Chapter 827 Stay here with me
Denzel’s hand cradled the back of her neck, while his other arm pulled her waist flush against him.
Meanwhile, Juniper’s hands shifted from his shoulders to lock securely behind his neck. The heat of his body and the intoxicating surge of his pheromones enveloped her, the scent of cedarwood intensifying until it was all she could focus on.
They eventually pulled apart, completely breathless.
As Juniper settled back onto her heels, her gaze drifted to the pulse point at his throat, mesmerizing her for a few lingering seconds.
Denzel took the initiative this time, his fingers gently lifting her chin until their eyes locked.
“I didn’t think this would happen today,” he confessed, his thumb tracing the line of her jaw. “I’ve been wanting to kiss you for a long time, but I couldn’t find the courage.”
“Why?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
“I was scared,” he admitted.
Juniper arched a brow, her expression softening. “Scared of me?”
Denzel shook his head, a vulnerable, honest look crossing his features. “No. Scared that I would ruin it. I mean… You’ll hate me for kissing you out of the blue.”
Juniper chuckled, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to his lips once more. “Let’s eat before the pizza gets cold.” She pulled away, her heart hammering against her ribs, and moved toward the couch.
Denzel followed, sitting beside her and popping open the pizza box. He carefully sprinkled chili flakes over the slices and handed one to Juniper, only then realizing he’d forgotten the plates.
“Wait a sec!” He jogged to the kitchen, returning moments later with two plates and a bottle of Coke. Juniper took the plate he offered, and they settled in, finally eating and simply enjoying the quiet of being together.
~~~~~
The next morning, Juniper woke up early and after freshening up, she stood in the balcony of her room, looking at the horizon which was orange red.
For months, her life had felt like a relentless storm. The world had been cruel, stripping away her confidence until she convinced herself that kindness was a luxury she didn’t deserve, and love was a fantasy she had long since stopped believing in.
But yesterday… yesterday had broken the pattern.
She closed her eyes, remembering the way Denzel had looked at her in the pottery studio. It wasn’t just that he was attentive; it was that he truly heard her.
Every word she spoke was treated with value rather than met with the dismissive counters she was so accustomed to.
She had laughed until her sides ached when Denzel told her about his early days at the training. It was the first time in an eternity that she hadn’t felt the need to brace herself for an argument or a confrontation.
The warmth filled her entirely and it was a contrast to the cold isolation she had lived in for so long. “I won’t let this love go,” she whispered.
Leaving the balcony behind, Juniper retreated into the quiet house. She made her way straight to the kitchen and drank a glass of water before she began the ascent upstairs, drawn by a sudden urge to see if Denzel was still lost to sleep.
To her surprise, the bedroom door stood slightly ajar. With a soft push, she eased the door open and slipped inside. He was sprawled out on his stomach, looking entirely unguarded in his slumber.
The blanket had pooled onto the floor, likely discarded during the heat of the night.
Juniper knelt, gathering the soft fabric before smoothing it carefully over his shoulders. “He must be exhausted,” she whispered, her voice a mere hush that barely disturbed the stillness of the room.
As she tucked the edge of the duvet beneath him, the pad of her index finger lightly grazed the skin of his exposed back. It sent an immediate ripple through him as he stirred awake.
Juniper had already turned to leave, deciding to let him sleep, when he caught her wrist. With one quick motion, he pulled her back down onto the mattress. She landed against him, his chest pressing firmly against her back as his arms wrapped securely around her waist.
“Denzel!” she gasped, her breath catching as she stiffened.
“You came here on your own,” Denzel murmured, his voice thick with sleep. He shifted, burying his face into the crook of her neck and hooking a heavy leg over hers, pinning her in place.
“I only wanted to see if you were awake,” she said, her heart thumping against her ribs. “I was going to ask if you wanted coffee. Sorry if I woke you, I was just covering you with the blanket.”
“Thanks for looking out for me,” Denzel murmured, his voice rough with sleep. “Can’t we just stay like this for a while? Now that you’re here, I don’t want to let you go.”
Juniper offered a small smile, finding herself unable to pull away. “I really should head home,” she whispered.
Denzel’s hold tightened immediately. “What? Why? It’s Sunday. Just stay here with me.”
“I don’t have any clothes to change into,” she pointed out, conscious of the outfit she’d worn throughout the previous day. “And I need to shower.”
“I’ll get you whatever you need,” Denzel insisted, his nose nuzzling against the sensitive skin at the curve of her neck. “Shower later. Please, just stay.”
Juniper sighed, her resolve softening. “Okay, but you can’t pay for my clothes. Take my card. You spent so much yesterday and wouldn’t let me pay for a single thing.”
“You can pay on our next date,” Denzel countered. He tried to settle back into sleep, but it was a losing battle. Being this close to her, the Alpha she-wolf, triggered a submissive instinct in him, keeping him hyper-aware and unable to relax his guard.
“Juniper,” he murmured.
“Hmm?”
“Can we kiss?”
She hesitated for a second before turning in his arms to meet his gaze. “Why do you ask? You can just kiss me,” she murmured.
“I feel like asking is better,” he replied. He held her steady, his gaze lingering on her eyes before he reached up to brush a few stray locks of hair behind her ear.