“I'm cold.” She breathed against his mouth.
He fumbled with the door and brought her inside.
The dry warmth of the wood-stove hit her and she snuggled against him.
Their mouths met once more.
“Is your dad...”
“He's working all night.” She cut him off.
“Oh.” He put her to her feet and she flipped on the lights, “Are you sure?”
She smiled, “Are you afraid of my dad?”
“He's got guns.” Grayson smiled.
Chloe locked the front door, smirking and turned to Grayson, “But you turn into a wolf.”
“Still,” He twitched, “My mate's Dad, not cool.”
“Don't worry about my dad.” She walked up to him and took his hand, “Come upstairs.”
He sighed, “Chloe...” So hesitant and she wanted to slap it out of him.
She looked up to him and their eyes locked, “I won't bite,” she tugged him up the stairs and he followed, not as reluctant anymore. Into her bedroom, she closed the door.
He shifted, “Want to cuddle?”
She smiled, “You want to cuddle”
He paused, “Uh, well, I figured...”
“Oh.” She stepped up to him, inching on her tiptoes to kiss him.
He pulled back, “Little.”
“Okay, we'll just cuddle.” She stepped away from him and over to her closet, taking off her coat, sweater, pulling the zipper down the back of her dress.
He grunted and turned away, “Are you taking off your clothes?”
She paused, “I'm just getting something more comfy on.”
He grumbled, “Why do you do this to me?”
“I'm not...” She huffed, “I'll go change elsewhere, Wolfboy.” She grabbed herself some items and went to the bathroom, hoping he wouldn't be gone by the time she returned.
But he was too good.
He waited, sitting on her bed, without his parka and boots.
She stopped in front of him in her tank top of and cow print bottoms, “This is what I look like for bed. Don't judge.”
He looked her over in the darkness of the room, “Cute.”
She smiled, sitting beside him, “You want to cuddle?”
“You're killing me.” He breathed.
“I am?” She looked to him, blinking.
He sighed, “I don't understand how you got me up here.”
She put her hand on his near thigh, “I guess, I can be sorta pushy.”
“Sorta?” He echoed with a nervous laugh, “More than sorta.” His hand caught hers on his thigh and rubbed her.
She melted into his side, “I came all the way from Los Angles for this?”
“I wish it was different.” He grumbled, put off again and after a moment, pulled her into the bed beside him. Snuggling into his chest, her free hand explored his thick muscled chest and overall, cumbersome form, well suited to him.
She pressed herself closer, the minutes ticking by, his breathing becoming more and more shallow, or so she noticed.
His hand found her lower back and he rubbed her bit of exposed skin, his index finger lingering till she couldn't take it any longer.
She sat up, leaning over him and snaked her arms over his broad shoulders.
He looked up at her, “Little.”
She smiled, imagining him a normal boy, them a normal teenage couple. Ones that could just get in trouble and be okay.
He brought her down and kissed her.
Sucking on his bottom lip, she caught it between her teeth. She'd never wanted a boy so bad in her life and he was, being forbidden to her.
Grayson's hand dropped to her tank top and he pulled the hem over her hips, tightening the fabric around her.
She wanted him to take it off, undress her. A restricted thought, she should have stopped herself from thinking it, but it's what she wanted.
He pulled back from her, “Chloe, we need to stop.”
She nodded, kissing him again.
His hands flattened against her back, without another protest.
She could feel his need for her and though it frightened her, she wanted it. Against the cramped single bed, he came around her, kissing her again and again.
“Grayson-”
He bit into her mouth, stopping her words. Still holding her tight, his hand pulled her tighter causing her breathing to hitch; she tried not to gasp for air, knowing he'd stop them.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and lifted herself, taking in a soft breath. His mouth trailed along her neck. With borderline intoxication, she found herself wanting him even more than the minutes before. A small gasp escaped her lips and he stopped.
“Argh, I'm dumb.” He dropped her back to the bed, staying atop her.
“Grayson...” She rung her palms to his shoulders and pulled at his shirt, “Come on.”
He cringed and dropped his nose along her cheek, breathing her in and groaning, “This is wrong.”
“It's only wrong if you want it to be.” She huffed.
“Chloe, I'm a werewolf and you're human. This is wrong, no matter how we want it to be.” He exasperated.
She caressed the muscles testing his shirt, “Yeah, but-”
“No buts, Little.”
Her chest thumped with hot adrenaline, unsure if it was love or lust but either way it felt good.
“This feels so right.”
“Of course it does, Chloe we're meant to be together,” he tensed and her wandering hands relaxed on him. He took her mouth into his again and tasted her, with a gentleness.
“This-”
She crushed her mouth against his and gripped his hair, “No more.”
He groaned and moved his mouth down her neck, biting at her soft flesh and sucking, “You don't want me to do this.”
“It's different,” she pulled his shirt up and over his head and he complied. She flattened her palms to his bare chest, taking in his perfectness, “You're mine.”
He growled, devouring her mouth.
Chloe dropped her lips away from his hunger, “Can we continue then?” She heard the bed protest as he gripped the mattress, panting in her ear. Perhaps struggling with what to do.
“I can kill you.”
“You won't.” She pushed.
He shook his head.
In a frantic nod, she interrupted him, her fingertips gripping his bare chest. The lump in her throat, hard and awful, “I trust you.”
He growled again and kissed her, his hands digging into her like he'd never let go, “It will hurt. You're going to bruise and be sore...”
Her stomach tightened, “Its fine.”
“I'll crush you,” he continued. “You won't be able to breathe. Then it'll burn. It won't be what you want, Chloe. It won't be what you’re thinking.”
She drew her fingers over his parted lips, “I'll tell you if I can't breathe and I'll tell you to slow down if it hurts.”
“You're ballsy.” He admitted.
She wrapped her hands around his cheeks, “Yeah, I'm sort of weird.”
He dropped his mouth against hers, “Crazy, is more like it.”
She took fistfuls of his hair and pulled him close, leaving no space between them.
He brought his mouth against hers, trailing her side with his hand.
Her heart faltered as she thought about what he'd think of her in such an open display. She bit her bottom lip in question.
He leaned over her quick, not hesitating at the open display. His hand jerked her against him and pulled at her auburn hair.
A small gasp got the better of her and she withered from his touch.
“I told you, I'd hurt you,” he grunted.
She looked up at him, “You didn't hurt me. Did I say you did?”
He titled his head, staying quiet and licking his lips. His same hunger still obvious.
Her mind searched for what to do next and then it hit her – pants, clothing would probably be a next stage worth moving to. Her anxiety ridden hands moved to his jeans.
He dropped his mouth to her ear and kissed her neck, “Are you nervous?”
She took in a sharp breath and looked to him, “A bit, virgin nervous.”
He nodded, “Yeah, me too. I feel normal, well, human normal. I mean-”
She smiled, wishing he was human. Shutting her eyes, he removed her articles of clothing with careful articulation. She'd never been naked in front of a boy, never seen a boy naked, never been a situation quite like that one.
She sunk into the bed and opened her eyes, now naked in front of him, “Are you going to take off your jeans?”
“You get one more chance to back out.” He blinked, looking over her form in the dark, licking his lips, “I really want you to say stop.”
“You're over thinking this.” She pressed, “Take your pants off.”
He swallowed and reached down to his jeans to undo them, “Just-”
She kissed him, stopping his need to blubber.
Wrapped in the moment, he kicked his jeans off to the edge of the bed in a crumpled mess.
She glanced over his now naked situation, “Okay, I-I think we're good.”
He swallowed, “Yeah, something like that.”
She raised her knees to his sides and tried to pull him down to her.
He tensed, “Chloe.”
She looked to him, “What?”
“Umm, well, what about... shit.” He cursed.
“Oh!” Chloe burst, “Don't worry, my mother has me on birth control. It's a small patch that looks like a band-aid on my backside. We're good. N-not that I'm a slut.”
He adjusted his weight on the mattress, “I hope it works.”
She paused, “Well, aren’t we sorta incompatible?”
“Hence why we shouldn't be doing this.” He breathed.
She swallowed, “It's fine.”
He winced, “I should get a gun. You can just put me out of my misery.” His breathing etched into her and she shared his nervousness.
“Stop being over-dramatic.”
He groaned, “Just say stop.”
They stared at each other, moments slipping, Chloe's panic and need rising.
Frantic to have him, she pulled him in.
“We're like really naked.” She breathed.
“What?” He chuckled, “Way to wreck the moment, Little.”
“It's funny.” She breathed, “Losing my virginity to a werewolf and all.”
“That's not funny.” He grunted.
“Can you just do it?” She stuffed.
He looked her over again, “You're tiny.”
“You're just getting the memo now?” She shot.
“Chloe.” He lifted his eyebrow.
She shrugged and the longer their eyes held, the more it made her smile, “Sorry.”
“Whatever.” He smiled, “Hang on.”
“Oh.” She adjusted herself, “Kay, I'm hanging on.”
He sighed, “Can I concentrate on not killing you?”
“You really are dramatic.”
“Chloe.” He growled.
“I'm done. Sorry!” She giggled, nervous and about to lose her virginity to a werewolf!
He leaned over her, brushing his mouth against hers, “I'm going to kiss you.”
“Cool.” She hitched, the lump in her throat building.
His pelvis dropped against her and she tensed, feeling him.
He drew back from her mouth, “Seriously. Last chance, while I still have a mind of my own.”
“I'm still on the Grayson-Hotlz-should-take-my-virginity.” She informed him.
He groaned, “Fine.” Taking a shallow breath, he slipped inside of her.
She slammed her eyes shut, arching her head back.
“Are you okay?” He panicked.
She looked to him, “Y-yeah. It's not that bad.”
“Really?” He didn't believe her.
She squirmed under him, “Go gentle.”
“Is that supposed to be funny?” He asked.
“No. Err...” She cringed.
“I'm killing you.”
She grabbed a hold of his muscled neck, “Grayson, shut up.”
He took the pillows around her head and she heard the fabric tear.
Forcing her eyes open, she relaxed, feeling him in an all new way. Hard, pronounced and a clear indication of no going back.
He began to chew and lap at her collar bone, setting a slow, steady rhythm between them. He spread her again, making her gasp.
“Grayson.” She mumbled, her fingers cementing themselves to his shoulders.
He stopped then and stared down at her, “Are you okay?”
She took a deep breath and nodded, “Just... slower...”
“Are you sure?” He had that broken-lost-puppy look again.
She put her hand to his lips and ran her fingertips along them, “I just need to get used to it, it feels so different.”
“Does it hurt?” He nibbled her palm, trying to distract himself, making his way down her arm and finally to her mouth. He shifted, her knees falling open more and he rocked into her.
He didn't move out much, just stayed deep within her and though it hurt for the first few minutes, the pain started to subside. The slowness of it, keeping him in check.
He brushed his cheek against hers, “You're mine, Chloe.”
She brought him again to her and kissed him, trying to hide her smile. Literally the best moment of her life, she never wanted it to end. She never wanted him to leave her.
“You're being a good boy.” She breathed.
He kissed her cheek, “Am I?”
She nodded and let her arms fall around her head. Arching her back, he pressed against a certain area. Even though it hurt her, felt a bit awkward, it also felt like soaring warmth. That maybe they could beat this, that liking someone this much this soon, could make sense.
His hand ran tentatively over her chest, his fingertips scraping the top of breasts. She grabbed his hand and dropped it against her.
He growled and gripped her, coming fast into her.
“Grayson...”
He shot into her again, his pelvis ricocheting off hers. Gripping her lean waist, his hips sped. His instinct to have her, she could feel radiating as his skin heated against hers and beaded with sweat.
His mouth along her neck, bit into her.
She moaned and bucked against him. It wasn't that bad, she didn't know what he had been talking about and then suddenly – he picked up to a whole new pace. Something she had no idea was even possible.
“Oh.” She let out a whimper and tried her best to endure, gripping his shoulders and knowing she had to pull them out of the moment.
However, he looked to be lost, maybe even taken.
“Grayson.”
His hands took her wrists and pinned her down on the bed, “You're mine.”
Her eyes slammed shut and she cringed as he tensed; his body rigid against her. His teeth biting down on her neck and breaking the surface of her California skin.
She cried out, her knees digging into his sides.
He growled low in his throat and she knew some part of him was lost in that moment.
“Grayson, stop.” she tried to free herself from under him. Everything had been going extremely well and now it really wasn't.
His hands slipped her, in realization to his actions.
She gasped for breath and coughed as he stared down at her, breathing heavy, reality over taking him.
Chloe pursed her lips, it wasn't good. She didn't know what to do. She knew she wasn't hurt that bad. Sore and bruised. Her neck possibly bloody from the bite she had endured, but he had stopped.
Back to his broken lost puppy expression, he turned her chin up and stared down at what he'd done to her, “I'm so sorry, Chloe.”
She blinked and looked up at him, “It’s okay, Gray. I'm... okay.” She could feel him pulling back and it panicked her.
Getting up quick, he grabbed his boxers from the floor, “None of what just happened is okay, Chloe.”
She stared at him, surprised by his quick dressing, “Grayson-”
He found his shirt and put it on, “I could have killed you. I told you that!”
She hugged the blankets to her chest, “Well, you didn't.”
He dropped his hands to his sides and stared at her, “Do you not understand?”
“Understand?” she echoed. “It was nice.”
“You're bleeding!” he shouted.
She shot out of the bed, the blankets wrapped around her, “Stop it, Grayson. You fairly warned me.”
He shook his head and grabbed his jeans from the floor, “Are you happy? You just lost your virginity to a werewolf!”
“I lost my virginity with the boy I love!” she corrected him but it still felt a bit weird to say.
His face softened, “Chloe, you should be terrified of me right now.”
“Can you get over yourself!” she walked to him and grabbed him by his shirt collar.
He pulled up her chin and stared at the bite, “It's better it all worked out this way. You'll be better off without me.”
She stepped away and stared at him, “What are you saying?”
“I need to go...” he walked for the door.
Her heart started to pound in her chest and she panicked, “Grayson, no!” she pushed him away from the door.
He turned and grabbed her, shoving her against the wall, “That's it, Chloe. It's done. I won't hurt you anymore. I won't let myself.”
She grabbed his hand, “Grayson, no, don't do this...”
He grabbed the door knob and pushed her away, “Bye.”
Her eyes filled with tears and he left, her door slamming. Whatever had happened didn't feel real. It didn't have rhyme or reason; there was no logic or sense. Perhaps there had been little sense to begin with but still.
Slipping the wall, she cried into her knees.
Something simple of wanting to be in a relationship, had turned sour on her. Grayson Holtz was gone. Desperate, she hoped it was all just a bad dream.
***
Chloe stared at her reflection. Her eyes puffy, lips swollen, bruises along her neck and collar bone. The bite on her neck, especially purple and ugly.
No dice on her dream hoping.
She dipped the face cloth in the warm water of the sink and washed the bite for the fourth time that day. She didn't need it getting infected. She didn't want to have to explain it to Henry.
He was home though, she could hear him downstairs making supper.
Drying the laceration, she rolled her turtle neck back over the bite. She'd be bound to long necked shirts till it healed, that went without saying.
Even better, not looking at it because every moment she thought of when he'd bit her, it made her warm. Like she cherished a bloody mark on her human flesh.
Leaving the bathroom to her room, she slammed her door and stared at the open laptop. Pinging at her with incoming messages, she sat to her desk.
Dodge Wheeler
Chloe, you around?
Chloe Pryce
Around as I'll ever be, I suppose.
Dodge Wheeler
I thought you were going to call me back.
She sighed, trying to think of an excuse, but realized she didn't have one and she really need to talk to someone... someone who cared about her. Dodge did always seem to care.
Chloe Pryce
Sorry. I met this guy and it's ended pretty badly.
She hit send, about to tell Dodge Wheeler about Grayson Holtz.
Dodge Wheeler
Who? Are you okay?
Chloe Pryce
Well, I guess so. I mean as good as I can get when a guy takes your virginity and runs...
It wasn't the full story, but it was enough and it was how she felt. Furthermore, she didn't think it mattered anyway.
Dodge Wheeler
What! Chloe are you okay?
Who is this guy!
What happened...?
Chloe, I'm speechless.
She whined, her feet jiggling on the ground with her nervous admittance.
Chloe Pryce
Dodge, I'm okay. As much as I can be, I liked him. I know this sucks to hear considering we had... have something. I don't know...
Dodge Wheeler
We never established anything. I have nothing to say to that. I liked you though, Chloe and I'm sorry this happened to you. I figured small-town guys would be much nicer to deal with.
They should have been, she agreed, but it was a wolf she'd fallen in love with and in a week and bit none the less.
Chloe Pryce
Oh, I just got too caught up and was a bit blind. Dodge, please don't tell Stella or anyone...
Dodge Wheeler
No. I won't. Let me come see you.
That made her nervous. What if Grayson saw him with her. It was a mute thought though, Grayson had made it pretty clear they were done. He was done. Done like dinner and melted butter that had cooled down in the dish. That was it, no more Chloe Pryce and Grayson Holtz. The boy she loved wasn't coming back to her.
Chloe Pryce
I'll have to ask my dad.
Dodge Wheeler
Okay. I can come the week before Christmas.
She cringed, one week away, but maybe it would be okay.
A sharp knock at her door, interrupted her thoughts and she spun as it opened.
Henry poked his head in, “Supper, Loe.”
“Alright.” she nodded, this a good of time as any, “Dad, I have this friend, from California, he wants to come visit. I thought, maybe it would be nice considering...”
“A guy friend?” Henry asked, stepping into the room.
“Well, yeah... but...”
“Yeah, I guess so. Maybe you could use some friend interaction, you've been weird.”
“Wow, thanks, Dad.”
He pointed at her, “But no funny business.”
Like what Grayson and her had done. She winced, forcing a smile.
“Thanks, Dad. I'll be down in a minute,” she watched him leave, grumbling.
Chloe Pryce
Dad said yes.
Dodge Wheeler
Awesome. I can probably come for four days.
Chloe Pryce
Sounds good. Talk to you later. Tell me what day you're coming. I can get my dad to pick you up in his police cruiser... that's always fun... kinda.
She smiled as she typed, forgetting about the night before, her sore sides, thighs, and swollen neck. Closing her laptop, she headed down stairs.
The thick smell of chowder filled her nose and her mouth watered. Henry was already eating, a hunting magazine laid out in front of him.
She sat down across from him and lifted her spoon, “Smells good.”
He looked up, “Local Salmon.”
She nodded, eating, the silence between them thickening.
“So, you going to tell me what's going with you and Grayson Holtz?”
Chloe blanched and her eyes shot up to him, “Nothing.”
“Really, Loe?” he raised an eyebrow. “So, what happened at the dance then?”
“Nothing.”
Henry creased his brow, “Chloe, I'm a cop and right now, you're lying.”
She swallowed, “Dad, I don't want to talk about it.”
“Well, I really don't think you two should be in a relationship. I actually don't think you should be in anyrelationship.”
Chloe sighed, “Dad, I'm not with Grayson or near him. We're not friends.”
Henry gave her a look over, “Fine. Good. Sounds good.”
She rolled her eyes and continued to eat, hoping Henry wouldn't question her ever again on Grayson Holtz.
“Just sign me up for the bus route.”