Page 45 of Healing Creek
It had been an empty room with a large bed. Now, a lush green plant with delicate white blooms sat on the small side table. A hairbrush he’d found in a supply room sat beside it. On a small shelf built into the wall above the bed, a cutting from another plant stood in water in a small plastic cup Grace had brought from the med-bay. Tiny roots had begun to sprout from the submerged half, just as she promised. Given time, it would turn into a new plant. It seemed a fitting symbol of their relationship. Delicate but growing, it might become something lasting.
Time was running out. In only two days they would reach Haven. All of Creek’s history would be dragged out to haunt him again. Mercury would have no choice but to distance himself and his pack from him. Their cause was important. It was one Creek wanted to fight for. It remained to be seen if he would be forced to leave again. This time to keep from tainting Mercury’s cause with his reputation. He hoped he would be able to stay, to fight with them—if not standing shoulder to shoulder, then at least fighting the same battles.
Grace tugged him down to sit on the bed. She knelt behind him and helped pull his tunic over his head. She ran her hands skillfully from his shoulder down his arm, messaging muscle and easing joint pain with her warmth. Her touch was magic. His mind drifted with the pleasure.
When she shifted to his other shoulder, his thoughts sharpened on the days ahead. Would she turn away from him. He might be a fool, but he didn’t think she would. He didn’t deserve her. Nevertheless, he intended to do all he could to keep her.
“Creek,” she said softly.
“Hmm?”
“There is something I have to tell you.”
Something in her tone focused his mind and made him truly hear her. Her voice had been shaky, her breathing quicker than normal.
He seized her hand and laced their fingers together. “What is it, Butterfly?”
“Feeona told me today that Roma put out a bounty for me.”
Ah. So that’s what was troubling her. Jupiter had also told him, but he was glad Grace had decided to tell him herself. Creek pulled her into his arms. “I have no pack to protect you, but I will guard your life with all that I am.”
Her eyes blinked wide then she smiled and stroked his cheek. “Just as you’ve been doing since the day we met.” She swept a thumb over his bottom lip and lifted her face for a kiss. He could do no less than meet her halfway. She tasted like ripe berries and sweet cream.
Creek ran his hands along her toned body. She was already starting to put on a little weight from eating better and he enjoyed her softness. The extra fuel would also help her build muscle with their trips to the gym. He liked seeing her confidence improve day-by-day. He slipped his hands under her sweater, and she happily helped him remove it. Each night they’d spent together she’d become more comfortable with his touch.
“Grace—”
“Yes,” she said, before he could finish. “Yes, I want you, my love.”
A fist squeezed his heart. He hadn’t expected to hear love words from her. Not when he hadn’t given her all of his truth. But she offered them and he would hold them tightly.
Grace lay down and smiled up at him as she shimmied out of her trousers, leaving her in barely-there undergarments. Her beauty took his breath.
Creek pressed his palm over her heart. “You have the most perfect heart I have ever known.”
She put one hand over his and the other on his chest over his heart. “It’s perfect for you and yours is perfect for me.”
Creek contemplated the darkness of a world without her in it…if the medics hadn’t saved her. Then he nodded and let the moment pass. It was hard to think of serious things when she lay nearly bare before him. He slipped his hand beneath her bra and covered one soft swell then the other.
Apparently unsatisfied with such a gentle touch she quickly released the clasp and bared her breasts for him. Tempting fruit he was eager to taste. He bent down and flicked his tongue against her nipple as he stroked the other with his hand. When she squirmed beneath him and moaned, he took a bigger mouthful and let his dangerous teeth press against her softness, sucking strongly. She moaned again. A sound so sweet he had to hear it over and over until he couldn’t stand not having more of her.
Creek stood and slipped out of his clothes while she slipped out of her panties. How could something so simple coax the simmering embers of his lust to full flame? He settled his big body over her, careful not to crush her with his weight, but needing as much skin to skin as he could get. She never seemed concerned by his size as other women had been. She wrapped her arms around him as if she wanted to imprint his bigger body on hers.
He nipped carefully at her smile, coaxing her mouth open. Dipping inside, he twisted his tongue with hers. She met him eagerly, responding with her tongue and hands that stroked his body everywhere she could reach. Each touch lit sparks of magic fire that threatened to consume him.
Reaching down, he coaxed her thighs open. When she slid her legs up and apart, cradling him against her hot core, his heart nearly stopped. He wanted that wet heat on his cock and he hurried to align their bodies. The anticipation was heaven. It was hell. His balls drew tight with the need to cum. He pulled away from her delicious mouth to throw back his head and roar out his need in an effort not to shove into her. He would go slow. He would be gentle.
The first thrust of her hips against him dismantled his good intentions. He didn’t thrust into her, but it was a near thing. Instead, he thrust against her, his hardness against her soft heat. It took all his effort to wait for her pleas for more before he adjusted his hips again. This time to push into her welcoming sheath. He reminded himself to go slow and gentle, but his desire, and hers, was too strong a temptation and he thrust deep. Taking care to put pressure where she needed it, he stroked again and again until she screamed his name in pleasure. Then he followed her into bliss.
***
For a few shining moments Grace lay atop Creek, feeling very satisfied with her life choices. He’d rolled onto his back and pulled her with him. His rough fingers were stroking up and down her back as he held her against his chest. It was probably mostly the fact that the lights were on full, but the whole world seemed brighter. Her body felt lighter. Her mind blessedly empty.
She knew the feeling couldn’t last. The moment the haze started to clear, thoughts of her sister crept in. The bounty on her head and Creek’s worry over their upcoming arrival at Haven ate at her peace.
One of Creek’s hands found hers and he laced their fingers together. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “You’re thinking too much,” he said.
“Am I?”
