Run With Me

Chapter Twenty

Terri was starting to sweat. She had been freezing cold when she lay down in the fetal position on the rug, unable to crawl any further. Her entire body hurt. She could feel the throbbing of the cuts in her hands with a different level of discomfort from the rest of her. She had cut her hands climbing up here. It was a price she was more than willing to pay if it meant getting out of the elements. And now she wasn't cold, she was overly warm. And naked.

"W-wh-at?" Looking up from the smattering of chest hair her nose was pressed into, she looked into the grey eyes that she thought she would never see again. Kirk didn't move, just watched and waited for her to take inventory of her surroundings and let her brain start to work again. Terri could feel a very warm, heavy weight against her back. She assumed it was a wolf, because it couldn't be anything else. She started to ask questions in her mind, like how did they get in there, the cave was barely accessible for a human, let alone for a wolf to scale up there. And who were the wolves? Were they members of her brother's pack? At the thought of Darren being in this cave right now, Terri felt a rage blossom in her chest.

"I had no other choice," Kirk's tone was defensive as he held himself perfectly still, "it's the fastest way to warm someone up who can't consent to help." Terri blinked at him for a moment, confused. Then realized they were both naked. And under the blankets. Together. The last of the cold burned away as Terri felt herself blush, her face flaming with embarrassment that he had seen her naked. And he was naked. And he was holding her. Terri grabbed a blanket and started to yank it into a new position, trying to cover herself from him. A surprised sound came from the wolf behind her, causing her to stop. Her eyes looked at Kirk again, panic etched into her features.

"They didn't see you," Kirk said, before barking at the wolves, "Out. Now." Terri could feel the tension release as the wolves groaned but got up and moved towards the cave entrance. "Stay close, but block your ears. I don't care if you hum cartoon theme songs," his own voice lowered to a growl, "no eavesdropping." Terri was surprised that he put the pressure of his status as an alpha into that one. She remained frozen in place, staring pointedly at every part of his face but directly into Kirk's eyes. A warm hand moved from her back to her face, the broad palm cupping her cheek and gently tilting her head so that she was forced to make eye contact with Kirk.

"I almost lost you," his voice was low, Kirk was shaking from the emotions, not from the cold. And Terri didn't know what to say. Every promise she had made to herself while she had been facing her own mortality was forgotten. She had promised that she would say or do something if she ever saw Kirk again. But for the life of her she couldn't remember what that promise was. All she could focus on was the heat coming off his body and the gentle caress of his thumb across her cheek. "Fuck, Terri, please don't shut me out for this," his tone was desperate, "I only stripped us because it was literally the only way I could help you. I wasn't going to bite you even if it would have guaranteed your survival," Terri's brain worked overtime until she remembers a little fact about mates. A mate could share their energy with the other, in cases of near death, one could keep the other alive. Terri blinked several times, realizing that he could have forced the mating to save her life. Any other wolf would have.

"You think I'm upset that we're laying naked under the blankets?" Terri's eyes widened as he slowly nodded and then she started to laugh. Kirk merely looked confused as Terri full on laughed. As tears started to streak down her cheeks from her mirth, he moved his hand back around her body and tugged her back into his warmth. As the laughter settled into giggles, Terri's arms came around his body and she nuzzled her nose into his chest. Kirk willed his body not to respond. "I thought my brother's pack had found this cave," she said, her voice muffled, "I only told Colin about it because he had been bullied by some of the other cubs, and this has been my refuge since I was a teen," She leaned back and looked up at Kirk, giving him a smile, "you stripping down to save my life is less violating that anyone from my brother's pack coming into this place. This place is MINE." Still grinning, Terri leaned up and kissed Kirk gently on the lips. "And thank you for putting what I truly want first," the smile fell from her lips, "you have been more than patient and understanding. And you truly listened to me when I said what I would and would not tolerate." Biting her lip, she looked down at her chest pressed against him. She could feel his growing arousal but chose to ignore it for now. Her next words were barely a whisper.

"You're a good mate."

Terri felt Kirk's arms tighten, his head coming to hover right next to her ear. "Say that again." It wasn't a question. It wasn't a demand. It was a plea. The proud, successful alpha was humbling himself before her in the manner he was asking. Terri could only bite her lip and shake her head. She didn't have the courage to say it again. Kirk nuzzled against her hair, his lips warm against the soft flesh of her ear.

"Please little raven," he begged, "I don't ask for anything more than for you to repeat what you just said," his lips pressed to her temple, "I will take nothing, I will do nothing, I just want to hear those words on your lips one more time." Terri wasn't sure, but the temperature under the thin blankets was getting tropical. She could taste the copper of blood from where she was biting her lip, trying to keep from moaning. He had respected every single one of her boundaries. And he wasn't asking for a confession of love, he was asking her to repeat a compliment. Drawing in a jagged breath, Terri squeezed her eyes shut and burrowed into Kirk's chest.

"You're a good mate." The words were muffled even further as she spoke the words into Kirk's chest, but she knew he heard them. She could tell because the appendage that had been nudging at her naked stomach hardened and she felt something wet against her skin. She felt his groan as he buried his face into her neck and inhaled deeply.

"Fuck Terri," his voice was a deep, coarse growl, "thank you." He continued to hold her, his body shaking with the force of his restraint. Terri could feel his strength, his raw power. Remaining perfectly still, her mind raced with the realization that he kept his word. He did nothing except hold her, something she had consented to in the past. And initiated herself. It didn't matter that there were no clothes between them and he had a raging hard on pressed tight to her, he treated her as if they were fully clothed. Tears pricked at Terri's eyes as it dawned on her that other than showing up, and pushing for her time, he had let her determine their physical contact. After that first kiss where he had caught her off guard, he had let her pick the pace. Kirk had given her control of his courtship without ever saying it. Because he was waiting for her. Kirk pulled back and looked down at her, seeing that she was now crying in earnest.

"Oh fates," he said, running his hands over her arms and back, "I didn't hurt you, did I?" Terri shook her head, looking into his panicked gray eyes.

"No," She said softly, reaching to hold his face between both her hands, "I was wrong," she pulled her face closer to his, "You're not a good mate," Kirk's eyes went even wider and the panic increased. Terri lips brushed ever so softly against his. "Your a great mate."

Terri held his eyes, watching as they flicked to the amber of his wolf as she kissed him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him into the kiss. Her own eyes flickered shut as Kirk let out a growl and rolled them so she was on top of his chest, ensuring no part of her body touched the ground. Even as the blankets fell off, Terri didn't feel the cold. If anything, she was too warm. And now this kiss was causing her to burn up.