33 Ch 33 A Glimpse to the Future

I stirred from my spot stretched out in the back of Mahina's car. She'd agreed to drive us back after I'd spent the night on the mountain, allowing me to get some rest. Derrick was driving my bike back.

\"Hey, how you doing up there?\" I asked through a yawn.

\"Good.\"

Uh-oh. I had the impression Mahina wasn't thrilled with me right now. I climbed over the seat, stretching before buckling myself in.

\"I really appreciate you putting up with me this weekend.\"

\"It's ok.\"

\"Nice of you to say so,\" I replied, \"even if it really isn't ok. I mean you come out here because you're worried about me, then I foist you off on my cousin and you get cornered by my grandfather.

\"It's ok,\" Mahina repeated.

\"Anna said he was kinda brusk with you,\" I said sympathetically. \"You should see him with my dad. Sometimes I think Grandfather doesn't realize it's different with me, even though it's the same,\" I finished thoughtfully.

\"What do you mean?\"

I hid my smile, pleased I was able to spark her curiosity. \"Hmm, it's the part of my family history no one really talks about, and to be honest, part of it is a conversation that normally would wait for that moment in a relationship where someone asks the other how they feel about having kids.\"

I grinned at her, slightly embarrassed.

\"You wanna have kids?\" I asked half teasing and half serious. My arm was draped over the back of the seat and I bumped her shoulder teasingly.

She threw me this look like she couldn't believe I just asked that.

\"Maybe we'll save that part for later. Personally I will be thrilled when we hit that later,\" I said as I ran my fingers down her arm a bit. It was like lighting a match. My desire for her suddenly sparked. I could see the tension in her increase. I just smiled adoringly at her, batting my eyes teasingly until she shook her head and smiled back.

\"So tell me about this family history,\" she demanded.

\"It can be complicated to explain.\"

\"Why don't you try to explain anyway?\" she asked, obviously still slightly miffed.

I put the plan Mom had once discussed with me into action. She knew how hard it would be for someone to accept the truth of our existence, so she had researched to help me when it came time to explain away any of my behavior to a future girlfriend.

\"Well, where Grandfather is concerned, Dad isn't of the people. Not a major obstacle, but strike one where my grandfather was concerned. Second, Dad isn't very personable, if you know what I mean. He was raised in the Black Forest, and never spent much time with other people growing up. He's really observant and blunt. He can get a little intense sometimes and that tends to put people off.\"

\"Now I'm a lot different than Dad on those two points,\" I continued. \"Because of my mom I am part of the tribe, and I'm a lot more playful than Dad is.\"

I wiggled my eyebrows up and down and grinned, while moving my fingers as if tickling her. Mahina rolled her eyes at me.

\"I think your dad is nice. It's obvious how much he loved your mother.\"

\"You've already forgotten that little snap he did when I mentioned story time?\" I laughed at her expression. \"Yeah, that one!\"

\"I still think he's nice. Where does the part about wanting kids come in?\" She asked, blushing slightly.

\"Part of it is hyperosmia. That's a condition where someone has an extremely acute sense of smell. Both my dad and I have it. It's like being a bloodhound. Seriously, I can tell what someone ate by how their breath smells. They haven't decided for sure if it's passed on genetically, but Dad's father and grandfather both had it. Imagine dad growing up in the forest, then going to a village and talking about smelling a deer, or where different animals had marked territory. Guess what they called him in the villages.\"

I was grateful for mom's research. Hyperosmia accounted for our werewolf sense of smell, and opened the door for a discussion later about why I really had my sense of smell. I moved my fingers along her shoulder again.

\"What did they call him?\" she asked, finally giving in to my anticipating silence.

\"The wolf boy of the Black Forest,\" I said grinning.

\"Seriously?\"

\"No,\" I said laughing, \"and don't tell him I said that!\"

Mahina pursed her lips and gave me an aggravated look.

This is where Dad's story about his family history comes in very handy, even if I joked around about him being called wolf boy. Dad was gonna thwack me if I ever told him!

\"You ever hear stories of feral children?\" I asked. \"His grandfather practically was.\"

Mahina hmmfted, obviously not believing me.

\"Honest! My great grandfather was found in the forest and raised by an old couple who died when he was a teenager, so my great grandfather practically lived exclusively in the forest. He knew the wolves there. He taught his son and my dad. So naturally when dad came here, taking the name Black Wolf among my mother's people was a natural thing to do.\"

I stroked her arm, turning serious.

\"Dad knows the forest; he taught me. I understand living like a wolf. The sounds, the smells, even wolf body language, it's second nature to me. It's easier for a boy to learn about everything he's smelling when it's presented in a way that makes sense. For Dad's family, that explanation is done through the wolf. That's how dad and I are the same.\"

Mahina glanced at me, not saying anything but her expression was thoughtful.

\"But me, I'm part of my mom's people. Dad never had that sense of human society growing up. He had it with Mom.\"

I went silent then, giving her time to digest that. It had enough truth to feel right, answering some of her questions about me. I had to smile when she reached over and held my hand. I sighed in contentment. It was enough for now...

... until she pulled into her apartment complex. She had a small studio apartment. The smell of her everywhere was overwhelming. My fingers ran over places she had touched. When she turned to ask me if I wanted something to drink, I was right there. My arms were around her, my nose in her neck, until my tongue flicked out.

Maybe I was still feeling alpha-ish. I knew everything I was doing was dominating her. My hold was firm. My touches were solid strokes. I rubbed my scent over her shoulders, leaning against her body. I tried to pull back, then moved in again before she realized it was wolf looking at her.

I was eager to taste her, my tongue running swirling designs against her neck. I unbuttoned the top button of her blouse, then one more so I could reach further. I sucked on her shoulder blades, moved to her shoulders, down her arms. My mouth played with her fingers. My hands found the hook on her bra. I fingered it, but knew I was risking losing control if I did.

I stopped, holding her tight, taking in her scent. I could smell my scent on her, which pleased me.

\"I can't stay.\" My voice was rough.

\"Why not?\" She asked, kissing me deep, making me moan with desire. I couldn't answer right away.

\"Because I want to.\"

\"I want you to.\"

I groaned again when she removed my shirt. We were on her couch by then, her on top of me. The feel of her bare arms against my skin was intoxicating.

It went on until I stopped again. I was breathing hard, trying to focus. My mouth found hers again, and I satisfied my desire there, winding myself down, moving slower, more gentle, drawing back.

\"I won't stay.\"

She didn't say anything, just pulled me in for another kiss. My hands moved possessively over her.

\"Someday I'll stay, but I want it to be the right day, a special day.\" I brushed her cheek with my fingers, moved her hair back.

She looked at me, slightly surprised. Her desire was tempered by my constraint. I hoped she understood what I meant, especially after the comments earlier about kids.

I kissed her then, a full gentle kiss followed by some simple kisses. \"I want to stay,\" I said again, \"and that's why I won't, not yet.\"

I reached for my phone to call Derrick.

\"I can take you home,\" she said.

\"But then we'll have less time for this,\" and I kissed her again.

She laughed slightly at my sly grin, coming in for another kiss, even as she pulled my hand holding my phone closer.