The Alpha's Saviour

Chapter 16

Cooper POV

           It hasn’t been easy, but I have been taking things slowly with Hayley, wanting to get to know her better and earn her trust before I tell her what I am. My restraint has been severely tested every morning as she greets me in her tiny bed shorts and tank tops, and thin dressing gowns that do nothing to hide the amazing figure underneath from my hungry gaze. Something changed this morning though. Even though we have been growing closer, today I could clearly sense her desire as she watched me closely on the porch swing. Knowing those idiots were going to be arriving any minute was the only thing that stopped me from taking her in a deep kiss that would linger in her mind all day. I didn’t leave any room for argument when I suggested dinner this evening, and I let all the crew finish work early so I could tidy up her place, go home to shower and change, and head to the shops to get the food I needed and a nice bottle of wine. I didn’t say anything to Ethan or Nathan about my plans, but they have been watching me like a hawk so I’m sure they know I have something up my sleeve. Ethan knows she’s my mate, so while he is finding my antics extremely entertaining, at least he understands. Nathan however, who is a total ladies’ man, is completely gob smacked that I seem to be so smitten with the little human. He already doesn’t understand why I don’t use my alpha status like he does, to indulge himself in beautiful woman and short-term flings, so my interest in Hayley after years of refusing to even date anyone while waiting for my fated mate seems like a complete U-turn for me.

           I considered making this dinner a romantic meal with candles, flowers, and the works, but I shelve those thoughts quickly. What had worked so far was keeping things chilled out and relaxed, so a simple pasta dinner with some salad and nice bread was on the cards. Over the top cliched gestures weren’t really my thing anyway and there’s no point in pretending I’m something that I’m not. I finish cleaning up and admire the work the guys have done so far for Hayley, and I must admit the place looks great. The new open plan kitchen, dining, living area works well, and whole ground floor was much brighter with the partition walls torn down. The paint job and the new floors add to the light, airy feel. As I potter around the kitchen preparing our dinner and waiting for Hayley to arrive home, I feel at relaxed and happy. I never thought such domestic activity would bring me such joy, but I am genuinely enjoying the chance to take care of her. I’m looking forward to sharing a meal and spoiling her a little after a hard day at work. Maybe I am just getting old and boring as Nathan and Leila would probably suggest, but I know it’s more than that, it’s more to do with the feelings that I am developing that are way more than just the mate bond. The mate bond creates the pull, no doubt about that, but Rex is the perfect example of how that can still go horribly wrong if there isn’t a meeting of minds. The bond doesn’t guarantee a happily ever after. Even though the first couple of weeks were torture, the last two have been a joy, and in a way I’m glad that it’s happened this way. My wolf is even pretty content all things considered.

           I sense Hayley before I see her, her delicious smell perking up my wolf instantly. She pushes open the door, her golden eyes sparkle and she flushes slightly as she spots me in her kitchen cleaning down the counters and filling the dishwasher. I wonder if how right this feels is as much of a surprise to her as it is to me. She drops her bag and car keys onto the hall table and kicks her heels off, pushing them underneath the table with her now bare feet. She pulls her hair loose and it falls in caramel waves around her slim shoulders. The five second transformation from professional Hayley to home Hayley makes me smile, and I can see her posture relax in the time it takes her to walk from the front door over to the kitchen island.

           “It’s nothing fancy so don’t get too excited, it won’t be long, but you have time to go and get changed if you want,” I say as I hand her a chilled glass of white wine. She sighs happily as she takes a sip and rests her hip against the countertop, looking up at me with a twinkle in her eye, seeming amused at how I have taken over kitchen unashamedly.

           “I might just do that if you don’t mind, I promise I’ll come back and help you then. It smells amazing.” She stands up on her tippy toes to look into the pot to see what I am making and trying to steal a piece of bread before I wave her out of her own kitchen.

           “Go, it’s all done. Get comfortable and I’ll dish up when you’re back.” She disappears up the stairs with her glass of wine and I hear the shower turning on, and her light footsteps as she moves around upstairs. Ten minutes later she re-appears in a simple, navy dress with thin straps, strappy flat sandals, and a delicate gold bracelet on her wrist. Her hair is still down but she has clipped back some of the layers at the front to keep them out of her face and she looks stunning. She pads into the kitchen and sits on a high stool at the island, watching me dish up and put garlic bread into a basket.

           “I don’t know what I did to deserve this, but I like it,” she laughs as I pass by her with the food and set it down on the dining table. She follows me over with the bottle of wine in a cooler and a glass for me, before sitting down kitty corner to me at the large rectangular table.

The conversation flows as we tuck in, chatting easily about where we grew up and our families. I laugh more than I can remember doing in years, definitely since it was decided I would become the next Alpha instead of Rex. It’s like a breath of fresh air considering I typically spend most of my days being serious and stern. We are both keeping a few things to ourselves, she’s cautious when talking about her decision to move here and leave behind what sounds like a close family, a stellar career and a glamorous lifestyle. I am guessing there is an ex involved but she is keeping her cards close to her chest and to be honest, I don’t really want to hear about her life with another man. At the same time, I want to know everything about her, especially if it’s worrying her. The fact that her family have been absent since she moved here makes me curious. They sound like the kind of people who would be getting stuck in and helping her out with the house renovations, supporting her through the relocation, and their absence seems conspicuous. I can see her love for them whenever she talks about them so there doesn’t appear to have been any falling out. For my part, I skirt around some of finer details of the Jones company set up and what I do outside of work because it’s all pack related, and I don’t want to tell any outright lies to my mate.

After dinner, we move outside to watch the sun set behind the mountains, glasses of wine in hand as we lean against the newly repaired handrail. I can’t help myself and put my arm around her waist, pulling her close to my side where she seems to fit perfectly. I lean down to place a gentle kiss on her bare shoulder, and her skin is silky smooth against my lips. She smells divine, and I use the chill in the air as an excuse to tuck her in front of me between my body and railing and wrap my arms around her. I rest my chin on the top of her head, my chest pressed to her back, trying to get as close to her as I can. I can feel her breathing become slightly uneven, and sparks fly wherever there is skin-to-skin contact. Immediately, the s****l energy that is always simmering between us becomes almost palpable, and I know she feels it as much as I do. I move slightly, and she must feel the bulge in my trousers brush against her ass as she inhales sharply. I fight the urge to push against her harder so that she can feel exactly what she does to me, and instead settle for just holding her close. I gently brush her hair to one side so that I can access her neck and press small kisses to the top of her back, then to the spot where her neck meets her shoulder where I will place my mark eventually, then along her delicate collarbone, trailing feather light kisses up the side of her neck to just behind her ear. Goosebumps appear on her skin wherever I touch her, and I am in love with the soft little breathy moans that are escaping her lips as she tilts her head to the side slightly, letting me know without words that she is enjoying this as much as I am. I gently turn her around to face me and place a finger under her chin so I can tilt her face up to mine. I keep looking into her beautiful brown eyes as I gently trail my fingers along her jaw and down her neck, along her collarbone, down her arm and back to her waist. Even though it’s all pretty innocent, the unbroken eye contact makes it the most intimate moment I’ve ever experienced, and I am just soaking it all in. Her pupils are blown wide, and her parted lips are just begging to be kissed. I lean down agonizingly slowly until our lips are millimeters away and pause for a second, giving her the chance to pull back if this isn’t what she wants, but she doesn’t move except to rock forward ever so slightly to meet me. That’s all the permission I need so I close the gap and press my lips to hers. The kiss is firm but gentle at the same time, showing Hayley that I want her, but I also to try and convey how I feel about her, to be clear that this is not just s****l chemistry. As I pull her tight to my body and she feels my hardness between us, she responds by parting her lips and deepening the kiss, rubbing against me as she reaches up to wrap her arms around my neck pulling me closer and running her hands through my hair. A deep groan passes my lips, and she smiles, obviously enjoying the effect she has on me. I almost purr with satisfaction as her fingers run across my scalp, down my neck and she grips the front of my shirt tightly. I eventually force myself to lean back, breaking the hot and heavy kiss, and gently place my forehead against hers and close my eyes, sucking in a deep breath and sighing in pleasure. I know that if we continue like this, I won’t be able to stop myself from taking her upstairs to christen her new bed. My control is hanging by a thread.

“Holy s**t,” she whispers dreamily, and I laugh out at the bluntness of her comment.

“Exactly what I was thinking.” I whisper as my hands roam up and down her back and luscious ass, and around her waist and hips. I burn the feeling of her body into my mind because it will have to do for the moment. This is the most perfect evening of my life and so I do the most difficult thing I have ever done to try not to ruin it.

“I need to leave.” I say softly. A frown creases the forehead of my little mate and her nose wrinkles in confusion. “I really don’t want to, but after a kiss like that, I need to leave before I do something very ungentlemanly like throw you over my shoulder and carry you up to bed right this second.”

“Oh.” She smiles as she realizes it’s not a rejection, and the scent of her arousal gets stronger telling me that she loves the idea of me going all caveman on her. f**k, she really is perfect.

“Soon princess, but not tonight. It’ll be worth the wait.” I promise, and her heartbeat picks up again. I need to go right now, because I don’t want her to regret taking things further too soon. I press a gentle kiss to her soft lips and step back with a groan, and she laughs as I rub my hand back over my forehead and curse quietly again as I take in her slightly mussed but happy appearance, and her lips swollen from kissing. I drag her back to me for another quick but scorching kiss before jogging to my car before I change my mind. I give her a wink as I climb into my truck, and I sit for a second trying to clear my head so I can remember how to drive. I deserve a medal for leaving that woman standing on the porch. I back my truck out of the driveway, heading home for a very long, very cold and very lonely shower.