Wolf Six's Salvation

She tipped her head, a question filling her green eyes. "Does it hurt?"

Jackson shook his head and put his hands on her waist. She was warm and soft and everything he could ever want. And she was okay with him being a wolf.

"The first time it did. But it got easier every time, and now, it doesn't hurt so much as it feels like walking through a cold waterfall. I guess we just get better at it each time." He looked up at her face, her smile warmer than the sun.

"I know this isn't very manly, but..." Chloe bit her lip in a shy smile. "You are gorgeous as a wolf."

Jackson's grinned. "Just as a wolf?"

"Like you need to fish for compliments." Chloe stuck her tongue out at him, but her eyes still held a smile.

Jackson pulled her closer to him until her hips pressed into his chest. She smelled so divine he couldn't stand it. He wanted to kiss that playful tongue, to touch every inch of her skin again. He was giving serious thought to simply scooping her up and carrying her off into the bed in the cabin.

Screw that, he thought. I don't think I'd make it to the bed. The porch would work just fine.

Chloe giggled and leaned down to kiss him. Her lips were heaven. She tasted sweet. Like oranges and cream. He breathed in her scent, letting it fill his nostrils and soar through his body. She was soft beneath his hands, but yet firm in all the right places. He nipped gently at her perfect lower lip, wanting to do more than just taste her.

He pulled back, still holding her to him, as he heard a car pull up the road. His eyes flashed golden for a moment and she grinned.

"Hold that thought for later," she whispered, leaning down slightly to kiss his head. "I think your ride's here."

The door to Quent's car slammed shut. His feet made a sticky sound as they crunched across the gravel full of melting snow up to the porch. Jackson reluctantly let Chloe go in order to turn around and face the oncoming man, but he was glad to feel Chloe stay directly behind him. He leaned back into her, feeling her body absorb his warmth.

"Paper says there was a fire on the base last night. Unknown amount of damage and that there was one injury: Colonel Bronn," Quent announced, holding up a newspaper. Jackson stayed quiet, knowing the three of them were all thinking the same thought. Was Herbert keeping up the story?

"So what happens now?" Chloe asked softly. Her hand was on Jackson's shoulder and he liked the way her fingers felt, even through his tan t-shirt.

"Now, I take the Captain here back to pick up his truck." Quent jerked his thumb toward Jackson. "Then, I'm taking a nap. Those young-uns wore me out last night."

Arthur strode out of the bunk house, his eyes going immediately to Chloe's hand on Jackson's shoulder.

"Jackson, we need to talk." Arthur's blue eyes were cold. Chloe gave an audible swallow, but she didn't pull her hand away. The fact that she didn't care what Arthur thought made Jackson's stomach do happy flip-flops.

"You can talk in the car, Arthur," Quent said. He walked back to the driver's seat of the car and Arthur climbed in the passenger side. Jackson was going to have to sit in the back.

Jackson turned, a rueful smile on his face. "I'll see you later?"

"You better," Chloe answered with a laugh. He stepped up on the porch and kissed her cheek, feeling her sun-kissed skin under his lips. Their eyes met, green and brown, and practically ready to throw out sparks.

Chloe pushed his shoulders and he stepped off the step. "Go before one of them decides to eat you for making them late."

Jackson couldn't wipe the grin off his face as he hurried over to the backseat and scrambled in. He sat in the middle seat where at least he had a little bit of room for his long legs. The car was just too small for a full-grown man to be sitting in the backseat.

The three men were quiet down the bumpy road to the main highway back into town. Jackson's palms were starting to sweat as he wondered what Arthur wanted to talk to him about. From the tone of his voice, Jackson had a feeling he wasn't going to like what the older man had to say.

"Thanks for the ride, Quent. I appreciate it," Jackson finally said, breaking the silence.

"You had to get your truck back somehow," Quent replied, turning the car onto smooth highway. The wheels hummed as he added speed.

"I need to talk to you about Chloe," Arthur stated as soon as the car was no longer accelerating. Jackson felt hot and cold at the same time. If Arthur told him he had to leave her... he wasn't sure what he was going to do.

"What about her?" Jackson tried to keep the defensiveness out of his voice, but he didn't succeed.

Arthur turned around to look at him. "Do you love her?"

"Yes." The ease of the answer surprised Jackson. The word had come out before he even had time to think, but he knew it was true. He'd never loved anyone like he loved her. There had been first loves and even a girl he had considered marrying once, but those emotions were fragile and thin compared to the love he felt for Chloe.

"Good. I thought so last night, but that confirms it." Arthur grinned at him. "Congratulations on finding your Fated One."