Willow
The next morning she awoke to an empty bed.
For a brief, splitting second she feared that Aiden had left before she awoke, leaving her alone without an explanation. But that died almost immediately as her brain continued to wake up, exiting its slumber and reminding her that that wasn’t, in fact, what had happened, and that she was needlessly creating drama where none existed.
Aiden had told her as they’d settled down after their second shower that he’d have to leave once she was asleep. Willow had protested, but only halfheartedly. She knew why. If he was caught leaving her room, the both of them would be in for it from her father. Since neither wanted to risk that situation, they would have to continue seeing each other clandestinely for the time being.
Willow hated sneaking around behind Stephen’s back, but in this he was being unreasonable. She knew that his initial command not to get closer with her had been given before Aiden had truly worked his way into the pack, but so far her father had yet to rescind the order.
It’s not like he’s going to be more likely to allow it if Aiden went and asked him. That would just cause him to double down I’m sure.
So secrecy was the name of the game until such time that Aiden had earned enough trust that they felt they could ask her father for permission. Willow really hoped that wasn’t too far off. Waking up alone after such a fantastic night sucked.
But, she decided, throwing off the comforter, I can still go downstairs early and hopefully run into him!
It took an effort not to skip down the stairs. Nobody else was awake yet, but she didn’t want to risk someone seeing her and figuring out what her good mood was about.
“Morning,” she purred, reaching up to tug on his ear with her teeth as she entered the kitchen.
Aiden, who had been bending down for a hug, did the little shiver-melt thing that guys do when you tease them just right. A strong hand grabbed her waist and pulled her back into him as she tried to walk by. Willow hissed as his hand slowly walked its way south along her stomach and between her legs.
“Stop it,” she whispered. “They’ll smell it if we start doing anything.”
The coffee machine beeped and started to pour, the rich, thick smell of fresh brew overpowering anything else that might be in the kitchen.
“No they won’t,” he said, and pushed his hands beneath her waistband.
Willow shuddered and cried out softly as he brought her to a swift orgasm. It wasn’t powerful compared to the ones from the night before, but it was the perfect way to start her morning.
He gave his fingers a very manly lick before washing them, and then went about pouring the two of them steaming hot cups of coffee.
“I could get used to this sort of morning,” she said, languidly draping an arm over him and planting a soft kiss on his cheek before moving to her own stool.
“I bet,” he said, laughing softly. “Why are you up so early?”
She frowned. “Work?” Her tone indicated she was wondering if he was losing it.
“Willow, it’s Saturday. We don’t work Saturday.”
Holy shit. He was right. “Well, fuck me,” she cursed.
“Later tonight, if you aren’t out with your friends,” he promised.
She muffled a laugh. “I’m going to take you up on that. I’ll be here.”
He waved a hand at her. “Don’t stick around just for me. Go out, it’s Saturday. Go have some fun.”
“With who?” Her mood was souring a little.
“Uh, friends?” Aiden stopped talking as the look on her face registered. “I guess it must be tough to make friends when your family is full of werewolves.”
Willow shrugged. “I mean, when I was younger, it certainly was difficult to explain away all the hair considering we didn’t have any dogs.”
Aiden snickered. “Fair point.”
“Making friends with humans was always a dangerous prospect. You all go through so much to remain hidden from the world. In this day and age of electronics, the fact that you’re still mostly legend and nothing more is absolutely astounding.” She shrugged, and related to him her story about going away to school, the trials and near-misses of her revealing everything.
“Nobody would have believed you,” he said after she finished. “Not that that makes a difference of course, except they would have tried to put you in a padded cell most likely. So, I’m glad you didn’t tell anyone.”
She looked at him strangely. “Thanks. I think. But it still doesn’t help with making any friends.”
“What about the rest of the pack?”
“Uh-huh,” was all she would say to that.
“Did your father never introduce you to other shifters, to help you make some friends your own age?”
Willow nodded. “Yes. When I was younger there were several that I would see. But we grew apart. I couldn’t relate to them very well. By the time I was of high-school age, it was just me and the rest of the pack.”
Aiden reached out and laid his hand on top of hers where it rested on the granite countertop. “I’m sorry. That must have been incredibly lonely.”
“It was,” she agreed. “For a long time. Until you came along.” She lifted her eyes to see him staring back at her with an intensity that momentarily left her so terrified she couldn’t speak.
The silence between them was deafening.
Aiden broke it at last, though his eyes never moved. “Don’t say things like that unless you mean them, Willow.”
She raised both her eyebrows. “Have I really given you the impression that I’m prone to lying and saying important things without thinking them through?”
“No,” he admitted, his expression softening. “No, you haven’t.”
“Good. Then don’t give me any of that shapeshifter intimidation bullshit. I know what I’m about, and what this could lead to. I’ve grown up around werewolves my entire life.”
“True. But none of them are mated, which is a problem in and of itself,” he said, body relaxing as the moment passed.
“Neither are we,” she pointed out before she could stop herself.
What the hell are you doing, woman?
Aiden smiled, but said nothing.
Willow was confused. She’d expected more of a reaction than that, depending on how Aiden was viewing the situation. Her general denial was supposed to bring out his emotions, so that she could see how he reacted. But by simply smiling, he was refusing to do that. As if he knew her plan! It was mildly infuriating, and yet she somehow found herself smiling alongside him as well.
“Does your father not allow the others to mate?”
She shrugged. “No idea. I’ve never asked. But come on, you know them. They’re dicks. Who would want to stick with any of them?”
“I’m not sure,” he admitted. “But you stick with your father despite his actions, so I figure there are probably others out there who would put up with them. I just didn’t know if they were banned from doing so.”
Willow narrowed her eyes.