Kiss Of The Alpha : A YA Paranormal Romance

Chapter 109: Chapter 109

Heather

The drive from my parents’ house didn’t take long. The baseline of Andrew Bayer’s "Bullet Catch" rattled the speakers, and I grinned. I freaking loved this track. The dirty beats made my heart race every time. When the breakdown hit, Brent squeezed my leg.

He was smiling. I love this one, too.

It’s kind of perfect, right?

He cranked the volume as he hit the gas, and we wound through the curves of a back road, pushing his fancy-ass car to its limits.

This. This was why I was with him. He’d totally played this track for me—for us—because he knew it’d make me happy.

The greens and browns of the forest blurred past. As we neared campus, a brick fence loomed. The gates to St. Francis’s were just ahead. I held my breath, waiting for Brent to slow down, but he blew straight past.

I gripped the door handle. You missed it.

Did I?

He sounded a little more than mischievous. The guy was definitely up to something. Where are we going?

I want a little time with you before tonight. Is that okay?

Alone time with Brent? You read my mind.

He laughed, because that wasn’t far from the truth. Ever since I’d gone furry for the first time, we’d been using this form of communication more and more. It was easier than talking aloud. Or maybe I just liked it better. It felt special.

Brent finally slowed as he turned the car onto a dirt road.

Huh. I’d never been down here, and for good reason. The "road" was practically a deer path.

A loud thunk rattled the car as it bottomed out. The scratching noise pained me. "Holy crapola! That sounded like it hurt."

"Eh. I’m sure it’s fine."

The guy had lost his mind. After ten minutes of holding onto the "oh shit" bar, he finally stopped the car in the middle of the forest.

I unbuckled and got out. "Where are we?"

He gave me a small smile, and a wave of his nerves hit me. "This way."

Why was he nervous?

I sighed. Sometimes Brent wasn’t the most forthcoming person. I could’ve dug into his mind and figured out what we were doing. At least, I was pretty sure I could do that now that our bond had strengthened, but being patient was the better route. Snooping of any kind was rude, especially the mental kind.

I followed behind him as he wove through trees. After a little bit we hit a clearing.

The grass, brush, and flowers were wild and overgrown. I could hear and smell the wildlife that lived there. The view even had a small lake—okay maybe a pond, but whatever—it was amazing.

"Wow. This is awesome. How did you find this?"

"You like it?" He was still nervous.

Not going to pry. Not even going to think about it. The temptation was too strong.

I was quiet for a second as I walked closer to the pond. The clearing was massive. Acres. It’s beautiful.

Brent’s cheeks reddened.

Holy shit. He was blushing. My mate was actually blushing.

Something was up. Something was special about this land, and I wasn’t getting it. I looked around again, trying to figure out what this was about, but nothing sprang to mind.

He closed the distance between us and pulled me into a hug. "I know I said we didn’t have to move in together, but I thought one day, this could be a good place to live."

I laughed. "Here?" There wasn’t anything around except for a forest and a pond.

"Here." The nerves were back.

What was he talking about?

"It’s kind of like a dual birthday and bonding present."

"My brain isn’t functioning." I blinked a few times, trying to process his words. "This—all of this land—is a present? For me?"

"For us. The spread is about fifty acres. We could build a house near the lake. There are fish and it’s quiet. Plenty of room to go for runs. Not too far from your parents or brother—if they stay in Texas. Obviously, it’s a long-term thing. But my cabin won’t work forever, and when we start to think about a family and—"

Wow. My mind was blown.

He’d bought me acreage. For a house. So we could raise a family here. The guy was light-years ahead of me, but that wasn’t anything new. Still, I was worried about growing up and taking the next step, and he was onto building a house and raising a whole pack of kids.

It was a little absurd. I stepped away from him as I took in everything.

"You don’t like it?" His tone was more than a little pouty.

"That’s not..." I didn’t know what to say. "I mean, I love it. I just wasn’t prepared. I didn’t expect anything like this." I was totally messing this up.

"Am I supposed to get you something? Because I definitely didn’t buy you a farm or two goats or whatever."

He grinned, and the dimples deepened in his cheeks. "No. You’re giving me you. That’s what I want. It’s tradition that the guy gifts his mate the home they’ll share. This isn’t exactly a place to live yet, but I think it could be perfect."

I tucked myself to his side and scanned out at the land again. A house. A lake. I could handle that. "It’s perfect."

Brent put his arm around my shoulder and I reached up to link my fingers with his.

One thing that he’d said stuck out though. "Kids, huh?"

"In a few years?"

"A few years?" Now that was something I wasn’t ready for. "You realize we’re kids."

"We’re also werewolves. We can wait twenty years, but I see you and I see the future. I want to be prepared. I want to give you everything."

That was sweet, but I really didn’t need all of it. "I only need you." I stood on my tiptoes and pressed my lips to his. "But umm...I won’t have puppies will I?"

He pulled away, looking at me like I was nuts. "Puppies? We’re not dogs."

"I know...but you know—" I waved my hands around, trying to ease the tension. "The babies...they won’t come out furry, right?" Because I didn’t know if I could handle that.

Brent started laughing. Hard. Like he probably was busting a gut. He fell to the ground when I shoved him.

"It was a valid question!" My cheeks were burning. Okay, so it was a dumb question, but it was a fear of mine.

He pulled me down beside him. "No. They won’t be furry." He chuckled again. "We don’t change until puberty. Remember? That’s why the school exists."

Oh. Right. "Well, I got carried away for a second. You buy me land and start talking about a family and my mind is still sort of in pieces. I mean...I can barely think about what’s going to happen post-St. Francis’s—or post-next week really—and you’re talking family."

His rough hands ran up my arms and I shivered. "I thought the girl was the one who was supposed to be all into the family thing."

"That’s a cliché. And if there is one thing I refuse to be, it’s a cliché." His mouth was inches from mine, and I couldn’t look away from his lips.

"No one would ever think that, my bruja, alpha werewolf, human. You are anything but normal."

Done waiting for him to close the distance, I brushed my lips against his quickly and my heart kicked into gear. "Isn’t it grand?"

"It sure is, cherie," he said with his lips a breath away from mine. His hands on my cheeks, he deepened the kiss. I lost myself wrapped one leg around his hips.The warmth of him. I ran my fingers under his shirt. It wasn’t enough. I wanted more of him. It was like I was drowning and he was my air.

We rolled until I was under him. "I love you."

"Je t’aime." He ran his nose along my neck and I moaned. Goose bumps spread out along my skin as he muttered something in French.

I loved it when he did that.

He nipped my earlobe, and I pulled him back to me. I needed his lips. Again.

My cell phone started ringing, playing a loop from Above and Beyond’s new track.

Brent pulled back from the kiss just long enough to say, "Ignore it."

I was with him. His hips ground into me and I moaned. My body was burning up.

My phone went off again. Ignore.

His hand ran under my shirt, and I swear I saw stars as he lightly teased my nipple.

When my cell rang a third time, I pulled back. "Damn it." I panted. Trying to catch my breath, I checked the screen. Serena had called three times.

Oh shit. "We’re so late!" I said as I plopped back down on top of him.

"What time is it?" Brent sat back enough to pull his phone from his pocket. "Oh. Wow. It’s almost seven. We should head back."

"But I was having such a good time." These days, time alone with Brent was mostly made of stolen moments here and there. It was frustrating. Or maybe I was just frustrated.

He brushed the hair from my face. "Me, too." He quickly pressed his lips to mine and stood. "Come on. If we don’t go now, we’ll stay forever."

I took his hand and he pulled me up. I scanned the clearing one last time before heading back to the car. "Thank you, Brent."

He squeezed my hand. "Thank you. I’m excited about living here with you."

"Me, too."

His answering dimpled grin made my heart soar. I felt so full I could burst.