“I feel like maybe it’s the sight of what looks like blood,” she declares, moving things around in the freezer. “Maybe that with the smell of the meat.”
“You want me to shift and go hunt you something?”
She looks at me like I’m out of my mind. “What? Some poor little fluffy woodland creature? No way!”
She says this now, but there will be times when her wolf craves the hunt. I don’t bother enlightening her. No reason to upset her.
The coffee maker beeps, so Bailey abandons the fridge and moves to the counter, getting on her tiptoes to reach up for two mugs.
While I’m admiring the view she adds, “I was about to suggest we go to the butcher shop in town for some fresh steaks, but–”
“Hold that thought. I’ll send someone to buy them.” I grab my phone to fire a text off to my council group chat to ask if someone can ask a beta to run to town for us.
“Anything else you want?” I ask while she’s making the coffees. “We aren’t leaving the house today.”
“I want to eat meat and try to shift. So, if I can manage that, I want to run afterwards. With you. And that’s leaving the house…”
“Okay, baby. You want any more groceries added to the list?”
She’s stirring the coffees now, pushing one toward me. “Nope. I think I’ve got all I need right here.” She sips from her mug, holding eye contact.
I set my phone on the counter beside my mug. “Come here.”
She puts her cup down and walks the two steps to me.
I snatch her and lift her up to sit her on the counter, holding her hips while burying my face in her chest.
“You washed me away,” I note, rounding her body with my arms and pulling her closer. I tsk.
“I told you… sticky.”
“You still smell of me. But not enough.”
She runs her fingers through my hair and puts her cheek on top of my head and says, “I love this.”
I love the happiness in her voice.
“I loveus,” she adds, and she says it in a way I know she really means it.
I press a kiss between her breasts and lift her from the counter, devouring her mouth and swallowing a sweet whimper while she’s got all four limbs wrapped around me.
“How badly do you want coffee and breakfast?” I ask.
“Less than I want to try shifting but… sorry… a little more than I want to be sticky again.”
I throw my head back and laugh. Her expression is one of joy. As it should be. I slap her backside and put her on a chair at the dining table.
“Sit there. I’ll bring your coffee and cake.”
And then I’ll be marking her again.
I grab and deliver those, grab my coffee and my phone and sit beside her. She tears a piece of the cake off and holds it out for me. I lean forward and have a bite.
We hold eye contact for a minute and she says, “This togetherness with you? It is exactly what I’ve always wanted.” She leans forward and presses her lips to mine.
I never knew I wanted this, but now that I’ve got it, I can’t imagine anything better. I also can’t imagine anybody but Bailey being the one to share it with.
I’m about to tell her this when my phone sounds off with a reply from Linc, who says he’s in town, so he’ll pick up some steaks for us.