In Reach?

Mira’s POV

I can’t believe what just happened. I walked away from Liam. And with every step I took I kept wishing that he would do something again. Like grab me and run away with me so we could disappear from this world, to just be invisible. But of course that won’t happen. He’s an Alpha, and I’m just a rogue with a dormant wolf. We both have our places in this world.

Ashton and I walk back to the cabin hand in hand but in silence. I’m happy he isn’t asking questions about tonight. I don’t even know how much he heard from my argument with Liam. How did he know that I slept with Liam? I didn’t even tell him.

But watching the two of them fight got me so worked up. They looked like they were out for blood. I knew if I just sat their watching, someone would get hurt, if not killed. And I knew who it would be. The anger I saw in Liam’s eye’s was murderous. I knew that if he reached Ashton, he would hurt him mercilessly. There was only one thing I could do, and that was to try and protect Ashton from it, from Liam’s wrath. After all, he got that angry because of me. I couldn’t let Ashton be hurt by Liam because of me.

And here I am, making my way to may mate’s cabin. Liam has his responsibilities and Izabelle. I have my mate. This is for the best.

When we walk into the cabin Ashton looks at me again.

“Are you okay?”

I nod, struggling to make eye contact. “Yes. I think I just want to get out of this dress and get some sleep.” I look up at him. “Do you think I can maybe borrow a shirt or something, to sleep in.”

He smiles softly. “Of course. Come with me.”

He leads me upstairs to the bedroom and starts going through the drawers. I make my way to balcony to get some fresh air. I’m heating up again and I think I may be getting dizzy again. I hope I’m not getting sick again. I stand there, leaning over the railing and staring up at the moon. It’s beautiful, but I can’t help think back to Selene. Why did she bring me here? I don’t think I would have wanted to come here had I known this would happen, had I known this is the kind of pain, anger and confusion I would experience.

“What are you thinking about?” I hear just behind my ear as I feel his hands on my shoulders and his lips grazing my neck.

“Nothing worth mentioning.” I turn around in his hold. I realize he had already gotten out of his tux and is now wearing nothing but a tracksuit pants. He really is a handsome man.

He’s leaning into me, and I can see that smile growing when he realizes I’m not going to stop him. He kisses me, gently. “Come on, you should get inside, it’s cold out.” He pulls me into the room and closes the balcony door.

“You can wear that.” He points to a t-shirt he laid out into the bed for me. “You can get dressed in the bathroom.”

But no. I shouldn’t be shying away from him anymore. I already said it, he deserves more than what I’ve given him.

He looks at me, not moving from my spot, looking all concerned. “Is everything alright?” He walks closer to me again.

“Can you help me get out of this dress?” He looks surprised by my request, but I just turn around and move my hair away from my back to reveal the zip.

I can feel him slowly pulling the zipper down, and gently sliding the sheer off my shoulder, making the dress flow down my body. I can feel his body heat radiating against my skin. I turn around in his hold and wait to see what he’ll do. I’m standing in front of him, in nothing but my red lace see-through lingerie. It came with the dress, so I thought it fitting.

I can see his eyes filled with contention as his hands are hovering over my skin. He wants me, but he doesn’t want to push me. So I walk closer to him, making our bodies touch, looking at him with a nervous smile.

I can hear his shaky breath. “Mira. Are you sure?”

I’m not. But I want to know what it feels like. Will it be different? Will it make me forget?

I just nod. That’s when he finally allows himself to put his hands on my body. They’re so warm, no, I think it’s my body heating up again. He cups my face with his one hand as he leans in to kiss me. It’s a slow kiss, but he instantly deepens the kiss, making me know just how hungry he is for me. He picks me up by my thighs and I wrap my legs around him as he takes me to the bed. He lays me down and starts kissing me down my neck and down my body ever so slowly, like he has all the time in the world to admire my body. But I don’t want him to go so slow. I pull him back up to me to kiss me again. I want kisses that will make me moan, that will make me forget. I kiss him hard, and I can hear him groan against me. That’s when he surprises me and becomes more urgent with his kisses. Like he also wants more. I can feel his hands gripping me tighter now as well, pulling me harder against him. It’s making my body heat up even more. He moves the kisses down to my neck and I can feel his tongue tasting me too. “So sweet.” He says into my neck.

But this has me thinking again, of my conversation with Mikail, about my scent. It has me curious now. “Ashton?” I say slightly out of breath.

“Mmh?” He just about groans against me.

“What do I smell like?”

But his confusion to the question has him stop with his kisses as he looks up to me. “What do you mean?”

Now that I have his full attention, I might as well be straight. “What do I smell like to you? What’s my scent?” I know is a weird conversation to have, especially with him lying between my legs, but I really want to know.

He seems a bit confused at first but then slightly smiles. “Well,” He leans into my neck again and smells me. “You’re very sweet. It almost smells like,……a fruit.”

A fruit? What kind of fruit? Shouldn’t he know? Mikail said the scent should appeal to him, so it should be something he knows and likes. Liam says I taste like raspberries and Mikail says I smell like chocolate. And now Ashton says I smell like a fruit. Which is it?

“A fruit?”

“Yeah. I can’t quite make it out, but it smells very delicious.” I feel him smile against my neck as he starts kissing me again.

But this is freaking me out a little. Why doesn’t he know? I don’t know if I’m just making excuses but I’m really second-guessing Ashton right now. Maybe I should just spend more time with him. That makes a bond grow as well, right. But come to think of it, I could never really pinpoint his scent either. I know it’s warm and comforting, but I can barely make out the scent of honeydew.

He’s still kissing me and I can feel his hand moving up from my hip, probably making its way to my breast. But I stop it and he looks up at me again.

“I-,….I don’t think I’m ready yet.”

I see the disappointment in his face, but he just nods his head as he still breathes heavily . “I understand Mira.”

He gets up off me and hands me the shirt lying next to us on the bed. I feel so guilty I don’t even want to look him in the eye as I take the shirt to put it on. But when I do, he comes closer to me again and caresses my cheek.

“Hey, don’t worry. I’m not mad.” He smiles again. “I’m just happy I get to spend some time with you.”

This makes me smile with relief.

“How about I go make us some hot-chocolate and then we can chat some more. Okay?”

“Hot chocolate?”

He chuckles. “Yeah. I got some after you said you like it.”

“Really? Then how about I go make us some hot chocolate, and I’ll let you take care of that.” I point down to his pants. That tracksuit doesn’t hide much and I must say, he does look big, and eager for some attention.

He chuckles nervously. “Damn woman. You really are something.” He leans in and gives me a kiss before he gets up and makes his way to the bathroom.

I slowly make my way down to the kitchen and put the kettle on so long, while I ready our mugs.

But all of a sudden, the front door bursts open, and in walks a very angry looking, shirtless Liam. But he looks more feral, more wolf than man. His muscles look extra bulged, his canines are lengthened and his claws are out. He snipes his gaze to me as if instantly aware of my presence there. The bright glow in his eyes makes me know that this is not Liam. This angry beast in front of me is his wolf, that sadist that doesn’t listen to anyone and does whatever he wants. This is bad. I never know how to get through to him, to his wolf.

But before I can even say Liam, he charges towards me like he’s ready to attack. I can do nothing but scream.