Chapter 22 - Leslie

The drive back to Silver Meadows goes by in a blur. We just ran straight back to the car and took off. Rider didn’t exactly set a time, but I’m guessing the attack will begin not long after he gets back to the pack.

That means the attack could be as early as tomorrow!

Shelley’s back room is crowded with bodies. Kyle called Bailey as we left Montrose, and everyone was assembled by the time we got back. All the elders are here, as well as many prominent pack members.

While Kyle goes to check in with Bae, I meet Gina and Lena at the side tables. Lena hands me a cup of tea, and I take it gratefully, warming my hands on the cup.

“Are you alright?” Gina asks, rubbing my shoulder. “I heard Kyle had a stand-off with one of the guys he used to know from Sawpit and that’s how you got the information.”

I nod, taking a small sip of tea. “Yeah, he was tailing us for a while, I think. It got pretty ugly, but there was no outright fighting.”

I decide not to tell them that the reason they didn’t fight is because the alpha—Jethro—has something worse prepared for Kyle.

“Okay, well, it’s been a bit hectic here,” Gina says. “We were all ready for a hit on Silverton after last time. This information is very valuable. It gives us time to prepare.”

“Do you know why this guy would help you?” Lena asks. “I mean, Kyle said it was his friend, but I don’t know. It could be bullshit.”

I nod slowly. “Of course it could be. But there was something between the two of them that was plain to see. Rider said it was his last act of friendship to Kyle, in honor of what they shared. If Kyle trusts it, so do I.”

Gina nods, reaching out to rub my shoulder. From behind us, Bae calls out and addresses the room, letting everyone know it’s time to head out to their posts.

“We have Kelta running point in the woods,” Bae announces. “Since the shadow of Mount Sneffels was mentioned, we need to cover this side of the forest. There will be a relay of wolves through that area leading right back to our meeting point at the edge of town. Security teams will be stationed at all major crossroads. Everyone, maintain constant communication. Any questions?”

“Yes,” Kyle asks. “Where do you want me, Bailey?”

Bae waves at the crowd, and they begin to disperse. I head over to them as Bae puts a hand on Kyle’s shoulder.

“I want you to go home and rest, my friend.”

“But—but I can help!”

“Of course you can. But you shouldn’t have to. You’ve been through hell, and I want you to rest.”

“I could draw them out,” Kyle says, his words slicing through me like cold, sharp ice. “They’ll come for me.”

“I know they will,” Bae replies firmly. “And I won’t use you as bait. Go home, Kyle.”

I step forward and grab Kyle’s hand. “You heard your alpha,” I tell him sternly. “Time to go.”

Kyle stands there for a few seconds more with a lost look on his face. I pull on his hand again, and this time, he follows me out the back door.

“I don’t understand,” he mutters as we get in the car. “Doesn’t he trust me? Why is he sending me home?”

“I’m sure it has nothing to do with trust,” I say, reassuring him. “It has been a rough few days for you, and I know Bailey wouldn’t want to put you in unnecessary danger.”

“But I was undercover for a year, and I just ran the mission that got Liam killed,” he snaps. “I’d say I’m pretty good at going into danger.”

“And maybe that’s exactly why he doesn’t want you to do it again!” I yell. I have to take a deep breath and grip the steering wheel to settle myself down. Kyle goes very quiet, watching me through the shadows that flicker across the windscreen.

I gulp down my tears, focusing on the road as we head for home.

“I’m sorry, Leslie,” Kyle says softly. “I haven’t really thought about how this affects you. You’re right. I’m sure Bailey wants to protect me.”

“And I’m grateful for it,” I answer, my voice hushed.

We pull into the driveway and my hands shake a little as I park the car. Kyle takes my hand as we walk up the path and unlocks the door. He pauses in the living room, looking slightly awkward.

“Did you want to get some dinner or something?” he asks.

I shake my head, looking up at Kyle. “Just come to bed with me, please. Just hold me for a while.”

Kyle swallows hard and nods. I can see his eyes are brimming with emotion, but I know he probably won’t be able to share it. Right now, what I need more than anything is to feel his strong arms around me. To reassure myself that he is with me, and always will be.

We go down the hall and lie down on the bed, curling up against each other. I cling to him, pressing my face against his chest.

I love you.

“Sorry?” Kyle asks. “Did you say something?”

My heart hammers in my chest as I realize I must have whispered the words aloud. My hands tighten on his shoulders as I try to think of a way to explain myself.

You know what? Fuck it. We could die tomorrow.

I pull back and look into his face. There is only distant light from the stars and moon; there are no streetlights this far out of town. With my wolf’s vision, I can see every clean line of his sharp cheeks and the hard edge of his jaw, still scattered with stubble. His blue-green eyes shimmer in the dark, like ocean pools that hide treasures of turquoise and pearl.

“I love you, Kyle. I love you so much, I can’t stand it. I never stopped. Every single second that you were away from me, I just loved you even more until it felt like I would die from it. But I couldn’t stop. No matter what I did, I couldn’t stop loving you.”

Kyle’s face falls, twisting into a frown. He reaches up and strokes my cheek.

“I thought of you every day. Sometimes I got so caught up, I forgot my mission. I didn’t know why I was there with them… only that I was the scared, lost kid I’d always been and they were just like me. But when I thought of you, I knew my place in the world, my purpose. I knew the only thing that mattered was coming home to you.”

I can’t stop the tears that break free and pour down my cheeks. Relief makes my chest ache, and it feels like my heart is finally beating again after months of being cold and dead.

“You mean it? You really want to be with me?”

“Yes, Leslie. I want you more than anything in this world. I’m sorry I held back… I just didn’t want to hurt you again.”

“Oh, Kyle.” I lean in and kiss him gently. “I’m sorry, too. I should have told you right away. I’ve been holding back, too, and it isn’t fair.”

“You had every right,” Kyle says, taking my hand and kissing my palm. “I did a terrible thing to you. Punish me as you see fit.”

I shake my head, and the tears just don’t stop coming. “The last thing you deserve is more punishment,” I whisper. “You’ve had more than your share. I don’t want to hurt you. I want to love you and keep you safe.”

“I want the same for you,” he breathes. “I’ll never let anything hurt you ever again, even me. I was afraid if I told you everything, I’d end up hurt or dead—things that go beyond my control. Then I’d still hurt you, even worse than before.”

“My love.” I kiss him again. “We are stronger than ever now. We’ll make it through this, I promise you. Our happy ending is right on the other side of all this pain. I just know it.”

Kyle stares at me for a few seconds, his eyes dark with emotion. When he kisses me, there is more passion in him than I’ve ever felt before. The kiss deepens, and I feel his hands all over me. I writhe against him, begging for more.

He wraps his arms around me and slides his hands down my back, cupping my ass and squeezing hard with his big, strong hands.

“You are so beautiful, Leslie,” he whispers. “You turn me on so fucking much.”

A breathy giggle slips out of me. Years of being self-conscious about my weight have made it easy to doubt his words, but I am really starting to believe Kyle when he gushes over my body.

It’s not just what he says. It’s the light in his eyes when he touches me, the hungry way he grabs me, and the eagerness of his mouth.

Kyle’s hands keep exploring, running down my sides, teasing my hips, then back up to squeeze my breasts. I wriggle around so I can grab my dress and pull it over my head. The second my breasts bounce free, Kyle moans like a man in pain.

His hands grip my waist, and he pulls me towards him. I feel his hot mouth on my nipple. He teases me with his lips and long flicks of his tongue, using his teeth to graze my skin.

When I’m bucking under him, sharp cries bursting out of my throat, he runs a slick trail across my chest with his tongue to find my other nipple. As his lips clamp down on it, his hand grabs my other breast and squeezes it hard, making me let out a sharp, short scream.

“Yes, Leslie,” he mumbles. “Scream, my love. A woman like you deserves pleasure that overwhelms the senses, and my only wish is to give it to you.”

As the words leave his mouth, he uses long strokes of his tongue to tease at my nipple, stealing my words away. With his hands and mouth, he teases and pleasures me until my nipples are tight and so hot that they feel like they are burning. He raises his head to look up at my face and grins.

One hand trails down my belly, teasing at the edge of my pussy. I cry out, the heat between my legs pulsing and throbbing in response. I cover my face with my hands as his fingertips lightly graze across the outer lips, teasing me.

“Oh my fucking God,” I gasp.

Kyle laughs softly, rubbing at the edges of the plump outer lips to tease my clit.

Pleasure roars through me, making me thrust my hips up and down. He keeps rubbing gently until he slips one finger through to the slick lower lips, then all the way inside.

A scream pours from my throat, vibrating through the room. I cling to Kyle’s shoulders, digging my fingers into his muscles as the sensations shake through me. Kyle works his fingers back and forth, keeping a steady pace and waiting for me to come.

The orgasm comes with a powerful rush, and I have to scream and grab his hand to thrust against it. He laughs softly, giving me a gentle kiss as he waits for it to subside. All the while, I shiver against him, completely wrecked by pleasure while he takes off his clothes and climbs on top of me.

“Are you ready for more, beautiful woman?” he asks.

I look up at him, nodding helplessly and taking his face in my hands. I stare at him as he bends down to kiss me. I open my mouth, parting my thighs and writhing as I wrap my arms around his waist.

Kyle kisses me deeply, sweeping his tongue into my mouth and kneading at me with his lips. I can feel his strong hands all over me, and I can’t stop the moans that rise in my throat.

My arousal peaks, making me grab him hard and thrust my hips towards him until I can feel his cock against my hot, wet pussy. Small, plaintive sounds slip out from between our joined lips as the frustration in me builds.

Kyle laughs softly. “Is this what you want?” he asks, pressing his hips towards me. His big, hard cock presses against the slick wetness of my pussy, teasing me.

I throw my head back and wail, my entire body consumed by pleasure. “Yes, oh, God, yes. Put it in!”

“As you wish.” Kyle kisses me softly and braces himself on his arms, squirming back and forth to tease me a little more with his cock. Suddenly, with one sharp twist, he slips inside, slamming his hips against me and ramming the deepest parts of me with one hard stroke.

I cling to him, holding onto his waist as I close my eyes. All the sensations in my body become immediately heightened, and I can feel every inch of his hard cock sheathed in my soft pussy.

My pussy grips his cock, and his muscles tighten all over his body. I wrap my arms and legs around him, moaning and writhing as he pins me to the bed.

Another orgasm crashes through me, so powerful that it leaves my fingers tingling and my head swimming. Kyle kisses me, very softly probing at my mouth with his tongue as he holds himself still against my shuddering body.

He gets a tight hold on my shoulders, thrusting forward with his hips. I link my hands together under his shoulders and tighten my grip, getting ready for him. He starts to thrust, slowly at first, treating me to every single inch of his hard cock before his pace gets faster and faster.

My moans turn into short, sharp cries that burst out of me every time he slams his cock all the way into me. I rock back and forth, clinging to him, swept away by the tide of his motion. The faster and harder he thrusts, the thicker his cock gets until I can feel him filling me completely.

My cries turn into screams, and I bury my head in his shoulder. A long, drawn-out growl rips from his throat as his body shudders with pleasure. Another orgasm hits me, overwhelming me as his cock pumps and throbs deep inside me.

We stay wrapped together, our breathing short and hard and in perfect sync. I can’t tell where he ends and I begin. We are truly one, completely joined. Even as Kyle slips down beside me, we don’t let go of each other and fall asleep wrapped in each other’s arms.

It seems like a lot of time has gone by when I’m woken by a sharp, repetitive sound. When my eyes flicker open, it’s still dark, and I can’t imagine what woke me.

Kyle lets go of me and crawls to the end of the bed, fumbling around for his phone. I hear him grab it, and he gasps, a sound of fear and surprise. I stare into the comforting dark, wishing that we could disappear into each other and leave the rest of the world behind.

But I could never abandon the others I love—and neither could he. It’s exactly why I love him so much.

“What is it, Kyle?”

“It’s the Decker Pack,” he says, his voice pained. “They got attacked instead of us. Rider lied to me.”