Page 61 of Moonlight and Mischief
Onyx turns and storms out, slamming the door behind him. Finally I can turn, and Slate’s eyes are lit up green as he regards me. I take a deep breath and push down the instinct to fight and defend.
“He’s really upset,” Marigold squeaks, shell-shocked.
Hazel pinches the bridge of her nose. “I get the feeling friends with benefits isn’t a thing for wolf shifters?” Slate nods, his shoulders sagging.
“Look, you guys know why we don’t do this kind of thing. Your wolf instincts don’t know the difference. You’re going to start acting like mates and end up hurt because you don’t mean it.” Slate squeezes Hazel’s shoulders.
“You’ll ruin your friendship,” she adds.
Nodding, Marigold wipes at her eyes and lets out a sniffle. I can’t stand when she cries; it hits me like a punch to the chest.
“I appreciate your concern, but at the end of the day it’s not your business and I think you’ve overstepped,” I say firmly. Before Hazel can argue, I add, “You’ve upset Marigold, so let’s circle back to this once we’ve all had time to calm down and think.”
Slate takes Hazel’s hand and leads her toward the door, giving me a sympathetic bro nod. Before the door shuts, Hazel calls out, “I love you Marigold. I’m here for you.” I can’t even be angry that she’s already Team Marigold if this becomes a conflict.
“Well that went downhill fast,” I grumble, walking back to the sofa. Marigold is curled up like a hedgehog, legs drawn up and cheek against her knees.
Taking a deep breath, I sink down onto my knees in front of her and slowly pry her hands apart. Once I get her to release her grip, her legs fall and shestraightens into a seated position, though she’s still hunched over. Her beautiful face is blotchy and her eyes are red.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” she whispers.
“I know,” I say. That doesn’t change that what they said was true.
She throws her arms around me, laying her head on my shoulder, so I loop my arms under her legs and lift her. She clings to me as I walk her back to our bedroom. We might be in trouble, but I can’t sleep without her.
Gently, I lay her down on our bed and then walk around to the other side, pulling my shirt off as I go. She props herself up on her elbows, watching me. The tears on her cheeks are drying.
At the edge of the bed, I hesitate. What’s best for her? To continue this physical relationship when she has no idea how to handle the emotional side? This is all becoming a mess faster than I realized, and we have to figure it out.
Sliding under the covers, I roll onto my side and prop my head up, mirroring her pose.
“I’m sorry,” she says, reaching out to tentatively touch my chest, like she needs the contact. “I didn’t know what to do with how upset he got.”
“It’s fine,” I say, resting my hand on the hollow of her waist. “But I need to know what you want. We weren’t clear before. Am I an experiment for you?”
Long, wet lashes frame those blue-green eyes. “No.”
“So, what am I?” My voice betrays how desperate I am. I would give anything to hear that she loves me, because I am falling for her and I can’t slow it down.
She takes a shuddering breath and sits up. “I don’t know. It’s still so new, and I feel… confused, I guess.”
Confused is better than friends with benefits. A step forward she isn’t ready to label.
“Do you want some space until you’re not confused?”
Her strawberry-blonde waves sway over her bare arms as she shakes her head. “I don’t want space, but are you okay with giving me time to figure it out?”
Without waiting for an answer, she slides her leg over me and pushes my shoulder so I land flat on my back. Leaning down, she lowers her voice. “Space is the last thing I want. I’m always thinking about you. I don’t want to be apart. Is that bad?”
Her words are irresistible. She might not be ready to recognize her feelings toward me, but they’re there. Clear in the shine of her eyes and the way her hands spread over my skin.
I answer by pulling her face down and covering her mouth with mine for a long, slow kiss.
Her breathing shudders. My thumbs wipe away the last of her tears as I frame her face with my hands. Unease shines in her eyes. This undefined connection between us weighs heavily across her and I want to take some pressure off of her.
Words tumble out before I can think better. “I’ll be whatever you want me to be. I’m not goinganywhere. Boyfriend, hook up, I’ll take anything you give me. I just want you.” I know how stupid it is, but it’s the only way I know how to make things easier for her in this situation.
Marigold searches my face, as if she can sense the struggle raging in my heart and head. “Okay.”
