Sweet Caroline
Chapter 9

Caroline softly awed as she watched him walk toward her. He’s so beautiful.

Andrew’s wolf had his head down as if he were afraid of scaring her, and she was slightly nervous even though she knew it was Andrew. So, with her heart pounding and her hand shaking, she reached out to him.

Wolf Andrew sniffed her hand. He whined before he placed his head against her stomach and rubbed at it.

Caroline awed again. He was so gentle with her, and she could almost feel his longing for her touch too. So, she lay her hand on the top of his head, gently rubbing between his ears. She’d never had a dog growing up, so the only ones she’d ever petted were those of friends. Where those dogs had been soft to the touch, the wolf’s pelt was slightly coarse and rough. It was thick, though, and she loved how it felt between her fingers.

“I never thought I’d go on a date with a werewolf—err, a shape-shifter. Of course, I never dreamed they existed either.”

He looked up at her before giving a low whine and trotted off, back behind the tree once more. When he returned, he was once more human. Rubbing his chest nervously, he sheepishly said, “Um… speaking of dreams, I have another small confession to make, and I’m hoping it won’t anger you.”

Caroline stood waiting for whatever he was going to say.

“Okay, so, Wednesday night, you might have thought you had a dream….”

Wait a minute. Caroline took in a startled breath. How did he know? “What do you mean, “though I had a dream”? Are you saying it wasn’t a dream because you were there in my room, and you really did kiss me?”

“Yeah, but I’m sorry!” Andrew exclaimed. “I mean, I’m not sorry I kissed you because you’re my mate and I think you enjoyed it too. I’m just sorry you thought it was all a dream.”

“I did,” Caroline whispered, feeling her face heat up at the memory of just how much she enjoyed the kiss.

“It’s just that I couldn’t sleep because I wanted to see you so bad, so I thought if I could just see you,” Andrew admitted, out a breath, as he looked down. “Only when I did see you, all I could think about was kissing you. The need just kept getting stronger, but I was only going to kiss your cheek.”

“Oh, Andrew, you made my night, even if I did think it was a dream,” she admitted louder, causing him to look up. “I had been dreaming about a kiss from you for a long time.”

Andrew stepped closer, reaching out and wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her close. “I have been dreaming about a kiss from my mate for a long time too. Now that I’ve had one kiss, I just want more.”

They both leaned in, and he kissed her. It started as little more than a brushing of lips before he nipped lightly at her bottom lip, causing her to groan. When she moaned, her lips parted, and he slipped his tongue inside. Her arms moved up to curl around his neck as he tilted his head to a better angle. She allowed her tongue to touch his hesitantly, and when they tangled together, Andrew let out a moan of his own. His grip on her waist tightened, and he pulled her even closer as they continued to kiss.

Finally, needing to take a deep breath, Caroline pulled back. Gazing into his eyes, she saw his desire and need for her, which she knew was reflected in hers. However, knowing they needed to slow things down, she softly asked, “How about something to eat? I could eat something, you?”

Andrew stared at her, looking confused for a moment. Then the confusion turned to amusement as he threw his head back and laughed. When his laugher had died, he said, “Sure, I could go for something to eat too.”

So, Andrew led her back to his truck, and they headed back toward town, discussing the kinds of foods they liked to eat.

“So, when I was talking to my mom earlier, she offered to fix supper for us,” Andrew mentioned once lunch was over and they’d gotten back in the truck. “If that’s okay with you. I mean, we don’t have to eat at my house tonight if you don’t want to.”

“That’s fine, Andrew, but it’s a bit early for supper right now,” Caroline said.

“I know, but I thought maybe we’d go for ice cream before going back to my house for a movie. Or we have a pool so that we could swim.”

Caroline hummed in thought for a moment before saying, “The ice cream sounds good, so does the movie. However, I don’t swim, I mean, I can swim, sort of, just not very well.”

“Are you sure that’s the only reason you don’t want to swim?”

Caroline felt her face fill with heat as she stared out the side window to hide her red cheeks from him. “What else would it be?”

Andrew chuckled as he started the truck. “You just don’t seem like the type of girl who prances around half-naked in front of guys, that’s all.”

“No, I leave the prancing for the likes of Reva.”

“It’s okay, doll. My wolf wouldn’t like you walking around half-dressed in front of other guys anyway. In fact, it would make him quite grumpy and aggressive.”

Caroline turned to look at him, frowning as she asked, “Why did you suggest it then?”

Andrew’s cheek, which she could see, turned red as he replied, “Because it will only be the two of us and… honestly, I wanted to see you half-dressed.”

Caroline threw her head back and laughed. “Oh, you crazy thing! Fine, take me by my house, and I’ll get my swimsuit.”

Andrew turned to give her a happy grin before he hit the gas on his truck. However, he didn’t take her straight home. Instead, he stopped and bought them ice cream first.

When they’d finished their ice cream, he took her home. While they were there, she sent her dad a text and let him know she would be eating at Andrew’s house. It wasn’t long before her dad answered, texting that it was okay. He’d pick up something to eat on his way home and have a good time.

Caroline smiled as she poked her phone back in her pocket.

“Is it okay if you go to my house?” Andrew asked as they headed back outside.

Locking the door of her house behind her, Caroline nodded. “It’s all good.”

Andrew took her bag from her and took her hand as he walked her to his truck. Once she was inside, he kissed her before shutting the door and moving to his side. When he closed his door behind him, he said, “To my house, we go then.”

Arriving at his house and walking inside, he headed for the kitchen, telling her that was probably where his mom would be. The kitchen was empty, but there was a not on the refrigerator door. “Mom says she needed something from the store, but she’ll be back in a bit.”

“Okay. Well, since I changed at home, lead the way to the pool. I’ll wait there for you while you change if that’s okay.”

“That’s fine, it won’t take me but a minute to change,” Andrew told her as he walked over to a set of French doors. Opening them up, he stepped out and waited for her.

Stepping outside, Caroline glanced around in awe at the vast pool area in his backyard. Past the pool was a backyard that sported a basketball goal and a trampoline. “Wow, you want to be sure you never get bored, don’t you?”

“The guys come over quite a bit and hang out with me. Like wild wolves, we tend to stay active because a bored wolf can become a naughty and trouble making one,” Andrew explained. “Anyway, let me go change. I promise it won’t take me long, and I’ll be back.”

Then he stole a quick kiss before practically running back inside.

Caroline walked over to a padded lounger, and after shedding her cover-up, she sat down. Feeling nervous, she bounced her knee as she glanced down at herself.

I wonder what Andrew will think when he sees me.

Her suit was a two-piece, but not a bikini. The bottoms were boy short cut in solid navy blue. The top was a bit low cut, showing more of her cleavage than usual, but it is a swimsuit, after all. It had a thin strap tied around her neck and a low cut back, but it overlapped her bottom piece, so there was no midriff skin showing.

Perhaps it wasn’t the sexiest of suits, but it was one she was comfortable in for the most part. She was pleased, though that she wasn’t pale, but a golden brown. She and Rebecca went swimming often, well, Rebecca would swim, and Caroline mostly just floated. Hearing the French doors open, Caroline jumped up to face them just as Andrew walked outside.

“Mom’s home now and—” Andrew stopped speaking as he turned, closed the door, and faced her. “Oh, Doll, you are so beautiful.”

Caroline didn’t say anything as she took in Andrew’s naked chest. The boy was built with a six-pack and biceps. He had just a faint sprinkling of hair on his chest, which moved down to disappear at his waistband. He also had a nice tan going, although it was much darker than hers.

“Ready to swim?” Andrew huskily asked as he drew closer to her.

Looking up into his eyes, Caroline knew swimming was the last thing on his mind right now.