CW: Mentions and implications of domestic violence and sexual assault.Seraphina's POVRosie sat across from me at the dining room table, pushing a coffee and a bag of donuts over to me. "You've been up all night, haven't you?""I couldn't sleep," I affirmed, accepting the coffee and taking a much-needed sip. "The nightmares came back."Her head slowly tilted to the side, kinship filling her eyes. "I'm sorry, Sera." She sighed deeply, chewing on a plain cake donut. "I knew this was going to come up.""Why didn't you tell me?" I asked."Would you have trusted me if you knew my best friend was related to the man that hurt you?" I shook my head, replying, "No. But that was months ago now. You had plenty of opportunities to tell me."She dunked her donut into her coffee a few times. "If I'm being honest, I've been putting it off big time. I figured it would come up in conversation with Kit anyways. His relationship with his brother is complicated.""He didn't tell me his
Kit's POVA storm was coming. I could smell the rain. Thickness in the air.Brewing in the clouds. Dark gray and angry with lightning flashing in the distance. I grimaced, turning my attention back to sealing my client's windows. Last one of the day. Then I could go back to my apartment and drink myself into a stupor until I fell asleep and couldn't hear the thunder anymore.I hated the crack of thunder. It reminded me too much of my eighteen birthday when I was sliced to pieces by my brother. The thunderstorm came afterward and I could recall little snippets of Rosie dragging me through the mud, over the border before Will decided to change his mind and finish the job.When I was a child, I loved the sound of rain, but now, it makes my entire body tense. Even if there is so much as a change in humidity, my body went into survival mode.Pathetic. A grown man afraid of thunderstorms.My phone buzzed, but I didn't look at it. As badly as my fingertips itched to respond bec
Seraphina's POVSweetheart? My chest hummed happily, warmth flooding through my veins. Enough to cut through the cold of being sopping wet, stuck in a thunderstorm. After I got off the phone with Kit, I called Rosie to let her know what was going on.How her car totally broke down and left me stranded at a gas station and that Kit was coming to get me. She then told me how Annie and her were watching a movie and to be safe on my way back.I felt a little stupid. There I was, trying to beat the storm and pick up a gallon of milk and a few snacks for Annie before the storm hit. And I would have too if Rosie's car didn't crap out on me. I didn't want to call Kit. I knew he was busy on jobs this week, but I didn't know who else I could reach out to. I didn't really know or trust anyone else. Standing in Diamond Beer and Wine, the owner had already called a tow truck for me to take Rosie's car into the shop. Everyone was so nice here. As each day passed, I found myself liking th
Kit's POVMy heart was beating too fast.Sera was here. In my apartment, getting changed into my clothes. My wolf roused, pacing under my skin. He buzzed with unrequited excitement. Desire to be touched. The tether in my chest longed for her.While she changed, I shrugged off my shirt, putting on some fresh clothes before settling down on my loveseat, and turning something on the TV to distract myself. I could hear her heart beating, a bout of her scent breaking through the mask. It made my mouth water and hair raise on the nape of my neck. Like sweetwater. A rushing rapid over a rocky riverbank. My bathroom door opened and I tried to shake off the budding desire. How the realization that we were alone in my apartment made my cock thicken in my pants. I looked up from the couch and instantly, my mouth went dry. She was so unbelievably beautiful. Blonde hair tossed to one side of her head, cascading down the front of her chest like glimmering gold. My shirt was too big
Seraphina's POV"Wait," I said suddenly when I felt Kit's calloused hands scratch deliciously against my bare waist. Instantly, he stopped, removing his hands from my skin despite how badly I could tell he wanted to touch me. My thighs quivered around him, feeling how hard he pressed against me. Through our clothes, I could feel how excited he was. The thickness of his cock notched against me.Wetness pooled between my legs and my body became sensitive. Eager. His touch ignited a fire under my skin.My heart pounded, an ache permeating my entire body.I wanted him.I wanted him so badly, I felt like I was burning for him.My hands pressed up against his chest and it was just as hard as I remembered.I noticed the scars. I could see them everywhere. Claw marks. Punctures from teeth. Horrible injuries baked into his flesh. All I wanted to do was touch them, press my lips to them, and stroke my fingertips along them.He still looked so fucking good that I wanted t
Kit's POVSera fit perfectly against the crook of my arm, her nose pressed against my collarbone. Her narrow arms wound around my neck, holding me tightly like at any moment, this would all be taken away. I felt the same way. Her breath puffed out against my neck, her heart pumping steadily. I smelled myself all over her and the only way that would feel even better is if I could smell that sweetwater again threaded through my scent. Combing my fingers through her hair, the thunderstorm felt like a distant memory. The rain lightening against my roof. I'd have to take her home soon. Back to Rosie's homestead, out of my arms. It felt difficult to even think about. I didn't want to let her go.Not when I could still taste her on my lips. Remember how she quivered and surrendered to me.Her words were still fresh in my mind. Her husband scarred her. Tore into her skin because he felt like she owed it to him. The thought made me really fucking angry. Rage simmered under the
Seraphina's POVNearing dinnertime, I glanced into the living room to see Kit on his belly on the floor, coloring with Annika. She giggled and tried to stuff the crayon into her mouth before he took it away, telling her that crayons are not for eating. He redirected her with a little bowl of cheerios left out as a snack.My daughter squealed, tossing handfuls all over the floor excitedly. Kit gave her a disapproving look and made a game out of picking the pieces up before he rolled onto his back. Annika didn't waste a moment and jumped right on the golden opportunity.He lay on the floor, reminding me of a lounging wolf letting a pup climb all over him. Completely unbothered by her and she loved every moment of using him as a jungle gym. A sense of fullness unraveled in my chest. I rubbed at it, a smile curling the side of my mouth. For just a moment, I pretended Kit was Annie's father. Giving her everything she needed. Protecting her. Loving her as a father should. It w
Seraphina's POVI stared down at his hands, fingers coiled through mine. The warmth in his hands soothed me. Rough callouses scratched my palms, but that only made it feel more real. My heart felt tight in my chest, throat thickened with words that seemed so hard to say.Words felt hard before, but now, my tongue felt swollen with the impossibility of it. I shook slightly, so afraid of hurting him."I-It's my business. Has nothing to do with you. It…I-It doesn't matter anyways," I stammered, withdrawing my hands to tuck them under my arms. Absolving myself of how his skin felt. My body whined at the loss of his warmth. I'd drag him down with me into the mess of my marriage. I…I couldn't do that to him.When I glanced up, his eyes clearly reflected the hurt. "How can I make you understand that's not true? How can I get through to you that it matters?" I couldn't look at him. Couldn't feel the way his kind eyes seemed to see right through me. I fiddled with my wedding ring,