her sweet chains

Episode 16

I lay curled up silently on Derek’s chest brushing my fingers gently down his arms which were wrapped around me. He was silent too but was pressing gentle kisses on the top of my head. I didn’t know why we were both silent we just both seemed happier this way. I sighed contently as I ran my fingers across the almost invisible silvery scars on his skin. Unwanted images aced into my mind as I recalled the night he’d returned with those wounds. The night I had demanded a mini sort of strip tease from him in order to inspect the hideous collection of injuries given to him by a small group of rogues. My fingers travelled across his sweaty skin lightly gently caressing the multitude of scars I encountered. He had a rough job and hence a lot of scars plus we were wolves anyway, I had multiple scars too which I think in the course of that night had all been kissed. I stopped my fingers and began pressing several light butterfly kisses to his faded scars. This action seemed to rouse Derek as he removed one arm from around me to begin bushing his fingers through my hair. I smiled running my fingers gently over another injury on his upper arm but this wasn’t healed and faded, it was red swollen and still bleeding gently this one was deep, Derek shuddered slightly under my gentle fingers.

“Sorry.” I whispered,

“For prodding it or doing it in the first place?” he asked gently, I smiled and snuggled back into his chest. True I had scratched and bitten him harshly enough to draw blood but Derek hadn’t exactly been gentle with me either I had a collection of marks to rival his. I licked the gentle trail of blood from his shoulder. This might not sound like everyone’s idea of good s*x but we were wolves we like to play rough. Our scratching and biting was simply a consequence of our intense desire for each other in that moment. So despite being a little sore and pained by all these small wounds I still couldn’t help but sigh contently as Derek gently nuzzled into my hair. I knew he was perfectly content right now after all the only thing that he had ever wanted that he couldn’t have was me and here I was the thing he had been pursuing for what seven years laid naked curled up on his chest. In this moment I loved him so much maybe not the way that he wanted not with the passionate intensity he had but then the level of closeness I felt towards him now how much love I felt for him it actually shocked me. Derek’s hand slid down my arm to vaguely trace the brand on my wrist. Suddenly I giggled,

“Derek are you trying to kill me?” I muttered feeling his erection pressing into my hip. He laughed, it had been so long since I’d heard that sound I’d forgotten how much I loved to hear it.

“I can’t help it.” He said defensively squirming slightly under me. “I’m you know human, and male and your lying on top of me and your you know naked.” I chuckled twisting slightly so I was lying on my stomach on top of him

“Do you want me to get dressed?”

“Oh god no.” he said throatily his hands sliding down to my waist. I smiled which he returned “Jess.” He whispered removing the chain from around his neck. “this is yours.” He whispered hanging the long platinum chain over my neck causing the purple stone to be nestled between my breasts. I smiled looking down at the beautiful gem before I nestled down into him pressing a light kiss to his lips. I felt Derek’s lips curl into a smile as he kissed me suddenly tightening his arms around me he rolled over and laid himself on top of me. I giggled and  ran my hands through his hair my eyes locked on his golden gaze for just a moment before I pulled his lips down to mine, whatever lethargy we had felt moments before instantly banished by our sudden desire.

“I love you.” I muttered into Derek’s kiss “I love you so much.”

           I lifted my head of Derek’s shoulder as there was a light tentative knock at his door.

“Err Dare...Derek.” a hesitant voice whispered, “I um…Darius err. I was…I was sent to find Jess.”

“Is everything alright Jamie?” I said gently saving him placing a calming hand on Derek’s sweaty SHOULDER.

“Um well.” He didn’t sound more comfortable if anything he sounded worse as if he’d been clinging to a fragile hope that he wouldn’t have found me there, that he wouldn’t have interrupted anything. “Um…err well um Darius...err sent me because it’s getting late. He said if um your err not at the house in um fifteen minutes he’ll assume your university fees are surrendered and he’ll use it as a down payment on um Derek’s first Porsche.” I heard Derek sigh as he eased his arms from around me. “Erm well what shall I…um.”

“Tell him I’m coming.” I said pushing myself up with a heavy sigh, promptly becoming tangled in the sheets and half falling from the bed on to the torn remnants of what had been my favourite jeans. I growled in frustration and pulled on Derek’s discarded jeans which were the first thing that came to hand. They worked although they predictably were huge. I swung my head round looking for my bra but couldn’t see it but I did see my T-shirt , so I gave up on the bra and just pulled my shirt over my head. Only then did I stop to look Regard Derek, I noticed that he hadnt moved an inch he was lying on his back just watching me almost lazily, his eyes were again almost black with just the golden flecks sliding across his eyes betraying any flicker of emotion.

“Dare.” I said tentatively  he held up a hand to stall me which was good actually as I didn’t have a clue what I’d say next.

“This doesn’t change anything does it?” He said pushing himself up to sitting shaking his head “not for you anyway.”

“Derek.” I said weakly,

“Don’t bother Jess.” He snarled his voice quiet yet the malice was clear “you know exactly what your doing you always have .” he snapped smoothly standing and crossing the room in two strides walking straight out slamming the door so had that the whole room seemed to shake. I stood rooted to the spot for a few minutes taking several deep breaths trying to calm myself although this had NO success. So I gave up and strode down the hallway hearing Derek crashing around in the bathroom, I bit my lip and suddenly broke into a run.

“You got him tiger.” Dean called from the Kitchen as I sprinted out of their house and around the outside of the den crunching across the gravel towards Darius who was directing Jamie, Carl and Roger who were loading up the cars (perk of being the alpha) he turned to smile at Kate who was stood next to him also supervising (Perk of being pregnant).

“Jessica good morning your three hours late.” Darius said in a singsong voice, “and you appear to be wearing jeans that are more than a little too large.” I glared at him,

“I’m just going to change.” I snapped,

“Oh is this not some new fashion?” he said with a genuinely confused voice,

“Oh you found your necklace.” Kate said in a sunny voice. I growled in exasperation so loudly that Kate actually leapt back looking stunned.

“f*****g hell.” I snarled stomping loudly up the stairs and to my room. Snarling to scare Carl out slamming the door loudly behind me.

           It only took half an hour for me to finally start to connect with reality, that is the extent of what I had actually done hit me. So I did what any mature girl would do I stood in the shower hiding harbouring a vain hope that I may drown there. I quickly pulled on a set of my clothing flinging Derek’s into the laundry basket, before beginning to blow-dry my hair which I was able to manage for about thirty seconds before there was a tentative knock at the door. I switched off the hairdryer irritably.

“I’m just gabbing my shoes I’ll be with you in a few minutes Jay.” I called,

“K.” He called simply and I sat down on my Bed and began pulling on my Battered Black trainers. Half of me wanting to sprint downstairs and into my car I wanted to get out of here, well away from a specific part of it anyway a tall dark hair dark eyed part called Derek, but the other part of me that scared little child we all still have inside just wanted to jump under the Duvet and hide there until everybody forgot I even said I wanted to leave. But I didn’t acknowledge this internal war I just calmly left my room, picking up my small backpack which was perched by the door containing all my final bits . I refused to stop I couldn’t look back in my room I couldn’t that could be the one thing that urged me to stay and I needed little encouragement. I combed my fingers through my hair as I walked down the hallway still trying to put the damp locks into some semblance of order.

“Jessica we were beginning to think you had got lost up there.” Darius said gently from the doorway of the entrance hall.

“I was just.”

“Taking a minute?” He supplied as I reached the bottom of the stairs I smiled at him and then froze with a heavy sigh. “What?” he asked as the kitchen door opened and was followed by swift footsteps that were clearly Derek’s.

 “Jess, can I talk to you.” He said hesitantly his hand reaching out to gently grasp mine. I so wanted to say no I didn’t want to talk to him I couldn’t. “Jess?” he added tentatively. I kept my eyes ahead but gave a tiny nod. I heard Darius sigh heavily,

“I’ll be waiting outside.” he said slipping out and softly closing the door behind him.

“Jessica.” Derek said softly gripping my fingers more tightly. I lifted my head gathering myself and slowly turned to face him, his eyes were of course perfect Gold and as intense as ever, in truth that degree of intensity actually scared me. The silence spun out until Derek sighed his head dropping as he smiled clearly amused at himself.

“Derek I have to…there waiting.” I said gesturing vaguely but not moving in any other way. He kept his head down smiling at his feet. “We have a long drive and we have to get moving soon so…”

“Don’t go.” He said raising his eyes to mine,

“What?”

“Don’t go Jess please.” He whispered grabbing my hand with both of his “stay here, with me. I need you here.”

“Derek.” I began having no clue what else I would say.

“I can’t loose you I wont your mine.”

“No I’m not.” I said gently unable to respond to his weak voice with any anger.

“Jessica I love you.”

“I know.” I whispered, “Its not forever.”

“Does that not mean anything?” I tried to smile but I couldn’t force that action my body just refused to comply.

“Derek I can’t keep stringing you along I don’t want to but as long as I’m here…."

“You said you love me.” he said gently,

“I do love you and you know that but I’m so sick of constantly being sorry because I’m always the one in the wrong and I know I am.”

“You just don’t care about anyone.” He snapped vindictively flinging my hand back. “Just like your…”

“Don’t.” I snapped “you wouldn’t say that to be anything but vindictive. I can’t fix us by doing nothing something has to change, I want you to be happy. maybe you need to consider that the way for that to happen is to be without me. For us to try and stop f*****g forcing it trying to make us work maybe there is a reason we don't.”

“No Jess we belong together I feel it. just stay here and f**k me.” He snarled harshly.

“We have to spend some time apart” I said continuing as if I didn’t hear him, “for both our sakes. Whatever this is between us I have to let it go. I care about you so much but I’m making you unhappy.”

 “No jess."He said weakly. I stood up on my tiptoes to press a gentle kiss onto his lips lingering for perhaps a second too long.

“I’m sorry for ...everything” I whispered in his ear.

“Jessica.” He whispered an underlying note of desperation in his voice. I bit my lip harshly to stop any tears as I felt my eyes begin to sting. “please.” He whispered from behind me, I shook my head frantically as I forced myself to walk and not sprint out of the hall. As I walked down the steps to Darius a very loud crashing noise echoed out from the entrance hall. Darius raised just a single questioning eyebrow.

“I’m sorry.” I said gently,

“Its not you in there destroying my sideboard.” He said “or my occasional table.” he said calmly as another crash hit us. I winced at another loud crack “or kicking a hole in my wall.”

“I’m sorry.” I said again not really knowing why I was apologizing for Derek I just felt that I had to.

“It’s alright princess.” He whispered rubbing a hand down my cheek and then he did something that shocked me so much I just froze as he wrapped his arms around my waist and gave me a tight hug , very un-Darius like. But as unusual as this was it was actually just what I needed. I gripped Darius tightly pressing my nose into his shoulder.

“It’s going to be alright.” he muttered releasing me and pushing me and arms length away, coughing slightly clearly made embarrassed by his uncharacteristic warmth.

“I don’t know that it is.” I said looking at the closed door through which the entrance hall had now fallen silent.

“It’s not too late to change your mind princess and believe me I’m praying that you will.” Darius said sincerely.

“It’s way beyond too late.” I muttered under my breath and looked at Darius with a huge fake smile that he knew not to question. “So I’ve put us behind schedule right. So we should you know get going... I guess.” I said brightly. Darius smiled fondly with a nod as I shifted my backpack slightly and skipped down the steps to my Nova, where Carl and Dean (who had just arrived) were sitting on the Bonnet as Jamie glared at the both of them. I smiled fondly at him Jamie was like nobody else in the pack when it came to possessions, as money was never an absent quantity for the pack we were never really deprived of whatever we needed so really simple possessions were often disregarded. But Jamie , Jamie had un away from home as soon as he’d begun to shift when he was fourteen and petrified he’d had to just run away from his home family and friends with nothing he had nothing and so now everything Jamie had he’d had to work for so everything he had he treasured no matter what it was. This car had suddenly become his baby and it was clear he didn’t like the others sitting on the bonnet like that.

“Is Derek done already?” Dean called looking up surprised as I approached, “not surprising really the poor guys probably exhausted after all he was going like a f*****g freight train last night” he smiled “...and this morning.” He added as a bright after thought

“f**k you Dean.” I snapped folding my arms, he gave me his best smile which though I’m ashamed to admit it did make my heart flutter (I can’t help it! I’m human and he is gorgeous even without that smile with it he’s breathtaking! No matter how mad you are at him).

 “Is that an offer sweetness?”

“Ignore him.” Carl put in lightly looking uncomfortable “we stayed in the den last night he doesn’t know shit.”

“Oh I know that.” I said arriving at the car “after all there’s no room for thoughts over and above how to get laid in that pretty little head of yours.” I said ruffling Dean’s hair lightly. “Do you want to drive?” I asked Jamie over the top of Dean’s head. Jamie frowned at me as if I was insane for a moment. “really.” I said,

“alright.” He said with a shrug fishing the keys out of his pocket.

“Get your asses off my car.” I snapped at Carl and Dean bashing them both gently on the back of his head.

“Car is a very loose definition.” Dean said ignoring Jamie’s growl. As I swung myself into the passenger seat. Dean rapped his knuckles sharply on the window which I wound down.

“You’re joking right?” he said I raised an eyebrow, “your going to make me sit in the back with that horny pervert for four hours.” He said jerking his head at Carl who had already sat himself down in the back, he laughed.

“Mate your safe believe me way too much d**k to be my type.”

“Hey Carl you are so desperately single mate and ass is pretty damn hot.” Dean said lightly slapping his ass which I did have admit was pretty damn fine.

“Get in the damn car.” I said in a bored voice.

“You sit back here with me and you can spend four hours squeezed between my thighs.” He said flirtatiously.

“I can't deprive Carl of that pleasure I said winding the window back up and settling myself back down in my seat feet propped up on the dashboard, As Dean slid into the back seat muttering curses under his breath. The second the door swung closed Jamie started up the Nova and swung her down the driveway following Darius’ rapidly departing Bugatti. Dean and Carl had to come with us to apparently scope out our environment and Darius was there to sort everything out and Kate was coming too to be nosy.

“Are you alright?” Jamie asked gently over the already persistent squabbles in the back seat over Dean’s apparent 'man spreading'.

“I’m fine.”I whispered my voice croaky as I twisted back around to look out of the windscreen tuning my back on the Den and my lover who lived there. “Do any of you still own a cassette?” I asked indicating the ancient stereo with a vague gesture my voice full of a mock bravado as inside something began to ache.