Page 35 of Moonlight and Mischief
My heart thumps in my chest so hard I’m sure she can feel it. But she rolls on her side and places my arm over her waist, not releasing me until I’ve scooted forward and pressed my chest to her back.
“Much warmer,” she hums, wiggling her ass back into me. Surely that wasn’t intentional. I have no wayto hide the reaction my body has to her, but if she notices, she doesn’t say anything.
I keep my head back, away from her silky hair or the warm skin of her neck, even though I’d love nothing more than to press my nose against her skin and breathe in the scent of rosemary and sage.
“This is really nice,” I say quietly. She murmurs a soft noise of agreement, but nothing else.
Sleep seems impossible with her soft body against mine. But eventually her breathing evens out, and ages later, so does mine. Sleep is peaceful, and when I wake up with her still in my arms, I’m filled with this feeling of tightness I can’t shake.
I kissed my roommate and best friend. And if I’m being honest, she’s been my secret crush for a long time, even if I was too dumb to recognize it. Nothing else can explain my private obsession with her smell, her hair, the way she smiles. Everything about her.
Could she feel the same way? The way she clings to me gives me hope. But most likely, she hasn’t realized anything yet. Maybe I can help with that. What’s a little flirting between roommates?
7. Sparring and Subterfuge
MARIGOLD
“Good morning, Sunshine,” Jasper murmurs into my hair before he climbs out of his bed. My muscles are liquid and I couldn’t follow him if I wanted to. The sheets smell like him. Burying my nose into my pillow, I breathe in the soft spiced scent. It’s so comforting, I start to drift off again.
After his morning run, I hear the shower crank on. I’d better get myself up. But it’s so cozy, I don’t move until he comes into his bedroom wrapped only in a towel, with an expanse of wet, golden skin that heatsmy blood.
Memories of his mouth against mine bombard me, urging me to leap at him, wrap myself around him like a deranged sloth. Suck on that full bottom lip.
Maybe I’m less okay than I said.
Scrambling out of bed, I head into my room to change, giving him privacy. And as I shimmy out of my clothes, I don’t think of him taking that towel off. Not one bit.
Saturdays are for sparring. Every pack member takes either a position like Theta or Zeta, or a normal job, like mine. But regardless, everyone needs to train and be prepared to defend our territory at any time.
I meet Hazel in the training building. Her dark hair bobs in a perky ponytail. “Ready for some exercise?” she says, as if she doesn’t work out every single day. Hazel’s only been a wolf for a few months, and she trains harder than anyone else to make up the difference in experience. As the Alpha’s heir, she has to be ready for challenges. Yet again, I’m glad to not have a leadership position within the pack. Teaching might also make me sweat, but it’s way more fun than the endless training exercises that leave bruises across Jasper’s ribs.
“Yup!” I twist at the waist, swinging my arms and giving her a bright smile.
Hazel’s eyes wrinkle as she smiles back. “You look peppy today. More than normal, I mean.”
“Hey, ladies!” Onyx yells through the open garage door. A few older wolves are setting out for a run, but otherwise it looks pretty quiet.
I toss my jacket down on a bench. “Hey Onyx, ready to get your ass handed to you?”
“You couldn’t handle me,” he shoots back with a grin.
Warmth presses against my arm as a hand slides across my lower back to grip my waist, igniting sparks under my skin. “Don’t waste your time with him.” Jasper’s voice leaves goosebumps along my arms.
“Think you can do better?” I flirt back, leaning into his chest.
One eyebrow arches. “You’ll see.”
Sliding past me, he greets everyone. Cedar is missing, and Onyx makes an excuse for him, something about the chicken coup.
“Marigold, you up for a match?” Hazel asks.
“I’ll take on Jasper, actually,” I announce.
“Are you sure you want to fight me?” he asks, warning in his eyes despite the fact it’s clearly what he wants.
Shrugging, I hold my arm across my chest in a stretch. “Hazel can train with Slate today. I want to see what you’ve got.”
This leaves Onyx, and he decides to practice with weaponry, throwing slim daggers into a target nailed to a tree.
