Page 14 of Tender Wild

Jared rested his head against the bricks, the sky a washed-out blue with wispy clouds. His sweaty shirt clung to his damp skin, but he didn’t care. There was something about this moment—this whole stupid, perfect mess—that made him want to stay right here forever.

A few minutes later, Miguel returned, the back door creaking shut behind him. He had a bottle of water in each hand, the liquid sparkling under the sun. He tossed one to Jared, who caught it against his chest with a relieved sigh.

The cold felt so damn good on his heated skin, but his throat needed it even more.

“Lifesaver.” Jared twisted the cap off and guzzled half the bottle in one go. The arctic coolness hit his stomach, making him groan in relief.

With a grunt, Miguel dropped beside him, stretching out his long legs. “Can’t have you passing out on me, solecito.”

“You’d miss me too much.” Jared smiled around the mouth of the bottle.

A cocky grin surfaced. “Nah. I’d just steal your car.”

“Good luck figuring out how to get in and out of it.” He chuckled, nudging his arm against Miguel’s.

For a moment, they just sat there, sipping their water and letting the crazy vibes buzzing between them breathe.

Then Miguel set his bottle down and shifted closer. His touch was so soft that it barely stirred the air between them.

Jared turned, meeting eyes the color of blueberries. He felt fluttering in his stomach and the hammering of his own heart.

They leaned toward each other, excitement and fear and adrenaline drawing them in. Miguel’s lips were warm, a bit chapped from the sun, but soft in all the right places. His fingers trailed down Jared’s throat, then cupped his neck, as if Miguel was holding him steady. He tasted like cold water and summer heat, and smelled like every wish Jared had ever whispered.

When they finally eased back, he smiled at the satisfied grin on Miguel’s face and the glint of sun reflecting in his tender gaze.

“You definitely purred, guapo.” Miguel’s thumb swept lazily over Jared’s throat.

He laughed, low and breathless, not bothering to deny it.

Chapter Four

The setting sun bathed his dashboard in soft colors as Jared left Blackthorn behind. One hand was on the wheel, while the other touched his lips where Miguel had kissed him just an hour ago. The streetlights were already on, spreading a warm glow over the road. But he felt an even brighter glow inside him as he headed home.

“Should’ve stayed,” he murmured, smiling at the memory of calloused hands on his back and that kitchen disaster. Who knew eggs could become projectiles? Or that chili had a half-life of approximately forever when stuck to tiles?

The radio crackled with static between stations, so he turned it off, preferring the quiet hum of tires against asphalt. Bishop Road stretched before him, long and winding through dense forest before it would eventually connect to Riverside.

Away from Miguel.

His phone buzzed against the cup holder, jolting him from the memory. His mother’s face lit up the screen. With a sigh, he answered on speaker. “Hey, Mom.”

“Wanted to know when you’ll be home.” The familiar whir of her sewing machine hummed in the background. “Dad’s bringing pizza.”

“Heading back now.” He adjusted his grip on the steering wheel. “Got caught up with some stuff.”

The machine’s rhythm paused. “What kind of stuff?” Her tone was curious, not accusatory.

“Just... hanging out.” With a wolf. In their territory. Making out behind their bar after destroying their kitchen.

“You’ve been out a lot lately,” she continued, fabric rustling as the sewing machine resumed its steady rhythm. “Meeting someone special?”

His foot eased off the gas, trying to baby the car along. “No one important.”

Liar. Miguel’s face flashed in his mind—scarred and beautiful.

“Well, hurry up. Your father wants to watch that new sci-fi movie with you.”

Jared opened his mouth to respond when the steering wheel suddenly stiffened beneath his grip. A grinding noise emerged from somewhere under the hood as the smell of hot metal and oil drifted through the vents. Not now. Please not now.

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