Page 42 of Lone Wolf in Lights
“I like this,” he told her. “Just being here, talking. It’s nice.”
Her smile warmed all the cold cracks in his heart. “I like this too.” She gave his hand a firm squeeze and then rose to clear away the plates, and she gave him a spectacular view from his spot of her bare thighs in his T-shirt.
She had to get to the bar. He had to get to the ranch. But with the heat filling him, and his cock twitching, he said, “You know what else I like?”
“What’s that?” she asked, not looking back.
“You in my T-shirt.” He had her in his arms a second later, and her laughter filling his kitchen was the best sound he’d ever heard.
The Naked Moose buzzed with excitement as Willow entered the bar after Eli dropped her off at home and she’d showered and gotten ready for the day. She couldn’t get the smile off her face. Not only the skating, but their hot night, and even this morning after breakfast, had been magical.
Being with Eli wasmagical.Her body felt more than alive this morning. It felt...reborn.
When she pushed through the door, the music was already pulsating through the lively bar. Aubrey and Charly were putting the finishing touches on the photo booth, a colorful backdrop flashing “Born This Way” in bold, proud letters.
“Hey, you made it!” Aubrey’s voice cut through the music.
“I wouldn’t miss this party,” Willow replied, heading toward them.
Aubrey grinned. “Withthatsmile on your face, I’m surprised you even managed to get out of bed.”
Charly came out of the back, stopped dead and said, “I want to hear every single detail, but we need to finish up, so talk while we work.”
Willow agreed with a nod. “What can I do to help?”
“Those balloons need to be blown up,” Charly said, pointing to the pack of balloons on the bar.
“I can do that.” Willow put her winter jacket and scarf behind the bar and then grabbed the package. Her fingers tied each balloon after blowing them up, infusing the room with splashes of color.
Aubrey, perched on a ladder, unfurled the last of the rainbow flags above the bar.
Below her, Charly steadied the ladder. “Perfect, just a little to the left.”
Aubrey affixed the flag in place with a tack and then she descended the ladder and turned to Willow. “Now spill it, girl.”
Willow laughed, tying up a balloon. “Last night was magical...” She told them about the park, how he opened up about his past, and the skating.
“That certainly sounds incredible,” Aubrey said.
Willow agreed with a nod. “And then—” her grin grew wider “—we went back to his house. Those cowboys. They’re so damn charming.”
“Willow Quinn, look at you!” Charly exclaimed, beginning to tape the balloons onto the walls beneath the twinkling Christmas lights. “And yeah, I get it. I have no control where it comes to Jaxon.”
Willow laughed and felt a surge of gratitude for her friends, who had seen her at her lowest of lows and highest of highs. “Thank you,” she murmured to Charly. Then she set her gaze on Aubrey. “For everything.”
Charly smiled, coming over to hug Willow. “We just want to see you happy.”
“We sure do,” Aubrey agreed, throwing her arms around Willow too. “I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself. It’s about time you had some fun.”
Just so happened, Willow agreed too. She kept waiting for the fear to rise that she was letting Eli in, but it never came. She wasn’t sure if it was because Eli was who he was, or they had a good friendship before, but she felt...safe.
She wasn’t certain where this would lead, but she felt okay with this next step with Eli. Maybe it’d only ever be fun between them. Or maybe not. But right now, she didn’t need to know that answer, and there was freedom in that.
Minutes ticked by quickly, which eventually turned into hours. As the night wore on, the bar began to fill up with people, all there to celebrate James and his coming out to the world. The pop music from the speakers above the bar were loud and pulsing, and the drinks flowed freely. In the midst of it all, James stood tall and proud, dancing in the middle of a circle surrounded by his friends and family.
Willow watched from the sidelines, her heart bursting with love and admiration for a man finally living authentically.
Then, as if on cue, the music cut off and a figure emerged from the back—a vision in sequins and feathers, the spitting image of Cher in all her glory. The crowd cheered, turning to the stage, as the drag queen took to the microphone.
