26. Twenty-six

twenty-six

My eyes bored into hers as we stood frozen in the forest. I don't think I drew breath until she nodded.

"I understand."

"It is your decision to make, and I urge you to think well before you make it. To consider everything before you decide."

She nodded and we walked in silence for a while.

"Do you not want me as your mate?"

Her voice was small and hesitant and I hated it. I whirled and wrapped my frame around hers. I had to bend and fold. She was so small, seemed so fragile, but I'd seen her strength.

"I want nothing more."

I heard her swallow. "I sense a but there."

I sucked air through my muzzle and licked the side of her neck. I scraped my teeth gently against her flesh and felt her shiver in my arms. "But I am a monster, and I fail to see how you could be happy tied to me forever."

She pushed at my chest and I let her go.

"My first instinct is to rail at you and tell you that you can't decide that for me, but you said that already, so I'll rein it in. I think the future is too uncertain for either of us to make big decisions right now." She looked away and sighed. "Let's deal with the problems in front of us, then decide how we can be together and both of us be happy."

My brain caught on the ‘we' part of her statement. I wanted to whoop for joy, but it was premature. She wasn't choosing me… yet. But she was giving me a chance. Maybe she could learn to live with a monster. Maybe even come to care for one.

She checked her phone and said, "This is far enough."

She pulled up the shifter's contact and I heard the line ring.

"Kendal, is everything all right?" Zeus's voice was clear.

I thought she'd reach a receptionist or secretary. Why did she have his direct line?

"No, not really. We've found some new information and it's important to share."

"Understood. Will you come tonight?"

She looked up at me, but I didn't understand the question in her eyes.

"Actually, I think you should come to us this time."

I nodded in agreement. It was a risk, allowing them to see where we hid, but it was also an advantage to be on our turf for this discussion. I think the shifters were trustworthy, but seeing them in our space might help solidify those feelings.

And if they betrayed us, it would be easier to conceal the bodies.

Kendal gave him our location and chuckled. I'd lost the thread of conversation, so I didn't know what she thought was funny.

"I think that's best. Although if you also wanted to bring Bacon, it wouldn't be amiss. I know the guys have questions for her."

"Already?"

"Yes. Turns out they don't sleep much. They'll wait for you just inside the tree line and show you the way."

"Good. Until tonight then."

The call ended and she looked at me. "They'll be here at nightfall. What should we do until then?"

"Um…" I didn't know what sort of activities she would like, or what we could do given my appearance hampering our options.

"If I ran, would you chase me?"

Instantly, my dick filled and pressed at the back of my seam. I shoved my palm against it, trying in vain to keep it hidden.

"You like that idea."

"I like that idea very much," I confirmed, "but I am afraid it will trigger you."

"Or, it might help me free some trauma to know that instead of dogs and guns, it's my monstrous guardian chasing me."

The dappled sunlight through the trees made her eyes sparkle. My tongue was tied in knots at the thought of chasing Kendal through the woods.

In a flash, she grinned and took off. A wild bolt through the trees that seemed random, but she kept to the general direction back to our cave. I counted to twenty to give her a head start.

My muscles bunched and strained against the urge to run until finally I let loose. I dropped to all fours and the ground rushed under my belly. She looked over her shoulder and squealed when she saw me, but it was too late. I'd caught her.

I pounced and rolled. I kept her well protected in my arms and came to rest on my back, holding her on top of me while she laughed.

"That's not fair," she pouted. "I forgot you were so fast."

I rolled her beneath me and pressed my length into the warm heat at the juncture of her thighs.

She gasped and her eyes closed as she pressed up into me.

"When it comes to catching you, I will never be fair."

She grabbed the waistband of her pants and pushed while I stared in shock.

"I can get us to the cave."

Her head rolled from one side to the other. "I don't care if the squirrels watch, and there's no one else out here. You'd have heard if there was, right?"

My mouth went dry and I swallowed hard. "Yes. I would hear them."

She managed to get her pants and panties off and pressed herself against me. "You caught me. Now I want a prize."

I groaned and slid my cock against her wet folds. I buried my nose in her hair and my back arched as I felt how wet she was. "I'm not sure I can control myself. I don't want to hurt you."

"I don't want you to control yourself, and you won't hurt me."

I looked for any hesitation in her eyes and found none. "What do you want?"

"I want my monster to fuck me in the woods."