Life for Carly started falling into an almost comfortable routine over the next few weeks. Jason still wasn't talking, but he wasn't as surly anymore. Caleb was spending less time wailing like he was possessed by demons. Carly was seeing less of Emile, who was spending her weekends with her mysterious man, but they still caught up several times a week.
She wasn't completely bereft at that loss, however. Blake was texting and calling at all all hours of the day and night. Several times, he drove down to see her. Sometimes they went out alone, sometimes with the kids, and sometimes they stayed in. She was beginning to find her equilibrium, but knew it was only a temporary reprieve. Summer was drawing to a close, and the school year would soon begin.
Blake was growing wildly impatient. Carly was firmly entrenched upon his heart, his wolf was enamored by her and called out for her, and yet she stubbornly resisted a more intimate relationship. They talked constantly, he visited as often as business and the pack allowed, yet he was always left wanting more. He wanted to take her to bed, to let loose the passion that flared between them, to let the heat of need consume them both. She was keeping things to small touches, shameless flirting, and soul searing kisses, and then hiding behind obligations when things started getting more interesting. He could scent her arousal, knew she wanted it as badly as he did, and he wasn't willing to wait much longer.
As for Carly, she wanted more from Blake, too. There was something that she didn't quite trust, some secret he kept hidden. It bothered her greatly, that he wouldn't confide in her, that there was some integral part of himself that he felt he needed to shield her from. She sensed the secret, but was never able to guess at it. The secret bothered her, though her near constant state of arousal when in his presence was starting to bother her more.
"You know," Blake said thoughtfully when he was visiting one afternoon, "Summer is almost over."
"Don't remind me," Carly groaned. "I go back to work the week after next."
"Next weekend, I'd like you to visit, a bit of a vacation," he offered, working his way up to the next part of the seduction plan.
"My company has a bit of a tradition," he continued, "The employee's children are taken on an overnight hiking trip. Some families go, of course, as guides and chaperones. But most families just send their kids."
His words were not a total lie, nearly all of the children were children of his employees. But then, nearly all of his employees were also pack. And while children didn't shift for the first time until puberty, Jason would be the only truly human on the adventure, if he was able to convince Carly to accept this plan. He looked at her, waiting for her reaction, while making a mental note to remind the others not to speak of the pack or sensitive topics in front of Jason.
"I'm not an employee, so I'll have to decline the offer you haven't quite made," she answered. She wasn't sure she was ready to be separated from Jason for that long, and was certain she didn't want to hand him over to strangers. And she certainly was wary of the speculative gleam in Blake's eyes.
"But I'm the boss, they'll gladly let him tag along if I ask. I think it might be good for Jason. Maybe he would be able to return to something like normal if he spent some time with a few people his age, doing something new and different. There's this group of kids, they'll be going. Fiona, she's a bit of a wild child, the leader of the little pack. She's a happy, mischievous scamp, and she draws everyone to her. She'll make sure Jason's included," his words persuasive.
"If families go," she said, not quite giving in yet, "Then I should be there with him. I'll worry that he's not safe. What if something goes wrong? What if there are bears? What if..."
Blake stole a kiss, wanting to put a stop to her spiraling fears. His lips lingered only briefly, knowing he had to finish this conversation.
"My people are well trained, and have been doing this for years. I trust them. They will keep all the kids safe, as their children will be there, too." He spoke with such conviction, Carly implicitly believed them trustworthy. "Besides," Blake continued with a charming grin, "many also run my company's fall hunting trips, and would know what to do in the unlikely event they spotted a bear."
"You want Jason to go, but not me?" She answered in return, beginning to see the shape of Blake's plan. She wasn't sure she was ready for it. His obvious secret rankled.
"You and I have some unfinished business," he said, very softly.
"And what business might that be?" She asked, eyes wide in faux innocence.
"I need to spend some serious time getting better acquainted with your body," he said, dangerously. "I want to know the precise flavor of your cunt, and figure out just what it takes to bring you to orgasm. I want to hear all the delicious little moans you will make as we make love. I want to see your breasts sway as I take you from behind. I want to feel myself buried deep within you. God, do I want that so badly."
His words drew quite the picture of how they would spend the weekend. "Sounds rather boring," she lied and pretended to yawn.
Blake laughed wickedly. "Oh, Carly. You are too much. Next weekend, you're mine. Jason will be off adventuring, and Caleb will be tucked away with a friend. They're a young family and won't mind another baby for a bit. You... you will not leave my bed, even if I have to chain you down."
Carly gulped at the promise, not even sure how to respond to his dominance.
Jason, when he was told of the planned adventure, seemed interested but reserved. Blake told stories of Fiona's exploits, described the hiking and camping, and promised him the very best of his equipment. Jason began looking forward to the promise of s'mores.
*****
Life for Emile wasn't falling so happily into a routine. Or rather, it was falling into a routine she wasn't happy with. Each weekend, Jack insisted she come to visit him on the pack lands. Not in so many words, no, he just refused to come down to see her, so if she wanted to see him, she was the one making the trek north late Friday night. It was an insidious little game, forcing her to chase him. She didn't want to make the drive and she certainly didn't want to find herself so often surrounded by the pack. She knew what Jack was doing, and she played right into his hands. She hated it, but she couldn't resist. She craved his touch, the way his hands drifted fearlessly over her body, leaving behind a trail of fire that lit her soul. She craved the kisses that made her forget everything. She craved those moments that felt so perfect, when he was thrusting hard into her body. Mostly, though, she craved how comfortable and safe she felt when he was around. So as much as she hated it, she played his game, leaving for the pack lands after work on Friday, and staying late until Sunday evening.
"Come on," Jack said, rather impatiently, when she arrived on one such Friday evening. He had been pretending to read on the couch, waiting for her arrival. As soon as she opened the door, he jumped to his feet and reached for her bags. Setting them aside, he pulled her into a tight hug and allowed a very brief kiss. He wanted more, but he had other plans for the evening.
"Someone decided there would be a chili cook-off tonight at the clubhouse." he continued, putting her at arm's length, trying to avoid temptation. "There's got to be a dozen or more different chilis to try. Let's go snag some food and join in the judging!"
