Page 49 of Wolf's Whisper

Her words hit like a thunderclap in my chest. I’ve heard variations of that before—people trying to tell me my scars don’t define me, that they’re just marks on the surface. But with Janelle, it feels different. It feels real. She isn’t dismissing them; she’s accepting them as part of me.

I grip her waist tighter, pulling her closer until there’s no space left between us. My lips find hers again, this time with more urgency, more need. The heat building between us is undeniable, but there’s also this undercurrent of something softer—a vulnerability we’re both sharing in this moment.

“Janelle,” I murmur against her lips as my hands trail up her sides, I pull back just enough to look at her, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. “You’re the incredible one,” I say, my voice thick with emotion. “You’ve been through so much, Janelle. And you’re still here. Still standing.”

She shakes her head with a small laugh, her fingers tracing idle patterns on my arm. “We’re not doing the pain Olympics tonight, Onyx,” she teases, though there’s no bite in her tone. “This is about us. Not what broke us, but what’s building us.”

I blink at her words, stunned by their weight and truth. She has this way, this maddeningly beautiful way, of cutting right to the core of things, stripping away all the noise and leavingnothing but clarity in her wake. It’s humbling. And it’s terrifying. But it’s also why I’m here, why I can’t pull away from her even if I tried.

“You’re right,” I say, my voice steadier now, though my heart is still doing somersaults in my chest. “This is about us.”

Her smile softens, and she steps back just enough to tug me toward the bed. I let her guide me, the trust between us an unspoken thread pulling tighter with each passing moment. As we sink onto the mattress together, the world outside feels like it’s melting away. It’s just her and me, wrapped up in something that feels bigger than either of us but grounded in this small, sacred space we’ve created.

The way she touches me—gentle yet purposeful—feels like a discovery. Her hands map out every inch of me like she’s memorizing every detail, every curve, every scar. It’s almost too much, the way she looks at me like I’m the only thing in the universe worth noticing. My breath catches in my throat as she presses her lips to my collarbone, then to the hollow of my neck. I feel like I’m unraveling, piece by piece, under her touch.

“Janelle,” I whisper her name like a prayer, my hands sliding up her back to pull her closer. “You’re killing me here.”

She chuckles softly against my skin, her breath warm and teasing. “Good,” she murmurs, nipping lightly at my shoulder. “Because you’re driving me crazy too.”

I can’t help but laugh, the sound breaking through the intensity of the moment like a ray of sunshine. “We’re quite the pair,” I say, my voice low but filled with affection. “A bounty hunter and a mom of three. Who would’ve thought?”

She stands before me, and I crouch down to gently nip at the delicate curve of her neck. My lips trail down her skin, feeling her pulse quicken beneath them. I let my hands explore her, too, tracing over the curves and planes of her body with a reverence I didn’t know I was capable of. Every soft gasp, every quiet moanfrom her lips spurs me on, urging me to show her just how much I want her—how much I care for her.

“Onyx,” she whispers my name like it’s a prayer, her fingers tangling in my hair as she pulls me closer. The sound of it sends a shiver down my spine, and I can’t help the small smile that tugs at my lips.

“Yeah?” I murmur against the hollow of her throat, pressing a kiss there before looking up to meet her gaze. Her eyes are dark and full of something that makes my stomach flip—desire mixed with trust, with love.

“Don’t stop,” she says softly but firmly, her voice carrying a weight that makes my chest tighten in the best way possible. I nod, my lips brushing against her skin again as I follow her silent command, letting her guide me as much as I’m guiding myself. Every touch, every kiss feels like a promise I’m making, and keeping, to her. The world outside fades into nothingness as we lose ourselves in the connection between us. Each kiss, each touch is a conversation, saying all the things we don’t have words for yet. Her breath hitches as my lips graze her shoulder, and I pause, letting the moment linger.

“You okay?” I ask softly, pulling back just enough to search her face.

Her lips curve into a smile that’s equal parts sweet and mischievous. “Better than okay,” she whispers. “But you really don’t have to keep asking.”

I chuckle, feeling a little sheepish. “Sorry. Old habit.”

She shakes her head, her fingers brushing my cheek. “Don’t apologize. I like it. Makes me feel… cared for.”

I grin at that, leaning into her touch. “Well, get used to it,” I say, my voice low but steady. “Because that’s not changing anytime soon.”

I gently take the bottom of her shirt and look for permission from her in the same way she had done with me. Her nod issubtle but sure, and I carefully lift the fabric over her head, letting it join mine on the floor. My breath catches as I take her in—her strength, her softness, every inch of her that tells a story I want to learn by heart.

“God, Janelle,” I murmur, unable to stop myself. “You’re beautiful.” I softly press my lips against the curve of her breast, savoring its warmth and softness beneath my touch.

Her breath hitches, but she doesn't pull away. Instead, her hands find their way to my face, cradling it as if I’m something fragile, something precious. I don’t think I’ve ever been looked at like this before—like I’m not just wanted but needed. It’s overwhelming and grounding all at once.

I slowly trail my lips to her other breast, savoring the taste of her skin as I slip my tongue out to caress it before pulling back just slightly, my breath mingling with hers as I look up at her face. Her eyes are half-closed, her lips parted in a way that makes my heart stutter. She’s breathtaking like this—completely unguarded and trusting me with every part of her.

“Janelle,” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. “You’re everything.”

She lets out a shaky laugh, her fingers sliding through my hair and tugging gently. “You keep saying things like that, and I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do with myself,” she murmurs, but there’s no hesitation in her touch, no doubt in the way she holds me close.

“Just let me love you,” I reply softly, the words leaving my lips before I even realize I’ve said them. And oh, how true they feel. They hang in the air between us for a moment, heavy and raw, before she leans down and captures my mouth in a kiss that steals my breath away. It’s not hurried or frenzied—it’s deliberate and filled with meaning, like she’s answering me without needing to say a word. Her lips move against mine, softand sure, and I lose myself in the way she feels, the way she tastes.

I pull her closer, my arms wrapping around her waist as if I can keep this moment frozen in time. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you,” I murmur against her lips, the words tumbling out before I can stop them.

She pulls back just slightly, her eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that makes my chest tighten. Looking into my eyes, "Let's not speak anymore. I want you to show you how much you mean to me." She gently brushed his lips against mine, igniting a fire within me. "I want to make love to you until the stars fade from the sky."

My hands find their way to her hips, pulling her closer until there’s not an inch of space left between us. Her words echo in my mind, and all I can think about is making her feel safe, cherished, adored.

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