CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Kyle
I leaned against the door and watched as Crystal rubbed the back of her neck. I pushed off and walked up behind her. Putting my hands on her shoulders, I kneaded the knots in her muscles.
She groaned as I massaged her. My fingers brushed over the circular mark on her neck, a reminder of what had pushed her to run away to protect the people she loved. There was an ache that spread through me when I thought of the pain that I had endured while searching for her.
I let out a deep breath, trying to get rid of those feelings. There was no space for them. It was over, even if it was just for now. I closed my eyes as I enjoyed the feel of her soft skin beneath my hands.
"That feels so good," she murmured, enjoying the sensation.
"Having you here with me feels like heaven," I said softly, leaning close to take a deep breath of her hair.
She turned, and I dropped my hands to my sides. She looked up at me, her eyes sparkling with green brilliance.
I lifted a hand and caressed her unbruised cheek. My thumb swept over her bottom lip.
"I'm sorry," she said, and I knew why. Her hand touched mine. "I feel like I've betrayed you again and again."
She had.
"Understanding why helps but it doesn't completely take away the memories of wondering where you were and if you were alive," I admitted truthfully. I could have lied to make her feel better but I wanted to be honest with her. Her touch reminded me that she was here with me now and it comforted me.
"I want so badly to keep you hidden and safe from the outside world." I gripped her shoulders slightly, wrestling with the need to keep her locked away.
"You can't," she whispered. "I don't want to hide. I want to be able to live a life with you without looking over my shoulder or worrying whether I'll need to leave at a minute's notice."
"I know," I relented. "I don't know what I'll do if something happens to you. I've nearly lost you more times than I can count."
"We have to trust that our destiny will keep us together, in this life," she said. Her eyes showed her love for me.
"Yes, there has to be trust."
She looked down for a moment, and I felt guilty for making her feel that way.
"Guilt is a wasted emotion," I told her, lifting her chin with a finger. Her eyes met mine. "We have to trust Harrison will notify us if there is anything to worry about. Until then, we put this behind us."
She nodded, her eyes glistening with tears.
"From this moment, our life together begins." She gave me a smile that lifted my heart. "I can't wait to fall asleep next to you every night and wake up in the morning with you beside me."
All the little things that most would have taken for granted we would treasure. It would make our connection stronger and more intense. We would know how lucky we were to be together and to share our lives with each other.
"I want that." I would give her everything I could.
I kissed her, needing the intimate touch. Her lips were so soft beneath mine. My arms closed around her, keeping her close as her mouth moved against mine.
Mine. I remembered that feeling of possession the first time I touched her. She belonged to me and I belonged to her.
For a few minutes we stood holding each other.
"I never thought that this life would be possible," she said, and I felt the heaviness of her words. "It's always been about hiding who I was and worrying about being discovered. I'm not sure if I can do this."
"Do what?" I asked, cocking my head to the side as I frowned.
"Normal and happy."
"That's okay. I know how to do this," I assured her with a wink. "I'll show you how it's done."
She smiled at my teasing tone. Then she tried to suppress a yawn. We were both tired. I could feel the ache in my muscles.
"Come on, you're tired. It's time to get some rest," I said. I wanted to take care of her, protect and love her.
I led her into the bathroom. I turned on the taps before I slowly helped her undress. The contrast of her red hair against her pale skin made my pulse quicken and I had to suppress my want for her. It didn't help when her emerald eyes met mine and I felt an awareness between us. I had never felt about anyone the way I felt about her. I loved the person who I was when she was with me. Once she stepped inside the shower, I undressed to join her.
Heat steamed around us as the warm water cascaded down our bodies. The sight of her beauty caught me straight in the chest. She looked over her shoulder when my hands reached for the soap and began to lather her body. When I was done, she did the same for me.
It was hard not to want to take her right then and there but I restrained myself. This was more than just a physical thing between us. This went deeper than that. I wanted to take care of her, know that she was safe and protected.
We spent a few more minutes rinsing the soap off our bodies before I switched the shower off. I stepped back to allow her out first. She reached for a towel and began drying herself off when I got out of the shower. I dried myself off before I took her towel from her and helped to get the excess water out of her hair.
Back in the room, she put some pajamas on and I pulled on some sweats. I got into bed and opened the covers for her to join me. I lay with her in my arms, shutting out the chaos of the events that had led up to this point. Instead I just enjoyed the completeness I felt when I was with her.
She propped herself up on her elbow as she trailed her fingers across my bare chest, each small touch sending a thrill through me. It was intense how the faintest touch could send me into a spiral. Everything with her was amplified, including my feelings that felt like they were expanding in my chest.
"Kyle," she said, my name rolling off her tongue. She peered closer. "Will you kiss me?"
"You don't have to ask me twice," I said, turning onto my side. My hand reached and caught her at the back of her neck. Pulling her closer, I pressed my lips to hers.
We were both gasping when we stopped.
"I want you to love me," she said, unable to look me in the eye. She was shy and that made her even more attractive.
I sat up and kissed her again. This time there was intent in the action, leading to something more.
We discarded our clothes in a hurry of activity. I crushed her body beneath mine, reveling in the feel of my skin gliding against hers. Our mouths fused together. Our bodies were straining together, needing to be the closest two people could.
Afterward, I rolled onto my back and she lay tucked in beside me. My body still hummed from our encounter as I held her.
"I love you," I whispered. I peered down at her face. Her eyes were closed. She was asleep.
I tightened my hold on her for a moment, needing to clasp her close to me before I relaxed my arms around her. She murmured something in her sleep and snuggled closer to me. I swear I felt my heart summersault at the gesture.
As I lay there, thoughts of the Keepers began to filter into my mind. Even though I didn't want to think about what lay ahead, I couldn't put my head in the sand and pretend everything was fine.
That night we slept together, our bodies in tune with each other even in sleep. As she moved onto her side, my body would mold to hers, keeping her warm in my embrace.
Crystal
I woke up first. I stretched, and Kyle moved beside me. My eyes found his face as I lay beside him. I wanted to reach out and touch his lips with my fingers. My body felt achy from our night before.
If someone had told me this was going to happen, I would not have believed them. So much had happened. Feeling restless but not wanting to wake him up, I slid out of bed, trying to be as quiet as possible.
I got dressed and decided to go downstairs to get some breakfast.
"Good morning," Nate said, greeting me.
"Morning," I said back.
"It's good to see you," he said with a genuine smile. He was standing at the stove, making some tea. I stood beside him.
"It's good to be back," I said. This had always been my home and the people were like an extended family, including him.
I made some breakfast while Nate drank his tea. We talked, and when he was finished with his drink, he rinsed his cup and put it in the sink before he left.
I finished my breakfast. Afterward I went outside, thinking it would be a good idea to pop in to see Bay. Pack members were busy with their daily tasks. Dean spotted me and came up to talk to me.
"I'm glad you got back safe," he said.
"Thank you for your help," I replied, referring to the night he helped Bay free Flynn.
"You're welcome." His eyes were serious, too serious.
"Just do me a favor and no leaving the pack again," I told him. He nodded.
"I won't let bad parents force me out of the pack again," he admitted with determination. My heart went out to him and I touched my hand to his arm. Like Bay, he was another werewolf who had not gotten along with his parents and this had led him to leave the pack.
"If you need anyone to talk to, you know where I am," I offered, feeling bad for him.
"Thank you."
I wandered down to the medical center where I found Bay alone in her room.
"Can I come in?" I asked as I popped my head in.
"Sure," she said as she adjusted herself slightly. "Hopefully I'll be out today."
"I'm glad you're feeling better," I said, standing beside the bed.
"I am," she replied. She gave me a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
It wasn't any of my business but I couldn't let it go.
"I think Flynn was the one who wanted to know how you were."
Her gaze dropped to her hands.
"It doesn't matter," she replied with a shrug, but she couldn't hide the emotion in her features. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, she cared.
"I just don't want you to think that the bond that you made with him was nothing," I told her. "It saved us."
Her features were tight as she raised her eyes to mine.
"If it's okay with you, I would rather not talk about it," she said. I felt sympathy for her. "I want to move on and forget about it."
I understood her reasons. She had gotten quite fond of Flynn and, irrespective of his views of our kind, they'd gotten close. Close enough for him to have gone against everything he had lived by. It was weird to think that Flynn cared for anyone, but that was the only way to explain what had changed his direction.
"Sure," I replied, respectful of her wishes.
"Thanks," she said.
"If you need anything, I'm here," I told her, needing to repay her in some way. 'Thank you' didn't seem to be enough for saving my life and the life of my mate.
She nodded. As I left, I looked back at her and she was staring off into the distance outside the window. Despite her words and her indifference, the situation with Flynn and the Keepers I was sure was still playing heavily on her mind.
On the way out, down the hallway from Bay's room, I bumped into James.
"How are the ribs?" I asked, and he touched his ribs.
"Good," he replied. "Still a little tender but I should be good soon."
We were lucky we healed so quickly.
"How's Bay?" he asked, knowing I'd been to see his sister.
"She's okay."
He pulled a hand through his hair.
"I'm worried about her," he admitted. He had spent most of his life worrying about his younger sister.
She had always been one to break the rules and push the limits. James was the total opposite. He reveled within order and rules. It was one of the reasons he made such a good beta.
"She'll be okay," I told him. Bay was strong and capable of pulling herself through this.
"I hope so," he said with a sigh.
I left him to go and find my mate. I hoped he was awake because I couldn't promise I wouldn't wake him up. A feeling of panic struck me and I hesitated, my steps faltering. I took a deep breath and released it, unsure of the claustrophobic feelings I was experiencing.
Crystal? The sound of the panic in Kyle's voice through our mind-link explained the foreign feelings. It was Kyle's emotions I was experiencing.
I'm here, I replied.
Where? he asked, his tone strained.
I'm outside but I'm on my way back into the house, I assured him, starting to walk back to the house, hurrying my steps.
I made it into the house and had entered the foyer when I heard footsteps. I looked up to see Kyle only dressed in a pair of sweats, his chest bare. The panic was still easing from his features. He stopped as our eyes met.
The sight of him was enough to make it hard to breathe for a moment. He held my gaze as he descended the rest of the steps while I waited for him.
"I…" he began to say as he hugged me to him.
"I know," I replied, embracing him with my arms around his waist. "I'm sorry."
It had never occurred to me that he would wake up in a panic when he discovered my side of the bed empty.
"I didn't think," I said. "I just wanted to go and see Bay. I was on my way back."
He pulled away and looked down at me.
"It's going to take time for me not to panic if I can't find you." I reached up and touched the side of his face.
"I'm not going anywhere," I told him. "I'm safe here with you."
For the moment. The intensity of his gaze quickened my pulse and I had the urge to lead him upstairs so I could show him how much I loved him.
"I know," he said, letting out a heavy breath.
He led me back to the room and, once inside, he turned to face me.
"How about you wake me up the next time you want to get up without me?" he suggested as he walked to me. I nodded. "That way I don't have a meltdown because I can't find you."
His tone was teasing but he was serious. Tension remained in his broad shoulders.
"Yes." I would do anything to reassure him that I wasn't going to disappear again.
Actions spoke louder than words and I would have to reassure him any way I could.
But the truth was I didn't know what the future held. None of us did. We had no idea if the Keepers would discover my true identity. And if that happened I couldn't promise I wouldn't put my life in danger again to save the lives of the people I loved.
"I know that look," he said, reaching out and touching my cheek with his fingers, "and it scares me."
I felt my chest ache. I wanted to promise I wouldn't leave again, but I couldn't.
"I won't make promises I can't keep," I said. "I love you and I'll do anything to show you that every day."
I didn't want to think about the future and what it held. I wanted to concentrate on here and now with the mate I loved more than I ever thought possible.
"I love you too. And I will do everything to protect you and keep you safe in this life and the next." He kissed me and I savored it. "Living without you isn't an option. We're in this together. It's all or nothing."
Like he had told me before, he would walk with me in life and in death.