Page 94 of Campfires & Canines
"What if Jasper put something in your food?" She stiffens.
"I know you don't believe me." I expect anger, but she sounds sad. "But he took good care of me and kept me safe like you would have."
"Because he wanted you," I argue, despite knowing better. I'm not very reasonable when it comes to my mother and her new family, and not remotely reasonable when it comes to my mate, either.
"He wouldn't have." Her brow creases.
"How can you know?" My voice is soft, betraying my fear.
Her frown melts away. She sighs, running her hand through my hair. "He's your brother. And he's a lot more like you than you know."
"Okay." I want to trust her.
She rolls to her side and presses herself against me, sliding a leg between mine and tucking her head against my neck. I stroke my hand down her side in long, comforting strokes. She needs rest.
"I'm sorry all this happened," she mumbles into my shirt.
"You didn't do anything wrong. And they'll regret coming for you," I rumble, pressing a kiss to her hair.
My world feels whole again. I need her softness, crave her warmth. I don't know what I would have done if she was truly gone. It would have destroyed me.
"I can't lose you," I admit.
"You won't. Jasper-" I don't need her reassurances. Not now.
I stop her words with a kiss. "I don't want you saying another man's name in our bed," I growl.
With a smirk, she slips her hand under my shirt again. Her fingers draws a path down my stomach and across theedge of my waistband. Forget rest, I want to pin her down to this mattress until we are both spent.
"Then make me say your name," she whispers.
I groan into her neck. It takes every last shred of self-control I have, but I tug the blanket over us.
"Hazel. You need to rest."
I don't think I could resist her a second longer, but her exhaustion finally overtakes her. She slurs half a sentence about needing me, and then stills. Her breathing evens out.
I close my own eyes, taking a slow breath. I'm not going anywhere - I'm not sure I can sleep without holding her. Never again.
16. Shocking Surprises
Hazel
Iwake up to birdsong. For a second, I’m disoriented, panic freezing my lungs. But the heavy weight of Slate’s arm across my ribs brings me back to reality.
I’m okay. I made it home.
I close my eyes for a moment, letting myself sink into the warmth of our bed. Memories of his body pushing mine into the mattress make my stomach clench. We still haven’t finished what we started.
His touch relaxes me. Even when I don’t understand the dynamics and dangers of wolf shifters, he is my safe place. That affection pushes away the lingering fear from my involuntary visit to Granite Ridge.
Slate is still sleeping. I'm used to his dazzling smiles and his dark brooding, so this soft expression is fascinating. He's completely relaxed. I indulge myself, staring at his beautiful face.
His hair falls over his brow and his long lashes are dark against his tan skin. A dusting of barely-there freckles cover the bridge of his nose and his cheekbones. They speckle his shoulders too.
After a minute, his breathing picks up as he wakes.
The moment his moss-green eyes open, his lips curve into a sweet smile that turns my organs to goo.
