Dancing in the Rain

W hat the hell was I thinking? I pace back and forth on the forest floor, my paws picking up dirt from padding over the ground so hard. I'm in my wolf form waiting for Autumn to show up. It feels like I've been asleep for hours, and I'm afraid I fucked everything up between us.

I think back over my actions and begin trotting faster through the forest. Why couldn't I have just thanked him for the invitation and went about my day? And how is it possible that I was able to hurt two witches at the same time?

The image of Autumn's face flickers in my mind. Gods, I need to explain.

A breeze hits my face and my wolf scenes are on full alert. The tantlizing scent that reminds me of pumpkin pie and all things Autumn causes me to halt in my tracks. It amazes me how I can actually smell things in these shared dreams.

When the breeze settles and I'm finally able to track where Autumn's scent is coming from, I tip my head back and howl my thanks to the moon. I take off in a sprint, following the direction that will lead me to my witch.

With auburn hair falling into his face, he sits on a moss-covered log, his striking cheekbones highlighted by the moonlight.

I step forward, unsure if I'm welcome. Maple is nowhere in sight, and I'm the one who found Autumn this time. It's usually the other way around.

My paw snaps a twig and Autumn's head jerks up. I stand there with pleading eyes, hoping he'll let me explain.

A gorgeous smile breaks across his face and the next thing I know, my wolf is sprinting toward him. His arms wrap around me and his fingers sink into my fur. The feeling is familiar, yet it always seems to take my breath away.

Instead of lingering in my wolf form, I shift and pull Autumn into my arms.

"Rook," he breathes. "What happened back there?"

I'm surprised his friend didn't tell him.

"Thank you for the invitation," I say first, needing him to know how much it meant to get invited. "I'm sorry that I panicked when I saw Lucus and his reaction. Lucus came into my shop earlier this morning wanting a gift for his future betrothed."

Autumn stiffens against me. I pull away enough to look him in the eyes.

"I helped Lucus pick out a gift. He explained to me that his father was in negotiations with someone in the Sinclair Coven. He's entering into an arranged marriage. Something about a promise he made to someone in college."

Judging by the look on Lucus's face, it must have been Autumn he was talking about.

Autumn gasps. "Oh, gods." He laces his fingers with mine and leads me to the fall tree. As we sit down together, I brace myself for the worst. This is the part where Autumn will tell me it's been fun, but I'm not meant for him. A strange pain shoots through my chest at the thought.

Rubbing at the spot on my chest with my free hand, Autumn's gaze follows the movement.

"Fuck," Autumn whispers, sounding just as pained. "I can't take this. I need to be closer to you."

His words don't make any sense. We're already as close as possible on this log. Autumn stands and I sit back, only to be shocked when he swings a leg over my lap and straddles me. I gasp at the feel of him.

My dick clearly has no concept of heartbreak as it twitches to life under Autumn.

The witch cups my face in his hands and looks deep into my eyes. "I'm not going to marry Lucus. He doesn't like me like that."

"But the look on his face. He looked heartbroken or devastated—or both—when he saw you hand me that invitation."

Autumn shakes his head. "When we were in college, we made a pact to ask our fathers if we could enter into an arranged marriage if we didn't find someone else. Some covens expect us to get married to strengthen our magic, or, in my case, to inherit the core magic. Lucus's father is that type of leader. The other day when Lucus saw me and showed me the invitation my mother sent out, he must have assumed I'd be forced to marry, too. Lucus was probably trying to save us both."

"But the look on his face," I try again. "He looked hurt and surprised."

"I'll talk to him, but I'm pretty sure he just assumed I was single. His father is probably going to force him to marry soon. It was part of our pact. If we were both single, we'd marry each other because we knew that neither of us wanted to trap the other. We knew we could divorce at any time. But since I'm taken, it wipes out our promise to each other."

Hope swirls in my chest. "Taken?" I ask with a smile.

Autumn laughs and wiggles on my lap, causing me to groan. "I was hoping I'm taken. It's why I asked my mother for another invitation. I wanted to attend the party with you."

My mouth falls open. "You told your mother about me?"

"Yes. And my nana."

"Fuck," I whisper. "I'm sorry I left like that. Will you let me make it up to you?" An idea forms in my mind and when his face brightens into a huge smile, I know I'm onto something.

"Yes, please. Make it up to me."

Autumn squeaks playfully when I pat his butt. He climbs off of me and I snap my fingers.

We're in the meadow from the first night we saw each other in our dreams. In the middle of the clearing, just in front of a large tree, is a blanket spread out with a picnic basket on top of it.

Autumn laughs and twirls around, taking in his surroundings. "I love this place. I wish it was real." He walks over to the blanket and takes a seat.

I grin. "It is. We might be in a dream, but it's still Heart's Hollow."

"Wait, are we really in Heart's Hollow? I mean, is this spot really in our town?"

"Yes." I laugh, joining him on the blanket, and pulling out some snacks to eat.

"Will you show me someday?"

My heart does a swoop, knowing that there will be a next time. "Of course," I reply. "But for now, how do you feel about checking off one of the items on your list?"

Autumn grins, pulling out a slip of paper from his pocket. "A picnic in a meadow. Check." He places a check on his piece of paper before re-pocketing it.

An hour later, or at least what feels like an hour later, I pull out one last item out of the picnic basket. "I have one more surprise for you. I tinkered around with this in my shop earlier and think I got the right amount of flavor."

I place a pink crystal bottle on the ground between us.

Autumn gasps. "Is this what I think it is?"

I nod. "It's our love potion."

He smiles as he picks it up, testing the weight and probably feeling that there is no real magic in the bottle, just a tasty elixir made with passion.

"Can we try it?" he asks, bouncing in his spot on the blanket.

I pull out a pale pink stone cup. "A rose quartz cup to drink our love potion with," I say with a grin.

Autumn's eyes sparkle. Popping the cap off the bottle, I pour some of our fake love potion.

"Take the first sip," he says with a giggle.

I bring the cup up to my lips and take a drink. An explosion of delicious flavors hits my tongue. Apple, cinnamon, a touch of vanilla, and ginger for a little kick. He takes the cup from my outstretched hand and has a sip.

"Oh gods, this is good. It takes like an apple pie cider."

Autumn reaches over and pushes the picnic basket out of the way. I chuckle, about to tell him he can just snap his fingers since we're still in a dream, but his words halt me in place.

"Will you lay with me?" He stretches out his lean body on the picnic blanket, and suddenly I'm ready to feast on something else.

I lie next to him, flat on my back, and snap my fingers. He giggles when he realizes we're now lying on an extremely soft mattress with plush pillows under our heads. "Might as well be comfortable," I smirk.

Autumn curls up against me, placing his head on my shoulder and a hand on my chest. "Thank you, Rook. For tonight, for the picnic and love potions. Thank you for finding me and explaining."

I press a kiss to the top of his head, loving the way the moonlight makes his auburn hair shimmer.

"Who knew a picnic at nighttime could be so romantic?" I say. "You keep giving me more reasons to celebrate the moon again." I press another kiss against his temple this time. "Thank you, little witch."

"I like it when you call me little witch," Autumn purrs, wrapping a slim leg around my thigh as he begins rubbing circles on my chest. My heart pounds.

Gods, his touch is light and teasing, but my cock starts reacting to my body getting all this attention.

For a moment, I don't think Autumn realizes his effect on my body, until his hand slides downward with purpose. He wraps his hand around the erection in my pants at the same time he begins to grind against me.

"Oh fuck," I groan. "Autumn, are you sure?" I could fucking kick myself for asking that, but I need to make sure he's okay with this.

In reply, Autumn leans forward and nips my ear. "Rook, I've wanted you ever since we first met. Now," he bites my ear again, still grinding his pretty body all over me. "Are you going to be a good wolf, and let me suck this big cock of yours?"

I moan. "Oh, fuck."

Encouraged, Autumn trails wet kisses down my neck to that spot that drives me absolutely wild with lust. My cock gives a violent jump. Autumn takes full advantage of my squirming and sucks on that spot on my neck.

His fingers are no longer light and teasing. He grasps my cock through my pants and strokes. I pant and writhe under him, and he strokes me faster.

"Oh fuck, oh fuck," I repeat, clawing at the blanket under me. It's been years since anyone has touched me, and years since anyone found my most sensitive erogenous zones without guidance.

"Such a good wolf for me." Autumn laps at my neck. His cock is hard against my thigh as he continues sensually grinding against me.

"Autumn," I pant. "Oh gods, you're going to make me come like this."

My hips thrust upward as I begin to fuck up into his hand, chasing my own release.

"That's it, Rook. Lose control, I like that. You're so fucking hot like this."

I thrust faster.

"Show me how wild you are. Imagine my lips wrapped around this cock." His fist grips me firmer, and it takes me right to the edge.

I growl and snarl, mindlessly writhing and thrusting.

"Good, wolf. Look at you so fucking sexy and wild, growling like that. Make yourself come, baby."

The combination of filthy words and him calling me baby at the end pushes me over the edge.

I come with a snarl, pumping my seed into my pants and feeling my wolf take control.

Unlike some, my first orgasm doesn't make me want to sleep or cuddle or relax. Instead, I push Autumn off of me, until he's the one flat on his back. I yank his shirt open, buttons flying everywhere.

Raking my claws over his pants, I rip them open and watch, ravenous, as his thick cock springs forward and slaps his stomach.

Without waiting a moment longer, I wrap my lips around his cock and swallow him down. Autumn lets out a filthy cry as I take control of his body. I'm determined to make this the best orgasm he has ever experienced.

I suck him down to the base. Then with one clawed hand, I gaze his chest and nipples, tracing a path back and forth between the two hardened peaks.

With my free hand, I massage his balls, so that now he's getting stimulation to both nipples, his throbbing cock, and his balls.

"Oh fuck, Rook. Just like that. Don't stop, baby, don't stop."

Next thing I know, I'm growling with pleasure, eager to taste more of him on my tongue as Autumn spills into my mouth.

He moans and writhes under me. I swallow him down, savoring his taste.

We lie there for a moment, my head resting on Autumn's thigh, his cock still in my mouth. He runs his delicate fingers through my hair, similar to the way he strokes my fur.

If I was a cat, or hell, even a fox, I'd be purring right now.

Autumn sits up, and I reluctantly pull off of him. With the snap of his fingers, we're all cleaned up, and dressed in fresh clothes.

Despite the clear-looking sky, it starts to sprinkle around us.

Autumn smirks, holding a hand out to me. "How do you feel about marking off another thing from my list?"

It begins to rain in earnest now. But the cool water feels good against my overheated skin. Then I realize Autumn is doing this. A soft melody plays in the distance, the raindrops adding a pleasant pitter-patter to the beat of the music.

"Dancing in the rain," I murmur.

Autumn grins.

And just like that, we're dancing in the rain under the moonlight with happy little smiles playing on our lips.