I'd run, but he can chase me. And my fox doesn't want to leave him. She's drunk on Tank juice. High on wolfie love. Whatever.
The big wolf unfolds from the Harley and strides up my drive like he owns the place. I watch from the window, my arms folded my arms across my chest. I'm not going down so easily.
"Tank, so nice of you to visit," my mother trills.
"Sunny," he says. "Where's Foxfire?"
"In her room. She's packing," my mom adds in a whisper.
Heavy boots start my way. When Tank comes into view he takes my breath away. He's so big, he fills the whole door. I forgot how hot he is.
"Foxfire."
"Tank." I hold my ground, but I want to run to him and climb him like a tree.
"We need to talk."
"Listen, let's not make this hard. I know I'm not right for-"
"Honey?" Sunny calls from the other room. "One of Tank's friends just pulled up with my trailer. I'm just going to go with him, okay?"
"Okay, Mom," I call.
Before the front door closes, Tank is moving.
"I know we don't fit together-" I can't finish my sentence, because he's kissing me. He hoists me in his arms, my legs twine around his waist. His lips latch onto mine, plundering, devouring. Needy noises escape my throat. I pull his shirt up as he walks me backward to the bed.
"Wait, wait," I say as he lays me down. "I'm still mad at you." More like hurt, and desperately needy, and not wanting to feel this way ever again because the pain is killing me.
"I know." He kneels next to the bed. He peels my jeans off and fastens his mouth to my foxy bits. Apparently, I'm incapable of protesting.
My legs kick and then clamp around his head as he stabs me with his tongue. My hips rise off the bed.
"Wh-what are you doing?"
"Showing you who you belong to, baby."
I buck against his mouth, grab his ears, and pull him tighter. "You-you can't just stomp in here and start kissing my foxy bits and-" I scream as I come.
Tank arches an eyebrow. "You were saying?"
I shake my head. "Tank, this isn't for the best."
He rises over me, shedding his shirt. "Baby, you're wrong. You and me, we belong together, and I don't care if I have to turn my back on everyone else in my life to keep you. You're mine. I marked you. I'm your man now."
My resolve is nonexistent. I reach for him. Ten seconds later, his jeans are off, and I have him. My legs grip him as he thrusts. My bed rocks as he slams into me. And not just the bed. My whole world.
The wall goes thump, thump, thump as he flips me over and finishes. His teeth scrape my shoulder, my neck. I shudder.
He turns me to face him. "I'm sorry I left."
"I pushed you away."
"Never again." His face is so serious, I know it's a vow.
I touch his jaw.
He captures my hand and kisses my palm.
"Tank," I whisper.
"Baby, are you shaking?"
I am. I roll to my side, facing the wall. "If you leave again, it'll destroy me. I thought I was strong, but I'm not."
"Baby. You are strong. But you don't have to fight anymore. That's why I'm here. I was born to protect you."
"I'm not changing who I am." My voice quivers.
"I don't want you to."
"But, how will we-"
"We'll make it work, baby. We were meant to be together." He pulls me back to face him and grips the back of my neck. "Foxfire, I'm claiming you."
I cling to him.
"Baby." His lips move against my forehead, down to my temple.
"Are you sure?"
He tips my face up to his. "I live my life in black and white. And you." He sifts a hand through my hair, spreading the rainbow strands out on pillow. "You're color."
"Is that a bad thing?"
He rolls so I'm nestled underneath him. His arms hold his giant body so his weight doesn't crush me.
"It's a good thing, baby. A very good thing."
He kisses me, only breaking it off when there's a sound of wood splintering. The mattress under us sags.
"Tank?"
"Mmm?"
"I think we broke the bed again."
~.~
Foxfire
That night, the moon rises huge and golden. Tank wraps me in a blanket and takes me outside. We have a picnic on the deck, and when it gets too cold, I end up in his lap.
"You ready to meet the pack?" he asks.
"Maybe. I don't know. I'm scared."
"You're not scared of anything."
"Except toilet snakes."
"I'll be there. I'm gonna protect you."
"Yeah?" I turn and wrap the blanket around him.
"Always." He lifts me and carries me back inside.
"I love you," I tell him as he sets me down.
"I know, baby."
"Wait, you're not going to say it back?"
"I love you." He punctuates his words with kisses. "I love everything about you."
"Even though I'm crazy?"
"The way you drive me crazy, I don't wanna be sane." Another kiss, and he raises his head. "What did I say about calling yourself names?"
"Punishment?" I say hopefully.
He sits up on the edge of the bed and crooks his finger at me.
Epilogue
One week later…
Foxfire
"Do you have it?" I bounce up and down as Tank produces a new helmet. It's red and yellow and orange like a sunset. Like my new hairdo.
I pull the helmet on and scamper to his motorcycle.
"Arms around me at all times. No funny business." More rules.
"Yeah, yeah, got it."
"You misbehave," he threatens, "you get punished."
Yum.
"Got it, big man. Can we go now?"
Tank sighs.
Despite his misgivings, the ride goes off without a hitch. We reach our destination right at dusk: Tucson billionaire Jackson King's mansion which abuts the Catalina mountains, where the pack will be running tonight.