Run With Me

Chapter Twenty Four - starting to get spicy!

Terri didn't even get a chance to open her door before the four people in the back bailed out and Kirk was pulling her back into the storm. The entire drive back had been white out conditions and icy. Terri could feel the cold panic of the weather, remembering the crash that took her parents from her. Michael had driven very slowly and carefully, all of them in the vehicle smelling and feeling Terri's discomfort. She was still shaking when they all walked into the hotel, barefoot and in shorts and t shirts. Nolan, a young man with a mop of brown hair grinned at the receptionist.

"Chocolate fountain exploded at the party, our clothes are all in the wash," the hotel staff joined in the laughter as they all moved to the elevator.

"So I get another sister now?" Terri leaned over in Kirk's arms to look at a blushing Zoe, who was standing very close to her favorite brother. Michael just groaned.

"Shut up Terri," she watched him wipe a hand over his face, "this is not how I expected tonight to go, okay?" Terri started to giggle, causing Kirk to look at her in shock. This woman was not the one he had gotten to know over the last few weeks. She was smiling and giggly. They had had several good laughs as they had spent time together, but she was giddy like a teenage girl with a crush. And it was doing all sorts of things to his system. He had to get her into their room. Giving his own rather wolfish grin, Kirk stepped on the elevator and hit the button to the fourth floor. 

This hotel was small, but still big enough for four floors. Kirk had told her his pack had reserved the top two floors months ago, most of them getting private rooms in anticipation of finding their mates. Zoe, it seemed, would be one of the lucky ones not going to bed alone. And neither would he. Nolan and Zoe got off on the third floor, with Zoe tugging a blushing Michael after her. Kirk saw Michael look back over at his sister, with Terri waving merrily in his arms.

"John," Kirk spoke as the doors closed, "make arrangements for Michael joining the pack. And give Zoe a raise and a promotion." John nodded, grabbing the two back packs and leading the way down the hall to Kirk's room. Terri was wondering what Zoe's roles were as they walked to the end of the hall as far from the elevators and ice machines as they could get.

"I'll be next door if you need anything," John gave them a grin that only partially met his eyes, "have fun you two." He waggled his eyebrows at Terri as he tossed the bags inside the room right before Kirk slammed it in his face.

Slowly, Kirk walked over to the king sized bed set in the room, gently placing Terri on the end and unzipping her jacket. Terri went to speak but was shushed.

"You need to get warm and into a bath," Kirk pushed the jacket off her and reached for the first sweater. Terri stopped his hands, looking up at him. The emotions from the day were still written on his face. The terror, the pain, a little of the joy. It broke Terri's heart a little. She had pushed him away over, and over again. It would have been the biggest mistake of her existence to continue denying what was right in front of her. She pushed him back and stood on her leg, wrapping her arms around him. He smelled of her brother, being that it was his shirt, but he still smelled of chocolate and coffee, a scent she had grown to appreciate over the last few weeks.

"Why didn't you bite me when I was laying there?" Terri looked up at him, needing answers more than she needed a bath. "Everyone knows that a mated pair can share a life force, keeping the other alive." What wasn't said out loud was that if one dies, so too does the other. She looked up at him, looking into his grey eyes for an answer. Kirk wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into his chest and burying his face in her neck.

"Because from the first kiss, you have demanded consent," his voice caught, "I didn't even think about biting you. Not at first. All I could think about was getting you warm so I could ask you again to be my mate." Terri's hands stroked his back lightly as he held her close, "because I will ask you over and over again if you are sure until the moment my teeth pierce your skin if you are sure. Because I will never break your trust." Terri could barely breath from the force of his embrace, but continued to pet his back, letting him hold her as long as he needed. After several minutes, she finally spoke.