Page 58 of Wolves & Watercolors
“I don’t want to hurt my plants,” he says with a pouty frown.
“Of course you don’t.” I exhale in a dry laugh and rest my forehead against his, closing my eyes. “Hold on, let me chill.”
Calming down is no easy task. Cedar’s hands are still under my shirt, and he moves to cup my breast and run his calloused thumbs over my nipple. It makes me squirm.
“This would be easier if you weren’t touching me.”
“Then maybe get off my lap,” he says with a chuckle. “Or we can stay right here and get pulled into the garden bed.”
Rolling my eyes, I push off his lap and stand. Anxiety surges at the loss of his touch, especially when I see the greenery threading around his waist and up his chest. It’s getting worse.
With a deep breath, I turn away and start pacing back and forth, trying to work out my nervous energy. As I chew my bottom lip, I think about what I want the plant to do - recede, go back into its designated space, release my boyfriend.
Boyfriend? That was an odd thought. The vines grow visibly, and I have to shake out my hands and slow my breathing.
Focus.
The vines are going to return to their original state. Or at least release Cedar. They can grow all over their garden bed ifthey just let him go. My feet halt in front of him, and I reach out and grab his shoulder to brace myself as I lean over him and concentrate.
His hand comes up to cover mine. A calmness soaks into me, soothing my churning thoughts.
When my eyes open, the plant is unfurling and loosening. With a smile that shows off his dimples, Cedar gently moves the plant off his body and into its assigned space.
“I did it!” I can’t help squeaking and jumping on the balls of my feet.
He stands and scoops me up, spinning me in a circle. A joyous laugh escapes my throat, and I throw my head back and let my hair ruffle in the breeze.
When we stop, he sets my feet on the ground and cups my jaw. “You did amazing.” The brief but firm kiss he plants on my mouth makes my toes curl.
“I think I can control what it does, but I’m not sure about how to… I don't know, activate it?”
“Hmm, I have a few ideas.” Cedar takes my hand and threads our fingers together. “Here, I’ve got some grape vines that have been pretty sickly and slow growing the last couple of seasons. Do you want to see if you can do anything with them?”
“I’m like your secret weapon or something, aren’t I?” I say, grinning at him.
Cedar raises an eyebrow. “You aren’t a secret or a weapon.”
“It’s sweet when you put it like that,” I say, wrapping my other hand around his bicep and pressing my face into his shoulder.
“Come on, my little green witch,” he says, tugging me forward. The moniker doesn’t make me cringe like I expect. It feels good. Affectionate.
We pass the chicken coop with the hens clucking ominously. Berry bushes and a fence of grape vines line the back section of the garden.
“Here, these ones.” He stops us beside some scraggly looking vines. “It’s still early, but they should be budding. Especially with how warm it’s been. They shouldn’t still be dormant.”
“Maybe they just need a little encouragement!” I walk the length of the fence, inspecting the sad looking vines. Compared with the rest of the garden, they look ancient and dry.
“Okay, let’s do some growing,” I say, trying to call on the feeling from earlier.
Nothing happens.
Cedar comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist until my back is pressed to his front. “Try again.”
My eyes flutter closed and I focus, trying to feel any sort of life force in the vines. Still nothing. I narrow my eyes, trying to see any signs of new growth. “I’m sorry, I don’t know if I can.”
Instead of reassuring me, Cedar lowers his head and nibbles on my earlobe. I can't help but tip my head and groan at the sensation. His hold around my middle tightens and I lean my weight against him.
The grape vines quiver and small buds break out over the length of the vines. Cedar releases me and I sag momentarily without his support. The growth on the vines halts.
