Page 21 of July's Bad Boy: Blaze

Her heels dig into my ass as her hips meet me thrust for thrust. The pressure builds in my balls as I try to hold out for her to go over the edge first. Thankfully, a few more thrusts and she clamps down on my cock with my name on her lips. I’m grateful no one is around because I sure do love hearing her yell my name.

My orgasm is one of the strongest I've ever felt. I lie there with my face buried in her neck, trying to catch my breath. Once my heart has stopped racing, I get up and remove the condom and clean myself up. Then I get a washcloth and warm water to clean Grace up.

"You don't have to do that," she says.

"I know," is all I say.

As I finish cleaning Grace, I can't help but feel a sense of intimacy that goes beyond the physical. She looks up at me with an expression that's hard to read, but it’s easy to see the wheels turning in her mind. I toss the washcloth aside and climb back into bed with her, pulling her close. Her head rests on my chest, and I can feel her breathing slowly return to normal.

As we lay there, my fingers trace lazy patterns on her bare shoulder. The storm outside has passed, leaving behind a pristine silence broken only by our breathing and the occasional pop from the dying fire.

"What are you thinking?" I ask, my voice hushed in the quiet room.

She's quiet for so long, I think she might not answer. Then, "I'm thinking that I want to trust this. Trust you."

"But?" I prompt, hearing the unspoken hesitation.

"But I've been burned before." She props herself up on one elbow to look at me, her eyes serious. "Not just romantically. By life. By people who meant well but left, anyway."

I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, letting my fingers linger against her cheek. "I don't want this to be temporary," I tell her. "Not this. Not you."

"Then prove it," she says, her voice both challenge and plea. "Because I can't survive another person walking away."

The weight of her words settles over me. I've never been good at staying. I've always been the one looking for the exit, planning my next move. But looking at her now, I can't imagine wanting to be anywhere else.

"I will," I promise, and I've never meant anything more.

She kisses me again, and we lose ourselves in each other once more, the outside world forgotten for a little while longer.

Eventually, though, reality intrudes. The sun is high now and the storm has passed. We need to get back to town.

"Ready to face civilization again?" I ask as we dress.

"Are you?" she counters with a small smile.

"Ready as I'll ever be."

We gather our things and step outside into the brilliant post-storm sunlight. The sun glistens off the water left by the rain, giving everything a little sparkle. The ground is all mud. No sooner have I stepped out of the door of the cabin than I come face to face with a massive grey wolf.

"Shit, get back in the cabin," I tell Grace while backing up through the door. I try to push her back inside without taking my eyes off the wolf that is still sitting and watching me.

"What? Why?” she asks, trying to push around me.

"Wolf," is all I say before she pushes through the door. Even though I try to reach for her arm, I can’t because Grace is too fast.

She walks right up to the wolf and starts petting it like she's Cinder-fucking-ella as I stay frozen in the doorway.

"This is Hades. He’s become a town pet. Jackson found him abandoned as a pup and raised him. He's wild but friendly, and he has helped wherever he can. He fell in love with one of Mack's sled dogs, and they had puppies, so there are some half-wolf pups people have as pets around town, too."

I stare at her petting this wolf like he's a dog. He rubs his head against her and closes his eyes as she starts talking to him.

"I don't know how you knew we were here, but I'm glad you did. If you come back to my truck with us, I have some snacks there for you," she says. Then she looks up at me. "Come pet him. I promise he's friendly."

Walking over, I tentatively reach out to pet Hades. The massive wolf leans into my touch, his fur surprisingly soft under my fingers. I glance at Grace, who smiles encouragingly. This woman constantly surprises me, and her comfort with this wild creature only adds to her allure. The tension I felt moments ago dissipates, replaced by a warmth that spreads through me as Hades accepts my touch.

"See, he's friendly," Grace says, her voice soft but confident. She scratches behind Hades's ears, and the wolf closes his eyes in contentment. I can't help but feel a sense of peace wash over me, a stark contrast to the usual chaos of my life.

We spend a few more moments with Hades before heading back to the truck, Hades leading the way. The walk back to the truck is companionable, with our hands occasionally brushing, and small smiles exchanged. It feels like we're sharing a secret, which I suppose we are.

---