Chapter 40: Temperatures Rising

Lucinda

Unfortunately, when my dear Samantha pulled her stunt, Tyler and Lexi searched my room for clues and found my sketchbook. They saw all my drawings. I didn't really mind, but I didn't exactly intend to tell them either...

Lexi praised me so much that I was encouraged and draw more often.

I took care of Samantha, if you know what I mean. I have no idea how she and her minions hid their bruises and fractures after I was done with them. I bet they won't be coming near me from now on.

It's been a month since then.

Now, just after dark, I was making my way out of the pack house— destination, the western woods. I wanted to try drawing in the dim moonlight.

Hands suddenly grabbed me and dragged me backwards. I should have retaliated, or at least been alarmed; but I wasn't. My body responded differently to his presence; my wolf's happy yip was a reaction exclusive to his touch; my mind only shut off when he was at this proximity. He pinned me to the door from which I had just emerged. He was so close to me I was practically sandwiched between him and the door. "Hello, where do you think you're going?" he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. I laughed into his.

Tyler grinned down at me. Since the day when I woke up, we have had— a very few— run-ins alone, which he usually would turn into a make-out session. Not that I minded...

He kissed my nose and I giggled, blushing. Lexi would scream if she saw me like this. I would never live it down.

Tyler seemed to have no such qualms. He began to kiss me everywhere on my face.

"Why are you leaving—" kiss "—me alone—" kiss "—as if you don't know—"

kiss "—that I never—" kiss "—ever—" kiss "—want you—" kiss "—out of—" kiss "—my sight?" kiss, kiss.

I laughed again and tried to shove him off me. He didn't budge.

"Let me up, you cretin," I breathed. "I'm going to draw. I want to try out drawing in the moonlight."

"Oh, really?" He got off me and grabbed my hand to guide me down the steps.

"Yes, and you can't come," I informed strictly.

He looked scandalized. "What, why?" he whined as we reached the treeline.

"You'll only distract me; I won't even make ten pencil strokes with you anywhere close."

He suddenly pulled me tightly into him. He backed me up against a tree. "Did you just call me a distraction?"

"Yes," I confirmed. "A very big distraction."

"Are you sure?" he drawled, his pitch dropping to a low, inviting timbre. My breath shook, but I still managed a nod.

"Then allow me to distract you a bit longer," he whispered and covered my lips with his.

I smiled, my arms wrapping around his neck. He smelled like pine and earth; he tasted like what I imagine nectar tastes like. He sucked on my lower lip expectantly; I denied him access. He pulled back slightly and kissed me again; I still denied. He groaned petulantly. I smirked against his lips. He suddenly bit down on my lip, causing me to yelp in surprise. He chuckled, the laugh rumbling through his chest as his tongue invaded my mouth. He tasted my tongue hungrily, just as he always does. His hands suddenly squeezed my waist, sending a sharp tremor coursing through my body. I gasped and arched my back suddenly, eliciting a loud growl from him. My body seemed to like that; a wave of intense warmth pooled in my belly. I moaned, savouring the unfamiliar, but pleasant, feeling. It felt like an urge to keep going. Tyler must have felt something too, because he growled and intensified the kiss, making it more passionate, more insistent. One hand grabbed my ass roughly, causing me to lift my hips closer to him. I swallowed his groan.

My brain suddenly returned to me and I hurriedly broke our contact as I felt something— and a not-so-small something— poke my stomach. I pushed him back with a gasp and turned away to hide my red face.

He groaned in frustration.

Did I just... excite him?

Veli hummed happily.

He looked at me, eyes dark and raptor-like. He was having a hard time controlling himself; I could tell.

Veli shuffled in my mind in an unsettled manner. She  wanted me to jump in his arms and never let go.

I shook away the thoughts and grabbed my book (which had been carelessly cast to the ground), and said as lightly as I could, "See you later, Alpha! Don't follow!"

Tyler

"Let me up, you cretin. I'm going to draw. I want to try drawing in the moonlight."

"Oh really?" I said, leading her down the steps in the light of the rising moon. The place was deserted. Maybe I could watch her. I could never get tired of watching her.

"Yes, and you can't come," she snapped.

"What why?"

"You'll only distract me," she explained, "I won't even make ten pencil strokes with you anywhere close."

Ha. Good to know he effect I have on her.

I grabbed her body and squished her between a tree and me. "Did you just call me a distraction?" I whispered.

"Yes," she answered firmly. "A very big distraction."

"Are you sure?" I drawled, lowering my voice to see how she would react to that. Zio and I were pleased to see that her next breath shook. She nodded, but her eyes were glued to my lips.

"Then allow me to distract you a bit longer," I whispered kissed her.

She smiled into the kiss and wrapped her arms around my neck. I tweaked her lower lip, silently asking for access. She kept her teeth shut tightly. I pulled back and peppered her lips with small kisses so she would let me in, but she kept her teeth locked together. I groaned. She smirked into my mouth in silent victory. Oh yeah? I took her upper lip between my own teeth and bit with just enough pressure. She jumped slightly in my arms and yelped; I took her chance to invade her mouth again, and it tasted just how I knew. I laughed a little to let her know that this was my victory.

I continued to kiss her deeply, the spark of passion growing between us. Her fingers held my hair in a death grip. I suddenly hated whoever had invented clothes. I squeezed her waist. She gasped and arched her back, pushing herself more into me. I growled. She whimpered. I growled again. She was chewing my lips like meat. My member downstairs was not unaware of the proceedings, either.

Grab her ass.

She has boundaries—

Grab her ass.

Shut up Zio.

Grab her ass!

Zio I swear—

Grab it!

I grabbed it. And not lightly.

She let out something between a gasp and a moan, somehow lifting herself closer to me. I groaned lowly.

Her eyes flew open. She pushed me back and I let her. I groaned. She stood before me panting, and I was pleased to see her cross her legs. She looked like a tomato.

She tried to ignore the intense heat and grabbed her sketchbook.

"See you later, Alpha!" She chirped as brightly as she could. She turned and left speedily. "Don't follow!" she added over her shoulder.

I watched her retreat. The troublesome thoughts plagued my mind again.

I could only hope she was my mate. If she wasn't, I was in trouble. Big, big trouble.

I was a goner for her. I loved her.

I felt myself getting agitated. Quickly, I shed my annoying clothes and shifted into my wolf. I let him take me for a run while I sulked. He took me to the glen, one of my favorite places. But then I could only think of my Lucy lying on the ground, laughing uncontrollably. The memory drove me from there and I ran back. For some reason, I found myself tracing the vanilla scent.