Chapter 46: The Secret Proposal

[Cole]
That d*mn woman was at it again.

Cole was expecting his wife to be all cheery when he reminded her about their promise of forever. Jude said that women love it when men remember such things.

Well, not his wife, apparently, Cole cursed silently.

She shot him a frown and said with an innocent shrug, "What did I promise? I can't remember."

But then her cheeks flamed up.

Cole's eyes widened slightly. Under daylight, her blushing cheeks appeared sunburnt, her smooth, fair skin glowed like silk, and her silver hair sparkled like stars in the darkest night. She looked ravishing, he thought and swallowed hard.

Looking down with a chuckle, he returned to her face with a similarly innocent smile. "You look like you need to cool off."

She flinched. "No, I'm fine." And then, her fingers pressed on her warm cheeks as if to cool them down.

"I think you do." Were his last words before he took her by the wrist and pulled her towards the lake.

Dove used her small body's weight to tug in the opposite direction, resisting his pull, but her efforts were fruitless when the giant hoisted her up with a hand around her waist.

"Put me down! Cole! Not the water, please!" She was gripping tightly onto his arm.

Cole felt her body quivering and carefully placed her on the ground, a few inches from the water. Her bare feet immediately stepped onto his as she wrapped her arms around her neck.

Closing his eyes, Cole silently scolded himself. He had forgotten about his wife's experience with freezing waters.

Caressing the back of her head, he whispered into her ear, "You know you need to get over it."

She hid her face at the crook of her neck like a frightened child.

"We'll do it slowly. You trust me, right?" He sounded unusually tender.

Dove pulled back and studied his eyes. He fixed his gaze on hers with a solemn expression. After a brief silence, she slowly nodded.

Taking his hand, she let one foot into the shallow waters and shivered. She waited briefly then put the other foot in and waited some more. Finally, she straightened and beamed at him.

Cole continued to smile as he led his wife deeper into the lake.

When the water came to her waist, she froze again and tightened her grasp on his arm. He kept a strong hold on her.

"You alright?" His brows knitted with worry.

She glanced at him and gave a nervous nod. "I can go further."

Cole started to get unnerved but he obeyed and pulled her further away from the bank, and soon the water reached her chest. He was still standing firmly on both feet, but he could tell that she was standing on tip toes.

"You did a lot for a start. Let's go back." He was worrying like an anxious parent.

When the waters were at their waist again, Dove could smile again and Cole relaxed. He dipped his head and emerged with a refreshed mind.

As his fingers combed his hair back, he caught her dark brown gaze on him and a satisfied grin appeared in his lips as she lunged forward, put her arms around his neck and took his lips.

Swiftly, his tongue entered her mouth and proceeded to drive her wild. His hands slid behind her waist and cupped her soft, round butt, molding her body against his.

She moaned softly and tightened her hold around his neck, pressing herself harder on him.

With a grunt, his lips left hers and roamed across her cheek to her ear, kissing and licking the sensitive spot. She inhaled sharply at the tingling sensation enhanced by the chill of the waters, and hung closer to him, tilting her head to give him better access.

He suckled on the spot, making a new red print, and trailed kisses lower. As he nibbled and savoured the smoothness of her bare neck, her moans turned to eager shrills.

Grabbing her ass, he lifted her slightly to reach her plump mounds. Her ankles went around his waist, locking themselves at his back, supporting her in place, as his lips warmed her damp, cold skin. She gasped with her chin raised high.

She hugged his head as he hoisted her out of the water towards the bank, while his lips continued to ravish the top of her breasts.


******

[Dove]
Swiftly, our clothes came off and he pushed me gently onto the cold pebbles.

The coldness sent shivers down my spine. I shuddered as his mouth covered my rosy peaks to devour them, and more shivers spread to the rest of my body, releasing a sharp gasp from my throat.

I broke into short, high-pitched sighs as his fingers worked their magic until my lips were raw with need. Then, he raised my knees and entered me in one fluid motion.

Missing the feel of him, I locked my ankles and pushed him deeper, taking in more of him. He let out a deep growl into my ears and started slamming into me.

Our racing breaths and sounds of pleasure filled the dense air as our bodies rocked in a wild rhythm. He thrusted harder and deeper, hitting the electrifying spot each time, pushing me higher and higher to the tip.

Then, he stopped.

"Cole!" I cried out in frustration. He's not doing it again!

With a grunt, he lifted his drenched face over mine and fixed his strong gaze on me. "Do you remember now?"

D*mn it! I cussed and whimpered with a plea. My insides were screaming for a release.

"Do you," he grunted, "remember, Dove?"

I shook my head with my eyes squeezed tight. Oh Goddess, please!

He caught my lips and kissed me slowly and deeply, swaying his hips slightly to remind me of the brink I was about to reach.

A strange sigh vibrated from my lips. I tore away and breathed desperately, "Cole…"

He teased my earlobes as his fingers raked through my damped hair. He repeated his question in a luring whisper.

"Yes," I whimpered. "I remember. Please, Cole."

His face was back in the crook of my neck. Inhaling sharply, he muttered something and then rammed into me.

My body convulsed in a heightened bliss. I clung onto him as my insides squeezed him tightly, sending him over his own precipice.

When we returned to consciousness, he kissed me and flashed a proud grin down at me.

Feeling hazy, I smiled contentedly back as my fingers played with his fringe. "You said something earlier, what was it?"

He chuckled and rolled onto his back, bringing me up against him.

"We should head back," I sighed, eyeing at the pinkish-orange sky.

"A while more," he said and patted my shoulder in a comforting way.

I giggled and snuggled closer to him. This peaceful moment somehow reminded me of the one we shared before the battle.

"What are you going to do with Abe?" The question slipped from my tongue.

A brief pause then a sigh, and then his voice spoke calmly. "He'll return to the Moon Paw Pack. He's of no use here."


******

[Cole]
She was becoming more skilled, Cole thought. He had almost forgotten about the sly wolf.

The Moon Paw Pack had left Abe and scurried back home. In a day, Abe's wounds healed and Cole wanted to send him home.

But the delusional Abe thought Cole was someone else.

"I didn't fail you!" Abe cowered in a corner with pure terror in his eyes. "It was that cursed thing! I've told you! That silver wench!"

As Cole moved nearer, Abe started shaking in fear. "No, no, don't come near me! I didn't fail you! I did as you said! I spread their secret! I kept my promise!"

Abe was working for someone? Cole pondered.

Who could that be?