Page 71 of Fated
“I know!” She flopped back down on the bed beside him. “It’s terrifying and amazing. I’ve never felt anything like this before.”
“And?” Jace prompted.
“I think he feels it too. The way he looks at me like I’m the most fascinating person in the room. How his scent changes when I’m around. How his wolf’s presence grows when we get closer. But he hasn’t made a move.” She pounded her fists into the mattress. “And it’s driving mecrazy.”
“Define ‘crazy’?” Jace asked.
Lena groaned, covering her face with her hands. “I’m embarrassed to admit how much I’ve had to charge my vibrator this week.”
“Lena!” Ryker gasped, clutching imaginary pearls. “Masturbation? Howunbecomingof a future luna.” He rolled on top of her, eyebrows waggling. “Tell me everything! Did you imagine his fingers? His mouth? Taking his alpha knot?”
“Shut up!” She sat up, throwing him off and smacking him with a pillow before falling back onto the bed in frustration. “I’m desperate to feel him inside me—to have a non-battery or manually operated orgasm—but right now I’d settle for a kiss. A real one that isn’t on the cheek.”
A knock at the door made all three of them freeze.
“That’s him,” she whispered, bolting upright and making her way to the door before pausing. “How’s my hair? My lipstick?”
“Perfect,” both males said in unison.
Lena took a deep breath and opened the door.
The sight of Kai standing there stole the breath from her lungs. When she’d first met him, there had been a coolness to him—like a filter that washed out the vibrancy of his aura, dimming his presence to something manageable. Since he’d come to Moonshadow though, it was like color was bleeding through. Now he stood at her door wearing brand new jeans and a forest-green henley that brought out his eyes, a plush blanket folded over one arm and a six pack of beer in the other hand. He was in full technicolor—like Dorothy opening the door when she landed in Oz.
“Hi,” he said softly. She caught the nervous edge in his voice as his eyes roamed her from head to toe. “Ready?”
Jace chimed in before she had a chance to respond. “Look at them, Ryker. All spiffed up for their first group date.”
“These pups just grow up too fast nowadays.” Ryker mimed wiping away tears. “Next thing you know, they’ll be having a litter of their own.”
Kai blinked, looking between them. “Are you guys...coming too?”
Ryker responded with a grumpy snort. “Weweren’t invited. Just keeping Lena company while she got ready.”
Jace stood, kissed Lena’s head, and clapped Kai on the shoulder as he left. “Have a good time, you two.”
As Ryker brushed past Kai on his way out, he leaned in close and whispered something too low for Lena to hear. Whatever he said sent a rush of crimson racing up Kai’s neck to the tips of his ears.
“Uh-huh,” was all Kai managed, eyes locking on Lena as he swallowed hard.
Shaking her head, Lena closed the door behind her and grabbed the blanket from him. “Let’s go.”
The walk to the bonfire was easy, comfortable. Their hands brushed as they walked, and when she hooked her pinky around his, he squeezed back in response.
The fire was already roaring when they arrived, casting dancing shadows across the faces of a dozen Moonshadow warriors. The scent of burning cedar and pine mingled with the crisp night air. Holden raised his beer in greeting, and several others called out welcomes.
Kai spread the blanket on the ground and settled beside her, close enough that she could feel the heat radiating from his body. When he handed her a beer, their fingers lingered together longer than necessary.
“Hey, Bloodstone,” Holden called out, breaking the moment. “We were just talking about how the scales have finally tipped in my daily matches with you.”
Kai chuckled, the sound vibrating through his chest in a way that made Lena’s pulse quicken. She could feel the rumble of it where their bodies touched, almost synchronizing their heartbeats—like being tuned to the same frequency as someone else’s joy.
“Don’t get too cocky,” Kai replied. “I was distracted.”
“By what?” Holden pressed with a knowing grin.
“Something worth being distracted by.”
Lena could feel Kai’s eyes on her, heat pooling low in her belly at the roughness in his voice.
