In Reach?

Mira’s POV

I wake up with the early morning light shining through the window. I know I’m not cold, but I feel it, and I think I know why.

I turn around and see I’m naked and alone in bed. Liam is gone.

Of course he won’t be here. Why would I even expect him to stay and cuddle? There are no expectations between us. This is just sex. Right?

I get up to shower and get dressed to start my day.

When I get downstairs Aubrey comes running to me, almost tackling me to the ground.

“Mira!”

Ooohf! “Hey. What’s with you?”

“Why didn’t you tell me that it went that well with Liam?” She nudges my shoulder smiling, looking around to see if anyone is there to hear.

What!? Does she know?

“What do you mean Aubrey?” I try to not look nervous.

“Oh don’t play dumb with me. You know I would have found out eventually.”

Eventually? I was kind of hoping for 'never'.

I just stare at her with a stupefied look, not knowing how or what to say.

“They said they’re going to have those raping assholes killed today.”

Wait. What? ‘Raping assholes’. Oh, she’s talking about them. But I’m still lost with what role she thinks I played in this?

“What do you mean?”

I think she’s finally acknowledging my lost expression.

“You didn’t know?”

I just shake my head.

“Oh. Well I heard the guys talk about it this morning. Apparently, they’re just going to have them killed under punishment of rape. They’re going to announce it to the pack, but they’re not going to reveal any names. So your name is gonna be in the clear too.” She says, practically disbelieving. I guess she must really be relieved about this.

“Oh. I didn’t know that. At least now you can rest easy.” I rest my hand on her shoulder.

“I know.” She pulls me into a tight hug. “Thank you. Thank you, so much.”

I hug her back. “I didn’t really do anything.”

“You did the most.” We both chuckle.

“Since when did you two get so close?”

We both turn around and see Mason making his way to us down the hall.

“What? Girls don’t need to know each other for half their lives to share a hug without being awkward like you guys.” Aubrey teases him.

Mason just rolls his eyes.

“What are you doing here by the way? Shouldn’t you be at the training grounds or something?” Aubrey chastises him now.

“Ouch. That hurts. Now I can’t even come back to the house without being scolded on. If you must know, today is my day off. So I’m taking it easy, trying to find something to do though.” He looks annoyed and bored as he says that. “And since when did you get so sassy?” He gives Aubrey a look over.

She looks like she’s just been caught doing something she shouldn’t. “Oh,……sorry.”

“What would you say on some cake?” I ask.

They both look my way at the sudden and random mention of ‘cake’.

“Cake? I haven’t had any in a while. But it sounds good.” He says smiling.

“Good, let’s get baking then.” I turn and make my way to the kitchen.

“Wait! You want us to bake it?” Mason looks worried.

“Yeah, are you sure you want Mason near anything in the kitchen?” Aubrey adds, getting an annoyed growl from Mason.

“Yeah.” I reply with a smile. “I’m hungry, Mason’s bored, and you look like you need some celebratory food.”

They look lost for words.

“If you don’t want to help then fine. But only those that help bake the cake get to eat it.” They look at me and see how serious I am.

“Cake sounds good” Mason says together with Aubrey saying, “Cake it is.”

I chuckle as I see them follow behind me.

“Okay. Mason, you can help me mix the ingredients to make the batter. Aubrey, you can help set up the utensils and prep the cake pan and oven.”

Aubrey gets busy and Mason just follows me like a puppy.

After an hour, we have a fluffy chocolate cake, that’s filling the whole house with its scent. We covered it in a thin layer of caramel as our topping.

“Now I suggest we better start eating before people come storming in and taking our cake.” I warn as I already dish myself a thick slice in a plate.

They instantly rush for their own plates to get a piece. Luckily we didn’t make that big of a cake.

By the time someone actually walked in to the kitchen, we were already on our last bites.

“Hey! I thought I smelt cake.” Aiden looks at our plates in front of us. “Did you honestly not leave anything over?” He looks sad.

Everybody’s quiet, and I can hear more footsteps approaching.

“Well, actually. This is more for your safety than ours.” Aiden looks at me confused.

I see Liam standing behind him, listening to us.

“What do you mean?” Aiden really wants to know.

“This was sort of an ‘introduction to baking’ for Mason here. We had to make sure he can actually bake something edible before we have you guys eat it.” He looks at Mason and his expression turns understanding.

Mason seems annoyed though. “Hey, I’m not that bad with cooking.”

“Exactly.” I chime in. “So we’ll be sure to make some more next time.” I say smiling at Mason and Aubrey specifically, hoping they catch on with my so-called excuse for not wanting to share.

They do catch on and they both noddingly and simultaneously say, “Yeah, yeah, definitely, next time.”

Aiden just nods his head, but Liam doesn’t look convinced. Crap. Oh well. What can he do now?

Aiden and Liam walk off, as the rest of us tidy the kitchen up a bit.

I put my plate in the sink and make my way to the library, but the door is already open.

Just as I peek through it, I’m being pulled in and my back is up against the now closed door. I look up and see Liam caging me against the door. He looks at me suspiciously though.

“Liam? What,….what are you doing?”

“Didn’t I tell you to share the next time you make something?” He still looks serious.

“Well, it’s like I said.” I try to smile. “I’ll be sure to make more next time.”

I bite my lower lip, hoping he doesn’t see it quiver, as it always does when I’m nervous or trying to lie.

“You know, something though tells me you’re lying.” He says as he cups my face and rubs his thumb on my lower lip.

“I-,” Just as I try to say something he crashes his mouth on mine as he kisses me deeply. I can feel him licking and sucking on my lower lip, I can’t help but gasp. He uses this to shove his tongue deeper into my mouth, massaging my tongue with his.

I can hear him groan in my mouth as he pushes me further up against the door with his body.

“Chocolate and……” He kisses me a few more times. “Caramel?”

He leans back and looks at me.

“Now I don’t mind that you didn’t share, as long as I can taste it on you like this.” He licks his lips as he says it.

Oh this man has a way of catching me off-guard with his words and actions sometimes.

“Next time, if you don’t share, I’ll take it as a personal invitation for a private tasting.”

He can probably tell I’m stunned for words. He smiles as he leans down and gives me a peck on my lips, before pulling me away from the door and walking out.

What was that?

I think I like this though. The game we’re playing, just between us. It’s like it’s our little secret, all ours.

I smilingly make my way back to the books I always come to check.

That night though, he came back to my room. I don’t know if it is really us just sleeping together, because the way he treats me, my body, it’s like he is worshiping me.

He’s not your typical ‘gentle lover’, but even his rough tendencies seem more possessive than a fetish.

But I’m not going to question any of this out-loud to him though. I’m just going to enjoy it as much I can. Besides, I’ll probably be on my way back home soon. I don’t need to be building any attachments.