Page 32 of Secrets and S'mores
Her eyebrows are raised in a soft expression seeking my approval. Stepping closer, I make a show of inspecting the brioche before saying, “It looks perfect.”
Closing her delicate hand over my bicep, she squeezes excitedly and my heart skips a beat. “Can we slice it right away?”
“It might deflate because it’s really soft right out of the oven,” I say. “Can you wait five minutes?”
She turns, her lip pouting as she frowns. “Fine.”
With a chuckle, I gather up butter, the cutting board, and a bread knife while she watches her bread, hands clasped tightly behind her.
“Alright, it’s probably been long enough,” I concede after a few minutes.
Her teeth press into her lip in the most distracting way as she concentrates on flipping the tin over and dropping the bread onto the cutting board.
“Do you want some?” she asks, dragging the knife through the edge of the bread.
“Abso-fucking-lutely!”
Forget cheese - Ember holding out a slice of fresh bread slathered in butter is one of the most gorgeous things I’ve ever seen. My mouth waters.
Her eyes widen as she watches me take my first bite. Eyes closed, I tip my head back in ecstasy, exaggerating yummy noises so she never doubts how good it is.
She takes her own bite, her cheeks flushed and a shy smile on her face.
“This is the best thing anyone in the world has ever baked,” I say, groaning as I take another bite.
“You’re ridiculous,” she says with a soft chuckle, wiping crumbs away from her mouth with the back of her hand.
“I’m serious. So good,” I add with another groan.
“Yeah, but I’m so full now,” she says, rubbing her belly. “I need a nap.” A yawn proves her point.
I gaze longingly at the steam wafting off the hot bread.
“You can have more bread, Onyx,” she says, smirking. “I know how much you enjoyed it. You could always take a second slice back to your room for some private time. I don’t mind,” she teases.
“Hey!” I scold, my laughter following down the hallway as she disappears.
I can’t resist the second piece she offers, but I eat it over the sink and then wipe the crumbs from our first slices into the trash.
On the way to my room, I hesitate at her door. Her breathing sounds even, so now’s not the time to bother her, no matter how badly I want to.
8 Secrets & Siblings
Ember
The taste of bread still on my lips, I lay back on Briar’s bed and replay this morning’s kiss in my mind. The first time we kissed, we were tipsy and it was hot and angry. This time was light - stars bursting behind my eyes, electricity zinging over my skin. It was bright and scorching. It felt like he could burn away everything in my life and leave only him and that moment.
I want to let him. I want to forget the first eighteen years of my life and never leave this small window of time with him. I can even deal with the coldness from his packmates, if it means going back to his warmth.
But that is a daydream, and I know if I did something drastic like give up my ranking in my pack, I would resent him. I’ve worked for eighteen years to gain power, and I am one step away from being Alpha where I can control everything around me and no one will ever dare cross me again.
If I continue to get closer to him, it’ll hurt worse when I leave. Or I could seize the opportunity and enjoy everything I can with him. Either way, I’ll be heading home in the next day or two. If he gets me alone again, I don’t think I’ll have the willpower to resist him. The way he was devouring me with his eyes in the kitchen, I don’t think I want to.
It might be worth it. I’m used to pain. I’ve got scars to prove it. So why not take advantage of this chance with Onyx? I can deal with the fallout when I leave. And if I’m insanely lucky, we can continue to meet up and spend time together even after I go home.
Mind made up, I lay there in a t-shirt and underwear and pray that he comes to check on me.
A light knock on the door sends a thrill down my spine. “Yeah?”
