Isabel and the Wolf: (Part 4) (9 page)

“I’m so, so relieved to hear that you’re ok. I’ll call you when you’re back home and find out when’s a good time to pay you a visit,” she said, squeezing Jed’s left hand. She nodded goodbye to Peter and left the room quickly.

As she walked across the hospital’s parking lot, she welled up with emotion, knowing now, without a doubt, that she loved both men.

*

“That’s awesome!” Kara said. She’d just bounced in from work and was now curled up on the sofa listening to Isabel’s news. “I mean, it’s terrible that Jed got shot and all. But they say adversity shows what you’re truly made of!”

“It seems I’m made of polygamous desires.” Isabel laughed bitterly. “It’s so confusing. When I saw Jed hurt like that, my heart just went out to him. And I was so proud that he’d saved Peter. Then, I was so scared that Peter could have been killed, and I suddenly couldn’t stand the thought of losing him.”

“Sounds great to me, girl. You’re into these dudes. They’re into you. They both claim they’re not jealous of the other one. What more could you want?”

“Kara. I used to worry that I was never going to find a man, and that I’d be an old spinster forever. And now I find myself in love, but not with a man; with a werewolf. And not one, but two.”

“I know. It’s pretty wild,” Kara said dreamily.

“You think I should just chill the fuck out, don’t you?”

“Maybe.” Kara turned herself around so her legs were up on the back of the sofa and her head was dangling over the edge of the seat, close to the floor. “I wish Dan was a werewolf. But he’s just a dude. I mean, he’s fine. Like nice and considerate and stuff. But he’s done in like five minutes, like every other dude.”

“Yeah, werewolves are pretty insatiable, if Peter’s anything to go by,” Isabel said.

“Oh, I forgot you and Jed didn’t go all the way.”

“No, but I can say that they give great head!” Kara’s eyes sparkled.

“Can you imagine having them both at the same time?” she said.

“Have you ever?”

“Yup. It should be on every girl’s bucket list! Speaking of which, can we go out soon, and you can point some of those werewolves out to me? My bucket list has just had a new entry!”

“Kara, you’re terrible!” she said, and Kara let out an unrepentant cackle.

The following afternoon, Isabel messaged Jed to check that he wasn’t too tired to see her, and then she went over with a tub of pasta she’d made, and some basic groceries.

He greeted her warmly at the door, kissing her on the cheek, but she could tell that it hurt him to be walking around.

“Would you mind coming to the bedroom?” he asked. “I just need to lie down as much as possible right now.”

“Of course,” she said. “I’m sorry for making you get up.”

“Don’t be, it’s really great to see you.” His expression was as open and unguarded as ever.

She followed him back to the bedroom that she’d fled from in horror so recently, and she felt ashamed of herself. It looked cozy and welcoming in the daylight. Jed climbed onto the bed and reclined on a pile of pillows, laying his arm out carefully. Shyly, Isabel climbed onto the bed next to him.

“Are you ok?” she asked. “It must’ve been a pretty big shock, as well as being really painful.”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I’ve had worse,” he said. “It’s more inconvenient than anything. Right now I need to be out, making sure that these lunatics don’t get to do any more damage, as well as figuring out how to get rid of them once and for all. And instead I’m laid up here. Although – ” he turned to Isabel. “Having you lying on my bed here is a pretty good distraction.” Isabel’s heart warmed.

“I’m a distraction, hey? If you hadn’t just been shot, I’d hit you with this pillow for saying that!” Jed gave her his cheeky grin, and she smiled back at him. She went quiet for a moment. “I am really sorry for running away from you like that. I mean, last time I was here.”

“Don’t be. I know it hasn’t been easy to come to terms with – with what Peter and I are.” Isabel cast her eyes down.

“No, it hasn’t. I won’t lie. It’s definitely the most out-there thing I’ve ever had to deal with.”

“And now?” Jed asked in a low voice. “Is it becoming easier?”

“I think so,” she said hesitantly.

“I know it’ll take time. And I don’t have the right to ask for any more than your friendship, but I want you to know that your friendship would mean a lot to me.”

“Oh, Jed, I want to be more than friends,” Isabel said, and turned her body so she was facing him. She leaned over and kissed him softly on the lips. He returned her kiss, but then she pulled away.

“Sorry. I don’t want to injure you more.”

“You won’t if you lie closer to me.”

“Ok,” she said, and snuggled in closer, so she was under the crook of his left arm.

A lot of time passed as they kissed each other, lost in the softness and warmth of each others’ mouths. It got late, and Isabel heated up the pasta, glad she’d been optimistic enough to bring a double portion.

After dinner, they lay on the bed, chatting.

“Do you have to leave tonight?” Jed asked. Isabel looked into his eyes, judging his emotions.

“No,” she said. “I can stay.” She borrowed a t-shirt from him that came half way down her thighs.

“You look adorable,” he said. They kissed some more, and she slept snuggled against his uninjured shoulder.

Over the next few days, Isabel spent a lot of her time with Jed, and they grew closer and closer, confiding intimacies, telling each other silly stories. Peter came to visit him several times, but missed her each time. She was relieved, feeling awkward about seeing him when she was with Jed, her feelings for each of them running so high. At the same time, she was struck by his concern.

A week after he’d been shot, Jed had his stitches out and said his arm felt about 75 percent better. That night, they made love, Jed lying on his back, and Isabel sitting astride him, rocking back and forth, overwhelmed with desire and tenderness. He was big and filled her so completely in this position, with her whole weight pressing down on him.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered, looking up at her, her naked body illuminated by the glow of a Japanese lantern, and her long wavy hair falling forward, over her face. He reached up with his left hand and cupped her full breasts.

“So are you,” she said, her eyes feeding on his well-defined pecs and stomach. She placed her hands on his chest for balance, and began to ride him harder. As her tempo increased, she quickly brought herself to a sweet, pulsing orgasm that diffused its warmth all over her body.

“Wow,” Jed breathed. “That felt incredible, Bella.” She smiled at him, flicking her hair out of her face, and began to move again. Jed’s breathing came more quickly, and his pelvis began to move back and forth, urging her to move faster.

“Isabel!” he gasped at last. Knowing what he needed her to do, she fell forward, so she was lying flat on his chest, her face buried in his neck, and he came, holding her tight.

Now that he was mostly recovered, Isabel spent more time with Kara, not wanting her to think she was ungrateful that she’d come to Silver City. They saw an arthouse film in a pop-up movie theater, and went out for food lots. The change in the locals had lost its edge, and they braved the suspicious looks and occasional interrogations. Kara was loving being at her dig. It was an area she’d studied, but never worked in before, and every day she came home full of chatter about the new things she’d pulled out of the earth. Isabel got back to her art commissions with enthusiasm, Kara’s passion stimulating her own.

They were going to stay in Silver City, until Kara’s contract period was up at least. There was too much happening to leave, and Isabel’s feelings were still so unresolved.

A few days after she and Jed had made love, she went to see him after finishing work for the day. She felt a familiar tingle as a tall, dark shape appeared behind the frosted glass panel of the front door, which increased as the door opened. But it wasn’t the man she’d been expecting. Peter opened the door wide and bent to kiss her on both cheeks. He was wearing black jeans, his leather biker jacket and a crisp white t-shirt. Isabel’s heart thudded in her chest. In the evening light, his eyes had a greenish tint, the color that the sky occasionally turned just after sunset, and his teeth were dazzling white. She had a powerful urge to kiss him, then was surprised at herself for wanting him so soon after she’d been with Jed.

“Hi,” she said, a little breathlessly.

“Hello, Isabel.” He looked pleased to see her, but his expression quickly became serious again. “Jed’s upstairs, taking a work call. I’m very glad to have caught you alone. I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?” she said, a burst of anxiety making her voice weak, as her instincts told her that she wouldn’t like what he had to say. She sat down on a kitchen chair, while he leaned against the counter.

“Isabel, I have come to the conclusion that it is time for me to leave Silver City. I am the cause of all the recent trouble; the reason why the town is flooded with people trying to root out the mystery of the wolves. And sooner or later, they will. It’s the duty of all werewolves to protect our identity, and I have failed in this. What Jed has said about me is right. I didn’t understand the local laws and customs, nor respect them sufficiently. The fact is that I’m used to total freedom in Transylvania, and being here constrains me more than I can bear.”

“No! Peter, you can’t leave!” Isabel said, her voice barely more than a whisper. “Maybe this is partly your fault, but you’re not the only one. The conservation center has caught sight of a few of you, you know?”

“Yes, but I was the one seen downtown.”

“And that was because of me.” Isabel stood up and threw her arms around him. “Peter, I can’t stand the thought of you leaving. Please don’t go!” She tipped her head back and looked up at him.

“Bella, it’s so amazing to know that after all this, you still care about me. And the reason why I stayed for so long, after you saw me shift, was that I couldn’t stand to have you hate me, and be horrified by my true nature. When you came to see me that day, I was sick, just like my family. I was wasting away.”

“I could see it.”

“These past few weeks, I’ve hoped I could get you back, and that we could somehow be together. But I can see that you’re happy being with Jed. And, unlike me, he doesn’t have a family obligation to fulfill.” His eyes were full of sadness.

“Peter, I do want to be with you. I love you – ” Peter’s face lit up.

“Bella, do you really mean that?”

“I do.”

“
Ș
i eu te iubesc,” he said.

“You’re going to have to help me out with that.”

“It means,
and I love you too
,” He brought his mouth close to hers and kissed her lips. She kissed him back fiercely, grasping at his hair with both hands. She sighed. It’d been so long since she’d felt his kiss, and she missed it, a lot.

There was a cough behind her, and she pulled away from Peter.

“Sorry to interrupt you lovebirds,” came Jed’s voice. Isabel looked into his eyes, trying to read his expression. Was he hurt? Jealous? She couldn’t tell. The amber showed in his eyes, yet his expression was inscrutable. Making a spontaneous decision, she did the bravest thing she’d ever done in her life. She strode up to Jed, put a hand on the back of his neck, and pulled his head down to her level.

“Jed, I love you as well,” she said, close to his face. His eyes shone.

“I love you too, Bella,” he whispered, right in her ear. And then she kissed him. He kissed her back, the tip of his tongue parting her lips. There was a growl behind her, and she span around. Peter glowered at them, his eyes glittering yellow.

“I thought you weren’t jealous?” she demanded.

“I’m not,” he said, through clenched teeth.

“No?”

“I’m not jealous in general. It’s just that I want you, now,” he replied. Isabel had a wicked thought.

“That doesn’t have to be a problem.” Isabel pulled away from Jed and looked each man in the eyes. Having both of them in such close proximity was making her heart beat fast. She also felt a little dizzy at what she was about to say. “Both of you, if you’re truly not jealous of each other, I want you to prove it. By showing me, at the same time.” She suppressed a grin at the confusion mirrored in the face of each. She reached up for Jed’s head again and pulled him into another kiss. Peter caught her by the waist and tried to drag her away from Jed.

“I mean it!” Isabel said sharply. “Are you going to behave, or should I kick you out right now?”

“I’m sorry,” he said, unusually humbly, hanging his head.

“That’s better.” Isabel put her hand on the back of his neck and pulled him close, before kissing him on the lips too. Immediately, his tongue darted out of his mouth, probing hers, and a bolt of arousal shot all the way down to her clit. As Peter continued to kiss her, Jed’s hands moved to her waist, running up to her shoulders, and then down to her hips, tracing circles over the globes of her ass. Automatically, she arched her back a little, and Jed’s body came into contact with hers. She let out a sigh as she felt his hardness pressing against the small of her back. At that, Peter made a low sound, and took hold of her waist, drawing her against him. He was hard too, she realized, his crotch pushing against her belly. Her breasts were crushed against him, and her pussy began to throb at the sensation of being sandwiched between two men who obviously wanted her. Jed’s hands moved up and cupped her breasts, making her nipples erect, as Peter’s hands tangled in her hair. She was already getting to the point where she wouldn’t be able to control herself.

Suddenly she slid out from between them, and they turned to face her. Now, their eyes were almost identical, glowing amber, and full of hunger.

“I’m sorry, Bella. I guess we came on too strong,” Jed said, embarrassment flashing across his features.

“No, not at all.” Isabel laughed. “I just want to hear from you both that this is going to work, and that you’re going to respect each other.” They nodded eagerly. “Well, shake on it.” They shook hands.