Insider (6 page)

I took a deep breath and pulled away before hugging my mom again. She squeezed me tight
. So tight
,
that the air rushed out of my lungs in a gush.

“You’re squishing me,” I choked.

“Sorry,” she pulled away. She patted my cheeks and stared into my eyes. Hers were the same
ch
ocolatey
brown color. “I love you Sophie. So much,” she hugged me quickly before letting
go.

A horn honked outside. “That’s the cab,” dad sai
d a bit forlornly. He patted
Caeden on the back and my mom hugged him.

“I’m so sorry ya’ll have to leave so soon. It just breaks my heart,” she said and my dad slung his arm around her
shoulder
.

“Me too,” Caeden said, “but we need to get back to our pack.”

“We understand,” dad said.

“Love you guys,” I said and blew a kiss as I walked to the door.
Mom held her hand out and caught it, our ritual since I was a child.
Caeden went on out with our bags and then returned for Murphy’s flattened crate. By the time I made it outside he already had everything loaded
in the taxi
.

“Do you have everything?” he asked while his hands rested on the open trunk.

“Yeah,” I said sadly as I looked back at the house and my parents where they stood on the front stoop.

He closed the trunk with a loud thwack.

“Come on, Sophie. It’s time to go home,” he took my hand and guided me into the back seat. Archie jumped into the car and onto my lap. Caeden slid in beside me and closed the door. He told the driver to take us to the airport and then took my hand in his as the car started to pull away.

I waved to my parents and they waved back. It seemed like it had only taken a matter of minutes for us to leave and I had no clue how long it would be before I saw them again. One month? Six? A year?

Caeden’s thumb gently stroked my hand in circles.

“I’m sorry Sophie but we have to go home. Our pack needs us.”

“I know,” I turned around to watch the house and my parents disappear. “It’s just hard to say goodbye. You’d think I’d be used to it. I’ve been doing it my whole life.”

“You’ve been saying goodbye to friends not your parents. There’s a difference.”

“Goodbye is goodbye, Caeden, it doesn’t matter who you’re saying it to,” I turned around and sat down. Archie glared at me for disturbing him and Murphy sat in between us on the seat, his head almost touching the ceiling.

I crossed my arms over my chest and soaked in my last sights of Germany. Rain splattered the windows and the wipers swung back and forth as fast as they could.

The taxi pulled up to the airport and Caeden went to fetch a cart. He set up Murphy’s crate and coaxed the reluctant dog into it. I slung my suitcase on top of the cage and then Caeden’s.

Archie pawed at my legs so I scooped him up into my arms and then followed Caeden to the check in and then through security. Once we were through that nightmare
we collapsed outside the gate.

Caeden’s knee bounced up and down with restlessness. Finally he stood and said, “I’m going to get some coffee,
you
want anything?”

“No,” I shook my head.

“Alright,” he said and shoved his hands through his hair before stretching his back. The movement caused his shirt to lift and show off his taut stomach but I was too upset for it to get me excited. “I’ll be right back.”

I watched him weave through the crowd
,
and every woman he passed eyed him. Normally that made the wolf in me insane but I was too numb for it to matter.

Peter Grimm was dead and that meant Travis was Alpha. I knew he’d continue his father’s pursuit to kill us. I was so new to this life. How would I be able to defen
d my pack? Caeden? Myself? I kne
w nothing of fighting in my wolf or human form like the others. I couldn’t be a weak link for them. I was going to have to prepare myself. There was no way I was going to let Travis Grimm hurt anyone in my pack. Not Charlotte. Not Bentley. Not their parents or Gram. It was time for me to step up to the plate and take my position as Alpha by Caeden’s side. He needed me. They needed me.

Caeden came back with a small coffee and sat down beside me. He was extremely jittery but I knew it wasn’t a byproduct of the coffee. He was simply anxious to be back with the pack. In a time like this they needed their Alpha. Both of their Alphas
,
even though I’m not sure I could be included in that terminology. I knew nothing of being a leader whereas
Caeden was a natural.

“Caeden?” I asked and put a hand on his bouncing knee to stop him.

“Yeah?” he said and placed his coffee cup on the empty seat beside him. A girl, probably sixteen or so, had been slowly creeping towards it. I couldn’t hide my smile.

“When we get home I want you to teach me to fight. As a…” I looked around and hissed, “
wolf
and as a human.”

“Sophie,” he rubbed his face and then turned his blue eyes to me, “I don’t know if I can do that. I don’t want to hurt you.
”

“
Then get Bryce and Bentley to teach me. Please, Caeden, I need to know how to defend not only myself but the pack as well. You know I’
m right,” I argued.

He groaned. “It’s just that the thought of you getting hurt makes me sick, Sophie,
sick
,” he repeated.

“Caeden,” I said softly and looked at him beneath my lashes, “I’ve already been hurt. Wouldn’t you rather I know how to defend myself?”

He smacked his hands against the hard plastic airport seat. It left a dent. I did a quick scan to see if anyone had noticed. Nope, old man picking his nose, two girls giggling as they pointed at Caeden and they were looking at his face so there was no way they saw the dent, and then there was a guy yelling angrily into his phone. I let out a sigh of relief.

He squished his eyes closed and then pressed his fists against them.
“Fine,” he said after several minutes of silence. “You’re right, you need to learn. I’m sure they won’t mind helping you.”

I smiled. “Thank you,” I threaded my fingers through his and then leaned my head on his shoulder.

“I don’t like this,” he said. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“A few little bruises aren’t the
end
of the world Caeden. I’ve had worse,” I said and thought of my scar.

“Yeah, I know,” he rubbed his face. He hadn’t shaved and scruff shaded his cheeks and jaw. He had been right when he said I loved him scruffy. It only served to make him more handsome.

They called our flight and we boarded the plane. Caeden took the window seat again and I settled beside him. We buckled our belts and Archie settled into my lap to sleep. Man, I wish I could fall asleep that fast.
The flight attendants went over safety measures and then told us to prepare for takeoff.

My fingers dug into the leather seat as the plane taxied to the runway. Caeden took my chin in his hand and tilted my face towards his. “Remember when I said I’d have to distract you with my lips?”

I nodded.

He grinned. “Good,” and then his mouth was on mine, searing into me, like he wanted to melt into me. Oh dear God he was going to make me pass out. His tongue flicked out and licked my bott
om lip and I gasped in surprise
. I think someone laughed behind us but I was so occupied with kissing Caeden that I didn’t care to be embarrassed.
My fingers tangled in his hair. He kissed me a few moments longer before pulling away. His thumb caressed my bottom lip. “Was that a sufficient distraction?”

“Oh yeah,” I said breathlessly.

His husky laugh filled the cabin. “Just wait until we
descent
.”

It was night
time a day later when we arrived in Dulles. I was utterly exhausted and we still had to make the hour drive home. I yawned and leaned against Caeden’s car for support. If I didn’t
, I
was sure to fall over.

“Sorry Murphy,” he said to the dog. “You’ve
gotta
stay in the crate until we get home.”

The dog whimpered and I felt so bad for him being stuck in that cage. He couldn’t even turn around.

Stifling yet another yawn I said to Caeden, “Does Gram
know
we’re coming home? I don’t want to scare her half to death.”

“Yeah, she knows.” Caeden’s arms flexed as he reached up to close the trunk. It clicked shut and he poked at his face. “I’m so
freakin
’ sleepy. You’ll have to make sure I don’t fall asleep behind the wheel.”

“I’m not making any promises,”
I
climbed in the car. Archie sat in my lap.

Caeden slid in and started the car. The headlights flicked on, highlighting the parking lot.

Gold eyes flashed in the darkness and I sat forward.

“Did you see that?” I asked Caeden.

“What?” he asked as he backed out.

“I thought I saw…
eyes
. But…
it must just be my imagination.”

Caeden’s blue eyes flicked through the lot. “I don’t see anything.”

But I still couldn’t shake the feeling that something was there.

* * *

Caeden parked o
n the street in front of Gram’s house. With a yawn he said, “Let’s just go to bed. We can unpack in the morning.”

“That sounds like an excellent plan to me,” I opened the door. “Go pee Archie,” I coaxed as I sat the dog down in the grass.

Caeden opened the trunk and let Murphy out of his cage. The dog stretched and rubbed affectionately at his master’s legs.

I rubbed my
jeans
as I pulled my keys out of my pocket. I looked at the little yellow house that had become my home these past months.

“Hey Caeden,” I said.

“Yeah?” he replied as he stretched his stiff back and a few joints popped.

“Since we’
re home early… and after we take care of pack business… maybe you could help me decorate my room? Like
paint it and stuff
?”

He winced. “Paint? Gosh, I don’t know…” he pretended to deliberate. Finally he shrugged. “I’ll do it cause I love ya,” he wrapped his arms around me and kissed me with a loud smack of his lips.

“If we don’t get in bed soon I’m going to fall asleep in your arms.”

He laughed and nuzzled my neck. “That wouldn’t be a bad thing.”

I pulled away and headed to the door. After the third try it clicked and the door swung open. I let the dogs go first before I stepped inside. The dogs headed straight for my room.

“They’re going to totally hog the bed,” I said to Caeden as I closed and locked the door.

Grinning, he whispered, “You’re right.”

We tiptoed quietly down the hallway and into my room. Sure enough the two dogs were on the bed snoozing.

“
Murph
, Arch, off the bed,” commanded Caeden.

Murphy immediately obliged but Archie opened his eyes and quirked his brow before going back to sleep. Caeden thr
ew
his arms in the air and looked at me.

“Well, I tried.”
He hooked his thumbs into the back of his shirt and yanked it off.

I giggled and grabbed some pajamas from my dresser before slipping into my closet to change. Caeden may have seen
everything
but that didn’t mean I was comfortable giving him a strip tease every time the opportunity presented itself.

I pulled on the flannel bottoms and a pale green
cami
top. I bundled up my dirty clothes and exited the closet. I tossed the clothes in the hamper. “She shoots, she scores!” I staged whispered.

Caeden laughed from my bed. His jeans and
shirt were on the floor so he wore nothing but his boxer briefs. Oh dear lord, was he trying to kill me? Normally he at least wore pajama bottoms. I swallowed thickly before climbing into the bed beside him. He put his arm around me
and pulled me against his very warm, very naked chest. I was also very aware of the fact that there were only a few pieces of clothing separating us. My heart stuttered.

“Sleep babe,” he said and kissed my forehead. His lips seemed to burn the sensitive skin. I hated to tell him but sleep was going to be nearly impossible with him practically naked in my bed.

Despite that thought sleep did eventually come and I was thankful.

* * *

My cheek burned where it was pressed against Caeden’s too warm chest. Sometime in the night I
had kicked the covers off of us
. Sleeping next to Caeden and his too hot body temperature tended to make me do that.

Archie was pressed against the wall and Murphy slept right next to me on the floor.
Based on the light coming through the window it was near noon.

“Caeden?” I sat up and pushed his shoulder. “Babe, wake up.”

“Hmm,” he hummed in his sleep.

“You need to wake up, honey,” I coaxed.

“Kiss me,” he said, with his eyes still closed. He pinched my side.

I lowered my lips to his and pressed tenderly. “Awake now Sleeping Beauty?”

“Not quite,” he opened his eyes and gav
e me a crooked grin. His dimple
winked at me and I just couldn’t resis
t kissing it
. Despite being only eighteen Caeden looked like a man, like
someone twenty-fou
r or twenty-five, so his dimple
added a bit of a childlike quality to his manly appearance.

Before I knew what was happening Caeden pulled at me and I was flat on my back. He pulled me against him.

Oh.

And then he kissed me passionately. His hand pressed into the small of my back and his warmth threatened to burn me. My hands laced around his back, holding
him to me
, and slowly crept up his smooth, muscled back, to tangle in his shaggy dark brown hair.

He pulled away and stroked my cheek with his thumb. His breathing was heavy
,
as was mine. “Now I’m
a
wake.”

“Me too,” I breathed and a smile broke out across his face.

He gave me a quick peck on the lips, said, “I love you,”
before climbing
over me and out of the bed.

“Love you too,” I said and propped my head up on my arm to watch him as he stepped into his jeans. His shoulders and back were lean and muscled and his butt was amazing, even when
it was hidden by boxer briefs
. He had to be the most beautiful man alive and he was mine.
Mine, mine, mine.
I could do a happy dance over it.

He didn’t bother to put his shirt on and he left his jeans unbuttoned and his belt unhooked.

He was definitely trying to kill me.

I watched as Caeden stretched and yawned. He ran his hands over his face and then through his hair. He turned back to me a smiled. Once again I couldn’t help but appre
ciate his perfect washboard abs,
that delicious v that disappeared into the waistband of his jeans
, and the light dusting of hair covering his chest
.

“I’ll go unload the car and then we’ll head to my house so I can get some clean clothes.”

“You know,” I said and downcast my eyes to the sheets. I began to pull at a stray thread. “You could just bring some clothes over here. I mean
,
you do sleep here every night.”

He grinned and put his hand over his heart. “Are you offering me a drawer in your dresser?”

“Yeah, I am,” I smiled.

“I think I
’m
gonna
take you up on that offer but…”

“But?” I prompted. “There always has to be a but doesn’t there?”

He grinned. “If I’m going to have a drawer in your dresser then I want you to have one in mine.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “Deal, I’ll even take some stuff over with us today.”

“I’ll be right back,” he said and started to leave the room.

“Wait!” I hollered.

“What?” he turned around.

I picked his shirt up off the floor and tossed it to him. “Please put your shirt on before all the neighbor ladies start drooling over you. I have enough competition as it is.”

He laughed but put his shirt on anyway. “Be back in a minute,” he called over his shoulder.

I hopped up from my bed and grabbed some clean clothes before shutting myself in the bathroom. I heard the TV and figured Gram was watching CNN.

I scrubbed the stale plane smell from my body and then pulled my wet hair back into a bun. I brushed my teeth before dabbing on some pale pink strawberry flavored gloss and swiping mascara on my lashes. I added a hint of shimmer body lotion, vanilla scented, to my arms and shoulders before dressing in a pair of olive green shorts and a black shirt.

I hung my towel up on the back of the bathroom door and headed into the kitchen. My stomach was rumbling something fierce.

Caeden was already there, eating a sandwich, with a dab of mayonnaise in the corner of his mouth. I leaned over and kissed it away. It was so easy being with Caeden. I never
second-guessed
myself.

“I made you a sandwich,” he pointed to the counter. “Barbeque loaf with mustard.”

“I knew there was another reason I loved you
besides your absolute adorableness.”

He laughed and shook his head while I grabbed my plate and sat down beside him.

Gram ventured into the kitchen. She patted my shoulder and kissed the top of my head. “I’ve missed you. It’s been far too quiet without you two banging around
,
but I am sorry that your trip got cut short.”