Mated To An Enemy

“I feel better,� Ashleigh sighed, leaning back against his chest.

“Really?� Caleb asked, leaning forward to rest his chin on her shoulder.

“Yes,â€� she smiled. “Obviously, I would prefer to just know all the answers, and poof, my Luna loves me, we accept each other, and all is well in the world. But I feel like… I’ve made progress?â€�

Caleb chuckled.

“You have, Ash,� he whispered, nuzzling against her throat, “otherwise I wouldn’t be able to do this.�

Ashleigh smiled as his warm breath danced along her skin and the rough prickles of shadow beard tickled her throat.

“When are you going to shave that thing?� she asked.

“When I finish installing the security system,� he replied. “Until then, sleep, food, and all the rest are on a bare minimum.�

“What about this?� Ashleigh asked playfully, stretching her neck for him to have more access. “Is having a telepathic date with me a good use of your time?�

Caleb growled as he kissed her throat, nipping here and there and running his tongue along her soft flesh.

“This… is more than essential to my survival,â€� he whispered against her skin.

His hands moved down her body, finding a hold on her hips. He squeezed gently. Ashleigh let out a soft moan and arched her back.

Caleb smiled, he kissed along her jaw, and she turned her head, giving him access to her mouth.

He pushed on her hips and turned her around completely in his arms. One hand moved to the soft curve of her back while the other moved up into her loose hair and gently tugged.

Caleb covered her mouth with his own, not bothering to start slow and sweet. He missed her. They had been away from each other for over a week, and in that time, he hadn’t even been able to feel her through their bond.

He needed her, craved her. He never knew he could want someone, love someone so much. It was crazy, intense. It was dangerous.

A part of him genuinely feared that he would stop breathing without her in his life.

Ashleigh had been trying to find herself. To recover the parts of her that she had lost during all the turmoil of their life together.

After their conversation about all that she was holding in, Caleb had struggled with his own fears.

Fear that he was the reason for all she suffered. That their relationship had been the catalyst for everything that caused her to lose herself in the first place.

Caleb wrapped his arms around her tighter, pulling her body flush against his own and pressing his desire against her without reservation. He needed her to know what she meant to him and how much he loved her.

He wanted her to understand that he would always be there for her, in whatever way she needed him.

Ashleigh put her hand on his chest, pushing him gently. He wanted to hold on to her, but he relented.

She gasped for air and took a step back.

Caleb panted, but his eyes never left her. _{pᴀɴᴅᴀ ɴ(O)ᴠᴇl}

She looked up and into his eyes. They were dark with desire, but she also saw what was hidden behind the physical want. She saw the fear he was trying to hide.

Ashleigh reached her hand up to his cheek. She smiled and kissed him gently.

pᴀ(ɴᴅ)ᴀ ɴoᴠᴇl “Hey,â€� she whispered. “Stop.â€�

Caleb looked away.

“I’m sorry,� he whispered, pulling away from her.

“No,� she laughed. Pulling him back to her. “Don’t stop this.�

She bit her lower lip and pressed her body to him suggestively.

“Stop this,� she smiled, touching his forehead with her fingertip. “Stop making yourself crazy.�

Caleb sighed.

“I love you,� he whispered.

“I love you, too,� she smiled. “And you and I are not the problems. Us is the only part of my life that makes absolute sense.�

Caleb smiled and hugged her.

Ashleigh burrowed herself into his chest, and he held her tighter.

“I have a lot to figure out, to change,� she said. “But you are not part of that. You are perfect.�

“Perfect?� he questioned with a raised brow.

“Well,� she laughed. “Not perfect. You do squeeze the toothpaste at the center of the tube. And you leave wet towels on the bed after you shower.�

Caleb laughed.

“And you’re overprotective and worry too much,� she continued.

“Ok, I get it!� he laughed again.

“But you are the man I love, and I can fix the toothpaste and throw the towel at you,� she said. “But without you, I would feel empty.�

Caleb smiled and looked down at his wife. He lifted her chin, placing a gentle kiss against her lips.

“Cold and hard. That is the kind of man most wolves have known me as,� he said. “But ever since you came into my life, I have been someone new, someone better.�

Ashleigh smiled.

“I don’t want a life without you, Ash, never again.�

“That is not something you need to worry about,� she smiled. “You’re stuck with me.�

“Good,� he said, closing his mouth over hers.

Ashleigh slipped her arms around his neck as they shared a passionate kiss.

“Now,� she whispered against his lips.

She pulled back just enough to catch her breath and then jumped up and wrapped her legs around his waist.

“Can we please get back to our previously scheduled programming?� she said, leaning forward and biting his lower lip playfully.

Caleb growled and kissed her. He turned them around, and the next thing she knew, she fell back into their bed in the treehouse.

“The treehouse?� she whispered as he pulled off her shirt.

“Mmhmm,� he murmured, pressing his lips to her bare stomach and unfastening her pants.

“Why the treehouse?� she said through soft pants as his lips passed over the sensitive flesh of her lower abdomen, making his way to her hip.

Caleb swirled his tongue against her hip before biting her gently. Ashleigh cried out softly and arched her back.

“Because,� he whispered against her hip. The warmth of his breath tickling along the wet trail left by his tongue sent chills throughout her body. “This is the place we can escape to, the place that will always be just for us.�

Caleb freed her of her pants, leaving her only in her bra and panties. Caleb pulled back onto his knees, towering over her. He peeled off his shirt, revealing a molded muscular frame that always took Ashleigh’s breath away.

“A world of our own,� Ashleigh whispered back.

He smiled down at her, and with painfully slow action, he unbuttoned his jeans. Ashleigh let out a growl of protest, but he only grinned in response. He had no intention of rushing through the time they had together.

Ashleigh felt a needful irritation at his slow movements. But then, an idea struck her.

Caleb moved back off the bed to remove his pants when he suddenly found himself lying down, fully naked.

“What the–� he started.

“I just remembered one really nifty thing about our bond,� Ashleigh whispered. “You see what I want you to see.�

Caleb sat up on his elbows to look for her. His eyes went wide, and his throat went dry when he found her standing before him.

Ashleigh stepped closer, biting her lower lips with a devilish grin.

Her hair was in loose curls, and she wore red high heels with a matching lingerie baby doll dress. Lace and translucent, with a slit down the center.

“Fuck…â€� Caleb growled hungrily.

By the time they finally said goodnight and pulled away from their bond, they were both exhausted and satiated.

It was the best night of sleep Caleb had had since they arrived in Winter.