Chapter 7

Anna

My lungs burned as I pumped my legs as fast as I could. I could feel my opponent coming up close behind me, but I was determined to win this race. The patio came into view as I broke through the edge of the forest and I buckled down in resolve. I could do this.

I could hear the panting behind me as my rival closed the distance between us. My muscles were on fire as I pushed myself harder but the last stretch of the race proved to be my downfall. I had the advantage with my smaller frame and the ease of maneuverability while in the forest, but the straight stretch across the lawn favored James’ longer legs.

I stretched my nose out as if that would help me get to the finish line any faster, but skidded to a stop once James made it past me and leapt gracefully onto the stone patio. I walked off my disappointment on shaky legs, easing the burn in my lungs and muscles. To his credit, James didn’t gloat. He circled back around and nuzzled me with concern while I wheezed like an older wolf that should be in retirement.

I huffed and sat down once the worst of it had passed and I could breathe normally again. James looked at me in amusement once he was sure I was going to survive. “I think we need to add running to your daily tasks,” he said with humor coloring his thought.

I got to my feet and shook out my coat. “Maybe,” I told him noncommittally. I already had a lot on my plate. Although, to be honest, my physical fitness had taken a backseat to my magic. I tried to think back to when I had gone running last but pulled a blank. Surely I had gone running since returning from the fae world?

James nudged me in the direction of the patio. “I’ll have to take you on patrol with me more often.”

I looked up at him in surprise before warmth flooded through me. James volunteering to spend more time with me filled me with all kinds of pleasant feelings. I hadn’t managed to surprise any of the wolves on guard duty, but James had startled both Chris and Jamie while they were busy stalking me. He gave them a quick lesson on not being distracted, or so I assumed.

I hopped up the stairs and suppressed a groan as my muscles protested. James shifted back to his human form and headed for the side of our heated pool that had the hot tub. My eyebrows rose, that sounded like an excellent way to complete the night.

I hurriedly shifted back into my human form and stretched. Some of the soreness of my muscles had transferred over to my human form, but I was already healing. I’m sure some hot tub time with James would soothe my sore aches just fine.

I admired his backside as he checked the temperature settings and made sure the jets were on as I walked across the patio toward him. He looked up just in time to see me checking him out, and I saw a hint of a smirk on his face. I tried to fight the blush that turned my cheeks pink, but I knew he saw.

He hopped smoothly into the tub as I approached and gestured for me to join him. I attempted to replicate his move but my foot caught on the edge of the tub and sent me tumbling into the water face first with a large splash. James helped me up as I spluttered. Of course, I had inhaled what felt like half the tub and the water had also gone up my nose in addition to in my lungs. I took my seat, but it wasn’t pretty as I tried to breathe air again and detangle the mess of hair that obscured my face.

I don’t think I could have been any more unsexy if I had tried.

I could tell James was holding in a laugh as I attempted to pull at the strands of hair that were now glued to my face from being face-down in the tub. I gave up and just dipped my head back in the water so that I could get it all slicked back and out of my face. Once I was situated and breathing again, I started to laugh. James looked at me cautiously at first but joined in with a chuckle. I’m sure the scene had looked pretty hilarious from the outside and I wasn’t so arrogant that I couldn’t laugh at myself.

I leaned back in the tub as my giggles subsided and enjoyed the feel of the warm water. James let out a breath and I saw him start to relax out of the corner of my eye. James was always tense and alert like a guard dog. Or maybe like an ex-special ops military guy with a blacked-out file. It was rare to see a genuine smile or relaxed posture from him.

 I created a barrier around the hot tub area to keep the cold night air from encroaching on our little bubble of relaxation. I stretched out my legs and let myself float a little. I looked over at James to see that his attention was captured by my naked breasts barely below the surface of the bubbling water. A slow smile spread across my face, and I floated over in his direction. He raised his eyes to meet mine and I saw that all of the humor was gone, leaving a dark heat that was perfectly James.

I straddled him but left my bottom closer to his knees than to his… more interesting parts. “James,” I said softly, looking into his dark eyes. “Why have you been avoiding me?” I meant for the question to be playful and teasing, but there was an edge of hurt there that I hadn’t managed to hide.

He sighed and placed his hands on my waist, his eyes turning sad. “I’m an asshole, you know that,” he grumbled.

I cupped his face in my hands and forced him to look at me. “No, you’re not,” I told him firmly. “Not with me.”

I almost let go of him after a minute of silence when I was sure he wouldn’t answer. But he surprised me with the vulnerable words that came out of his mouth. “Anna, you look at me and see the man I wish I was, not who I truly am.” I looked into his dark eyes and saw a pit of self-loathing and despair. “If you knew some of the things I’ve done… I don’t deserve for you to look at me like this.”

“You inspire me every day.” James tried to look away from me, but I held his face steady, forcing him to see the truth in my eyes. “Your determination, your loyalty to the pack, the way you protect those that you love… I see all of that. That is who you are. We’ve all done things in the past that we regret, and those things have shaped who we are now. But we have to keep fighting to be better, and there is no one that I would rather have at my side in a fight.”

“Anna….” He seemed to struggle with what he wanted to say. “I…” His voice broke and I saw raw emotion on his face. “I can’t lose you.”

“You won’t,” I murmured before brushing his lips in the barest form of a kiss. “But isn’t it the same thing if you pull away from me?”

He shook his head. “I was so close to you that I missed the threat. If I had taken a step back and not been so distracted and cocky…”

I turned his head so I could look directly in his eyes. “It wouldn’t have made a difference,” I assured him. None of us had been expected the fae to suddenly appear in our home. Even if we had, there was no way anyone could have prevented Froston from taking me. My wolves were brave and tough, but teeth and claws couldn’t defend against the magic that he had wielded. That’s why I was so determined to get a handle on this, I needed to be able to provide the magical defenses for my pack.

I saw the doubt and self-blame that he must have been tormenting himself with shadowed on his face and I attempted to ease it. “There was nothing that you could have done differently.” I paused. “And things worked out for the best in the end.”

If I hadn’t been kidnapped by Froston, I wouldn’t have been introduced to the fae half of my heritage. Would that have been so bad? A little voice inside me whispered. I would have been content being just a wolf and settling in with my pack, but I couldn’t deny that I wanted to learn how to use my magic. A lot of the stuff I was learning was pretty cool, but it came with a price. I hadn’t yet felt the backlash from my own kind once they found out what I really was, but I was dreading it.

I could see a glare on James’s face that was not directed at me. He was probably replaying the battle in his mind. “Next time-”

“Next time I’ll be ready,” I interrupted him determinately. “I’m not the same girl that went into that portal. And I’m not going to be hiding behind you when trouble comes knocking at the door. I need you to respect me as a fellow warrior and to accept that I will be standing at your side for the battle to come.”

“Fuck,” he expelled in an exhale of air. “I have never wanted you more than I do right now.” The heat was back in his eyes and seared me to the bone.

I crushed my mouth to his and we devoured each other, our lips and tongues tasting and exploring. I pulled back to catch my breath and he lowered his lips to my throat. I moaned as he kissed and licked his way down my neck.

His hands cupped my breasts, and I arched my back to give him better access. He groaned as I pressed my body further up against his, and I saw that the look on his face was just as starved as mine. I craved James, my entire body ached for him.

He took one nipple in his mouth and liquid heat surged through my body as he used his tongue to tease me. He sucked on my nipple before releasing it and turning his attention to my other breast. Pleasure shot through me as he used his mouth and his fingers to drive me into a frenzy.

My hips rocked against him, and I felt his erection pressed against me. I took him in my hand and ran my thumb around the head, causing him to moan my name. James looked up at me with his eyes half closed and head tilted back. He seemed just as lost to the sensations as I was. The look on his face was so irresistible that I leaned forward to capture his mouth with mine. Our tongues battled, and he gripped my thighs tight.

I worked him with my hand, feeling victorious when he had to break from our kiss to catch his breath. It was my turn to squirm as he slid his hand in between my thighs, teasing the slick heat that waited for him there.

Need pooled in my core, and I couldn’t wait any longer to have him inside of me. “James, I need you,” I panted. He shifted so that his erection was pressed right up against my entrance. I eagerly slid forward, taking him inside of me. He slowly filled me, inch by inch, and I couldn’t stop the moan that escaped my lips.

“Anna…” he murmured. I was consumed by the raw need that shone from his eyes, matching my own.

I started to move with him inside me, the feel of him filling me completely driving me even further into madness. He grasped my hips and we moved to a rhythm that had me begging for release. Tension built up in my body to almost unbearable levels, the pleasure was so intense that it was at the brink of pain. My entire world exploded as my muscles clenched around him. His hips met mine with a renewed vengeance as my orgasm pushed him into his own. He threw his head back as he came, and our bodies stilled. We both struggled to catch our breath as my pounding heart slowed back to normal.

James cupped my face and surprised me with a gentle kiss. I pressed my forehead to his and enjoyed the languid feeling spreading through my limbs. This moment, James and I together, was absolutely perfect.

I relaxed and dipped my hair in the water. A shrill ring interrupted the serenity of the night, and I could see the tension bleed back into James. The relaxation and openness faded from his face and gave way to his usual serious expression. I sighed as he climbed out of the tub and made his way back to where he had left his pants on one of the patio chairs.

“Yeah,” he answered gruffly.

His eyes flicked to me. “She’s here, with me.”

I sat up straight and watched him curiously. That had to be either Austin or Cody on the phone with him. The other guys were in the house and would have just used the pack bond. And I knew James wouldn’t have given up my location so easily to anyone outside of our relationship.

He grunted a couple times before hanging up the phone and tossing it back on the chair.

“Well?” I asked impatiently. He had better not think that he could get away with not telling me what that was all about.

“Austin and Cody are heading back overnight,” James said with a frown. “You have a meeting with Arminius tomorrow.”

“That’s great,” I smiled.

James pulled his pants back on. “No.”

“No, what?” I asked in confusion.

“He wants to meet with you on his yacht, which is currently in the Florida Keys.”

“Really?” I said in surprise. “I’ve never been there before.” Virginia was the furthest south I had ever gone. I had also never been on a yacht before. I always thought that yachts were reserved for action films and music videos. And maybe royalty. None of those things applied to me.

James picked up his shirt and shoes and moved to sit on the edge of the tub. “I don’t like the idea of you and Austin going so far from the rest of the pack.”

“We’ll be okay,” I said softly, reaching for his hand.

James met my eyes, and I could see the worry that was churning inside of him. “You had better be.” He gave me a tight smile, but I could see his thoughts were miles away. Probably already in Florida.

I gave his hand a squeeze before standing up. The hot water had done wonders for my sore muscles. “How long do I have to pack?” I asked curiously. I was probably going to have to beg Quinn to help me find yacht-worthy clothing, and I already owed him a favor. Luckily for me, Quinn like dressing me up like a Barbie, so he probably wouldn’t object too much.

“A helo will be here at six to pick you up,” James said absent-mindedly.

“In the morning?” I squealed. That did not give me nearly enough time to get ready.

James looked at me in amusement. “I’ll wake you up.”

I scowled but agreed. I had a lot of packing to do to get ready. I looked at the furrow between James’ brows and felt my thoughts drift. Maybe there was something I could do with my magic to help put James at ease. Caleb had been right that my disappearance had been hard on James and I didn’t want to put him through the torment of not knowing again. I was going to have to make a stop in Talen’s room before I could start packing.