She wrapped her arms and legs around him as he quivered against her chest. She felt tears streaming over her skin as his breathing came in ragged pants.
“Siren…” he murmured, kissing her neck and chest. “I’ve never… That was….”
“I know. You don’t have to say anything else.”
He pulled back, another tear falling on her neck. “Let me get you something,” he said climbing off the bed. He dropped the condom in the garbage and pulled the baby wipes from the first aid kit. He returned to the bed and asked her softly if he could wash her off.
“Yeah,” she said, opening her legs for him.
He gently washed off her pussy as she stroked his hair, loving the feeling of him tending to her needs.
He tossed the wet wipes and crawled back under the blankets beside her.
“Can I hold you?” he asked.
Siren balked at this request. The sex had been fantastic. But she knew she was still holding back. Orgasms were one thing, but tender affection was another.
She let out a long sigh and opened her arms. “Okay,” she said.
He sank into her arms, resting his head on her chest. She stroked his hair and his cheek, kissing the top of his head.
Deep down, she knew that it would come. She wouldn’t be able to hold it back forever. The quiet, stable commitment of the mate bond would eventually overwhelm her. She wouldn’t be able to resist it.
But she knew she wasn’t ready yet, not ready to give in to the overwhelming desire to let him behind her walls. To see her fully and completely. Emotionally stripped bare and naked before him.
She kissed him on the top of the head again and told him good night, before rolling over towards the wall.
“Good night, Siren. Sweet dreams.”
Siren took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to hold back the tide of emotions threatening to tear her carefully constructed solitude to shreds.
Chapter
Fourteen
Siren woketo the sound of birds twittering outside the van’s windows. Morning light filtered through the curtains and illuminated Reed’s sleeping face. His hair fell across his forehead, making him look soft and adorable.
She watched him for a moment, the memory of the night before washing through her mind. Her wolf growled inside her, reigniting her desire. Her canines lengthened, and she squeezed her eyes closed, trying to push the memory aside.
Last night had been a mistake. Even though she’d done everything in her power to maintain a wall between them, it hadn’t worked. Reed’s beauty and compliance were so alluring and attractive to her that there was no way she could hide from it any longer.
She was on a mission, and allowing the distraction was a temporary lapse in judgment that she wouldn’t allow to happen again.
She slipped out of bed without waking him and started coffee on the small stove. By the time he stirred, she had two mugsready and she was already dressed in her Sarah Phillips disguise. A pair of white linen slacks, sandals, and a light cotton knit cardigan.
“Morning,” he said, his voice rough with sleep.
“Coffee’s ready. We need to move.”
He didn’t mention last night. Didn’t push for a connection. He just took the mug she offered and started getting ready.
As they drank their coffee and fueled up for the morning, they broke camp. Reed folded the bed back into the dinette configuration, stowed the blankets, and cleaned up the coffee while Siren packed up everything outside.
Bob and Linda were outside their Airstream when they pulled out of their campsite. Linda waved and Bob raised his coffee mug in salute.
“Safe travels, you two,” Linda called.
Siren waved, the cover of their fictional marriage holding strong.
