Page 12

Chapter Nine

Gavin was nervous. Neither of them had said anything, but he was certain the moment they reached their peaks and he slid out of her, his girl was going to go back into that dark place again.

He hated that place. He didn’t understand what the fuck was happening to her or what it meant. All he could do was pray that it had something to do with her first shift and wouldn’t happen again.

But he had his doubts.

He gritted his teeth as his precious Little girl rode him harder, slamming down with such force that his cock was buried deeper than he would have thought possible with each thrust.

He kept his finger in her tight bottom, moving it in sync with her thrusts, giving her what she needed, and so fucking impressed and proud of her for asking for this.

His girl was strong. She’d told him she was shy and introverted and hadn’t had many friends, but with him, she would not be that timid Little girl.

She would be confident and free with him.

She would laugh and play. She would be naughty when necessary and accept his palm on her bottom when she craved his discipline.

Her body hovered for a long heartbeat before her channel seized around his cock. All the breath left her lungs as she writhed with her release. He watched her for a few seconds, holding back until he couldn’t any longer.

His vision blurred as he came hard, the force of his ejaculation against her cervix causing him to see stars.

Luckily he had the wherewithal to hold on to her with his free hand as they floated back to Earth because she started shaking violently almost instantly. Her hands came to her ears.

He didn’t understand that at all. He’d never heard of anyone’s mate having issues with their ears during the transition period.

As quickly as possible, Gavin pulled his finger out of her tight hole and lifted her off his lap. He took a few seconds to grab a wipe for his hand before scooping her up and carrying her into the bathroom.

This time, he turned on the water for the giant tub, hoping a cool bath would soothe her.

It was hard to hold on to his mate. She bucked and squirmed violently in his arms. Her eyes were once again squeezed shut as if the light bothered her.

Perhaps every single one of her senses were painfully heightened.

That would explain her covering her ears, closing her eyes, and fighting against him as though his very touch was too much to bear.

As soon as the water was high enough, he climbed in, sat against the back of the tub, and arranged her between his legs.

She was nearly hyperventilating.

Panic crawled up Gavin’s spine. This was not normal. Granted, he’d never been present for any other mate’s transition, but he was well-educated on the subject. No one had described it like this.

Gasping for air, Molly gripped the edges of the tub before suddenly scooting down and completely submerging herself.

Gavin’s breath hitched as he watched his mate disappear under the water. Her long hair floated all around him, making it hard to see her face.

Seconds ticked by while he watched in horror, but when he reached for her wrist to pull her up, she grabbed his arm, held tight, and shook her head. What the living hell?

He held his own breath, counting, thinking to give her only a few more seconds before he forced her out of the water. Just when he was about to yank her up, she popped out, gasping for oxygen.

Her hair plastered to her face and all around her body.

Gavin started to speak, but he didn’t get a chance before she did it again, diving back under the water. “Fuck.” This time he gathered her hair to one side so he could at least see her.

Molly stared up at him through the water. She lay very still, looking a hundred times more peaceful. She slowly wrapped her tiny fingers around his wrist where he held her hair and gave him a strange reassuring squeeze. Her eyes were clearer.

Gavin’s jaw was tight as he kept a close eye on her. Whatever the fuck was happening, he didn’t like it. He trusted her, though. He would do his best to honor her wishes.

She popped back up again, panting, dragging in as much oxygen as she could, and then gone.

Fucking hell.

His heart couldn’t take this. He swooshed her hair out of the way yet again. This time he set his hand loosely on her chest, needing to feel her heart. It beat strong with no sign of panic from her. Her lack of panic kept him in check.

In a flash of movement, Molly popped out of the water, spun around, straddled him, lined his cock up with her hand, and thrust downward.

Gavin’s head fell backward. He had to grab the edges of the tub to steady himself. His mate was full of surprises.

She flattened her body against his, her arms coming around him to hug him tight. “Sorry.”

He chuckled as he found a brain cell and spread his palms on her back. “Molly, you never need to apologize for climbing over my cock. But I wouldn’t mind understanding why you’re trying to make my heart stop with all this submerging yourself under water.”

“I don’t know,” she murmured.

He kissed the top of her head. “You don’t know…”

“It’s quiet.”

“Is it too loud in here?” he teased.

“Yes.”

He stiffened. Was she serious?

“Except when you’re inside me. And when I’m under water.”

He rubbed her back, trying to make sense of her words and coming up short.

“I think I’m ready to shift.”

“I suspect you are, Little one.”

“I want to stay right here for a minute longer, okay?”

He chuckled again and tipped her head back. “Precious mate of mine, like I said, sit on my cock any time you want.”

She bit her lip, smiling. “Water would flood the bathroom if I started bouncing up and down.”

“I don’t give a fuck if water floods the entire house, Little one. Bounce on my dick if that’s what you need.”

She stared at him. “I need to shift.”

“Okay.”

“Can I do it in here?”

“In the tub?”

“No. I mean in the house. Or even in the bathroom.”

He nodded. “Assuming you’re not as large as Felix’s mate, Khloe. I guess we’ll find out.”

Molly frowned. “She’s big?”

“Enormous.”

Molly’s brows furrowed. “I’ve never seen a large female wolf.”

“Neither had any of us.”

“Will I be big?”

“I don’t know, Little one. Nothing would surprise me at this point. But don’t you worry. The bathroom is large. You’ll be fine. Would you like to get out, dry off, and try?”

She shook her head. “There won’t be time to dry off.”

He frowned. This was so unbelievably surreal. “How do you know?”

She shrugged. “I don’t have any idea. I just know. When I lift off you, I’m going to shift.”

The oddest part was that she had such clarity, not just about this topic but in general. Females on the verge of their first shift did not experience this level of clarity ordinarily. They were usually scared and confused. Shivering. Burning up from their body temperature.

He cupped her face and kissed her lips. Her heart was calm.

He believed in his soul she was right. She was so certain.

“I’m going to lift you out of the tub and set you on your feet.

Don’t fight it. Sometimes it helps to close your eyes and take a deep breath.

Let your wolf come to the surface. Before you know it, you’ll be on all fours.

I’ll climb out behind you and be right next to you the entire time, okay? ”

“Yes, Daddy.” She reached with her tiny hands to press them to his cheeks. “I’m not scared.”

He smiled. “My brave girl.” One more kiss. “Ready?”

“Yes.”

He grabbed her around the waist, and in one swift move, lifted her off his cock and over the side of the tub to set her on her feet.

He kept one hand on her hip to be sure she didn’t slip and fall, but she took a step back out of his reach, closed her eyes, inhaled deeply, and let the shimmer of the shift take over.

Before he could move to get out of the tub, his gorgeous mate was on all fours in the middle of the bathroom.

Fuck, she was stunning. Her fur was the same nearly black color of her human hair. She was most definitely not huge like Khloe. In fact, she was kind of small.

She also wasn’t scared. He could scent her calm in the air. She drew in a deep breath through her nostrils and let it out of her snout. As she lowered to sit on her haunches, Gavin climbed out of the tub.

He never released her gaze. His heart swelled as he fell deeper in love with her. Peace washed through him. She was perfect. There had been no need to worry. He had a million questions, and there would be rough waters ahead, but her wolf was stunning and flawless.

Without taking his gaze off hers, he snagged a towel so he could dry off. When he finished, he started to wrap it around his hips.

His mate snarled, baring her teeth before she lurched forward, grabbed the edge of the towel with her teeth, and yanked it to the floor.

Gavin laughed. Apparently she didn’t like the idea of him covering his cock.

She tipped her head to one side and stared at his erection for a long time as if memorizing it for later. She’d seen it before. She would see it a million times in their lives. But for some reason it fascinated her now.

He stood still, letting her look. He doubted he would ever be able to deny her anything. He’d climb a tree to the very top if she wanted him to pick her a specific apple.

After a while, she lifted one paw and nudged the towel on the floor toward him.

He chuckled as he bent to pick it up. “Oh, may I cover my cock now, my queen?” he joked.

Her eyes were a deep blue similar to those of her human side, and his sassy mate rolled those eyes before tipping her head back and howling. As she did so, she must have startled herself because she fell over backward and had to scramble to roll onto her paws to get her balance.

Gavin reached out and stroked her fur. “So soft. You’re the most gorgeous wolf I’ve ever laid eyes on, Little mate of mine.”

Molly tipped her head to one side and rubbed her snout against his palm.

“Are you ready to shift back, Little one?”

She scrambled out of his reach, growling, baring her teeth again as if he’d suggested she leap off a cliff.

He furrowed his brows. “Okay. Take your time. No rush.” Tugging the towel free from his hips, he dropped it to the floor again and used his foot to mop up the water. Maybe his cock would entice her to shift back.

It did not, however. She simply moved around so he could continue sopping up the water. She even boldly turned and pranced out of the bathroom.

He followed her, surprised when she bounded onto the bed, spun around in circles, and finally dropped down into a little ball, setting her jaw on her front paws.

He couldn’t keep from smiling at her. “Do you think you’re going to sleep in wolf form, naughty girl?”

She sighed heavily and settled deeper.

He set a knee on the edge of the bed and leaned close to her. “Newsflash, Little mate, there’s no chance in hell you’re going to sleep on this bed in wolf form.”

She peered over the edge and looked around.

“Oh no you don’t, Baby girl. You’re not sleeping anywhere in wolf form. You’re going to shift back, and I’m going to hold your sexy human body in my arms in this bed. Every night of our lives.”

She snarled and resumed her position. Such a defiant, naughty girl.

Gavin chuckled. “I know you’re curious to find out what it will feel like when I spank your pretty bottom, Molly, and you’re going to find out if you don’t shift back soon.” He rubbed his palms together.

Her eyes widened, and her ears stood up.

“That’s right. I’m going to start counting. Whatever number I get to before I have my human mate back is how many swats you’re going to get on your naughty little bottom.”

Molly leaped to her paws. Apparently she wasn’t interested in being spanked tonight because she closed her eyes and shifted back so fast no one would believe it was her first shift.

As soon as she was back in human form, she covered her ears and sat trembling in front of him.

Gavin dropped to his knees next to the bed and set his hands on either side of her hips. “Molly, what’s wrong? Talk to me.”

“It’s so loud, Daddy.”

He frowned. “What’s loud, Baby girl? I don’t hear anything.” Is this what she’d been doing all evening? Covering her ears from noises he could not hear?

“Everything. So many noises.”

He could scent her frustration and her stress. She squeezed her legs together as he watched and felt her distress grow. He was at a loss and helpless to figure out how to fix this for her.

Finally, he had an idea. He held out a finger, rose, and padded from the room. After hurrying to his office, he grabbed his headset from next to the computer and rushed back to his mate.

He held it up and met her gaze so she could see his lips. “This is a noise-cancelling headset. I use it for music, but maybe it will help.” He wasn’t sure if she heard him fully or not, but he lifted the set over her head and lowered it so the two sides covered her ears as she moved her hands away.

She grabbed the headset on both sides and grinned up at him as relief flooded her system.

Thank goodness as her mate he was so in tune with her emotions.

He might not be able to read her mind, but he could definitely sense when his mate was in distress or calm.

Happy or sad. He would learn every one of her scents in the coming days and be able to know what she needed.

Right now, she was giddy that he’d silenced the noises.

Now, what the absolute fuck were the noises she spoke of?