Page 67 of Wolves & Watercolors
Hazel lets out a huge yawn and stretches her arms above her head. “Look, this is fun and all, but I’m freaking tired. I’ll see you all tomorrow.” Hazel shoves herself out of her chair.
Before she can leave, I rise and reach for my sister. She hums softly as we hug. There are only so many hugs left before I leave, and the thought hurts. I can’t help my small frown as I sink back down into my seat.
Hazel gives me a wave before she wanders into the trees.
“Is she okay without a flashlight? It’s totally pitch black out there.” I ask Cedar, eyeing the heavy night.
He nods, his smile wry. “We can see in the dark, remember?”
“As wolves, yeah, but…”
His golden hair flashes in the flickering firelight as he shakes his head. “All the time.”
“Are you serious? That’s not fair. All I can do is grow some plants,” I grumble playfully while I nestle into his side.
“Sorry,” he says, shrugging with a smile that says he isn’t remotely sorry.
“I guess this means you’ll have to walk me home.” I revel in the heat in his gaze and the way his hand tightens on my thigh. “You know, I’m feeling kind of tired too. Want to call it a night?”
“Sure.” He doesn’t argue, just takes my hand and gives everyone an excuse and leads us into the darkness.
Cedar
Aurora doesn’t seem tired as we walk away from the campfire. Her eyes are dark in the starlight, and she’s back to biting her lip and looking at me like she wants to devour me. Heat rises in my chest, unfurling into a flush crawling up my neck.
Fingers laced together, we wander toward her cabin. She sighs dramatically. “You know, I didn’t really want to go to bed. Not exactly.”
I slow and raise an eyebrow at her, though she can’t see it in the darkness. She smirks and continues, knowing she has my full attention. “At least I was hoping you’d come with me.”
“I am,” I say hesitantly, glancing up at the lights of Heath’s cabin through the trees.
“No, I want you to stay over,” she says, her voice dropping as she moves into my personal space and slides her hand under the edge of my shirt. Her fingers are cold, and electricity radiates out from her touch. “Do you want to?”
Thoughts swirl through my head, analyzing and overthinking her words before I reign them in. Her face tips up expectantly, those soft, brown doe eyes blinking at me. Trusting, wanting. She’s so gorgeous it takes my breath away.
I have to clear my throat to talk and even then, the words stick and rasp on the way out. “I’d like that, but honestly, I’m scared of what Heath would think.”
“Seriously? I’m twenty-three. He can’t make a fuss.” Her pout is adorable, and I just want to kiss it off her face, but I hold myself back. That would be a sure way to end up out of control.
“I’m sorry, I don’t want to risk disrespecting him by inviting myself into his home.” Her pout transforms into a disappointed frown. “But my parents are staying over with Ember and Onyx. So my home is empty.” I trail off.
The change in her expression is instantaneous. Her eyes brighten, eyebrows rising as her mouth pulls into a stunning smile.
“Do you want to?” I ask, my mouth curving its own smile.
“Do you want me to?” She cocks her head, squinting through the darkness to ready anything she can from my form.
There’s only one answer I can give her. “Yes.”
My fingers tangle in her hair, angling her face so I can kiss her soundly. Her hand under my shirt skims lower, brieflydipping under the edge of my waistband and muffling all the thoughts in my head instantly.
Moving on instinct, I tug at her hair and expose the side of her neck. She moans as I drag my tongue across the soft skin under her ear and under her jaw. Her exquisite moan turns to a gasp as I nip at her throat.
“Are we going?” she asks, breathless and eager.
“Yeah, but I think Onyx, Marigold, and Jasper are still there.” I’ve never been in this situation before, and my heart pounds.
“Around the front?” she asks, almost incoherent as her nails press into the skin at my side.
