“No, I’m sorry. I should’ve told you about Jeff. If I had known, we’d see him, I would’ve said something.”
“It’s fine.”
“No, it’s not. He wore your father’s death like a trophy. It was never okay.” She throws her hands up. “Ugh, I’m so mad. I should’ve known.”
“I guess I ruined your birthday, huh?” I rub the back of my neck.
“What?” Her eyes soften. “Are you kidding me? This is the best birthday I’ve ever had. No one has ever done anything like this for me before.”
Given today’s mess, it bothers me that my gesture to reunite her with Jeff and Casey for an afternoon was the nicest thing anyone had ever done for her. She deserves so much more than the bare minimum. I’ll spend every day trying to prove that to her.
“Listen—” Jay starts to ramble and goddess if she isn’t the cutest thing when she does. “—Despite everything, I don’t blame you if you still hate me but—”
“Wait, wait, hold up. You think I hate you?” My brow furrows together, and I’m sure the shock is etched all over my face.
“Don’t you?” she asks softly.
I shake my head. After everything, how could she think I still hate her? “I hate what you do to me.”
“I’m not doing anything to you.”
I smile and gnaw on the inside of my cheek at the ridiculous notion. She doeseverythingto me. “That’s what I hate the most. You don’t even have to try, and I still find myself obsessed with you.”
Jay searches my face for any indication that I’m lying, probably thinking this is another means to humiliate her. I wonder how horrified she’ll be to find out I mean every word. She opens her mouth, unconvinced I—who, up until this point, has been nothing but cold to her—could possibly feel warmth toward her. I can’t blame her hesitation.
Her voice shakes. “You’re—You’re obsessed with me?”
“Unless you can tell me a stronger word for it, yes.”
Her eyes dart back and forth between mine as her mind appears to be racing a million miles a minute. “But what about Medein?”
I step toward her and hook a crooked finger under her chin, lifting her gaze to mine. “I’minlove with you, Jay. Madly. Deeply. I can’t think of anyone else. Thereisno one else.”
She blushes, flustered from what must be, to her, an absurd confession.
I can tell she isn’t sure what to do with my declaration, so I make it easy on her and kiss her. Our kiss deepens, and I lift her into my arms, and she wraps her legs around my waist, spreading herself open for me.
Our tongues massage each other. Her nipples peak and harden against my chest. Her skin is wet and slick against mine in the water. I’ve waited so long for this—more than just this moment—that I can’t wait any longer.
A frustrated growl escapes me and into her mouth. “I need you to get there, Jay.”
“I’m there,” she breathes. “Fuck me, Caleb. Please.”
Even through the water, I can smell her arousal and hear that pussy pulsing.
I bite my lip and moan. “Oh, you know I can’t resist you when you beg.”
I position myself at her entrance and thrust upward in one motion. I stretch her walls, burying it inside until she can’t take any more of me. My hands slide to her hips, holding her firmly in place, pumping relentlessly in her heated center until both of us are delirious.
“Mark me.”
My eyes roll to the back of my head, and I groan.
Ah, she’s killing me.
As much as I want to, I can’t. Her wolf isn’t ready yet.
I moan. “Not yet.” Butfuckdid I want to now.
