Saving Grace

Part 11

I pulled into the gravel on the side of the road and turned off the truck, I couldn't help but smile. I was going to be showing Grace a small part of my world and it felt good, If only I could show her all of it.

"Hey what are you smiling at?" She asked raising a brow.

"Just the thought of spending the whole day with the most beautiful girl I know.." I winked whilst grinning at her.

The blush spread across her cheeks but she quickly tried to hide it by shaking her head and hopping out the car.

I met her at the back and pulled out the backpack full of goodies and twist it onto my back. "You ready?" I asked.

"Sure am" she said with a grin. I grabbed her hand to start walking her along the trail, instantly the familiar sparks shot up through my hand and into my arm, it's a feeling I was quickly beginning to crave. I felt the squeeze of her hand in mine as she looked at me with a hint of confusion in her eyes that quickly replaced with a smile.

"So where are you taking me then? And how do you know about this place?"

"I thought we could go for a hike into the forest and mountains then down towards the lake, it's beautiful round here I spent a lot of my childhood around this place." I smiled softly looking down into her her brown eyes that pierced my soul. It was the truth, I did spend my childhood and adulthood around these parts. I just couldn't tell her I transformed into a beast that ran wild through it.

"Anyway, tell me about you Grace.." a change of subject to stop the guilt setting in.

"What do you want to know?" She asked.

"Anything and everything" I grinned.

I wanted to know everything about her, what made her happy, what made her sad, although I'd do everything in my power that she never had to spend one moment of her life anything but happy.

"Oh gosh, I don't know. I'm not very interesting!" She proclaimed as we started to hike the path through the forest.

"Tell you what, let's play a game. Twenty questions . You ask me five then I'll ask you five until we've done all twenty."

I chuckled at the determination on her face, just what did she want to ask me.

I just needed to decide if I go full throttle or ease her in.

"Deal. I'll go first. First question, what's your favourite food?" I eased her in but it was the most important question after all.

"Easy Italian." She grinned and answered without hesitation.

I smirked at her "snap.. Second question, what's your order at the Italian?"

"Everything.." she giggled jokingly. "Erm i love love pizza and pasta who doesn't?"

"Right!" I laughed again her giggling was infectious.

"3rd question.. I paused for a second as the path split off in two, the left went up further into the forest there was a small chance wolves could be out on a run, the right was a little rockier and took you down towards the lake."

"This way" I said pulling her along to which she gladly followed.

"What made you want to move to the city?" I glanced over to her, her eyes trained on me listening carefully to questions I was asking even if it was just a bit of fun.

"Erm, I guess I just wanted a change of scenery I suppose. The usual story a small town girl with big dreams of the city." She shrugged before motioning me for the next question.

"Four.. what was your small town like?"

"The usual.. everyone knows your business."

She didn't linger long on this question I could tell there was more but I wanted her to open up when she was ready.

"Okay last one.." I said as we came into the clearing from under the cover of the forest. We came to a steep set of steps that led you down to the lake but the view from up here was amazing. You could see for miles, even the tips of some of the sky scrapers in the distance.

"Have you ever seen a view like this before?" I smirked as she stepped out beside me.

Her mouth dropped open and she gasped as she took in the view. I slipped behind her and wrapped my arms around her as we both looked out and admired the vista.

"Wow.. This is amazing!" She whispered, I could feel her relaxing back into my body. The tingles ignited over my chest and my heart swelled at the closeness. We stood there for a minute just taking it all in, just the two of us all alone on the edge of both our worlds.

I leaned down and snuck a kiss onto her cheek, lingers for a minute breathing in her familiar scent of orange and honey, I could feel her smiling and leaning her body into me even more before turning and placing her soft lips against mine. I tightened my arms around her body, my wolf howling in my head. Self controlled will be at the top of my cv by the end of today.

Her hands went up around my neck pulling herself closer to me, her pert breasts pushing against my chest, this time it was her who deepened the kiss, grazing my lips with her tongue hungry for more. A woman that knows what at she wants, Goddess above.

I picked up the slight snap of a branch with my wolf hearing, it wasn't too close but I'd be lying if I didn't feel a slight prick of worry deep in my brain, Jett stirred a little too. It shouldn't be any of my pack and rogues were banished from this part of land as humans were known to wander here on the trails.

I unwillingly broke the kiss and placed my forehead against Grace's, "come on it's your turn." I said grinning and leading her down the steps.

"Okay Zander Black. First question..hmm. Where do you live?"

I was glad she couldn't see my face as took the steps in front of her, this girl was going to go in hard.

"I've got an apartment in the city not far from you, I'll take you." I said continuing to walk down the steps, I mean I technically wasn't lying. I do have an apartment in the city for when I'm working late the odd occasion. But that still didn't stop me from feeling guilty about not giving her the whole truth.

"Oo fancy!" Grace chimed behind me.

"So second question.. how do you know Ron and June?"

"Through owning the store. Next."

"Do you have any psycho ex's?" Her voice faltered a little when she mentioned the ex. Maybe she could feel the bond.

I chucked lightly and stopped turning to her.

"No you're safe.. no one will try to fight you." I winked.

She slapped my chest and asked another question whilst I stood facing her taking a moment.

"Hmm, do you play sports?"

"Yes" I answered.

"Which one's?" She asked looking intrigued

"All of them" I grinned.

She raked her eyes up and down my body before rolling them.

"Of course you do." Smirking whilst saying it.

"My turn.." I said about to ask another question before she interrupts me.

"Wait I've got one more question. Do you like it when i do this?" Before I could answer she crashed her lips to mine, her hands lacing round the back of my neck and into my hair. She was on the step up from me the perfect hight for me to pick her up and wrap her legs around my waist.

Fuck, this is what I've always wanted a woman that's not afraid to challenge me and take charge.

I'd do anything right now to have every last bit of her. Grace broke the kiss first, I missed her lips against mine instantly.

We both panted heavily trying to steady our breathing and continue on this damn walk. Who knew a hike would be hot as hell.

"Your turn" she finally spoke.

"Uh?" I questioned a confused look on my face.

"Your next question for me.." she had a playful lust full look in her eye, I couldn't even tell anyone my own name right at this moment never mind ask her a question, she was a temptress and I was fully in her wrap.

"Right..." I trailed off reaching behind my head and rubbing it. Grace flung her head back and laughed before stepping past me and leading the way down the long steps to the lake.

"Come on Zander." She looked back over her shoulder her pony tail swishing just like her ass as she walked on down.

Man I hope this lake would be cold.

As we neared the bottom there wasn't a soul in site which was perfect, Grace deserved to have this beauty all to herself. The lake was said to be hand carved my the Moon Goddess herself as her personal bathing area, the water clear as Crystal. I so wish I could tell her all of this.

"Wow!" Grace said soaking up all the beauty, her face had a constant grin as she looked around in amazement.

I took off my back pack and placed it down on the ground, I took out the blanket Jamie had prepared for us and lay it on the waters edge with our backs to the forest behind. I sat myself down and motioned for Grace to join me, she unzipped her jacket and placed it to the side of her, her tanned skin glistening in the sun.

"So.." i started to say with a grin. "No date day would be complete without a little wine and strawberries." I looked up to Grace who was beaming at me.

"Wow you really are Mr. Perfect aren't you." She said her eyes twinkling.

"Well you know I try." I said throwing her a nonchalant look.

We grinned at each other relaxing back into the blanket, Grace sat facing me with her legs crossed as I grabbed 2 plastic wine cups and poured a little in each. I stretched my legs out and leaned back propping myself up on my elbow taking in her beauty. There was a comfortable silence between us we both took a sip of our drinks.

"Question number 6... have you got any siblings?" I ask breaking the peace.

"Nope, just me myself an I! My mom and dad never got the chance to have any more.." Grace trailed off her eyes flashing with sadness.

"Are they no longer here?" I asked gently.

Grace shook her head, "no they passed away when I was 8" her eyes locked with mine and a sad smile spread across her face. I reached my hand up and placed it on her cheek to comfort her. I knew how she felt, to some extent. I missed my dad in fleeting moments, I sometimes wish he could see the man I'd become, the Alpha I'd become.

But I don't miss his tyranny.

"I wish they could see me now" Grace said with a sad voice as she nuzzled into my palm, reaching up with her own to cover it.

I pulled her down to me, laying on our sides on the blanket i held her close to my chest, I wish she could feel the sparks I felt, the comfort it gave wouldn't take away the sadness of the loss of her parents but I wish she'd know that I'd spend the rest of my life trying to.

I placed a gentle kiss on top of her head. "I'm sure they're up there now looking down on you and extremely proud. Your own salon and an apartment in the city is a big achievement. You're living your dream."

She moved her head from the crook of my neck and smiled up at me.

"That's all because of you."

"Then maybe it was just meant to be" I grinned at her, maybe it was. The moon goddess doesn't get this wrong.

Her cheeks flushed a little before she nuzzled back into my neck.

"Question 8.." the hum against my skin as she spoke was delightful.

I needed to lighten this up, I didn't want to push too far I wanted her to open up to me as and when she wanted. Plus I felt a twinge of guilt that was was telling me her secrets and i couldn't tell her any of mine.

"Would you like a strawberry?" We both moved to look at each other reciprocating each other's grin.

"Yes please!" Grace beamed.

Sitting up I grabbed the container out of the bag and opened it placing it down between us, the chocolate had started to melt a little I was annoyed I didn't think of this and pack a cool block too. Grace must have seen the look on my face.

"This is perfect Zander, the most perfect thing anyone has ever done." She said as she grabbed a strawberry. As she took a bite the melted chocolate coated her lips, she took her tongue and licked it off.

Holy f**k, that was the hottest thing I've ever seen. I gulped, not taking my eyes off her.

"What?" She said looking a little flustered now.

"Nothing" I smirked. Jett stirred in my head.

"We are in big trouble."

"Big trouble" I replied in my mind.

A mischievous grin flashed across her face as she picked up another chocolate coated strawberry.

"Here.." she said as she held it up for me to take a bite. I bit into it not breaking eye contact, I was mesmerised by the power she didn't even know she had.

She giggled as she placed the half even strawberry into the container and started to lick to melted chocolate off of her fingers, I could feel the stir of my member in my shorts. I reached over to stop her and took her finger into my mouth slowly licking and sucking the sweet chocolate off of it. I could smell her arousal and the hitch of her breath nearly tipped me over the edge as her eyes went wide with delight.

Jett was fighting for control, he and admittedly I wanted to take her right here and mark her as our mate, sealing our bond forever disregarding any consequences or challenges that stood in our way.

I released her finger and tried to regain control.

"Question 10 can you swim?"

I needed to get in that cold water fast.

The twinkle of lust in her eyes told me that maybe the cold water wouldn't help after all.