Page 80 of These Wicked Desires

I grip his shoulders and come apart with his name on my lips. He follows me, holding me tightly as he shudders through his own orgasm. When it's over and the last trembling shivers work through my body, I lay my head on his shoulder, content to stay right where we are. Safe. Satisfied. Loved. In his arms I feel it all.

“We really need to go,” he says, rubbing my back. “I do have a meeting I have to be at in like … twenty minutes.”

I nod, but I don’t move. He doesn’t try to make me either. We stay there for another few minutes before he sighs. “Okay. For real this time.”

Reluctantly, I slide off his lap and tug my panties back on while he tucks himself into his pants. “That was fun,” I say. “We should do it more often.” I grin at him, while he climbs back into the driver's seat.

“Just say the word. You know I’ll be there.”

He pulls into the driveway and gives me a lingering kiss before I step out and walk to the porch. As always, Shari’s house smells of some kind of delectable baked good, and judging by the cinnamon scent, it's something I will love. I head to the kitchen, to say hi and to also see if there is anything ready to eat.

“Hi Shari,” I say.

She turns around, wiping her flour covered hands on an apron and beams at me. “Ellis! I didn’t know you were coming today. How are you?”

“I’m good. I wasn’t planning on it, but I caught Sterling leaving and hitched a ride with him.”

She looks over my shoulder, eyes hopeful. “Is he here?”

“No. He just dropped me off. But I’ll make sure he stops in when he picks me up.” I eye the counter, looking for something to snag, and she catches me.

“Would you like a cinnamon cookie? They’re Sterling’s favorite.” She smiles and waves to the counter where a plate of fresh baked goodness waits.

“Thank you.” It’s still warm, like she just took them out of the oven, and the cinnamon and brown sugar on top flake off into my palm. I take a bite and my eyes close. “Oh my gosh,” I mumble around the soft chewy cookie. “This is delicious.” I can totally see why these are Sterling’s favorite.

Shari chuckles. “Thank you. It was my grandmother's recipe.” She hands me a couple more on a napkin. “Take one to Grace. See if you can get her to eat one.”

“How has she been?” I ask, my stomach falling.

“About the same. Chloe has been trying to get her to eat, but she only picks at her food. She has been more willing to leave the room, but she needs to be assured there are no men in the house when she does.”

My heart clenches. I don’t think Sam did anything to her like he did to me. But just the brutal treatment she endured from him is enough to scar her. I understand that feeling all too well. I’ve put off forcing her to talk to me, but I think maybe I should step in.

“Thank you. For everything. For letting her stay here. Her and Cade’s family. We really appreciate it.”

Shari waves off my thanks. “Don’t mention it. With Cole out of the house helping Sterling, it’s nice to have other people around. And it gives me an excuse to cook.”

I laugh and snag one more cookie before heading upstairs. Chloe and her mom are still in the same room. Cade’s mom has improved, but is still incredibly weak. I haven’t ventured in to talk to her yet. My nerves always get the better of me, and I chicken out. I’m not sure why I’m so scared to meet her. Maybe it’s because she’s sick and so weak, I’m afraid it will just be awkward.

Gracie has a separate room right next door, and I knock before poking my head in. “Gracie? It’s me, Ellis.”

She’s out of bed, wrapped in a blanket and sitting next to the window looking out. She doesn’t acknowledge my presence, but I step into the room anyway and sit on the edge of the bed.

“Shari made cinnamon cookies. They are really good. Would you like one?”

No answer. I bite my lip and glance out the window. The view overlooks the woods behind the house. The same woods we crept through all those months ago for Sterling to see his mom and brother. The same woods I realized I wanted to accept him as my mate. The man who was there the night I thought my sister was killed. She may have not truly died that night, but her life did end. The life she knew with her family, the life of comfort and love, was taken from her. She lived so long under Sam. Longer than I did. I’m not sure it will be possible for her to come back from it. But I’m certainly going to try.

“The weather is really nice today,” I say. “It’s the kind of weather we used to love as kids. When the last few days of summer warmth were joined with a chilly fall breeze.” I look at her, hoping to see some kind of reaction, but her face is blank. I don’t even know if she’s hearing what I’m saying. “Do you want to sit outside with me?” I hold my breath. If she says no, or ignores me, I’m not sure I’ll be able to handle it. It’s one of the reasons I haven’t visited as often as I should.

It hurts to see her like this. Gracie was always so full of life. She was the one who encouraged me to do things I was too scared to try. She was the reason we got into so much trouble with our mom. I never saw her without a smile. This zombie version of her is just too painful.

I’m about to get up and leave when she nods. My heart leaps into my throat and I swallow back the lump it forms. “Yeah? Okay. Let’s go.”

She keeps the blanket around her, and I lead her downstairs to the porch. Shari has a rocking bench with cushions and pillows positioned to look out over the beautiful landscape of the pack lands. Her house is off on its own, tucked away in a clearing in the woods. It’s peaceful with the wind blowing through the trees and the sounds of insects. The sky is just starting to turn the palest shades of pink and orange as the sun slowly sinks lower to the horizon.

We sit in silence for a few minutes while I gather my courage to say something. Before I get the opportunity, the Hummer pulls up the driveway. Cade and Kai climb out and approach the house, hand in hand. I don’t give them the chance to get close to Gracie. When she saw them get out of the car, her entire body stiffened. So I hop down the porch and stop them.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

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