The Whispers and The Wolf

Twenty-Two

Conlan had baked us some homemade pizza for dinner. Man he was some cook! I needed a nap after, it was so delicious that I ate every bite. He laughed at me as I pat my full belly and leaned back in my chair. We chatted about everything and anything, but when we sat down to dessert, it was time for the line of questioning I was dreading.

“I seem to remember me spilling aw the beans about my family. What about yours?” He took his first bite of chocolate cake.

“Well… I don’t speak to them much.” I admitted. I wasn’t in the mood to go into much detail but he wasn’t letting it go. “They always treated me like an outcast. I was never really close to them so I moved to Glasgow for Uni and we rarely speak. That’s why my friends are so important to me, they are all I have.”

“Do ye have any siblings?” He asked, taking my hand in his.

“Yeah, a sister… she’s the same as my parents. She moved away to another town but then moved back when she had my nephew. She’s got 2 boys now, married, living the sham life for social media while being poisonous in real life. My parents spilt up some time ago, but neither have changed the way they treat me. Or their opinions of me. I’m still a freak…” I trailed off, tears filling my eyes and a lump forming in the throat. Wiping my eyes on my sleeve, I said “I’m sorry, I don’t really want to talk about this anymore.”

“You are perfect, do ye hear me?” He gave my hand one last squeeze then made his way round the island to take my face in his massive paws. “No one will ever make ye feel inferior again. You are more than enough.” He let me look in his eyes long enough to convince me he was telling the truth. “I love ye, Autumn.”

“I… I… “ I stammered.

“Don’t say it back, I understand it’s different for me. Ye will fall in love with me. I can assure ye of that.” He brushed my nose with his.

“I already am, Conlan. I’m absolutely falling for you.” Big, fat tears fell down my cheeks and he kissed them away.

“Why don’t we watch a film, wee birdie? Something to help you relax?” He held my head close to his chest and I could hear his heart beating. It was pure bliss. It sounded like it was beating for me.

“I have a better idea…” I peered up at him. “My favourite thing to do to relax is a bath?” I suggested.

“Well that sounds like a perfect idea.” He kissed my nose and whisked me up the stairs to the bathroom, and I giggled the entire way.

While I ran the bath, Conlan stayed in the bedroom to make a quick call. I don’t know when I became so bold but with Conlan, I didn’t feel scared to put myself out there.. He was so accepting of me and I knew he wouldn’t reject me. As I swirled the bubble bath through the warm water, I smiled to myself, thinking about what the next few days would bring.

“7 days til the New Moon.” Conlan was casually leaning against the door frame, hands in his pockets. “That’s what ye were thinking, eh?” He turned the taps off in the bath and pulled me to my feet.

“Get out of my head, there’s enough voices in there.” I laughed. Then stopped when I remembered I wasn’t talking to Robyn. I hadn’t told him about The Whispers yet. Luckily he didn’t think too much of it, kissing me and pulling my jumper over my head. Kissing me again, I helped him with his tshirt. We continued to undress, but I blushed when I realized I hadn’t saw him naked yet. When he peeled his boxers down, my breath hitched in my throat. His eyes never left mine but I couldn’t resist a peek. And what I saw made me weak at the knees.

“Like what ye see, aye?” He goaded me.

“Mine…” I breathed.

He pulled me to him. “Yours, Mo Leannan.”

He climbed into the bath and helped me in after him, placing me between his legs with my back to his chest. He sat with his arms leaning on the sides of the bath, my hands were on his thighs.

“This is perfect.” I sighed to myself.

“The Moon Goddess has smiled upon us.” He said. “I just want to be here aw the time, soaking up every moment with ye.”

“Move in with me.” I didn’t hesitate. It took him saying it for me to realise it’s all that I wanted too.

“Autumn that’s not what I meant,” he countered. “I understand-“

“No I want it.” I turned to face him. “I love having you here with me. I never want to be apart from you. I get distracted, I get sad. I feel empty when you’re not here.”

I had never saw him smile brighter than in that moment. He was the wolf that got the cream. “Well how could I turn down an offer like that?” Kissing me from behind and wrapping his arms around me. I’d never lived with a man before. If this was a taste of what it would be like, then I was all for it.

“Have you ever had a girlfriend?” I blurted out.

“Goddess’ Sake, where did that come from?” Conlan was getting defensive. I liked to make him squirm, just a wee bit.

“Well I’ve had boyfriends but I’ve never lived with anyone. So what’s your story?.”

“ I don’t want to discuss-“

“OK.” I interrupted, pulling myself up out of the bath. He pulled me back in.

“FINE. I’ve not had a girlfriend since I was 16 so nothing serious. I didn’t want to string her along incase I found my Mate.” He said shyly. “Some people take chosen Mates if they don’t find their destined one. It’s rare but it can happen. I knew it wasn’t for me though. I waited for you.” He nuzzled my neck.

“But you’re not a virgin?” My presumption made him jump.

“Jesus, Autumn! What a conversation...”

“Answer the question.” I tried to hide my smile. He was being a total prude.

“Just because I haven’t had a girlfriend doesn’t mean I haven’t… ye know… lads will be lads and aw that”.

“How many?” I spluttered.

“Right you, that is where I draw the line!” We couldn’t contain our laughter. The bath water was getting cooler so we climbed out and wrapped ourselves in towels. I stole another peek before he put his boxers back on. Where was I supposed to fit that thing? Even when it wasn’t hard it was the biggest I had ever seen. The thought alone made me blush, give me that feeling in the pit of my stomach. His eyes darkened, sensing what I was thinking.

“Maybe we should pick up where we left off last night?” He sauntered towards me, the towel slung low on his hips.

“As long as you can control yourself, Mr Maxwell. We have a New Moon to hold out for.”