Chapter 190

Chapter 190
Rainey's POV

I woke up next day.

God, everything hurt.

My thighs protested as I shifted slightly. My hips felt like they'd been stretched to their absolute limit. And that spot between my legs—Jesus Christ, it was like someone had taken a cheese grater to my insides. Except, you know, in the most thoroughly-fucked way possible.

The air smelled like—wait, it smelled like us. Like sex and sweat and that wild, woodsy scent that clung to Sunny's skin.

I became aware of warmth against my back. Strong arms wrapped around my waist, holding me like I might evaporate if he let go.

Right. Sunny.

I tried to move, just to test if my body still worked, and holy fuck—bad idea. Pain shot through my core, sharp and insistent. I couldn't help the small whimper that escaped my throat.

"Sunny...?" My voice came out hoarse, wrecked. Like I'd been screaming.

Which, to be fair, I probably had been.

"I'm here." His voice rumbled against my ear, "You awake?"

I blinked against the darkness. The room was pitch black—those smart curtains he'd installed must've shut out every bit of light. I could've been in a cave for all I knew.

Except caves didn't smell this good. Didn't feel this warm.

"Wait, what time is it?"

"Noon." He said it so casually, like it was no big deal. "Little past twelve, actually."

"What?" I jerked upright—or tried to. My body had other ideas. I made it about three inches before every muscle screamed in protest and I collapsed back onto the mattress with a groan. "That's impossible. My alarm—"

"Baby." His hand splayed across my bare stomach, warm and possessive. "We didn't fall asleep until three in the morning. You think I was gonna let some alarm wake you up after four—" He paused, and I could hear the smirk in his voice. "—or was it five rounds?"

Oh my God.

Heat exploded across my face. My neck. My entire upper body, probably.

"Stop," I mumbled, trying to burrow deeper into the pillow. Except there was no pillow, just his chest, and that made everything worse. Because I could feel his heartbeat against my back and his breath in my hair and Jesus, I was naked.

Completely naked.

In his arms.

In our bed.

In our house.

"Stop what?" He sounded way too amused. His fingers traced lazy circles on my hip bone. "I'm just stating facts, Rainey. We had sex. Multiple times. Really, really good sex." His voice dropped lower. "You even told me it felt—"

"DON'T." I twisted around to glare at him, which was a mistake because now I could see his face. Those golden eyes. That crooked smile. The satisfied gleam that told me he knew exactly what he was doing to me.

He was already dressed. T-shirt and sweatpants, hair slightly damp like he'd showered. Meanwhile I was still naked under these sheets like some kind of—

"You're blushing," he observed, grinning wider.

"I'm not—" But I was. I could feel it spreading down my chest. "You're the worst."

"Mmm." He propped himself up on one elbow, looking down at me with that infuriating smirk. "That's not what you said last night. Something about me being the best—"

I slapped a hand over his mouth before he could finish that sentence. "Sunny Hayes, if you finish that thought, I swear to God—"

He caught my wrist, gently pulling my hand away. His expression softened, just a little. "How do you feel? Any pain? Anything I should be worried about?"

"I'm fine," I muttered. "Just... sore. Really sore. Like I got hit by a truck."

"A very enthusiastic truck," he agreed solemnly.

"SUNNY."

He laughed, the sound vibrating through his chest. "Sorry, sorry. I'll behave." But his hand slid up my side, thumb brushing the curve of my breast, and suddenly his eyes weren't laughing anymore. "Now you need to eat something. Drink water. Maybe let me run you a bath because, baby, I did a number on you last night and—"

"Oh my God, stop talking." I tried to roll away from him, but he just pulled me back, wrapping both arms around me until I was trapped against his chest.

"You hungry?" he asked, his lips brushing my temple. "I could make breakfast. Or lunch, I guess, since it's noon."

"I'm fine."

"Liar." He pinched my side gently. "Your stomach's been growling for the past ten minutes."

Damn super-wolf hearing.

"Maybe a little hungry," I admitted.

"That's my girl." He pressed a kiss to my shoulder. "But first—" His hand moved lower, fingers ghosting over the spot between my legs. "—how bad does it hurt? Scale of one to ten?"

"Sunny!" I squirmed, trying to escape, but he held me firm.

"I'm serious, Rainey. I need to know if I was too rough. If I hurt you." The playfulness was gone from his voice now. "Please. Tell me the truth."

I stopped struggling. Took a breath. Actually assessed the damage.

"It's not... terrible," I said slowly. "Like a six? Maybe seven when I move too fast. But it's not unbearable or anything."

"Now are you gonna feed me or what? Because if you don't, I might die, and then you'll have to explain to my grandma why your wife starved to death in your fancy new house."

That got a smile out of him. "Wife, huh?"

Shit. "I meant—fiancée. Or girlfriend. Whatever we're—"

"I like wife better." He rolled us over until he was hovering above me, his weight braced on his forearms. "Has a nice ring to it. Rainey Hayes."

"Don't you mean Ellis-Hayes?" I shot back. "I'm not losing my name completely."

"Fair enough." He dipped his head, kissing me softly. "Rainey Ellis-Hayes. My wife. Mother of my future—"

"OKAY, we're done here." I shoved at his chest, laughing despite myself. "Go make me food before I change my mind about this whole marriage thing."

He grinned, stealing one more kiss before climbing off the bed. I immediately missed his warmth.

"Stay here," he ordered, already heading for the door. "I'll bring something up."

"Wait!" I sat up, clutching the sheet to my chest. "I need... um..."

He turned back, one eyebrow raised.

"Clothes," I said, feeling my face heat up again. "I can't exactly walk around naked. And my dress is..." I gestured vaguely toward the corner where my poor white dress lay in tatters. "...not an option anymore."

Something dark flashed in his eyes. Pride, maybe.

"Yeah," he said slowly. "I might've gotten a little... enthusiastic with that zipper."

"A little?" I stared at the ruined fabric. "Sunny, you literally destroyed it."

I huffed out a breath. "The point is, all my stuff is still at the dorm. I don't have anything here to wear. And I can't exactly show up at Harper Hall dressed in your T-shirt asking Ava to pack me a bag."

His smile faded. "You're right. Shit."

"So..." I pulled the sheet tighter around me. "Could you maybe drive back to campus and grab some things from my room?"