Page 28 of In Death, Love Survives

SIXTEEN

Nova

The door slowly opens, almost as if the person on the other side is nervous to come in. I know it’s Wolfe, so I’m not sure why he’s being overly cautious.

Well, that’s not entirely true. So far, our life outside of Roper State has been a whirlwind adventure. The past twelve hours of my life have been going at warp speed.

My entire life has changed, and nothing feels like it did.

I want to say it doesn’t feel safe, but that’s what the problem was before. I was locked into a life where safety and the mundane were all that carried me through, and that was no way to live.

At least with Wolfe by my side, I feel wanted, needed, protected—even safer than I ever have.

“Nova?” he whispers.

“Yeah?” I croak.

It comes out strained and not at all what I intended.

He pushes the door wide and sees me sitting cross-legged on the bed, with wet hair and wearing his big T-shirt.

“What’s wrong, angel?” he asks as he sits down next to me.

“Nothing. I promise. I’m just tired.”

Wolfe rubs my back soothingly.

“That didn’t sound like nothing.”

“Really. I’m just tired. It’s been pretty action-packed,” I tease.

He laughs as he continues to stroke my back.

“I suppose that’s putting it mildly.”

I tilt my head to the side, and Wolfe cups my chin.

“How are you liking it all? Being here. I know it’s a lot, but not every day will be like this.”

“I’m just tired. I know this is a lot. You just got out of prison, and someone is after you. Don’t worry about me.”

“You’re all I really am worried about,” he admits.

“You need to worry about acclimating to being out. That’s hard enough, even if it was a short time. You need to worry about the businesses literally going up in flames. Everything else but me because I promise you I’m okay.”

Wolfe glances around the bed and then scoots back and leans against the headboard. He kicks off his boots one by one.

“Come here,” he says with his arm out wide.

I crawl up and cuddle into his chest. Wolfe wraps his arm around me and starts to stroke my back again. It would be easy to drift to sleep with the weight of what’s transpired today.

“You don’t have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders anymore. I’m here for you,” he murmurs against my hair.

I suck in a deep breath, taken aback by that.

“Talk to me,” he continues.

“The past day has been a lot. I’m not trying to pretend like it hasn’t been. But maybe I’m discovering a world that I am meant to belong in.”

Wolfe’s hand pauses on my back before resuming up and down. I nuzzle in closer to his chest.

“That’s good, baby. That’s really good to hear.”

“Who do you think is behind all this?”

Wolfe sighs, and his hand stills once more.

“I have no fucking clue. The mark I found on the building is the only sign I have. I’m hoping when the crew gets here tomorrow, someone will know. I have a guy I might reach out to about it too. Just hoping I don’t have to.”

“Someone you trust?”

“Yeah. A friend.”

“That’s good. Hopefully, someone tomorrow will know.”

Wolfe resumes stroking my back.

“I may call him about this anyway.”

“If you trust him, maybe it wouldn’t be the worst idea.”

“Thank you, baby.”

I close my eyes and try to relax.

“Do you hate that some of my businesses are… unethical?”

I keep my eyes shut to not give anything away. Do I mind? I really don’t know.

“Everything around me is changing. What’s right and wrong, to some degree, I’m not even sure anymore.”

Wolfe hums.

“What I do know is that you had to fight for this life. Good or bad, you’ve made something for yourself when you were given a lousy hand to start with. Who am I to judge what you’ve built for the past decade?”

We both stay still, until eventually I lean up and look at Wolfe, who’s been watching me the whole time.

“Tell me about what you’ve been fighting for,” he rasps.

I smile weakly.

“Nothing.”

“I know that’s not true.”

I try to look back on the past decade of my life. How much changed, and who I shaped myself into because of what happened.

“My patients. I’ve always been fighting for them.”

“That’s my girl.”

I beam at the praise.

“Finding myself? Trying to survive, perhaps.”

“Necessary.”

I grin, knowing what he’s trying to do.

“Myself. I’m finally fighting for my life, something I hadn’t been doing for so long.”

“Nova girl. What happened? I want to know every memory. You can’t push me away. That would be impossible.”

I inhale deeply, knowing I’m about to open myself up for the first time in ages.

“I was an only child.”

He nods for me to continue.

I sit up completely and cross my legs underneath. As I try to find the words, I play with the hem of the shirt that’s risen up against my waist.

Wolfe sits up higher and folds his hands together as he waits.

“I had a really happy childhood. My parents were the best.”

He smiles.

“They were the best and then…”

I exhale to steady my nerves.

“Then they were murdered. At my home.”

Wolfe leans forward and takes my hands in his.

“Angel, I’m sorry. So fucking sorry that happened to you.”

My eyes are tearing up, and my cheeks heat at the memory. I shut my eyes tightly to try and get through this.

Reopening them, I gaze at Wolfe, realizing he should know why I’m so closed off.

“He tried to kill me too.”

“Nova…”

“I was attacked and left to die.”

Wolfe’s expression is a mix of anger and sadness.

“Someone was breaking into people’s houses when they thought no one was home. Turns out, it wasn’t the same person who broke into ours. It was my boyfriend at the time.”

“Your boyfriend?” he repeats, stunned.

“Yeah. I thought we were in love. I was eighteen, but you know that first-love feeling.”

“Yeah, baby.”

“He was going through a lot. I knew that. I was giving him space that night, thinking he was working late.”

Wolfe stays silent for me to continue.

“He broke into my home in a rage. Killed my parents and then attempted to kill me. Tried to make it look like it was one of the other break-ins. He killed a family down the street too.”

“Why would he do that?”

“It’s all a blur. I did talk to his mom after the trial.”

“What did she have to fucking say?”

“She didn’t recognize him that night. She should have known something was off.”

“She blamed herself.”

“She did, but it wasn’t her fault. Who would have known? Sometimes the signs are hard to tell.”

A long pause lingers.

“I want to kill him,” Wolfe grits out.

“You won’t be able to.”

“Why is that?”

“He’s in prison.”

Wolfe’s head perks up.

“Nova…”

His eyes plead for his assumption to be wrong, but he’s right.

“Which one?”

“Roper State.”

“Angel…” Wolfe trails off.

He squeezes my hands together and looks at me incredulously.

“You can’t be serious.”

“I am.”

Wolfe lets go of my hands and scrubs one down his face and then through his hair.

“What’s his name?”

“Sam. Sam Snow.”

“Fuck,” Wolfe yells.

I push myself away from Wolfe.

“Baby. No, I’m sorry. I just know of Sam from prison.”

“I assumed you would.”

“He tried to get me to help him with some… problems in there. Toby approached me about it.”

“Right. Toby. Of course, Toby knows Sam.”

“I’m sorry, baby. If I had any idea, I would have…”

“Killed him. Then you would have been in there for life as well.”

Wolfe sighs knowingly.

I’m right.

What happened between Wolfe and me was unexpected, and if Wolfe had known my full story, then he would have killed Sam, and we would have never had this opportunity to be together.

“Baby. Please never be afraid to tell me anything.”

“I’m not. It’s just not something I like to talk about.”

“I have to ask.”

“Anything.”

“Why did you take the job there knowing Sam was already there?”

“I needed the experience. And truthfully? Maybe part of me wanted to show him that I did something with my life. That I lived and was free, and he wasn’t.”

“I’m surprised the administration would allow it.”

“Crawley? He doesn’t care about anyone other than himself. That includes his employees.”

Wolfe shakes his head.

“That shouldn’t be how it is.”

“You’re right, but it’s the truth. Now you’re out, and I bet Crawley is dying to have you caught and put back in there.”

“Yeah, so they can transfer me to god fucking knows where.”

“Exactly. Let’s get some sleep. Tomorrow is another big day.”

“I’ll lie with you, angel.”

“I’d really like that.” I smile warmly, knowing that for the first time, Wolfe and I get to sleep together, like any other ordinary couple would.

The next day, Wolfe and I relax around his house. Caleb comes and goes, giving news, but Wolfe mostly wants me to acclimate to the change of living together.

It’s getting late again, and I know the meeting is happening at the house tonight. I want Wolfe to stop worrying about me when he has so much on his plate with everything going on.

The sound of the front door opening and closing distracts us both.

“Must be some of the guys. They come over early to have a few beers.”

I smile knowingly.

“Why don’t you head out there?”

“Later. They’ll be fine.”

“They haven’t seen you in a while,” I remind him.

“They’ll be fine. I have my girl to take care of.”

I place a chaste kiss to his lips, which he doesn’t deepen. As I pull back, I feel Wolfe’s tense back relax.

“Come with me somewhere?” he murmurs. I can feel the heat of his breath teasing my lips.

“Okay,” I whisper back.

Wolfe and I untangle on the bed. I follow him to a window that he opens. It’s dark out, but the night sky is illuminated by the stars. It’s breathtaking.

“Wow.”

“Montana nights are unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. But out here? Where the darkness tells its own story? Magic.”

“Magic? Stealing my word.”

He laughs.

“It’s beautiful, thank you.”

“I hope it’s a reminder that while you and I are out here trying this out, forging our new path together, anything is possible, angel. Anything can be what we make of it. I like my odds of finally getting it right with you by my side.”

I beam as Wolfe looks at me like I’ve really given him hope.

“I like the odds of being by your side.”

“Not by my side. We’re in this together.”

“Together.”

My heart flutters for the first time in ages, knowing I have someone truly in my corner. We can make declarations all we want, but Wolfe has proven he wants me for who I am.

“With every breath I take, I promise to cherish you and keep you safe.”

Wolfe pauses before looking at me more seriously.

“I love you, Nova girl.”

My eyes widen in surprise.

“Don’t look so shocked,” he teases.

“No, no, I’m not,” I stammer.

Wolfe waits for me to process what he just said.

“I love you too. I’m here, and I want this. I want you. I’m ready for the ride of my life.”

Wolfe strokes my shoulders with both of his broad hands. It’s sensual and caring at the same time.

The front door opening and closing a few more times doesn’t stop Wolfe from focusing on our connection. My natural inclination is to tell him to go be with his friends and try to solve what’s happening, but this time, I’m not going to. This time, I’m going to be selfish.

I’m learning that I need to take what I want for once in my life.

A wicked thought pops into my head.

Wolfe cocks his head to the side and a similar gleam appears in his eyes that I must have in mine.

Looking down, I pull the same T-shirt I’ve been wearing since last night overhead, leaving me in nothing but my panties.

“Fucking stunning,” Wolfe says.

“Thank you, hunny.” It comes out sultrier than I’ve spoken before.

I reach for his brown belt and start undoing the buckle. Wolfe doesn’t say anything as he watches my movements.

I undo the buckle and then unbutton his jeans; then I pull at the sides and push them down to the ground, going with them until I’m on my knees.

“What are you doing down there, angel?” he asks huskily.

“Taking what I want, when I want it.”

I grin up at him right as I reach out and grip his cock. He thrusts automatically and lets out a hiss.

“Fuck. I love the way you touch me.”

Holding onto it with both hands, I stroke back and forth for just a few moments until I wrap my mouth around it. Wolfe’s cock is large, and I struggle to get a comfortable position. I’ll gladly take it, though, to watch him in this much pleasure.

Wolfe’s eyes are shut, and his hands are on his hips as I suck him off.

I move back and forth, using my hands and mouth to make this god-like man come. Every inch of him is solid muscle, and I can’t believe that I’m the one who gets to bring him pleasure.

“That’s it, baby,” he murmurs.

I keep going, noticing he starts to do small thrusts.

“You’re sucking me off so well.” He groans.

Wolfe places a hand on the back of my head and pushes it forward slightly. It makes me take more of him in my mouth, almost hitting the back of my throat.

“You can take more. I know you can.”

I hum at the encouragement and try to deepen it.

“That’s my girl. Taking this cock so well. I’m going to come soon,” he continues as he pushes my head in more.

If it were anyone else but Wolfe, I would slap his hand away, but the way he’s doing it feels erotic, like it’s another form of encouragement and praise that I bask in.

I feel him start to spasm and go faster.

“Can you swallow, angel? Take every last drop I have to give you?”

I hum a yes as best as I can.

Moments later, Wolfe’s cum fills my mouth, and I try to drink it down as best as I can.

“Goddamn this is good, baby,” he says with a final thrust.

As he stills, I pull away, and a few strings of spit follow. I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand and then rest backward on both of them.

I look up at him, basically on display still.

“Fuck, you’re the hottest woman on the planet.”

“I’m glad you liked it.”

“Liked it? I fucking loved it. How did I get you in this life?”

“Wolfe!” someone shouts from the other room.

“You should go. We can finish later,” I offer.

“I’m not about to leave you hanging.”

“I promise. Later is fine.”

What Wolfe doesn’t know is that I saw a small package earlier for Wolfe and me. When I opened it, I found a message from his friend Caleb, surely meant to be a joke for Wolfe, but it also included a vibrator.

While Wolfe is at his meeting, I plan to torture him with pictures of me using it. That’ll get him to rush back to my side.

I do want him to solve their problems, but in my era of being selfish, I want Wolfe to want me all the time.

“You look like you’re up to something,” he says.

“Me? Never,” I say with a mischievous grin.

“Alright, we’ll see now, won’t we?”

“Get out of here,” I say with a giggle as I stand up.

Wolfe reaches out and pulls my basically naked body into him. His cock starts to harden, and I can’t help but feel drenched after what we just did.

“Baby, you’ve got to go. The boys are here,” I whisper.

“Fuck, but I want you.”

“Later. Tonight.”

“Okay.” He sighs.

I place a kiss on his lips and pull away.

“Fuck, can you please just walk around naked forever?” he teases.

“We do have a lifetime together.”