Page 15 of Taken By the Wolf Daddy

I nodded in understanding, my heart heavy with the knowledge that my daughter was going through such a challenging time. It was moments like these that reminded me of the importance of keeping our family safe and protected.

Marie’s hand reached across the space between us, her fingers gently entwining with mine. The simple act of her touch sent a spark of electricity coursing through me, igniting a desire that had been smoldering beneath the surface for far too long. It was a temptation I could no longer ignore, and I could see in her eyes that she felt the same.

As our fingers interlocked, our gazes locked in a silent understanding. The room seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of us, suspended in a moment of longing and unspoken words. The pull between us had grown undeniable, impossible to resist any longer.

Marie hesitated, her words laced with vulnerability before she finally talked. “Jesse, there’s something I need to say. Something I’ve been feeling for a long time.”

I looked at her, my heart pounding in my chest. “What is it, Marie?” I could tell that this was going to be heavy, even before she spoke.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke the words that had been on her mind for so long. “I… have been attracted to you. For a long time now.”

My breath caught in my throat. I couldn’t believe she was saying this out loud. It must have been the danger in the air making her more honest than she should be. I knew that really, this was my time to shut it down, but I guess I was tired too. I was too exhausted and fraught from the danger. I couldn’t hide it any longer.

“Marie.” A jolt of emotion bolted through me. This was really hard. “I have feelings for you, too.”

Our confession hung in the air, a fragile moment of truth that had the power to change everything. The undeniable connection between us had finally been laid bare, and we couldn’t ignore it any longer. It was becoming too big, too intense, we couldn’t push it aside any longer.

“I love you,” she whispered, leaning her head on my shoulder. She felt so comfortable there, it was insane. Like she was always meant to be there. “That’s what I really want to say. Not just that I have feelings for you, but that I’m pretty sure it’s love. Like, deep love, you know? Once in a lifetime type love.”

Oh wow. I stared at her, lying on my shoulder with the stress rolling off her at long last. It seemed like she really needed to say that. “Marie, I love you, too,” I admitted. But doubt and fear still lingered. “But what we feel… It’s strong, but it’s also complicated. Your father is my best friend, and he’ll be hurt and angry if he finds out. We both know that.”

Marie nodded, her own worries mirroring mine. “I know, Jesse, and I’m scared, too. But I don’t want to die knowing I never told you how I feel. Even if there’s an age gap, obviously, and you’re my boss. I know this shouldn’t happen, but I can’t help but want it.”

I squeezed her hand a little tighter, letting her know that I felt the same way. But we both knew this couldn’t happen. Marie and I reluctantly broke apart, our hearts still pounding with the intensity of our emotions. We exchanged a knowing glance, both aware of the complicated situation we now found ourselves in. With her father just inside, discretion was of utmost importance. We could not get caught. No way.

I made my way inside the house, my steps cautious as I entered Belle’s room. The soft glow of the night light revealed her peaceful form, asleep in her bed. I couldn’t help but smile as I watched her, a surge of affection filling my heart. Gently, I lifted her into my arms, careful not to wake her. She stirred for a moment but settled back into her dreams, her small fingers curling around my shirt. I took Belle outside and said a silent goodbye to Marie before it was time for me to go home.

As I drove away from Marie’s house, Belle sleeping peacefully in the back seat, my mind was a whirlwind of emotions. The revelation of our love had left me both elated and apprehensive, and I couldn’t help but ponder the complexities of our situation. The quiet hum of the engine filled the car as I navigated the darkened streets of our hamlet. The world outside was shrouded in darkness, much like the uncertainty that lingered in my heart.

I stole a glance at Belle, her innocent face relaxed in sleep. She was my world, my most precious treasure, and the thought of anything jeopardizing her safety or happiness filled me with a profound sense of protectiveness. She loved Marie, which helped a lot, but that didn’t mean we could be together, did it? Not really. Thank God I was almost home, because I needed to sleep on this so I could make some rational decisions in the morning.

However, as I parked the car and stepped out onto the porch, the exhaustion quickly turned into shock. There, waiting for me, was a real surprise. A woman from my past, the one I had tried so hard to forget. Once upon a time, I thought she was ‘the one’.

Ophelia Roberts.

My heart sank as I spotted her standing in front of the house like she belonged there. She was undeniably striking with her dark hair and brown eyes that could ensnare anyone who looked into them. But beneath that beauty lay a tumultuous, unpredictable nature that I had experienced first-hand during our tumultuous past.

Ophelia and I had once been involved in a passionate and intense relationship, but it had ended in chaos and heartbreak. She was possessive to an unhealthy degree, and her emotional instability had driven a wedge between us. After our breakup, she had become increasingly unpredictable, and the news that she was back in town filled me with dread.

My heart skipped a beat as I stared at her, disbelief washing over me. “Ophelia?” I stammered, struggling to comprehend why she was here, on my porch, in this small hamlet in Wyoming.

She looked at me with those eyes that had once drawn me in, her gaze intense and filled with longing. “Jesse,” she whispered, her voice soft and sultry, “I had to find you.”

Confusion gnawed at me as I tried to process her presence. “But why, Ophelia? What could you possibly want with me? Things ended badly and I thought we planned to never see one another again.”

She stepped closer, a seductive smile playing on her lips. “Jesse, that was then. Things can be different now.”

I took a step back, my heart pounding in my chest. “No, Ophelia. Nothing is different. What are you doing?”

Despite my words, she moved even closer, her intent clear. She reached out to touch my face, and I instinctively pulled away. The memories of our tumultuous past flooded my mind, and I knew that giving in to her advances would only lead to more heartache.

She tried to kiss me, her lips brushing against mine, but I turned my head to avoid her. “Ophelia, please,” I pleaded, my voice filled with desperation. “You need to go. This can’t happen.”

“You don’t want this?” She wiggled her eyebrows playfully. “That doesn’t make any sense. You always want this.”

“No, Ophelia,” I said, my voice firm despite the tremor of fear running through me. “I don’t want this anymore. You need to leave. Now.”

Her playful expression twisted into one of anger, and she crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t believe you,” she hissed. “You’ve always wanted me, Jesse. What’s changed?”

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