Revolting
Chapter 104 -

Michael felt sure he was in a dream. The sweet smell of fresh baked cookies was wafting all around him, and there was a soft, warm body draped over his naked torso. Skin on skin, so hot while the air outside was still cold. Everywhere they touched the tingle of the mating bond electrified his skin. Even if it was only a dream, he had to touch her. He lifted his arms to run his hands from her slight shoulders, down the indent of her slender back, to the soft swell of her petite backside. A year ago he never would have imagined himself being attracted to a woman, especially not one so small and fragile as this one. But now he couldn't imagine anything more perfect. He pressed her backside, settling her more firmly against his sex. Of course she would be naked, it was his dream, wasn't it?

"Eh, boss?"

Michael reluctantly peeled open his eyes, ready to bite the head off of whatever moron had interrupted his sweet, and potentially wet dream. Frankie was standing there awkwardly, his face turned away, as he held out a tattered blanket. "Just saying... the others will be awake soon..."

Michael lifted his head from the leaf litter and looked down at himself. It wasn't a dream, there was a very lovely and very naked Hannah perched on his body as though he were her personal mattress. He growled and snatched away the blanket, carefully arranging it over her body. She grumbled a bit and stretched, rubbing her body against him like a kitten. Michael groaned in pure, frustrated agony.

"Its like dangling a steak in front of a starving man," he grumbled. But his sleep fog mind slowly absorbed the fact that she had shifted, she was free, and she'd still stayed beside him. The rope that he'd tied around her wolf's neck was now laying useless and empty on the earth beside him. He wound his arms around her body and pulled her tight against his chest. "My sweet little mate," he sighed. She stayed! That had to be a good sign, right?

She stirred and raised her head, her golden brown eyes opening slowly. She blinked a couple times, and her brow furrowed as though she were also surprised to replace herself laying on top of her sworn enemy. "Good morning," he greeted her, his voice low and warm and still a little gravelly from sleep. Something stirred in her expression. She opened her mouth, and for a second Michael thought she was actually going to answer him. She looked confused for a moment before she huffed out a sigh. She didn't climb off from him though, she just squirmed around on top of his broad chest and closed her eyes again.

"Alright babe, you can sleep a little longer," he stroked a hand down through her matted hair. "We've got a long day ahead of us." He stayed as still as he could, for as long as he could, not wanting to break this very fragile moment of trust and acceptance. But as Frankie had predicted, the camp was soon stirring to life. The other wolves woke up and began stoking the fire, boiling water for coffee, and packing up the camp. Sarah brought out the box of donuts and passed them out. "Six donuts and seven people," She said with a frown.

"I don't want one," Lonnie kicked at the soil with his foot, "Give my share to Hannah." He looked almost disappointed when no one challenged him. He pouted and took a cup of coffee, slinking away to crouch beside the dilapidated stone wall. His mate took pity on him and broke her own donut in half to share with him.

Michael finally had to sit up, while carefully wrapping Hannah in the blanket to cover her nakedness. Caroline warily brought over a pair of gym shorts and a lady's tank top. The clothes were several sizes too big, but at least the shorts had a draw string. Michael helped her dress, being very careful to ease the shorts over her wounded leg. The bandages had come loose when she shifted in the night, but she was already half-healed thanks to her fast wolf metabolism. When she was modestly covered, he offered her his coffee. She growled lowly and pushed it away. "Hey, at least it has some sugar this time," he chuckled, but she wasn't going to be fooled into tasting the bitter brew again. "How about a donut? Who doesn't like a powdered donut?"

She accepted the pastry suspiciously. She glanced around the camp and saw all the others devouring the cakes. She held it gingerly and stuck out her tongue experimentally to taste the powdered sugar. Her face brightened when she experienced the sweetness, and she eagerly took her first bite. "That's my girl," Michael said approvingly, dipping his own donut in his coffee.

Hannah devoured the donut quickly, smearing white powdered sugar across her mouth and even her nose. Michael smiled at her indulgently, thinking she looked so innocent and adorable. He wanted to lean forward and lick it off, but he was worried that if he was too forward, he might break the fragile bond that was growing between them. Instead, he pulled out his handkerchief and wet it with spring water before he carefully mopped her face. "She seems a lot calmer now," Caroline observed.

"Maybe she's finally figured out that we are not going to hurt her,” Sarah said. She picked up the package of chocolate candy from the pile of loot and offered it to the small woman. "How about some chocolate, sweetie?"

A strange look passed over her face as she looked at the familiar brown package of candy-coated chocolate candy. Recognition seemed to flicker over her face, and her hands trembled as she reached out to accept the candy. She ran her fingers over the logo. "Emmm," she vocalized.

Michael froze, his coffee sloshing over his knee. He didn't even notice if it burned him. His exclamation came out in a hushed tone. "She spoke!"