Werewolf Boyfriend: Atticus 2 (complete)

I really like Atticus, but I’m taking things slow with him. The first time we go out together, he takes me bowling. I’ve never been to a bowling alley before in my life, but I have fun. Atticus teaches me how to play, and he wears a brightly colored button-up shirt with flowers and flamingos on it. 

“I know these things are kind of tacky,” he says as he wipes some spilled chocolate milkshake from the front. “But I work with a lot of sterile colors, and sometimes it’s nice to wear something tasteless.”

“Growing up, becoming a mortician was all Ava wanted to be. Everything had to be black, and everything had to be slightly creepy.” I smile as I remember photographs of us as children, Ava dressed all in black and me wearing my Easter best. “I think she was mildly disappointed when she found out what it really was going to be like.”

“Well, what about you?” Atticus asks. He’s finished mopping up the milkshake, and he has a dreamy look in his eyes. “Did you always want to be a gemologist? What led you there?”

I’m always kind of stunned when Atticus asks me about myself. Sometimes I don’t know how to answer. It takes time for me to work up the nerve, and I think he recognizes my hesitancy. “It was sort of an accident,” I murmur. “I wasn’t ever like Ava, I never really knew what I wanted. I just took a class and I really liked it.”

Atticus’ smile is sweet. “I’m sorry if I’m being annoying, I just find it fascinating. Like, which is better, diamonds or rubies?”

I giggle. “Wouldn't you rather be bowling than talking to me about gemstones?”

“No. I’d rather talk to you.”

I’m shot through the heart, in the best way possible.

On our next date the takes me to a paint-your-own-pottery place. I’m painting a mug for Ava, and he keeps smearing the paint from his own project on his face in his enthusiasm. He looks cute, almost like a kid. 

“I’m much neater at work, I swear,” he insists. “But sometimes I get nervous with stuff like this.” He wipes his hands again, but there are still smudges of red and blue on his face.

“Nervous?” I ask. “Why are you nervous?”

Atticus looks at me with those sapphire eyes and his cheeks bloom a bright red. “I’m with a pretty girl I like. What else can I possibly be?” 

I’m so unused to hearing such kind words that it’s almost a shock every time he says them. It feels nice, but in the back of my mind I want to stay on guard. I look down at the mug in my hands and set it gently aside.

“Are you OK?”

I look back at Atticus and put on a smile. “Just thinking. No worries!”

At work, Maven is excited to have me on board and eager to put me to work. For the first two weeks I’m trained in how to operate the store and security protocols, although she cryptically tells me that security is rarely a concern. “This is such a wonderful little town, and you don’t have to worry about too much here. We’re very well-protected.”

“By who?”

Maven looks into the distance, then shrugs. “So tell me, how is that Heatherstone boy?”

“Fine,” I murmur.

“Fine?” Maven cocks an eyebrow. “Is that all?”

I sigh and continue to clean a glass case. “I’m nervous,” I confess to her. “It’s been a while since… and even longer since...” I can’t make myself complete those thoughts.

“Divorce can be complicated, can’t it?” Maven shakes her head while clicking her tongue. “Marriage used to be about the exchange of property, pretty straightforward. Romance in unions is a pretty newfangled thing when you compare it to the rest of history.” She looks down into the case. “Diamond engagement rings are even newer. My grandmother never had one, and when my mother came home flashing one, boy, was she angry. Engagement rings used to be livestock, crops, and a livelihood. Now this little rock is what brings about a wedding. How funny is that?”

“I never even got one. I was promised, but...” I scowl down into the case. “My ex was a charmer, but not much else.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, Mimi.” Maven shakes her head. “Are you alright?” Her voice is quiet and intimate. As she looks at me I see concern on full display, while anger waits to reveal itself. 

“Nothing physical ever happened,” I murmur.

Maven pats my hand. “Sometimes, that can be worse, can’t it?”

I take a deep breath as the weight on my heart starts to pour out through tears. Maven has me sit down behind the counter as she rubs my back. “The divorce was two years ago, but it still hurts some days,” I say. “I’m so far away from him and I want to be done with it all, but healing hasn’t been a straight line.”

“Recovery never is. It’s dips and valleys, maybe sometimes mountains.” Maven smiles at me. “So, Atticus is your first?”

“I mean, I’ve tried dating a couple of times, but Atticus is the first I feel like really putting any effort into.” I felt relieved to talk about something other than the divorce.

“He’s always been a goofy kid,” Maven chuckles, “but a real sweetheart all the same.”

I see Atticus at the Farmer’s Market that Saturday. It’s the rare one he has off, and he wants to make the most of it. It’s early in the morning, and a chill is in the air, so we get hot drinks at the cafe. I have a matcha latte while he drinks black coffee with whipped cream on top.

“Go ahead and laugh, it’s ridiculous!” Atticus grins as I try to hold back my laughter.

I’m gigging, but I keep it down so I don’t embarrass him too much. “It’s so funny, I’m sorry. It’s like, you’re trying to act cool and then you put whipped cream on top.”

“Oh, I don’t need to act cool. I know I’m not.” He reaches down, taking hold of my hand. I grip his hand back as my heart starts to hammer. “Besides, I like it when you laugh.”

We’ve been seeing each other for a while now, I shouldn’t be so surprised. But it’s more about how I feel now rather than his actions. As we’re walking through the market I tug at his hand. We’ve already bought quite a bit - lots of fresh veggies,starters for an herb garden, and some handmade potpourri. He looks back at me with concern on his face. “Is something wrong?”

“Can we go and talk somewhere?” I murmur.

Attius stands close to me. “Seriously, is everything alright?”

I nod. “Yes, I just need to tell you something.”

Atticus looks around, then leads me to a table in the park. We sit down across from one another as I try to work up the nerve to tell him about my divorce. He must know something about it. Surely Ava has said something. I take in a deep breath. “Before we get any closer, I have some things I need to tell you.”

Atticus nods. “That’s okay. You can tell me anything.” He pushes his glasses up his nose and those sapphire eyes watch me closely.

“I went through a pretty messy divorce two years ago.” I look down at my hands clutching the latte cup. “It’s been hard for me to date since then. It still is, even though I really like you.”

“Not to tattle or anything, but Ava kind of told me that you’d been through a rough time.” Atticus lays his hand on the table with his palm exposed. “I’m happy to be your friend. It’s been nice spending time with you. I look forward to seeing you and making you laugh. I would love to court you, but I can’t jump into that, no matter how much I like you.”

I’m a bit confused by the word ‘court’, which sounds archaic. I’m touched by his words, though. I take hold of his offered hand and lift my chin to smile at him. “Could I make you dinner tonight?” I ask sheepishly.

His eyes brighten. He starts to grab my hand with his other one, but ends up bitchslapping his coffee cup into the tree beside the table. He flinches in horror as the whipped cream oozes down the tree. I duck my head, trying not to cry with laughter. “I don’t blame you if you want to rescind the offer,” he says.

I shake my head, afraid that if I open my mouth I would bust out laughing.

“I would love dinner. I promise I won’t slap anything into the wall, either. If I do, I’ll clean it up and pay for whatever I break.”

I let out a bleating laugh, then quickly cover my mouth in mortification and look up at Atticus, who is smiling. “I do love when you laugh.”

That evening, I start to prepare a meal with the produce we got from the Farmer’s Market that morning. I invite Ava to join us, but she says she’ll either find something to do or give us our privacy. “That does smell good though,” she sighs as she watches me cook.

“Does it?” I glance over my shoulder at her. “I really want to make something nice.”

“You could have made ravioli from the can and he would have loved it. He’s gaga over you.” Ava stands beside me at the counter and gives me a reassuring smile. “I like him. He’s a good guy. Most importantly, you seem to like him too.”

“I really do. He makes me feel comfortable.”

“That’s good. Really good.” She steals a bite and nods. “Very good.”

She disappears into her room before Atticus arrives. He’s dressed nicely, and his hair is slicked back but still a little messy. He holds up a container from the bakery. “I brought cake. I really wasn’t sure what to bring.”

“This is wonderful! Thank you. I didn’t make anything sweet.” I lead him to the kitchen and have him sit down. “It’s almost done, I hope you’re not too hungry.” I check the stove, then remove my apron.

“Actually, that’s perfect. I wanted to talk to you about something.”

My heart leaps into my throat at those words. “Sure,” I say nervously. “What about?” I sit down at the table in front of him.

Atticus seems to be psyching himself up for something. He pokes at the bowl of potpourri a few times, then frowns. “This is going to sound really, very weird.” He looks into my eyes and takes off his glasses. “I don’t want to scare you, but I need you to know this. Because if I’m your friend and I have these feelings, you deserve to know the secret.”

I would rather have rocks thrown at me at this point. “Secret?”

“About Hearthway Hollow. It’s not what it seems.”

I laugh anxiously. “What the heck does that mean?”

Atticus lays his hand on his chest. “Me and my family, and many people in Hearthway Hollow… we’re all good people, I promise. It’s just that this secret has to be protected to keep us all safe.”

“You’re scaring me. If this is a joke, it isn’t funny.”

“I can trust you - at least, I hope I’m not wrong to do that. But I can’t keep it any longer, not when I’m sure that I could love you with all my heart.” I see no deception in his eyes, but I do see fear and hope. “I’m sure you know what werewolves are.”

This is so far from left field I never even saw it coming. “What?”

“Hearthway Hollow is a sanctuary for werewolves, and we have a system in place to protect us.” He frowns as he watches me. “I know this sounds crazy, but you have to believe me.”

“Werewolves?” I shake my head, then put it in my hands. “Are you trying to tell me that you’re a werewolf? This is crazy. This is so stupid. If you want to leave, just say so.”

“No! No, please, I can prove it. Just let me take my shirt off.”

“Atticus!” I blurt.

He looks at me with a quivering lip. “I don’t know what else to do. I don’t want to do the courting ritual and scare you. But I need you to know. I want you to see me.”

I sigh. “Fine. Then show me.”

Atticus strips off his shirt, and I’m surprised by the amount of body hair he has. But then it starts to grow. His arms get longer and his back cracks, his spine bending. I watch as his jawline lengthens, and his eyes lighten. The sandy-colored fur grows all over his body, getting slightly darker the thicker it gets. His hands grow huge, and a tail sweeps out behind him.

Atticus lays his palm - his paw? - onto his chest and looks me in the eyes again. “It’s not exactly like the stories, but it can still be shocking, I know.”

I stand from the table and approach him. I touch him to make sure it’s not some sort of trick. His fur is soft, his body is warm. He nuzzles into my palm and gives me actual puppy eyes.

We end up talking for hours. He tells me the history of Hearthway Hollow, and the courtship ritual werewolves often go through to earn their mate. I ask him tons of questions, and he answers them readily. After dinner is over I’m unsure how to feel, but I know I am not afraid. He’s shifted back at this point, but now that I’ve seen it, I can still see the wolf in him.

“Can I have some time to think about this?” I ask.

Atticus nods. “Of course. I didn’t expect to be accepted right away. Can I help you clean up?”

“I do hate washing dishes.”

“Then I’ll do that.” He clears the table while I put leftovers into containers. We’re comfortably silent. We listen to the music on the radio, but when a certain song comes on I start to hum along. Atticus takes my hand, still damp from the water. He pulls me close, puts his hand around my waist and starts to sway. As the song plays he dances with me. I smile up at him, feeling light as a feather as we move around the small kitchen.

As the song fades, I close my eyes for his kiss. His glasses slip off, hitting me in the forehead, but we stay pressed together. When he pulls away my heart is racing wildly. It’s the best kiss I’ve ever had.

“I like that song too.” Atticus places his glasses back on.

I know I have to take the whole werewolf thing into consideration, but I cannot deny my attraction to Atticus is much more than a fancy. 

“When you’re ready to talk again, you can just text me.” Atticus lingers in the doorway before we say goodnight. “Thanks for dinner. It was really good. And thanks for being amazing. I knew I could tell you.”

“I won’t let you wait long. I promise.” I take hold of his hand. 

Atticus touches my cheek and runs his fingers through my hair. “Before I go, I need to tell you how beautiful you look.” He kisses my cheek. “Goodnight. Sweet dreams.”

“You too.” I step outside the door with him to watch him leave. Then I change my mind and run after him, grabbing him before he starts down the stairs. He looks back at me as I tug the hem of his shirt. “Now,” I whisper. “Before I come to my senses.”

His eyes go wide. “What’s now?”

“You said the end of the ritual takes place in the woods. Take me there.”

Before I know it, I’m riding his back through the trees. He zigzags and ducks around the trunks, so sure on his feet he could probably fly. Eventually, he slows, coming up on a large, smooth stone covered in moss. He sets me on it, then spreads his shirt out behind me. 

“Nice place you have here,” I chirp nervously.

“I thought you needed to think,” he whispers.

“I did,” I murmur. “It’s you. What is there to think about?”

We kiss as he presses me down onto the stone. I feel a rush of things I haven’t felt in ages, but most importantly I feel safe. His strong hands move down my body, removing my clothes so he can touch bare skin. His tongue laps over my breasts, and his sharp teeth gently graze me. “So soft,” he moans. “Such perfect skin.” He nuzzles between my breasts as his hands cup my thighs. “I can’t wait to feel those thighs wrapped around me.”

I squeak and cover my face. “Atticus!” I whine.

“I won’t stop,” he whispers. “Talking, I mean.” His fingers knead into my hips. “You’re so beautiful here. You look like whipped cream, all pale and soft.”

I open my thighs a little more for him. It’s not that I’m embarrassed by his words, it’s that they arouse me. 

He dips down, kissing my thighs and nibbling them. I gasp in surprise as his tongue presses to my mound. I feel his heat burning me, opening me up and tasting the wetness inside. He growls hungrily and reaches up, stroking his palms over my chest and belly. “I can’t believe how sweet you are.” His words vibrate on my flesh. “I didn’t need to buy that cake after all.”

I giggle nervously. “Atticus, please.”

His tongue presses inside me, and it’s been so long since I’ve felt such pleasurable touches. I reach down, grabbing the top of his head and tangling my fingers in his fur. He growls and slurps, licking and nibbling until my thighs are trembling.

Then Atticus rises, and I gaze up at him, lightheaded and swooning and my breath coming out in frosted puffs. He bears down on me, pressing his warm body to mine. My breasts are mashed against his chest as I clutch him. I feel him prod at me, his cock sliding against my thighs and rear before finding purchase between my folds. He moans into my ear, breathing deep as he plunges in. I whimper and bite my lip.

“Are you OK?” 

“My ex was not so gifted...” I murmur. “Go slow, OK?”

Atticus and I kiss as he brings his fingers to my clit. I rake my fingers down his back, moaning into his mouth. He goes a little deeper, pulling out before slipping back inside. Bit by bit, he goes further each time. I hold onto him, kissing him and whispering as he moves inside me. I take all of him and still I want more.

The release overtakes me, causing my back to arch off the stone and my eyes to roll back. His howl pierces through the night, shaking every nerve in me.

As we rest, I lay on his chest and listen to the heavy beating of his heart. He puts his shirt around me and kisses the top of my head. “Mimi?” He whispers. “Do you want me to take you home?” His strong hand rubs down my back as he breathes in the scent of my hair. 

“Let’s rest here for a little while longer.” I nuzzle the curve of his neck, then kiss his jaw and smile to myself. “I’m in no rush.”