Page 66 of Moonlight and Mischief
She tugs impatiently, the urgency returning to her motions. Her heels push against my lower back, pushing my hips down against her and my chest against her bust. She’s lush and fits against me perfectly.
Our mouths crash together again. The difference between our first kiss and now is startling. Her tonguedelves into my mouth. Bold. Demanding. I’ll give her whatever she wants.
My hand slips under her shirt. Like most shifters, she doesn’t wear a bra. There are no barriers to cup one breast and run my thumb over her nipple. She shutters and I do it again, her teeth closing down on my bottom lip in a quick bite.
“Don’t start biting unless you want me to bite back,” I warn. The words float between us like smoke. They represent everything we haven’t discussed and what could come next. If this works and she wants to make this relationship permanent, I would gladly mark her as my mate. It chains my heart to hers, keeping us together forever. Not all couples take that step. It’s shifters’ version of marriage, without the option of divorce.
She doesn’t respond. If she was nervous or scared, she’d say so. Marigold is never short on words. Her silence is confident, broken only by a moan as I draw her shirt higher and lower my mouth over her other breast.
With an insistent tug, she pulls my face back to hers. Our lips brush, press, drag, over and over until I’ve lost all sense of time. Her hands explore, but we don’t take it any further. There’s a seriousness underlying each touch. We are finally on the same page. This isn’t for fun. It’s devotion, and we both know what comes next isn’t something done on a whim.
14. Drones and Devil’s Spawn
MARIGOLD
Heath calls the team together in the morning. He drives the first truck with my dad and Hawthorne. Slate drives the second truck with Hazel, Jasper, and me. I’m grateful. In the back seat, I can distract myself by holding his hand and tracing the lines on his palm.
Thunder clouds approach from the south, their rolling gray matching my anxious heart.
Nyx’s guard has tripled since yesterday, with six wolves standing around the pack house. My blood goes cold. Is this for us? Or have things escalated with Ironcrest?
Hawthorne climbs out and speaks with them. When it’s clear he’s being turned away, Heathjoins the discussion. Two guards go inside, and after a long wait, they return and allow us entrance.
The meeting room is dusty. Heath sits and we all settle around him at the dated conference table. Hazel clicks her nails together anxiously.
“Nyx,” Heath says, rising as the Raven Pack Alpha joins us. She’s younger than I expected, with olive skin and dark hair in a short bob.
“Sit down and tell me what you want,” she says curtly. My hands grip the arms of my chair. Through our pack bond, I can feel a spike of irritation, but everyone’s face stays calm and neutral.
Heath begins, “Thank you for seeing us. I won’t waste your time. We have reason to believe Ironcrest and Granite Ridge are planning a full-blown attack against your pack and we want to help you.”
Nyx stays quiet for a long moment. “Why?”
“At the Alpha Counsel,” Heath says, ignoring Nyx’s snort, “Zephyr claimed your pack has been violating their borders and that you are the aggressors.”
“So I’ve heard,” Nyx replies dryly. “Not sure what his lies have to do with me.”
Heath takes a slow breath, his hands loosening as he calms himself. If it was my father, he would have attacked Nyx for that tone.
“Ironcrest has the numbers, paired with Granite Ridge, they have close to one hundred wolves who can fight. I would prefer it if my ally was not wiped off the map.”
Nyx’s lip curls. “You don’t need to worry about us. We’ve got things well in hand.”
Heath’s control starts to slip. “What is your plan if they invade? If one hundred wolves descend on your compound?”
She shrugs, and I don’t expect an answer, but she finally says, “Lockdown.”
“And all your packmates out of this building?”
“I’m sure they’ll manage.”
“Why are you refusing help?” he asks, anger seeping into his words.
“Because I don’t need it,” she says. “I think you should take your wolves and go. I don’t want that devil’s spawn in my house.”
Jasper stiffens, and Slate leans forward menacingly. Even Hazel bristles. Heath’s voice drops. “Jasper is a valued member of my team.”
“Just get him out of here,” Nyx says, looking down her nose at us.
