Page 101 of The Howl
Leaving the vehicles, we started through the trees. Fenris and his girls moved with quiet grace, leaving the night undisturbed, whereas I sounded like a parade. I didn’t mind the walk, though. The cold nipped at my exposed skin, but it wasn’t terrible. And my toes were fairly warm, thanks to wearing my sensible flats again. However, Ashlyn’s teeth started chattering before we reached the caves.
“Almost there,” Fenris said softly.
Snow started to fall. It was more of a crystalline glitter rather than large flakes.
“Pretty,” Ashlyn said.
“It’s from the springs,” Jenna said.
The girls stopped walking at the edge of a clearing and started stripping in the snow. Ahead, I saw a mound of rocks around a small cave opening. Steam rolled out of the entrance and drifted upward only to turn into sparkly snow.
I looked at the small gap with a frown. That was the hot springs? It didn’t seem like much.
Fenris set Ashlyn down.
“I’d recommend removing what you can here. Everything you bring inside the cave will get damp because of the humidity.”
Ashlyn glanced at me, and I grinned at her uncertainty. I’d warned her. She made a face then took off her shirt. I averted my gaze as she set it on the ground and stood on it after she removed her shoes.
“You, too, Eliana,” Fenris said.
“I wasn’t planning on swimming,” I said quickly.
“Unless you planned on sitting out here and freezing the entire time, you’re going to want to strip. It’s not fun walking back to the car in wet jeans.”
He reached for his fly, and I quickly turned around, ignoring his knowing smirk.
A shirt landed at my feet.
“You can stand on that.”
I removed my shoes and socks, using his shirt to keep my toes from freezing. Then, I shimmied out of my jeans.
“I’m taking Ashlyn in,” Jenna said. “Her lips are turning blue.”
“We’ll be right behind you,” Fenris said.
When I glanced over my shoulder, he and I were the only ones in the clearing. And he was wearing boxers.
“You wear underwear?” I asked before I could stop myself.
He grinned widely.
“Only on special occasions. When the girls brought this up, I planned on asking you to come with us. I knew you’d rather I have something to leave on.”
“Thank you,” I said, really meaning it.
My hunger still liked the sight of him in his underwear, though, and I struggled to tear my gaze from his muscled torso.
Facing away from him once more, I removed my button-up shirt then started pulling the t-shirt over my head. The bright glow of Piepen’s thin line of brownie batter stopped me. I tugged it back into place and turned toward Fenris.
“I’ll go in this.”
“Okay.” He was beside me in two steps. “Come on.” He picked me up without warning.
My eyes went black at all the skin to skin contact.
“Fenris, put me down.”
