The Wolf's Daughter

22 - Rekindling

I spun the cold metal of my dog-tag in my hand, its silver shine catching in the moonlight that crept through the window. My mind was too busy to rest but not in its conventional way. Tonight it wasn't flashbacks of war that were keeping me up. It was the impending loss of my family that was wracking my brain ten fold. I wasn't coping. Staring at the ceiling, I couldn't help but feel vacant. Hollow. Void. Whatever you wanted to fucking call it. The mattress beneath me felt hard and it was like I could feel every single spring piercing my skin.

'You're troubled.' My thoughts dissipated, pupils swivelling to take in Athena's silhouette in the doorway.

'Go back downstairs and rest.' My bare chest rose and fell slowly as I watched her step into the room and quietly close the door behind her.

'So you can have another night of no sleep? I don't think so.' Athena peeled her jeans off and clambered onto the mattress. She crossed her legs and pulled my head into her lap. 'What's the matter now Mr Grumps?' Her lighthearted joke didn't even tug a smile from my lips. I gazed up at her, taking in every feature of her face. 'I know you don't say a whole bunch but gimme something Jake.'

'I've failed you both.' My utterance made Athena frown. She looped her fingers into my hair, smoothing softly over my scalp.

'You know that isn't true.'

'Isn't it?' I reached up and stilled her wrist, doubt clouding my vision. 'Wren can't even fuckin' look at me, you nearly died-'

'Nearly is the key word there. And Wren will come round. She's a teenage girl, having an identity crisis is practically part of the bucket list at her age.'

'That doesn't matter. I was meant to protect you both. I was meant to keep you safe.' My eyebrows pushed down and I tutted in annoyance at myself for showing so much emotion.

'And do you think we love you any less because of that?' Athena cradled my head in her hands. Her touch was so warm and soft against my scarred skin, fingers dipping into the grooves of my face. What the hell had I done to deserve her? I didn't believe in luck at all. Everything happened for a reason and was methodical. Purposeful even. But this? This wonderful woman made absolutely no sense to me. After everything I'd done to her, the pain I'd deliberately inflicted, she was still here. There was no rational explanation for it apart from luck. Pure fucking luck. She was nothing short of a miracle. Imperfectly perfect. Reaching up, I shifted the strap of her red vest from her arm back up onto her shoulder and let my hand linger there.

'Why stay?' I asked under my breath, smoothing my knuckles down her arm, brushing over the crook of her elbow and finishing at her wrist.

'You going soft on me Seed?' She smiled gently, leaning down and pressing a kiss to my temple. 'What a stupid question to ask.' She breathed, moving her lips across the crown of my head. I could feel every single inhale and exhale as her breath fanned faintly against me.

'I'm serious.' I flipped myself over so I was lying on my stomach, looking to her. 'Why?' I gestured to my haggard body. Scarred, burnt, sullied. 'Look at me. Is it really worth it?'

'Jacob.' Athena tilted her head slightly and gave a slight shake. 'Stop it.'

'No c'mon pup. There has to be some reason you're stickin' around. Nobody else would.' I shifted up so I was now sitting on my knees, hands braced against the aching joints. My dog-tags dangled just an inch away from my chest and I cocked an eyebrow.

'Apart from the fact we have a child together?' She laughed. It was that sweet laugh, the one that made my stomach tug and my chest strain. 'I dunno... maybe it's because you have the best ass in all of Hope County?' Then there was that grin, cheeky but playful all at once. I leant forward, palms pressing into the mattress and shoved my face right into her own. My pupils expanded at a rapid rate, broad shoulders posturing back a little. I'd missed her. I wanted her. I was hungry for her. She bit her lip, flashing me her teeth slightly as she smirked. 'Why are you looking at me like that?'

'When's the last time we had a room to ourselves without pryin' eyes?' I asked, bracing a large hand on her knee. Athena looked momentarily taken aback before caving a little, cheeks flushing pink. She immediately submitted, allowing me to wrap a strong arm around her back and press my lips to her own. My tongue washed over hers and a heat I'd forgotten existed started to flicker in my core. Every movement I made was gentle, acutely aware that she was still recovering. Moving from her mouth, I began to paint her neck with small bites. They were barely noticeable but I could tell she felt them from the way she twitched beneath me. As I attacked her neck, I eased my thumbs beneath the straps of her shirt and pulled it off. She was already braless to allow Selene easy access when it came to dressing her wounds. Easing her back against the pillows, I avoided touching the bandage wrapped around her middle and motioned straight for her thighs.

'Be careful.' Her voice cracked a little as the nipping resumed on her thigh.

'Course.' I mumbled, dragging my beard against her heated skin. Athena shivered beneath my hairs, anticipation building. Inching a hand beneath the lace of her underwear, I got to work though it seemed I didn't need to. She was already a slick mess, my fingers sliding over her sensitive skin effortlessly. Pulling her little black panties to her ankles, I took my own boxers off and positioned myself between her legs. 'Okay?'

'Always.' She looped her arms around my neck and pulled me down to her mouth again delicately. With one hand pressed to her cheek, I used the other to brace against her thigh as I slowly pushed inside her. Athena's breath hitched, lips parting from mine as her head fell back into the pillow. With a gentle rocking motion I built a soft rhythm, our hips colliding mildly. Each measured stroke caused a small moan to inch out of her throat, her eyes locked fervently with my own and I daren't look away. Holding her gaze, I had to move my hand from her cheek to the headboard to keep up the gradual pace. 'Jacob...' My name left her lips in a way that I hadn't heard for years. Unravelling beneath me she pressed her palms to either side of my pelvis, thumbs pressing on my hips. I began to grunt, teeth desperately clenched to stop my pleasured groans rattling through the entire house. The tags around my neck thudded in a timely manner against my sweat ladened chest, acting as a metronome to maintain my tempo. Athena arched the slope of her back, shoulders pushing into the duvet beneath as I struck her in the perfect spot. 'Keep going...' She begged and I obliged, wanting only to please her. After a few more thrusts, I felt her tighten around me, letting out a final intense moan before going slack under my weight. Mere seconds afterwards, I felt myself go rigid as I emptied into her with a long, gritty growl. Fingers loosening from the headboard, I pulled out and collapsed down beside her. She immediately rested her head to my chest and I cradled her close.

'It's been a while.' I huffed, still seeing spots. Athena's lips quirked as she untwisted my dog-tags and lay them on my skin the right way up. She said nothing in response, simply pressing her head against my ribcage and kicking the duvet up to cover our naked bodies. I counted her heartbeats as they thundered against my side. Better than counting sheep. 'I love you.' I blurted out into the darkness and felt her draw closer.

'I love you too.' She said quietly, lips finding the crook of my collar bone. Eyes growing heavy, I continued to tally every thump beneath her ribs. As long as I had her it was all okay. As long as she was with me I could cope. Allowing much needed sleep to wash over me, I felt relief. And it felt good. Real fucking good.