Chapter 17

Dean

I stared at their retreating backs until the door was closed, and my parents were gone.

"Unbelievable," I muttered.

"Do ravens have good hearing?" Bailey asked.

I was confused by her sudden change in conversation.

"Yeah, we do. Why?"

"Your mom whispered like she didn't expect me to hear her."

"From what I'd been told, wolves have freakishly great hearing. Ours is far better than a human, but not capable of the full frequency range of a wolf shifter. And she doesn't know what you are."

"That makes sense. I was just curious."

"I'm really sorry about how she just barged in here like that. She's not done that since I was a kid. Hell, neither of them even come upstairs anymore."

"She was worried about you."

"I know. You're right. It was just really shitty timing."

Bailey laughed. "Yeah, you could certainly say that. I think we may have traumatized her for life."

"Her? What about us?"

"I'm not sure I can ever be naked in this house again? I'm going to have to shower in my swimsuit or something."

For a second, I feared she might be serious. We'd just started connecting and now I was going to be cut off? She couldn't do that to me, could she? I was pretty sure I had blue balls just thinking of it.

Bailey started to laugh. "You should see your face right now. Priceless."

"That's not funny. I thought you were being serious."

"Oh, I was. I may even announce my own curfew and make sure the entire house knows I'm going to bed alone each night we're here."

"If I have my way, you'll never sleep alone again."

"But aren't there rules about that?" she teased.

"Bailey," I warned.

"Dean. I suppose there's something you should know about me."

"What's that?"

"I'm a rules girl."

"You're cute, but you aren't funny."

"Who said I was trying to be?"

"Is this payback for my mother barging in here?"

"That was humiliating, but not payback worthy. I know that wasn't your fault. I just want to ensure it never happens again."

"I can't even tell if you're joking or not."

She stared back at me with a blank expression on her face.

"Bailey, it's not funny."

A knock on my door startled us both.

"Are you decent this time?" Mom called.

"Shoot me now," I muttered.

"All clear," Bailey announced.

I groaned.

"I come bearing food," Mom said.

"Don't worry, Mrs. Davenport, after dinner, I'll head back to my room and lock the door behind me."

"Good to know, but you don't have to play innocent with me, Bailey. I'm well aware that my baby boy is a slut. But he does have his unbreakable rules, so just get it out of your system now. Only one night a week per girl. Isn't that right, son?"

"Well damn. You didn't mention that one. Now I'm officially a rule breaker. What others should I be aware of?"

"Let's see if I can remember some. No two nights in a row."

Bailey sighed like she was devastated. "I broke that one too," she confessed.

"You really aren't much of a rule follower, are you?" Mom asked her.

"I am actually. I just have to know the rules."

"Then you should know that his cardinal rule that has never been broken before today is no lady friends in the house."

"Oh. I'm really sorry about breaking that one," she said, sounding a lot more sincere. "It's one thing to break his rules, but I truly meant no disrespect breaking yours, Mrs. Davenport."

Mom snorted. "Call me Helena. And that wasn't my rule, just another one of his. He's a grown man. He's going to do whatever he wants with or without my permission. You seem like a sweet girl, Bailey, perhaps a bit young for him, and since you aren't from Ravenden, are you even a raven?"

This time, Bailey hesitated.

"No, Mom. She's a wolf," I said for her.

My mate nodded. "Yup. I'm a wolf."

Much to my surprise, Mom didn't even bat an eye over that. But then she didn't know that Bailey was my mate.

"Wolf. Okay. Well then, good luck with that. If you need anything at all, just call me or your father, especially if either of you shows any further symptoms."

I started to protest. "Dean, I mean it. No matter how big or small."

"We promise," Bailey answered for us.

Mom left us alone and even shut the door behind her.

"She took that news better than I expected," Bailey said.

"That's because she thinks you're just some fling."

"Oh. Well, it's a start, I guess."

I set out the trays Mom had delivered, and we sat down to eat in companionable silence. It was nice and ordinary. I didn't really do ordinary with the women I dated. This was nice.

After dinner, Bailey left and when she didn't return immediately, I thought she was going to hold true to what she'd told Mom.

My raven was on the verge of losing it, so I left my room to go and find her. She was in Gia's bedroom, walking out of the bathroom with dripping wet hair and nothing but a towel covering her body.

"Took you long enough. You missed the shower. Did you lock the door behind you?"

"What?"

"I told your mother I was going back to this room and locking the door for the night."

"That's a terrible idea."

"Well, I'm not going to lie to your mother, Dean."

"This is ridiculous, babe. And it's completely unnecessary."

"It is necessary. I would like it very much if she didn't hate me. Now I told her I was coming here and locking the door for the night. So lock the door already."

"Can I stay over, though?"

"I cannot be responsible for what you do. I only told her I'd sleep here and lock the door."

I grinned. "Smart girl."

Locking the door to the room, I stripped down to my boxers and climbed into bed. Gia's room was a lot smaller than mine, with no couch or gaming center, just the bed.

I yawned.

"I agree. It's been a very long day. Can we just sleep?"

"I'll try to keep my hands to myself. No promises, though," I warned her.

*****

Day 2.

Bailey was holding onto her word. She kissed me and that was it. All clothing stayed on. If I tried to touch her, she pulled away. She was driving me nuts.

Most of the day we spent playing video games, eating, talking, and oddly enough, sometimes Mom joined in on our chats. She was still entirely clueless about who Bailey was to me, though.

By mid-afternoon, I found myself counting down the seconds until bedtime.

*****

Day 3.

I dreamed of making love to her last night. It was like an addiction. All I did was think about Bailey, think about kissing her, think about exploring her gorgeous body, think about all the ways I could make her come. I couldn't wait to sink myself deep inside of her. It was becoming a problem. I was pretty sure I was addicted to her and maybe turning into a sex addict, too. How could I crave something I've never had before?

The irony of people thinking I was already a sex addict was not lost on me. This was not the same. I craved far more than just the physical connection with her. I wanted it all.

Mom stopped by again, but only to have lunch with us back in my room. My Aunt Ginny was hosting an evening garden party, so both of my parents were out for the evening.

Bailey still held firm.

I wasn't sure if she was punishing me, still embarrassed at my mother walking in on us, or just truly that stubborn when she set her mind to something.

*****

Day 4.

Patrick called to tell us that Westin Force would be pulling out. They were on a twenty-four-hour exit plan. Bernice had been instrumental and stepping up to assist in my absence, and was doing a great job at keeping my team organized.

I had to admit that I was starting to feel guilty for this rouse. Even though I'd learned more about my little wolf these last few days than most couples learned in the first year.

Without sex, I was resolved to listen and learn all I could about her. It was a different sort of connection and I could feel our bond growing stronger because of it. I already knew there was no way in hell I was letting this girl go.

In the past, I'd be irritable and downright hostile without some sort of release every day. Instead, I was learning patience, something I wasn't very good at. When my siblings joked that I was the spoiled baby of the family, they weren't wrong and they were all partially to blame for it, too. I was used to instant gratification, something my stubborn mate was standing firm against for the time being.

It wasn't all bad though because I was learning to communicate in new ways. It wasn't about a physical relationship, though I'd discovered that as a wolf she craved physical touch. So while we weren't being intimate in a normal sense, holding hands, the occasional back or shoulder rub, and snuggling up on the couch together were a vital part of her everyday needs and I loved that. Plus, we actually talked about real, deep, and meaningful things.

I'd shared more with Bailey in our quarantine days than I had ever shared with anyone. I knew she already had a best friend back home, but I could honestly admit that she was easily my best friend and I might even be falling in love with her.

*****

Day 5.

The day everything changed.

Doc came by to check on us. He was none too pleased to learn we hadn't sealed our bond yet.

"Westin Force is leaving. I have to get back to work, so you're going to have to lift this fake quarantine."

"I have noticed that you have not sealed your bond yet."

"No, we haven't. Now, are you going to lift the quarantine or not? It will draw a lot more attention if I go into the office without being medically released."

"I will not," he surprised me by saying.

"Come again?"

"As far as I'm concerned, the two of you will remain on quarantine until I see some results."

"But you already know this is bullshit. There's nothing wrong with either of us."

"Nothing wrong? What is the matter with you, boy? You've slept your way through every Flock in our Congress and you can't manage to close the deal with your true mate?"

My jaw dropped in surprise at his candor.

"Oh yes. I know all about that. Do you have any idea of how many pregnancy scares I've fielded with your name all over it this past year?"

"No way. I was always careful."

"Maybe so, but things can still happen."

I paled. "You're not saying. . ."

"No, of course not. I said scares."

"You're trying to give me a heart attack, aren't you?"

"I sure hope not. But back to your mate."

"We're spending the time getting to know each other." That sounded lame even to me, but it was the truth. "Besides, sealing a bond isn't the same as sex. This is forever and I have to ensure that it's what's right for her."

"Her?"

"Yes, her. If it were entirely about me, she'd already be marked as mine. But I have to think about what's best for her now."

"Lord, help me now," he prayed dramatically. "Our boy has grown a conscience."

I snorted and shook my head. I had never been as bad as he was making me out to be. I'd always been forthcoming with partners. I didn't string people along. They could take it or leave it. And when I really stopped to think about it, I had all these rules in place and kept people at a distance to ensure there were no messy ties as I waited for Bailey. I knew that now, without a doubt. Because since the moment I met her, even before I knew she was mine, it's only been her.

My life had changed in an instant and I didn't fight it or shy away from it. I was all in, because it had always been about her.

Doc was watching me closely as this realization hit me.

"So that's it then? You're suddenly a changed man and ready to commit to a monotonous life?"

"That's really all I want."

He smacked me over the back of my head.

"Ow. What was that for?"

"Why are you wasting time jabbering with me then? Have you tried telling her that?"

No, I hadn't, because I feared that everything I felt was moving too quickly for her comfort. And a small part of me was terrified that she might not feel the same.

Sure, we'd talked about a future together and what it meant for any hypothetical children, but it all been in theory and not a definite commitment to seeing that future turn into a reality.

"Something bad is heading our way. You need to man up and start thinking about our people, too. Aren't you the one in charge of the safety of our Flocks?"

"You are a superstitious old man. I never realized before. And I assure you that my love life has absolutely no bearing on our safety."

"Say what you will. Call it superstition and dismiss it, but the signs are all right there in front of you. It's historical hydromancy."

"You just made that up," I challenged.

"I did not. The Ancient Greeks used stones in water to study the ripple effect. This can be viewed in hindsight throughout history, too. We can see the past and see the signs, or ripples that occur, all leading up to one given moment. While no two paths can be a hundred percent replicated, we can get close enough. We know the history of wolf and raven true matings. If you dive into it, you'll see the outcome of those who complied and those who did not heed the warning signs. It's all there."

"In myths," I argued.

"You call them myths. I call them historical evidence of a recurring truth."

He was insane. That was the only conclusion I had to understanding his gibberish. And the fact that he was a Dean who inherited his Grimes mother's power of water instead of the natural healing and Earth powers of the Dean Flock means I was not at all surprised by his water theory. Still, I didn't believe a word of it.

"Okay, Doc," I said, to pacify him. "I'll try harder."

And I would, but not because of what this crazy old man said, but because I wanted nothing more than to claim Bailey as mine and proudly scream it out to the entire world.