s how I felt about you from the start.”

She leaned down and pressed her lips to his chest, right above his beating heart. “Who knew werewolves were so romantic?”

He flashed her a rare grin and she lifted her face to his to kiss it. His lips were warm and soft against hers and as they kissed, the years and years ahead of them spooled out in front of her. A lifetime longer than she ever thought possible stretched out into the future. If she really was a seer like Lena and her aunt, she could live as long as Rafe. They would be together for all of it.

Rafe broke the kiss first. “You hungry?”

“I could eat.”

Rafe slipped his arms under her body as though he was trying to lift her again. Ruby squirmed from his grasp. “I can walk!”

Rafe kissed a line down her neck, murmuring against her skin. “If you insist.”

“I do. I do insist.” She swung her legs out of bed and followed Rafe to the kitchen. She sat at the small table, running her fingers over the smooth wood.

“Did you make this?” she asked as he pulled bread, cheese and butter out of the refrigerator.

“Mmhmm.”

“It’s beautiful.”

Ruby watched in delight as a slow blush crept over Rafe’s cheeks.

“Thanks.”

“You’re beautiful,” she said with a grin.

“Ruby…”

“Too far?”

“A bit,” he said, the pleased smile returning to his lips. “Grilled cheese okay?”

“Grilled cheese is perfect. I like any food as long as someone else makes it.”

Rafe huffed a laugh. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“For all the days you’re going to cook for me in the future?” she teased but Rafe held her gaze, his silver eyes flashing.

“Yes, exactly.”

Pleasure rushed through Ruby’s body. She could really get used to this. “Okay,” she squeaked, her voice tight with the emotions of imagining decades of Rafe cooking her meals at three o’clock in the morning.

“I plan to make it up to you,” he said, assembling the sandwiches and laying them in the hot pan. The smell of buttered bread filled the kitchen and Ruby’s stomach grumbled.

“Make what up to me?”

He looked at her, eyebrow raised. “Ruby, we both know I have a lot to make up for. I put you through hell. I put both of us through hell.”

Ruby opened her mouth to argue, but changed her mind. “Well, you’re not wrong.”

Rafe laughed, low like thunder. “I know.”

He slid the sandwiches onto plates and sat next to her at the table.

“Ooo … diagonally cut. Nice start.”

“Glad you like it,” he said through big bites of his dinner. They ate in comfortable silence after that with Ruby studying the quaintness of his house and Rafe never taking his eyes off Ruby.

Her gaze returned to his to find him staring. “What is it? Do I look scared? Because I’m only appalled at how many throw blankets you have on that couch. Are you a little old lady in disguise?”

“I get cold!” he said in mock outrage and Ruby giggled as he beamed at her.

“I never said thank you,” he added when she was done laughing.

“For what?”

“For not giving up on me. Even when I was being a stubborn asshole.”

“You’re welcome.” She pushed the hair back from his face, reveling in the look of him. A sight she’d now get to see every day for the rest of her hopefully very long life. “Thanks for finally hearing me.”

His lips tipped into a smile and he took her hand in his, laying a kiss on her palm. “Let’s go to bed.”

Rafe led her back to the bedroom and tucked her into bed. He flopped down beside her and Ruby giggled as the bed rocked with his weight. She burrowed into his side and he wrapped his arms around her, his fingers trailing up and down her body. They skated over his bite mark again. Her skin tingled when he ran his fingers over it like her body recognized his touch.

“Is it freaking you out?”

He blinked. “What? No.”

“You keep touching it.”

He shook his head. “I still can’t believe it’s real. That this is real.”

Ruby ran her finger along his neck. “Maybe I should give you a matching one. You know, so other ladies don’t get any ideas.”

His eyes darkened at the thought and Ruby grinned. She leaned forward and sucked the sensitive skin of his neck, nipping and biting until he groaned. She pressed a kiss to his pulse and pulled away.

Rafe gazed at her, his pupils blown wide.

“Nah, your skin’s too pretty to damage. I’ll just get you a flashy piece of jewelry instead.”

A surprised laugh escaped Rafe’s lips. “Jewelry?” He flipped Ruby onto her back and she squealed as he licked her neck. She giggled as he nuzzled against her, kissing and biting her sensitive skin. “No jewelry. No mark necessary. Although you’re free to bite me whenever you like.” He held himself over her, his hair shadowing his face, but his silver eyes glowed from the darkness. “I’m yours, Ruby. Have been from the start.”

She reached up and tangled her hands in his hair, sighing his name as he kissed her neck again. And again. She tugged his shorts down and he slid into her, forgetting her wounds, forgetting everything except their bodies coming together. He fucked her long and slow like they had forever. He fucked her until they both came apart and held her until they were pieced back together. Until they both fell asleep in a tangle of limbs and blankets, the rain dripping through the trees and the magic strumming through Ruby’s veins.

* * *

It was close to dawn; weak gray light trickled in through the window. Rafe had been relegated to one quarter of the mattress, one of Ruby’s arms draped over his chest and her leg tangled with his own. And it was perfect.

He ran a hand down his face, preparing to get up and make some coffee, wondering what they would do today. What would a normal day look like? Would they stay here? Go back to Ruby’s? He knew she would sleep for a few more hours but he was too keyed up, too excited to start his new life to sleep anymore today.

Ruby probably had work tonight and he had commissions he’d put off for the past two weeks. It would be normal. Nice. Easy. And they would be together.

He could do that, right? He could do normal. For her, he could do anything. And they had so much time ahead of them to figure it out. The more he thought about Ruby and her family, about her being his Mate, about Lena’s visions, the more he was convinced Ruby wasn’t a normal human anyway. She was magic and she’d be his forever.

Ruby, his Ruby, didn’t want normal. He bit down on a smile, watching her chest rise and fall, her dark hair spilling out across the pillow. For a minute he felt like he’d stolen her, ransacked a village, stalked her through the night to get her here. But he hadn’t. She’d come because she wanted to, wanted him. And as for the stalking, she’d liked that part. Rafe’s blood heated at the memory of last night and his heart raced at the promise of all the nights to come.

His Mate wanted both sides of him and he never in his hundreds of years had imagined that was possible. He didn’t have to pretend to be human anymore or disown his people or become the killing beast his father wanted him to be. For the first time in centuries, he could be himself, and he would spend the rest of his incredibly long life showing Ruby just how much he appreciated it.

He should have listened to her sooner. He would probably let her hold that over his head for the next century or so. That and unlimited grilled cheeses and orgasms and he figured they’d be even.

He rolled to his side, dislodging Ruby’s limbs from his, soaking in the sight of his Mate next to him. If his father had only known how powerful it felt to have found her, their pack would have been unstoppable. Rafe would tear the world down for her. She was the ultimate motivation to be a better man, a better wolf. Devon was wrong about so many things. His hatred could never have motivated Rafe like Ruby’s love did. The old man had it all wrong.

Rafe breathed deep, letting Ruby’s scent fill his soul. She was here with him and that was all that mattered now. Or he hoped it was all that mattered.

He tried to push aside the prickle of unease that had nothing to do with thoughts of his father. The wolves that attacked Ruby were dead, but Rafe couldn’t help but feel like it wasn’t over, like there were more pieces to the puzzle they hadn’t figured out yet. Seers were valuable and he now knew two of them.

He should have left one of those wolves alive. They would have had to shift eventually and he could have questioned them, but at the time he’d wanted only one thing.

He didn’t know what the odds were that those were the only wolves interested in Ruby and her sister but now that Knox knew about Lena there was no telling what the new Alpha would do.

Maybe they shouldn’t have left her alone.

Ruby stirred next to him and he pulled her closer, breathing her in. All thoughts of Lena and Knox left his head as he drifted back to sleep.