Titus gives me a lopsided grin. It's like smiling is an unfamiliar act for him and his mouth is still remembering how it works. "Sounds good to me." He straps the picnic basket onto the back of the bike and we climb on. I give him directions and hum softly as his bike travels up through the trees on a rugged dirt road.
Eventually, we get to the gate, where he parks and takes the picnic basket. "Not much farther," I promise. "A tiny hike."
"You can't scare me with a hike," Titus says with a laugh. "No need to sell it." He takes my hand.
I look up at him, admiring the halo of pink and gold around him. The happiness in the lines of his face. He seems changed since he came here last week, and I know it's because of me.
Because of us.
So isn't that enough for me? Can I let myself have this happiness, a real, lasting relationship for once?
The joy bubbling in my chest says yes.
"So what's in this basket anyway?" Titus hoists it on his shoulders and takes my hand.
"I'm glad you asked. I know wolves are carnivores, but you're also human, so all that meat can't be good for your health. So everything I packed is vegan!" I give him a bright Sunny smile.
"Woman," he growls.
"I'm kidding. I packed meat. Lots and lots of meat. But I did make vegan muffins, and you have to eat one."
He grunts.
"Titus," I scamper ahead to stand on a rock and face him. When we're eye-to-eye, I tell him soberly, "You will love the taste of my muffin."
He shakes his head.
"What?" I ask, even though I know he's going to roll his eyes at me for being crazy.
"You are too cute," he says, and when I blink, he tugs me close for a kiss. "I will eat the hell out of your muffin," he promises. Shiver.
We follow the stream up until we hit the rock face with the water tumbling down. Sometimes it's no more than a trickle, but we had a huge snow season this year, so the water level is still super high.
"Beautiful," Titus murmurs.
"Right?" I tug him up to the top of a boulder where we open the picnic basket and he pops the cork on the bottle of wine and pours it into the two small mason jars I stuck in.
"Cheers," he says softly, lifting his glass to me.
"Here's to…" I stop and swallow. I want to say, to us. Or to second chances. But what if this is actually a goodbye toast?
"To future possibilities." He meets my gaze squarely and holds it like he's trying to tell me something. Like he wants to explore our future possibilities.
I want that too.
"To future possibilities." I clink his glass. "With you." The last part is barely a whisper but he hears it. He probably has superhuman hearing, too. He catches behind my neck and pulls me in for one of those possessive kisses. The kind that consumes me, sets me on fire, turns me inside out. His tongue's in my mouth, fingers stroking between my legs.
I moan.
He pulls me onto him, straddling his lap in a seated position. One hand crushes my breast, the other still holds my head captive. All the while, his lips move over mine with that passion he always brings.
I'm already wet for him. Already eager. I pull my tank top off and he growls, eyes glowing bright blue.
He looks around with a ferocity, like if there's anyone around and they saw me, he's going to rip them limb from limb.
"We're alone, Titus," I murmur. "Hardly anyone knows about this place."
"Wanna ride Spartacus, angel?" He yanks my hips over the hard bulge in his pants.
I make a purring sound. "Give him to me, big guy."
He groans and frees his erection as I stand and drop my shorts. I'm totally naked out in nature-one of my favorite things. And with the man I love.
Goddess, is it true?
It totally is. I love Titus.
With that joyful thought, I straddle my man again and drop down, sinking onto his erection.
We both groan with the pleasure of it. He's too big-he's always too big, but the stretch is so wonderful.
He lets me control the show as I get comfortable and do my best to hang onto his shoulder with my good arm. Then he grips my bare ass and takes charge. He pulls me up over his cock and back down in a beautiful, rhythmic motion. A circular motion that makes me dizzy with pleasure.
"Yes, Titus," I encourage.
As if this guy ever needs encouragement.
But we surf the wave together, eyes locked on each other's in some kind of tantric meditation. Time stops. The waterfall stops. There's nothing but our two hearts beating together, our two bodies blending and coming apart in perfect communion.
"This," I murmur in awe.
"What, baby?"
"Nirvana," I gasp.
We found it. The highest state of consciousness. Of ecstasy. Of pleasure.
Titus grips my ass harder, fingers digging into the flesh. He gives my cheek a slap.
Time starts again. Or I should say the time bomb starts ticking.
Need licks through me like flames.
I have to come.
Now.
"Sunny," Titus grates. His voice is beyond rough. His expression pained.
"Ready?" I gasp.
"Fuck, yeah." He pulls me down harder, jacks up to meet me. I'm bouncing on his lap, my small breasts jiggling, my breath cut short with each magical thrust.
"Please," I whine, even though I know it's coming.
"Fates, yeah," he shouts.
I bounce higher. My eyelids flutter as I lose the ability to focus. To breathe. To remember my name.
And then we both come. My screams mingle with his roar, echoing off the canyon walls and coming back to us as the reverberation of our climax echoes through our bodies.
When we stop moving, I collapse against him, into his arms, my head on his shoulder, unable to even keep my own head up.
When my consciousness returns, Titus is rocking me slowly from side to side, murmuring, "Beautiful female. Wonderful, magical female."
My heart feels like it will burst wide.
And then I know with total certainty-
I am loved back.