Page 43 of Family: Posy 4

Maybe with mate in bed, Sid snickered, and I giggled.

When we got back, Jay was still asleep, but Lark was awake. She had crept out from under Jay's arm and now pushed the ball with her front feet, her upper body bent low to the ground and her tail up and wagging.

"Hi, my little doll!" I said as I slid to a halt a few feet from her. "I'm so happy to see you!"

Hello,she said in a timid voice and hunched up a bit.Posy still sleeping.

That's okay. I like being with you,I assured her, and she perked up again.

"You want to play, little doll?" Dropping the bag I'd fetched, I grabbed the ball and held it up. "You want me to throw it for you?"

She nodded, and her silvery eyes were lively as they fixed on the tennis ball.

Yes, please!

Not too far, Ashy, Sid warned me.My darling's legs are little.

All of her is little, buddy, I chuckled.

I tossed the ball about twenty feet away and Lark took off after it, her back feet digging into the grass before she launched herself forward, and I squealed at her cuteness.

"Wha? Was wrong?" Jay slurred, sitting up in a hurry and blinking blearily.

"Dude! How late did you keep our girl up?" I noogied his head, messing his hair up even more than it already was.

"Woke up too early, then had trouble falling back to sleep," he mumbled and swatted my hand away. "Didn't help that my wolf was feeling frisky."

"Getting laid is worth a little lost sleep, isn't it, Q?"

Damn right,Quartz smirked.Makes me feel downright mellow. Appreciate it while it lasts, Jayden. I'm sure something will piss me off and restore my usual bad humor soon enough.

"Yeah, yeah," Jayden yawned and stretched his arms out.

I laughed at their banter and hunkered down as Lark brought the ball back to me.

"Can I hold you, little doll?"

She woofed at me and dropped the ball to smile at me, and I smiled back. Scooping her up in my arms, I turned her on her back and held her like a baby.

"You're so stinking cute! You know that?" I cooed at her and touched my nose to hers.

Her little pink tongue darted out and licked my nostril, which tickled and made me laugh.

"Well, I can see you two are set and don't need me third-wheeling." Jay got to his feet. "Want me to leave the blanket?"

"Sure, dude, or you can stay and finish your nap. It doesn't bother us, does it, little doll?" I rubbed my cheek against her soft fur. "We like spending time with our brothers, too."

"Thanks, man, but I gotta get going. Mase wants me to join him down at Oberon's in case he needs Quartz. He thinks it might be a couple of bears."

"You think it's Marlon? The shifter you rescued from the prison? I thought he went up into the national park." I frowned and tore my eyes away from Lark's to look at Jay. "Why would he come down from the mountains in high summer?"

"Naw, dude. Arealbear or two. Mase and Garnet would recognize Marlon's scent if it were him, but neither of them sense any kind of shifter."

"Well, happy hunting. We're going to stay here and play." I turned my gaze back to Lark. "Is that okay with you, little doll?"

Yes, yes, yes!she yelped cheerfully, which made Sid bounce around with glee.

If Jay stayed, I could let Sid out to play with her, which would be awesome, but he got to do that all the time. It wasmyturn to hang out with her, and I was going to enjoy every second of it.

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