Page 113 of Campfires & Canines
Hazel tips her head back, gazing at the pink streaks of sunset darkening to dusky purple above us.
The silence is comfortable. But there are things I need to say. I swallow.
"Hazel, I'm sorry." She turns, surprise arching her eyebrows.
"I'm sorry for doubting you. I'm sorry I tried to get you to move on." I pull her to a halt and look directly into her eyes. They're melted gold. "I would never have moved on. If you left or met someone else, I would have continued to live for you."
Her mouth is parted and I can’t resist running my thumb over her bottom lip.
"When we were apart, I was terrified I'd never see you again," she whispers. "That was all I cared about."
"You are everything," I murmur, pulling her closer.
She searches my face, her long lashes framing those beautiful, expressive eyes. Reaching up, she rakes her fingers through my hair, brushing it out of my face.
"Thank you for fighting for me," she whispers. Her soft form melts into mine.
"I'd do anything for you." My voice is husky.
"Maybe less violence next time, please," she teases, winking at me. She starts walking, tugging me along.
"Next time?" I question.
"You're right. No next time." She laughs, the sound washing through me, leaving me warmer.
"No one would dare disrespect you again. You’re got your own fangs now,” I say. She laughs, throwing her head back and causingher hair to ripple. “You’re a powerful wolf. It’s a good thing we’re mates, or you’d take my position as Beta."
“Oh!” She blinks at me. Did she not consider rankings?
The earth slopes as we start descending towards the creek. The water is wider here and the flow is gentle.
My favorite swimming spot is a basin with trees curving over the water. It's quiet, dark, and private. I've already set up a tent for us on the shore, safely away from the water.
"It's perfect," she whispers. "Can we go swimming?"
"Sure." I follow her down to the water's edge. "Don't fall in," I tease.
She raises her middle finger at me. I start to laugh, but it dies in my throat when she pulls her shirt up over her head and drapes it across a rock. She tugs her pants down next. The bare expanse of skin is bewitching.
She squeals at the cold but slides into the water anyway. She turns to face me, hands sweeping through the water and sending ripples out from her like she is a buoy. My eyes trace the black vine and moons of her tattoo between her perfect breasts. I can't believe I got to mark her even before everything started to spiral out of control.
Setting the food beside the tent, I wade in after her. When she was human, I’d have worried about her getting too cold. But she isn't human and I have plans to warm her up.
She drifts backward, letting herself sink until the water sloshes over her shoulders and soaks herhair.
I push forward, desperate to reach her. She smirks, gliding back and keeping a few inches out of reach. I narrow my eyes. So this is the game.
I duck under the water and propel myself forward, grabbing her around the waist and pulling her under too. She doesn't fight me.
With an arm wrapped around her, I effortlessly rise up out of the water, clutching her to me. Her legs wrap around my waist on instinct as she shrieks in laughter. She's higher than me, and I gaze up at her gorgeous honey eyes and delighted smile. Her brown and blonde hair drips over us.
I continue wading forward until I press her against one of the boulders edging the pool. She gasps, the sharp intake of breath sending a jolt of desire down my spine.
Starving, I run my tongue up the center of her chest, across the tattoo I inked into her skin, before nuzzling one of her breasts and closing my mouth over her nipple. So soft and perfect. She arches into me.
She groans, "I need you, now." Her command shoots straight to my cock,but I restrain myself, moving to her other breast. I want to take my time with her.
"Want to go into the tent?" I murmur, sliding her down until I can reach her mouth. Her kisses are like swallowing coals, searing against the cold water.
