Sunday came and went; slow and mindless. Chloe spent the day watching television, wrapped in a wool blanket, the wood-stove crackling beside her.
Henry had been out the entire day, and hadn't said when he'd be back but made it clear she was still grounded.
Much to her dismay, most of her thoughts had been consumed by Wolf-boy and his abrupt leaving of their conversation the night before. Not hearing from him since then kind of hurt.
She didn't expect bunches of flowers or smoochy lovey messages, but he could have at least made sure she was okay. After all, he had showed her something the night before, not a lot people were ever privy to.
A dumb infomercial came on and she flipped the channel, dropping her head to the arm of the couch. Slumping down further, she tangled her legs in the blankets, and chalked her existence down to pathetic.
Stopping on a sappy chick flick, she became absorbed. The phone interrupted her trance an hour or so later, groaning, she reached for it.
“Hello, captive imprisonment, how can I help you?” she droned.
There was a pause, then a throat clear, “Chloe?”
“Dodge!” Chloe snapped to life, “Oh... Hey!”
“Hey, what was that about?”
Rolling her eyes, she slumped back into the couch, “Ugh, you don't want to know. How'd you get my number?” Not remembering handing it out to him.
“I begged your mom for it. Why didn't you answer my message?”
She sighed, “I've just been busy.”
“Busy?” he questioned. “I thought you said nothing goes on there?”
“School, Dodge.” She tried to think of an excuse without bringing up Wolf-boy.
“Chloe...” he was laughing at her. “So, should I come visit? Do you miss me?”
She swallowed, “Oh, visit?”
“Maybe around Christmas, if I save some money. I sure miss you, french-fry.”
“Yeah, me too...” Chloe sighed and looked back to the television as Dodge continued.
“Is it cold?”
“Super cold.”
“Really! That sucks!”
Chloe grumbled, “Yep. It's like a freezer.”
“Stella misses you...”
“She hasn't messaged me.”
“Oh, you know, she's in denial of you leaving.”
“Yeah, sounds like Stella.”
“Any normal kids?”
A sudden laugh caught her, “Nope. And the two friends I had ratted me out to my dad last night so. I don't think I have any!” Other than Wolf-boy. She melted to the couch and thought about him in his underwear in the snow, “Mm...”
“Oh, that sucks.” Dodge commented.
Shaking her head of the fantasies, she continued their conversation, “Yep. I'm grounded. I went to a party Daddy didn't approve of.”
“Ah, don't piss off cop-dad. You should know that by now, Chloe.”
“I guess.”
She paused from a quick knock at the door and some shuffling behind it. It was early evening and she assumed it was her father but why he knocked was a mystery.
Dodge rambled about her old high school and random gossip as she got to the front door. Unlocking the deadbolt, she inched it open.
“Grayson!” She blubbered, swinging the door from the frame.
“Who?” Dodge stopped his monologue.
“Hey.” Grayson greeted her.
“Err...” she flung the door open and waved him in, panicking, “Dodge, I have to go...”
“Chloe, you okay?”
Grayson watched her, his brow arching.
She swallowed, “Yeah, Dodge, I'll call you back later.”
“Okay, I miss you.” The boy tried.
“Talk to you later!” she snapped the phone off, turning to push the door shut, a large lump now in her throat.
“Who's Dodge?”
“Friend. California,” she waved a hand.
He tilted his head, “Just a friend?”
“Well, he might have been more, if I was still in Los Angeles,” she rambled.
He growled, “Unlucky for him.”
She paused, “Uh, yeah... Why are you here? I don't think grounded allows visitors.”
“Henry and my dad aren’t going to be home till late, my mother told me to come over and see if you wanted to come for supper?”
“Oh.” She stared at him, “Umm...”
“Your Dad approved it,” he elaborated.
“Ah,” she nodded, “Well, I should probably change,” she straightened her big t-shirt over her sweat pants.
“Sure,” he shrugged.
She threw the phone to a side table and jogged up the stairs, “I'll be right back.” Rushing the stairs to her room, she closed the door trying to catching her bearings.
Shifting through the makeshift closet, she found a pair of jeans, a form fitted shirt, and a cardigan for warmth. She fluffed her hair and checked the status of the bags under her eyes, settling for an okay appearance, she left her room.
Jogging the stairs, she found Grayson on the couch watching the movie she had on.
She smiled, “Kay, I'm good now...”
He looked to her, “Want to turn this crap off?”
Rolling her eyes, she grabbed the remote, “It's not crap.”
“Girly chick flicks.” He grumbled, watching her, “Sorry about last night. I hope you're not mad at me?”
She wrinkled her nose, “Umm... It's fine... I don't care.” All that came to mind was; Lies.
“You seemed upset. Well, upset typing.” He smiled, “You just got me with the nicknames.”
She made a face, “What?”
“Sometimes my other side can take things to an extreme level. Makes me...” he cringed, “It just gets to me quickly. It's because I like you.”
“I can call you Grayson, it's okay. I didn't know it bothered you,” she breathed.
“Bothered?” He smirked and stood, looming over her, “Bothered is right.”
“Oh.” She understood what about it bothered him and it stunned her.
“It's more instinct versus human sense,” trying further to explain himself.
She took a quick breath, “Are you dangerous?”
“I don't want to lie to you, so yes, parts of me are but for you it's a different kind of dangerous. It's a need you now – type of dangerous.” He grunted, “Not to scare you.”
The magnet between them returned. Her hand lifted, she wanted to touch him but didn't know if she should. His eyes lit from the wolf within him and it halted her from any touching.
He inched closer, “What is it?”
“Nothing.” She turned from him, “We should go.”
“Chloe.” He stepped behind her, his hand catching her waist.
She froze from the touch, a deep wanting only making him harder to resist.
He turned her, “What am I?”
Swallowing, she arched her chin to look at him, “A boy.”
He growled, “Chloe.”
“A wolf.” She breathed, backing to the couch till she bounced into it.
He smiled at her, “Are you okay?”
She grumbled, “I'm not this clumsy, usually.”
“Never would have guessed.” He sat next to her, “So, you're afraid?”
“N-no.” She stayed stiff, looking to his hand next to hers on the couch, “I don't think you'll hurt me and if you do, my dad will kill you.”
Grayson laughed, “Ah, Henry won't kill me... well, actually...”
She climbed into his lap, kissing him. Their unorganized tongues getting the better of them as minutes passed.
Taking her down on the couch, Grayson pressed himself tight against her. His fists formed in the cushions causing the wood of the couch to squeak.
Their lack of control was went wild as she rung her arms around his neck, pulling at his shirt.
His hungry mouth dipped to her neck, biting into her.
She gasped when he sunk down on her collar bone, pulling back her shirt. Her knees gripped him and she hooked her purple socked feet around his back.
“Right here then.”
She didn't know what he was talking about but she didn't care. Pushing her hips into his, her lower back lifted from the couch and he helped hold her up.
He sunk his mouth deep on her neck in reply to her grinding hips.
“Grayson...” she slammed her eyes shut as he tensed and bit into her, “Mmm...” Her fingers digging into his unruly brown hair. With the momentum of the moment growing, Chloe became wrapped in it. She didn't want it to end, and though it scared her, she had begun to think she did like him back.
“Dammit!” He sat up, leaving her to fall back to the couch, startled.
“What?” She panted.
“We can't do this!” he snapped.
Chloe stared at him, “What? Make out?”
“Yes... no. Yes.” He rolled his eyes and stopped, turning to her and calming himself, “We can't because I can't control myself.”
She made a face at him, confused, “Control the kissing? It was good.”
“More than that,” he snapped at her.
“Am I missing some key piece of information or do I kiss really bad?”
He smiled and shook his head, not answering, “Let's go.”
“No... no, Grayson!” she snapped and moved to him, gripping his open jacket, “I thought you liked me.”
Dropping his forehead to hers, he took a deep steady breath, “You have no idea.” His hand wrapped around her lower back and pulled her against him.
She wiggled to loosen his grip on her, “Then what is it?” She stared up into his sharp green eyes, “Grayson?”
He closed his eyes, rubbing his forehead against hers, “I want to make you mine.”
“Huh?” She wrinkled her nose, pulling back, “I'm not marrying you!”
He snorted, “What?”
“What!” She burst, “You want me to marry you!”
“N-no!” He panicked, “I didn't mean that.”
“What did you mean then?” She pushed.
“It means...” he shook his head, “Nothing. Come on, we're late.” He grabbed her hand and helped her off the couch. Waiting as she pulled on her coat and boots, coaxing her out of the house without a word. She walked to his truck and her brain tried to think of what that meant and all that came to mind was... he really wanted to be her boyfriend.
He stepped in front of her and opened the passenger side door.
Chloe stopped and stared at him, “What... What are you doing?”
“I'm opening the door for you,” he motioned to the door.
She blinked and didn't move.
“Chloe...” he took one big step forward, looped his arm around her waist and lifted her into the truck.
She yelped, “Grayson! Don't do that!”
He plunked her on the bench seat and laughed, shutting the door.
Her body was waves of burning as she watched his dark figure move around the truck. The door creaked opened and he jumped inside.
He looked over to her as he started the truck, “Sorry, about in the house.”
Chloe shrugged, “It's fine.”
“Is it?” He turned the truck around in the drive.
“I guess. I mean, I'm still confused, but you don't like to answer my questions ever...”
“What do you want to know, Chloe?” He gripped the steering wheel, anticipating possible impending doom.
“Whatever, forget it.” She'd let it go for now and cut him a break, convinced it meant nothing more than him liking her.
He relaxed and flipped on the stereo, some country music came on and he turned it to a manageable volume.
The best of her emotions caught her as they got closer to his home, “I like you.”
With a pause, he turned to her, “I hope a fair bit because I really want to be your boyfriend, Chloe.” she shot him a quick look and he smirked, “If the cards are in my favour that is.”
She tried to hide her smile, “Well, we'll see, Grayson Holtz.”
“Okay, play hard to get, Little.” He turned up the radio for the rest of the drive.
Chloe tried to mentally prepare herself to meet more of his family, more wolves... more...
He pulled the truck up outside the beautiful timber house and turned the engine off.
“Err.” She swallowed.
“You look nervous.” He noted.
“A bit. I'm fine.” She assured herself more than him.
Laughing, he grabbed her hand and tugged her across the bench, “They won't eat you, my mom's food is too good.” He dropped into the fresh powder and reached back inside for her.
She had little time to protest as he lifted her from the vehicle and dropped her to her feet, “That's awesome, Grayson.”
He smiled, “Oh, I was just kidding. Come on.” He took her hand and led her to the front door.
The scent of warm timber hit her again as she struggled to remove her parka in the front hall.
Grayson waited, taking her jacket from her, “Alright, this way.” He slipped off his green winter boots and she walked beside him into the large kitchen. To the left was a dining room and she followed him into it.
A boy was sitting at the table, he glanced up from his cell phone in his hands, “Woah, she actually came?” He smiled at her, “I thought Grayson was making you up.”
“How can I make her up, she's Henry's daughter!” Grayson shot at him.
Chloe shifted, “I'm Chloe.”
Grayson grunted, “This is my younger brother; Ashton. You can ignore him. Everyone does.” Chloe studied him, a lengthy, well built boy with brown tousled hair similar to Grayson. They definitely looked like brothers.
“Shut up, Gray-gray, you're the loner here.” Ashton retorted, his eyes came back to Chloe, “Nice to meet you.”
“Yeah.” Chloe replied in a quick voice.
He went back to his cell phone at the first possible second.
“Where is everyone, Ashton?” Grayson snapped.
His brother pointed lazily out of the room without glancing up, “Living room, they were waiting for you to get back.”
Grayson grabbed Chloe's hand and led her out of the dining room and into the kitchen as his mother and a small girl appeared.
Chloe looked the cute girl over. She was much younger than both the boys, maybe a mere seven or eight years old.
“Hello!” the girl squeaked, her huge blue eyes shone brightly up at her.
Beth smiled at Chloe again, “Grayson did persuade you to supper.”
Chloe nodded, “He's very persuasive.”
Grayson straightened at her side, “This is Sherry.”
The girl bounced, “Hello!”
Chloe let out a small laugh, “I'm Chloe.”
“I know...” she skipped across the kitchen and picked up a can of pop sitting on the counter. “I saw pictures of you on Gray's computer.”
“What?” Chloe made a face at Grayson.
“She snoops my profile,” Grayson glared at his little sister, “Snoopy little brat.”
“Nice...” Chloe breathed, glancing at him.
“Come for supper!” Beth went about bringing food to the dining room.
Chloe turned to Grayson, trying to brush off the last little bit of conversation, “Didn't you say you have another brother?”
“He's away for work.”
“What's his name?” she asked.
“Darcy,” Grayson answered quickly.
Chloe looked behind her as Beth walked back in, “I can help,” she followed the woman around the counter. Beth took up her offer, giving her a dish of food.
“God forbid these boys do any work,” Beth hissed at her son as she walked by him.
Grayson rolled his eyes at his mother, “I do a lot, Mother.”
Chloe smirked. “Mother?” she echoed, walking past him.
Grayson trailed behind and they all sat to the table. He was swift though to grab a seat next to her.
Chloe watched him dig in, putting heaps of the lasagna and veggies on his plate. As she looked around she realized they all did this heaps of food, but the boys more than Sherry and Beth.
Chloe ate a fair bit; Henry's cooking wasn't quite up to the same standard. The homemade food filled her up and plagued her with that overly full, almost puke feeling.
It appeared to take Grayson a lot longer to get that full feeling though, approximately four servings. Starting on a huge glass of milk and five cookies for dessert.
“You eat a lot,” she whispered to him.
He just smiled in reply and went back to eating his cookies.
“I hope you enjoyed your meal, Chloe.” Beth smiled to her.
Chloe realized how rude she'd almost been, “It was really good, sorry. I meant to say thank you!”
Beth gave her a sweet smile and started to clear the table, her children still engrossed in fresh baked cookies and tall glasses of milk.
Chloe collected a few things and trailed off after Beth. She came into the kitchen and placed the plates in the open dishwasher.
The brunette woman was rinsing something in the sink.
“Grayson seems to like you.”
Chloe snapped her head up and chomped down on her tongue till it almost bled, unsure how to respond to that type of comment.
Beth stared at her, waiting for answer with a soft smile upon her lips.
“Umm... Oh, you think so?” Chloe didn't know where her good lying had gone, she had been able to do it to her mother all day in Los Angeles.
“Well, I believe he may.”
Chloe would have took drowning in two inches of water to get out of the conversation, “Umm...”
The woman gave her a weary look and walked back into the dining room. Chloe scurried after her as Grayson walked out with his plate and empty glass.
“Want to go up to my room?”
“Huh!” Chloe blinked.
He shrugged and walked around her to put the items in the dishwasher, “Yeah, figured we could watch a show or something?”
She stood in the door frame, reeling her mind, alone with Grayson Holtz, in his room?
He wasn't patient enough for an answer. Coming behind her, he swooped her off her feet, and put her over his shoulder.
“Grayson!” Chloe dug her fingers to his back, “Grayson...”
Now sure that he enjoyed carrying her around, she would have to bring it up with him, but for now she had to deal with being hauled around his family home.
“Grayson! Put me down! This is so embarrassing!” She clamped her eyes shut as he walked her out of the kitchen and up the timber stairs in the hall.
Smacking his back with her hand, she continued to protest, “Let me down!”
He walked into his room on the second floor, flipping on the lights, “Calm down, Little, calm down.”
Chloe flailed, right before he dropped her into his messy bed.
She stared at him, “Grayson that was not cool!”
He smirked, “I thought it was funny.”
She sat up and looked to her left, searching for a weapon to ensure the same mental pain on him. She couldn't find anything, but he sure slept with a lot of pillows. She snatched one, throwing it straight at his face.
He caught it, “Was that supposed to hurt?”
Chloe sighed, “Yes.”
He shook his head slowly at her and threw it back at her, “Try again, Little.”
She sneered, “Can you please stop calling me that!”
“But I like it.” He pouted.
“I don't.”
“Oh well,” he laughed.
She took the pillow in her grips and jumped off the bed, swatting at him multiple times till he uncrossed his arms and protected his face.
“Ha!” she smiled in victory.
He growled, ducking under the next thrown pillow and picking her up by her thighs. Again up on his shoulder, Chloe grunted in frustration.
“Dumb wolf.”
His hands gripped her thighs and she wiggled, clenching as he moved his palms up towards her bottom, his large fingers grazing the insides of her legs.
She slapped him hard on the back to knock his hormonal head back into some sense, “Put me down now!”
Tensing, he put her down at her request.
She tried to register what had happened and came to the conclusion that he'd basically felt her up.
“That was bad, Grayson!”
“What was?” he was smiling.
She got angry, stamped her foot, and smacked his bicep the hardest she could.
He lowered his chin and took a quick breath, “Owe.”
“Good,” she shot and walked around him to exit the room.
“Chloe, no,” Grayson shot around as she opened the door about to run. Moving quickly, he pushed it closed, pulling her against him simultaneously.
She stared at the closed door in front of her and took a slow breath as his grip readjusted on her.
He dropped his mouth against her neck and he bit into her, his arms wrapping around her abdomen. With a groan, he scraped his teeth along her neck and pulled her cardigan back, “Chloe...” His deep voice caught in dangerous, desperate tone.
She leaned her head back with a fluttering heart, looking to him.
His hands slipped to her waist, running up and down her sides, “You are... mine.” He growled, kissing the side of her neck, his jaw restricting her skin as his bite sunk into her.
Her eyes shot open from the burning she felt and she ripped herself from him, stumbling face first into the wood door in front of her and falling to the ground.
“Chloe!”
She blinked, her vision coming in and out, “Ow.”
He came down on the ground next to her, “Chloe, what the...”
She tried to sit but he held her down, “Let me up.”
“Just lie there a minute,” he brushed her hair from her face and inspected her. An immediate bump formed on the top of her forehead and his gentle thumb grazed it.
She flinched and shot up, dizzy.
“Chloe!” He argued her, but she ignored him.
He took a deep breath, his hand on her shoulder rubbing, “Chloe...”
She shook him off, “Stop touching me!” She spun around and stared at him, “Look what happens when you touch me!”
He creased his brow, “What?”
“What's up with you?” Her vision was back to normal, but her head throbbed.
“Me?” he snapped back. “You're the one that shot out of my arms like I was the most horrible thing on earth.”
She made a face, “You're so touchy. You had your hands between my thighs a minute ago and then you pinned me up against you and basically bit me!”
Grayson winced, dropping eye contact with her, “I'm sorry, Chloe.”
She stood and rolled her eyes, still holding her head, “Can you take me home now?”
He sighed and stood up to his cumbersome stance, “Chloe, you should lie down for a few minutes.”
“I'm fine!” she snarled at him, adjusting her cardigan. “You're so out of nowhere with the grabby!”
He took a sharp breath, “It's hard to explain...”
“I can see we're on different playing fields, but Grayson, you can't be that forward with me!”
“I'm not trying to be, Chloe!” he argued.
“Fine,” she went to open the door again.
“No!” he grabbed her and turned her. “Chloe, I won’t do it again. I promise. Just don't leave,” he stepped back from her.
Looking him over, he appeared sorry, broken even.
She rolled her eyes, “Grayson, I do need to go home – I haven't finished all my homework.”
He nodded, “Another hour?” He was back to child-like, grabbing the TV remote for his flat screen above the messy dresser. He flopped to the bed, “Coming?”
In defeat and a bit of want, she sat next to him, “Only an hour.”
“Okay.” He flipped the television on and went to the guide, “Here,” he passed her the remote, “I'll go get you some ice for your head.”
She took it and he left the room. Flipping through the channels, she found a favourite sitcom she used watch back home. On his bed, she inched herself along and manipulated his many pillows to accommodate her sitting.
Grayson returned minutes later and with diligence, placed the ice pack to her sore forehead.
She took over, not needing the extra contact between them, “Thanks.”
He sat beside her and leaned into his headboard, watching her as she watched the show.
Glancing at him, she rolled her eyes, “Ugh, why are you looking at me like that?”
“Like what?” He frowned.
“Like... forget it.” She gave up.
“So tomorrow, where are you sitting at lunch?”
Chloe smiled at the topic change, “I don't know. Why?”
“Well, I want you to sit with me.” He suggested.
She stared up at him, “My forehead is likely going to be huge and swollen tomorrow, all thanks to you. Maybe I won't go to school.”
Grayson sighed, “I want you to sit with me, Chloe and in class.”
Oh, Grayson!” She sat up, holding the ice to her head, “We're not dating...”
He pouted again, “Why don't you want to sit with me?”
“I agreed to a date and we haven't even gone out on one and I've already met your family, made out with you several times and fell into a door!”
He smiled, “See, we should just be together.”
“Can you please give it up!” She reached to flick his cheek, but his head turned and she brushed her fingertips along his lips instead.
He leaned into her as she withdrew her hand, “Well, will you still be grounded Saturday night?”
“Why?”
“I want to take you to Winter Fest.”
“Ha!” she giggled and dropped her ice pack. “You've got to be kidding...”
He waited, he was serious.
She wrinkled her nose; deciding, her brain ran through her options. She was unsure what her Dad would say, but he'd probably agree if she begged and pleaded.
“I'll ask my dad.” She pulled away and returned to lying down with the ice on her head, “Wolf-boy.”
“Okay, Little.” He smiled.
They stayed quiet, watching the show and Chloe was thankful for it but every so often, she would feel him move closer. Till eventually, his side was pushed against her and his arm rested above her head.
With an awful tension present of wanting to touch each other, they both held it together, the minutes dragging. The feeling of his fingers in her auburn locks made butterflies erupt from her core.
She closed her eyes, the ice melting in the bag under her hand.
In a slow movement, he removed it from her head and laid a gentle kiss atop her goose-egg.
“Mm.” She could get used that sort of attention.
“Chloe.” His mouth cascading her cheek to her small lips.
Clutching his shirt in her sudden need, she brought him to her and deepened the kiss.
The squeal of breaks and a truck shutting off made Grayson break their contact, “That sounds like your Dad's truck.”