Chapter Fifteen - Willow

I fell asleep on the floor of Chase’s office. My eyes had almost gone cocked-eyed from staring at the screen for so long. My body was tired, my mind was tired, but I’d ultimately felt like riding Cloud 9 for the rest of the night. I couldn’t believe I kissed him. The relief he gave me from my heat had blanketed me in warmth. The smell of him so close to me, his body pressed between my parted legs. It was unreal the sensation it left me with. I had to kiss him. And it was well worth it. My wolf was already attempting to come up with new ways to get it again. I didn’t want to seem greedy, or needy, but I wanted it again too. I woke up with Chase carrying me down the hallway from his office. I stiffened in his arms, and we made eye contact. “I thought I could get you to your room without waking you. I’m sorry. You were out cold. I tried to wake you up.” I believed it. I swallowed the sensation in my throat and gestured for me to set me down. It felt weird being carried like a baby. Like my father used to do when I was a small pup. “Thank you,” I said, clearing the sleep from my voice. “I need to go shower. Today has been long.” Chase slid his hands into his pockets. “It has, hasn’t it?” The tension between us sizzled like a burning tightrope. I didn’t want the day to be over with, but I didn’t have the guts to tell him. “Okay then,” Chase said, walking toward his door. “I have things to do tomorrow. If you want to work on the list, let me know, and I’ll let you into my office.” “Okay,” I said quietly. However, I couldn’t budge. What is wrong with me? Chase lifted an eyebrow. “Unless there is something else?” Tell him you want to lay with him, you idiot, my wolf growled. “No,” I lied. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” I zoomed passed him, and walked into my room, letting my forehead rest against the wood. I considered beating my head against it, but I was afraid he’d hear it. You’re so stupid, my wolf repeated over and over. “Stop it,” I hissed. “I’m going to shower and knock out all these thoughts.” I showered in cold water, hoping to ease the ache racing in my body. The need to go to him was so strong that I stayed until the water turned to ice. I rolled my neck around and finally pulled myself from the shower. I untied my hair and let it fall down my shoulders before putting on an overly large t-shirt. I slipped into my bedroom, pulled back my sheets, and crawled underneath them. My bed wasn’t as comfortable as Chase's bed. The sheets weren’t satin either. They’d soothed my skin, and helped put out my ache. Use that as an excuse, my wolf whispered. I rolled my eyes and buried my face into my pillow, remembering the feeling of his hands on me, and the taste of his mouth. Did all men taste so good or just my mate? I slid my palms down my stomach and to the place between my thighs. What would it feel like to have him touch me there? Better than when you do it, my wolf complained. A heavy knock came on my door, and I sat up straight. I felt it was him before I walked over and turned the handle. Chase stood on the other side, wearing a pair of low-slung sweats and no shirt. His eyes were large like saucers, and his chest breathing rapidly. “Are you trying to kill me?” he asked. I looked at him confused. “What do you mean?” His gaze shifted toward my bare legs, and back up to my face. “You’re … I can feel everything you’re doing over here. I can smell your scent. Feel that you’re … excited. I can’t sleep like this.” Ask him to join you, my wolf nudged. “I’m sorry,” I said, running my fingers into my hair. “I didn’t realize my emotions were so loud.” Chase hissed under his breath. “I told myself I would let you come to me, Willow. I can’t if you’re going to tease me this way.” I listened to a whining sound, and realized he was clutching the wood of my door frame in his palm. “I didn’t mean to tease you,” I said, my gaze lifting toward his. “But, if you want to come in,” I said, leaving the door open as I stepped back, “you’re more than welcome.” Chase’s eyes swirled to red and then gold. He stepped into my room and kicked the door shut with his foot. My heart hammered as he stepped forward, and I walked back to my bed. He captured me around the waist before I leaned back and sat me on my chest of drawers behind him. We were eye level. He stepped between my legs, and my body called to him. He gripped my throat like he said he wanted to that day in the woods, and nipped my bottom lip with his teeth. Adrenaline raced through me. This was a different side of him. It was his wolf. I could feel his vibration, his heat, and the animalistic look on his face. He angled my face to the side, and slowly inhaled my neck, biting it softly until I cried out. Chase gripped my thigh in his palm, and pulled me toward him, kissing me deeply. Deeper than the kiss in his office. Rougher. It did things to me that I didn’t know existed. “I can’t get enough of you,” he said against my mouth. “Come to my bed for the night.” This was definitely his wolf. It was a question, an offer, but it was so demanding that my wolf wanted to submit. He curved his palm over the globe of my ass and squeezed me in his palm. I cried out again, this time he smiled and I felt myself unraveling in front of him. Then as quickly as it started, it stopped. A loud siren rang out in the pack house, and the fire sprinklers began to rain down on us. Chase shook his head and looked around the room. “A fire,” I whispered. Chase helped me down and raced out into the hallway. Several wolves on the opposite end stepped out and ran toward the stairs. Chase zoomed down the stairs like a bat out of hell, while I attempted to keep up with him. The entire pack rushed out of their rooms and into the lobby. Smoke billowed from the dining hall, and Chase raced toward it. My heart hammered in my throat from the fear of the pack house on fire, but also the situation I just left to come here. He opened the dining hall doors and smoke wafted into the hallway. When I made it inside I noticed Tiffany standing in the kitchen spraying the fire extinguisher all over the oven. I stopped along with several other pack members behind me. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” I listened to her whimpering and attempting to stop the smoke. Chase’s shoulder relaxed and he walked over and took the fire extinguisher from her hands. He put the fire out quickly and glanced up at the sprinklers as they stopped. We were all drenched from the sprinklers, including Tiffany, who was wearing a barely there spaghetti-strapped top and shorts. “I’m so sorry, Chase.” “What the hell were you doing?” he asked, irritation in his voice. “Why were you here in the middle of the night?” She sniffled. “I was baking you cookies.” Oh hell no, my wolf said. I felt every fiber of my body freeze in anger. I felt my heart hammering and my body grow warm. “Oh,” Chase said. “That’s okay. Maybe you should let the people that know how to cook, cook?” She chuckled, and looked down at her drenched shirt. I felt my fingers tightening into fists at my side, while the other wolves grumbled and walked back to bed. “I’ll get this all cleaned up,” she said. “Have you thought about going to the summer party with me?” I screwed my eyes shut. I didn’t want everyone knowing that we were mates. Especially since I’d crashed training, and Regis would think I was being treated differently. He’d tell the regional court and attempt to get Chase in trouble. Though, I couldn’t stop myself. I stepped forward before Chase could speak and said, “He’s going with me, Tiffany.” Tiffany looked over at me, as if she just realized I was in the room, and gawked. There was no mistakinh the shock on her face, because then she laughed. “You? Why?” Chase sensed my anger, and stepped away from her. “Yes. I’m going with Willow.” She looked at me confusingly. And to give her another gut punch, I said, “He’s my mate.”