“I knew it was spring,” he murmurs, his head still hanging as he gets back on track, “because the riverbank was seriously muddy. Like, I kept slipping in it, couldn’t keep my footing, annoying as hell. In winter, it’s frozen solid. In summer, it’s so dry that the dirt…puffs up in the air.”He sighs,
He shrugs, stopping there, perhaps sensing that I don’t want all the details. Or wanting to keep them for himself. But I don’t begrudge him that.I frown a little, though, at this phrasing. “So…” I say carefully, softly. “Did you not…”“If you’re asking if I wanted to,” he murmurs, lifting his eyes
“I was embarrassed,” he says, looking away from me again. “Because…when I came to the city and started watching TV, people of course talked about sex casually – that husbands and wives did it, and mates, and boyfriends and girlfriends. But…they talked about it like it was this big thing – especially
“Yeah, I absolutely do not want you to apologize for that, Ari,” Jackson says, turning a little so that we’re face-to-face again, so that I can see his frown. He sits up straighter, wrapping an arm around me. “I don’t want you to think I don’t want to have sex with you. Because…” he raises his eyebr
Jackson stares at me for a second and then nods even as he growls, pressing a last kiss to my cheek before standing up and striding, of all places, towards his dresser.Frantic to make the noise stop – honestly, the way Luca’s shouting my name and slamming himself against the door, I think he’s actu
“What?” I gasp, swatting his hands away.But Rafe ignores me, reaching for my shirt, tugging back the neck on either side, looking for a bite, the signal that Jackson has claimed me as his mate, officially, incontrovertibly.“Rafe!” I growl, shoving him away from me – god, sometimes, brothers are so
“Ariel,” Jesse says, tightening the hand on my shoulder as he grins at me. “This isn’t going to wash off like my scent markings in the Academy did. Jackson’s…in your pores now. For a couple of days, every Luna you meet is going to be begging to see your new mark, and every Alpha is going to be givin
“That’s it,” I say, finishing up. And Luca turns back to me, glaring a little, seeking more than that – wanting an apology, for me to say that I regret it, that I did him wrong.But I lift my chin, just slightly, and don’t say anything else. Because I don’t regret it – and I didn’t do anything wrong
Ariel bursts out laughing and gestures out to the rest of the roof. “Of all the interference to our plans, you’re going to point out this tiny, adorable, sleeping infant pup as the problem!?” Both boys look down at the little dark-haired baby, whose amber eyes flicker open to betray her mother’s w
Jesse sighs, glancing at his watch and then looking to the door, an undrunk glass of champagne in his hand. “Where the hell is your damn sister?” “Your damn cousin,” Rafe murmurs, draining his glass and then pouring himself another. “You’d better stop that,” Jesse says, turning his head to Rafe
She goes still for a moment and then laces her fingers with his, squeezes his hand. “We’re not dating or anything,” she snaps. “Just…because you got all rejected and stuff. I didn’t come running up here just because you’re single – I thought you were going to die –“ “Sure, you didn’t,” Jesse says,
“I love you, Jesse,” Midnight whispers, watching him, her little mouth trembling, her entire body feeling weak. “I love you too, Mids,” he replies. “Always.” She nods once. And then disappears. Midnight fights hard against her emotions as she flits through the castle, moving back and forth bet
“I’m saying,” Midnight says, freely crying now, cupping Jesse’s face in her tiny hands. “That I – I don’t want to have your pups, Jesse. Ever. Ever. I don’t want them.” She shakes her head, vehement. “I think I’d be a bad mom. I’d leave them at the grocery store and forget they were there. I – I jus
She has to admit though…the stars are a pleasant addition. Midnight’s wolf gives a little worried howl, sprawled out in her soul, her little legs too weak to carry her much or far these days. But Midnight smiles a little and strokes a mental hand over her wolf’s fur, pleased to see her free and cl
“What,” Jackson asks, frowning down at the little rectangular stone in his hands. “Is it like, special?” “Jackson!” Midnight hisses, standing on her toes to smack him on the chest. “They’re invaluable! This is only the second I’ve ever seen in the world! And I only know of one besides that other o
I laugh, pointing at the big plate of apple pie on the table. “Well, I’m glad to see that you’re feeling cheerful,” I say, grinning at her. “I am!” she says, happily plopping down next to Jesse and reaching for the pie, pulling it all onto her lap and digging in with a fork. “I don’t think that an
Jesse’s eyes open first, and then Midnight’s, slow and sleepy. “How do you feel?” I ask quietly, leaning towards her, able to see her better now in the dawn light that streams through the windows. “What happened?” Jackson asks. I turn to see him standing at the door and I smile, reaching out a h