Chapter 15: His Hands In My Hair.

E M B E R

I open my eyes when it feels like dawn outside a dark cave. I look up and see that there are fewer glow worms than before.

Bummer, because it was a beautiful sight!

I then notice an arm stretched out and that I have been using it as a pillow. Curious, I turn my head to see the arm owner and come face to face with a handsome guy sleeping next to me.

Sebastian, my mate — woah, I can't believe he let me do that!

I take a peek at that rough hand with veins prominently protruding before I stare back at his face. I remember how he looked at me yesterday. I recall the night before and feel the blush. How a person like him can be filled with such intense passion simultaneously is so gentle.

His hands were in my hair.

His lips moved in sync with mine.

So were our heart rates, pounding inside our chests.

I admiringly look at him so peacefully sleeping, and the fact he even snores makes a faint smile appear on my face. Lost, I lift a hand and move it forward. But as I am about to touch his face, he startles me with a moan and slowly opens his eyes.

I retreat my hand to my chest and shut my eyes close.

I try not to flinch or twitch, but it's helpless when I am very much aware of his gaze burning a hole in my face. I press my lips tight when I feel hot minty breath on my face tracing my jaw and the corner of my lips before tickling right into my ear. I shudder at how tense and hot it feels when his grin is pressed against my ear, and he whispers, "Oh, you can cut the act out. I know you have woken up already." His voice is raspier than ever.

I feel him hovering over me as he tucks a strand behind my ear and leaves a peck on my ear. It tickles, but I can't react. Not when his condescending tone irks me. But it's not easy to maintain a poker face and pretend you are still asleep when your mate is teasing you with kisses down your neck.

I subconsciously bite my bottom lip to let a moan escape my mouth.

Rayne wants me to give in, but I can't now.

I can't give him the satisfaction that I have been staring at him and how much he affects me even if I am, and he does.

I try to calm myself down and force myself to fake loud snores when I hear him chuckle.

It sounds groggy but so hot! Rayne definitely agrees with me.

Sebastian then scoots closer and squeezes my arm as he whispers, "Oh, come on! You are doing that out of spite now."

Am I? "I swear if you don't wake up now, I will have no choice —" he sounds playful, but I suppress a grin.

Should I wake up, then? Childishly, I open my right eye to peek but freeze when I feel his lips trailing kisses down my jaw until he meets my collarbone.

I shut my eyes too tight and bite my bottom lip to suppress a moan as he presses kisses up my neck, then my jaw. "— but to mark you mine right here, right now."

In all darkness, my eyes flutter open as I stare in the front while Rayne responds with a purr and is one horny bitch.

I fall deep in thought until he grunts into my ear, "Oh, c'mon!"

I blink and hiss a little loud when he tries to grab my attention by biting my earlobe.

Try?

He got it.

I should wake up now, I guess.

But first, let's pretend to sleep so I can pretend to open my eyes and be pleasantly surprised.

His fingers trail up my arm and circle around my skin as he leans forward and presses his lips against it. I squeeze my eyes even tighter. "Emmy," he whispers, wrapping an arm around my waist. I moan but disguise it as a fake yawn as I finally open my eyes and roll onto my back to look up at him.

I find him staring at me and exclaiming, "What?"

He smiles and then brushes my hair off my face. He leans forward and presses his lips to my forehead. "Don't worry. I won't do anything unless you are not ready yet."

I frown at him. Huh?

"I won't mark you." Rayne immediately whimpers at those words as he clears his throat and continues, "No matter how much I want to do it right now so that the world knows you're mine, I won't do anything as long as you don't want to."

It makes my heart flip, but I'm not too fond of it. Or is it a lie? It's hard to resist someone like him, who is a good man no matter what his reputation says.

I force a smile and roll away from him as I sit up. My back is to him because I can't look at him now, but I know he is staring at me. So I squeeze my eyes shut, clench and unclench my fists as I keep on try to take excessive deep breaths for a couple of minutes while I listen to him move until he startles me by a hand on my back and his hot breath into my ear, "Hey?"

Startled, I jump right away from him.

I take a moment to calm down and then look over, only to see him silently stare at me with somewhat of a frown. His eyes are darkened, his jaw is clenched, and his face is unreadable. My face grows warm in embarrassment, but I refuse to allow myself to mope. With that, I tilt my head and bring out a fake cheerier self as I exclaim,  "Uh, isn't it dawn now? Should we go? Everyone must have been worried—"

I hurriedly get back on my feet and try to run a hand through the tangled mess of my hair when he catches me off guard by grabbing my hand and pulling me closer. I notice a lopsided grin on his face.

But I don't let that or the fact that he leans in to leave a peck on my forehead distract me, even if I can practically feel our wolves being ecstatically happy. We have one of those kinds of eye contact moments where no one is saying anything yet understanding everything. I wish he doesn't, though.

I force myself a smile when my eyes widen at the fact that he is standing naked, and I only have a shirt around my shoulders.

I gasp and turn away from him.

Ugh, why do our clothes rip off when we shift? It's so unfair.

"Emmy!?"

I clear my throat and state, "We are in a very odd situation, and I don't think we can face ourselves before we correct it."

There is a pause for a while.

It's too quiet in here.

In this cave, where I am with my mate.

I can feel that smirk on his face with lust in his eyes. I can't trust myself right now. I need to get out. Or else— I shudder at the thought, even if it won't be bad between us, but I don't need it right now when Sebastian pulls me back in his arms. "What's up with you suddenly?" he asks.

I blush and look up.

It's better to look at his face with his eyebrows quizzically drawn together. He seems genuinely confused and worried.

"Emmy?"

He squeezes my arms, and I blurt out, "Ember."

"Huh?" he frowns.

I lock my eyes with his and nod. "My name is Ember. Emmy is just a nickname my parents used to call me."

"Oh. Ember."

My name sounds so exotic and perfect as it rolls out of his mouth. I blush even more when I feel his arms wrap around my waist and pull me closer as he leans in and whispers, "Is it bothering you? Don't worry, you can have me anyway and anytime you want." he sounds so naughty and hot that shivers run down my spine. I look back at him as he smirks with a wink.

My cheeks are probably redder than a freaking beetroot, and I almost smile when I notice his suddenly fading.

I frown and ask, "What? What's wrong?"

Sebastian says nothing.

As if he is busy conversing with someone.

Mind-link.

He steps away from me.

"Huh?" I try to grab his attention when he blinks to look at me.

"You're right. We should go now," Sebastian says, and nothing else. Oh. I don't know why I feel so disappointed all of a sudden. I want to ask again what made his mood grim, but then I watch him turn away from me. He looks through something as if he will magically materialize some clothes. Well, I hope he does, for both of us, because it's damn too tempting to think of what could happen if I don't think.

Soon enough, Sebastian finds his tattered pants and even tries to force them on me, but I refuse because, obviously, he is the one naked. I at least have a shirt on. He throws a tantrum and pouts at my refusal that the two of us walk out of the cave in utter silence—more like I limp behind him. My knees wobble, and I happen to pant a couple of times.

It's a struggle to walk with every part of your body hurting, but the view is magnificent: I mean, him with those broad shoulders, toned muscles and black ink covering most of his back.

Woo-hoo! I would have whistled for real if I wasn't drowned in my thoughts.

I know it's important for mates to mark each other, and no matter how much I deny it, I want him now — but not like this. I sigh. He still doesn't know the real me, not only him but Ivory and Clayton too. I mean, they have treated me so kindly. It's making me feel guilty, and if I don't tell him, it's sure to eat me up inside.

"Ugh!" his groan brings me back to reality, and I raise my gaze as he stops abruptly. I then hear him mutter, "This won't do."

I frown. What won't?

Sebastian turns around and locks his dark green eyes with mine as if responding to me. I shudder. He walks back toward me while I anticipatingly stand with my heart threatening to jump out of my body when he surprises me, picking me up in his arms, bridal-style and my legs hanging in the air, which makes me wrap my arms around his shoulders for support, as I react with a gasp and widened eyes, "What do you think you are doing?"

"I'm carrying you," he states quickly.

I gape at him and blurt out, "What?"

Sebastian gives me a "are you serious? Don't you know why" look, and I mumble, "Why are you?" to which he then shrugs and replies, "Because I can hear you limp." He pulls me to nestle to his shirtless body as he resumes his steps and, despite my protests, carries me all the way through the woods until we finally reach the area I happen to recognize the narrow pathway I decided to meet — Flora and yesterday's party's memories flood in.

Oh, no!

I was supposed to meet her.

I even locked eyes and asked her to.

I wonder if she would still be waiting for me. I sigh. I hope she does. I mean, I am her Alpha. She wouldn't disobey me, but it won't be right to assume she would be waiting when I stood her up. I feel hysteria and panic building inside me as I tremble in his arms.

"Quit wiggling. It's already hard for me to carry you like this," Sebastian mutters under his breath, breaking my reverie. Huh? I blink in confusion as I look up at him, but he is looking away and avoiding my eyes.

It's only for a moment because I catch a glimpse of something red right after that. Redder than his hair. His ears. Not only that, but the redness makes a straight beeline covering his cheek and nose, and if he were looking over at me, I'd bet his whole face is red too. But, for some reason, I can't help smiling and feeling fluttery, making me want to do something about this right here.

I clear my throat, "Wait, what's that?"

He coughs up, "What?"

I grin but bite it down before I slightly move in his arms, making him stop on the trail and freeze as I lean in to point at and touch his ear. "Uh, what's this?"

Still not looking at me, huh?

I normally don't care for teasing other people, but doing it to Sebastian is entertaining.

"Woah, you are blushing, aren't you?" I exclaim rhetorically.

I feel him stiff on his spot, and amused, I poke a finger into his cheek. I smack my lips. "I can't believe I would see you blush. I mean, the rumours and all that stuff I heard about you, but I can't believe you're really shy here."

I look up, unable to suppress my grin and snort, "Why? Were you having dirty thoughts about me? I wonder what they are. But then you are not the only person with that lustful gaze in your eyes when they meet m—" I let out a surprised gasp when his grip holding me tightens, and he growls.

"Huh?" I raise my eyebrow playfully when he looks toward me. His eyes catch me, and they narrow. Darken. It makes my heart race, but I try to stay calm and still as I watch him. But the more I stare at him, the more I want to run my hands over the rise and fall of his chest. I want to kiss and mark him just as much as he wants.

Oh, my god, he is absolutely gorgeous.

His eyes catch mine as he calls out, "Ember."

I blink and notice him smirking.

"To be honest, I'm not the beating-around-the-bush kind of guy. I do not get shy, and the dirty thoughts you talk about, love,"  he moves me closer with his grip tighter and leans in with his hot breath into my ear, "— are unapologetically normal thoughts of you which happen to be intensely erotic."

I gasp.

I pull back a little and look at his face.

Surprised at his words and his darkened, lustful eyes.

"Right now, all I think of is how much I want to push you right up against any tree here, hold your hands above your head and make you feel euphoric with pain and pleasure. Because I will damn do."

I tremble and gulp when he brings his mouth to his and kisses me hard.

However, before I can respond, Sebastian pulls away and stares at my body in his arms. Finally, he locks our gazes and grins, "I like you in my shirt."

Uh — it's no point in wondering because I know he can feel my heart thrashing around in my chest. Hell, he can probably hear it, and Rayne loves this!

He resumes his steps, and I look at him, silently raising my face when I distractedly clear my throat, "Huh, so what was that about?"

"What was?" he mumbles.

Before I can stop to reflect, I blurt out, "Uh, earlier, right when you were flirting with me in the cave."

"Flirting?" he scoffs and looks down at me. The amusement twinkle in his eyes makes me blush profusely. I can feel it. It's not embarrassing, but at the same time, it is. He tilts his head and raises an eyebrow, "Why? You missed it already?"

Uneasily, I purse my lips in a thin line and squeeze my arms around his shoulders.

Sebastian leans in and whispers seductively, "Well, I don't flirt." I raise my eyebrow, and he snorts, "I don't flirt with my mate. I prefer making love to her." No matter how often he surprises, looks at, or whispers to me, he makes my heart pound even more than before and tends to leave me speechless.

"Uh, umm—" I blink and cough up, "Okayyyy, but seriously, your face turned stoic back then. Listen, I know about the mind link, Seb, so you can tell me what's troubling you."

His gaze snaps at me, and he growls, his eyes darkening again, not that they ever disappeared.

"Say it again." he declares as I tightly press my lips together and frown before I mumble, "Uh, you can tell me—"

He shakes his head and looks down at me, "No, my name." I don't know how long I kept looking at him. I believe I forgot to blink too.

"Seb?" I say his name in a low voice.

A second of silence, and I notice the corners of his mouth slowly turning up as he murmurs, "I like that. I like hearing my name from your mouth."

Yeah, I like your smile and your name too.

I feel the blush as I shyly smile and subconsciously bite my bottom lip only to hear him groan,  "Ugh, don't do that."

Huh, what?

I look up with a raised eyebrow.

He locks his eyes with mine and moves a little more closely. He takes a deep breath before he speaks, "Don't bite your lip cuz I'd like to kiss you and bite them for you." his voice is lower and huskier. It makes my skin tingly, and a shiver passes over me when a piercing shriek breaks our brief eye contact.

"Oh, my God! Seb, Emmy!"

I blink and turn my head to see familiar bouncy blonde tresses, and then notice worry and stress all over her strained face.

"Alpha!" Followed by another person with a calmer look on his face: Clayton.

"Oh, no! What happened?"

Those two rush by our side as her widened eyes go back and forth between us, taking in our dilapidated condition while he slightly frowns before he conceals it immediately. He coughs up and mutters, "We sent the guests back to the hotel and began our search for the cause soon after your message."

I look over to see how determinedly he purses his lips in a thin line and nods as his grip around me tightens. But Ivory brings me back to her as she shakes me up and cries, "Oh, my! I was so freaking scared. We were having fun one moment, but you weren't there the next. I thought you went to the restroom or something, but then you never came back, not even for the bonfire, and then I heard Alpha through the mind-link—" she coughs up, "I mean, I panicked when I realized you weren't there."

Ivory covers her mouth and blinks tears away as she looks at me. It makes me feel remorseful, and I purse my lips tight.

Clayton places a hand on her shoulder and squeezes reassuringly when Sebastian curtly says, "Take a breather, Ivory! As you can see, we are fine."

I look over at my mate and try to reassure myself with the heat his body emits while holding me close.

"No, you aren't. Emmy is clearly injured," she murmurs and looks like she will burst into tears anytime soon.

I look away to avoid her and wallow in guilt as I assess everything around me: a crowd of people with familiar and unfamiliar faces surround and stare at us, curious and furious, in the backyard at almost five in the morning.

The sun isn't even out yet, and it feels like they never had a moment to relax. I wonder how long they have been waiting. Were they here the whole night? Searching? I purse my lips in a thin line as I feel more guilty about ruining the one night they could have fun. I mean, it was a freaking bonfire!

"Well," Sebastian clears his throat and snaps, "In that case, shouldn't you go and get the pack doctor for her? I should get her —" Ivory's eyes grow wider in realization, and she begins to fumble. Then, to calm her down, Clayton steps up and calls out, "Uh, Alpha! How about you leave Emmy to us?"

"Excuse me?" Sebastian lets out a low growl and raises his eyebrow when an unassuming Clayton shoots me a warm smile before he nods and clicks his tongue, "Yeah! The guests will be here soon to meet you, so why not you let Emmy go and get dressed—" his spine stiffens, and then he stands straight.

Sebastian turns away when Clayton steps forward with stretched arms toward me. While the crowd stares in utter surprise, Rayne howls out of enjoyment.

"Did you see that?"

"Alpha blocked the Beta just now."

"Why does it feel like Alpha is protecting her? Look at her. She is barely wearing anything only to attract attention."

"Maybe that's her plan. Entice the members. I know such girls who are just good for nothing. Attention-seeking bitches."

"Who is she, anyway?"

"I believe she works as a maid here."

"A maid? Why is she with our Alpha—" the voices fade when Sebastiona sharply exclaims, "Don't worry about that and do your duty of fetching the pack healer. I'm taking Emmy to my room."

Ivory stutters, "Huh? Your room?"

Sebastian looks over and shrugs, "Yeah!" before he resumes his steps toward the glass doors. Then, I squeeze my arms and try to hide my blushing face in his bare chest.

Wait, why should I?

Am I not his mate?

Though people are yet to know about that.

As much as I want to breathe into his scent, I ignore the gazes, push my head back and hold up high when Sebastian halts on his track.

"Listen up, everyone!" he calls out in a very authoritative tone.

I look over him through his sculpted jawline and chin as he turns back around to face his pack members. I hear murmurs around us and can feel the confusion in the air until confusion turns into surprise when he utters, "I found my mate."

People gasp as I casually and slowly nod, but then it clicks.

My head snaps back up at him.

Wait, what?

Did he do what I think he did?

"Did I hear right?"

"Alpha got a mate?"

"Oh, shucks! I so wanted a chance with him—"

"I wonder who she is."

Sebastian notices my stare and subtly winks at me. Before I can react with blushing, he straightens up and clears the silence with his tyrannical voice, "Yeah, I finally have a mate, and this pack finally has a Luna."

"Is she her?"

"Yes, it's her, and her name is Ember, my mate." Sebastian declares, narrowing his eyes and making everybody, including me, tremble. Then Ivory blurts out, "What?" bringing me back to reality as I blink and notice the distasteful glances over me. I try to avoid and maintain a poker face while he continues, "Well, I was a little stubborn," a little? I scoff inwardly. "I was stubborn when I met her, but I am done denying that I have a mate. So if anyone is against it or doesn't accept it, they can go to fucking hell for all I care. Because she," his grip tightens around me and moves me closer, "—belongs with me."

Rayne swoons, and I make a note of him using "with", not "to".

Progress, then?

As if.

I roll my eyes.

I then look around to see the familiar faces of a jealous Jenna, Graham, and Clayton before I lock my eyes with Ivory.

I feel so much more guilt and sense the tension in the air.

Concerned. Confused. Shocked. Unwelcome.

These seem to be the words I would use to describe right now.

Sebastian turns to walk into the house, very conveniently hiding me in his arms as I look over him and mouth, "Sorry." I don't know why I needed to apologize to Ivory, but I did. She has been a friend since day one, and I guess I should have been a little more open and honest with her, at least.

"What was that about?"

I snap my attention back to him as he carries me inside and all the way to the grand staircase, but there is no response and no noise except the soft thud sound of his footsteps against the carpet, which is enough to annoy a short-tempered person like me. Now that I think, we both seem to be alike.

Who cares about that right now, right? I clear my throat and continue, "That announcement you made in front of everyone? They all were in a state of shock. So why did you do it?"

"It was due," he says in a manner as if those three words explain it all.

"What?" I raise my eyebrow and look back at him. It's very comfortable to be carried by someone. Or is it him?

I quickly take a scan as he kicks the door and enters the room. I know I have been here a couple of times for "cleaning" purposes, so I'm taking it all in.

It's a perfect balance of naturally brown elements with modern, almost ash-grey/black fittings, a floating fireplace, and the green accent plants subtly highlight the earthy tones. The cosy dark interiors draw attention to the floor-to-ceiling glass window and the comfy bed he places me on. The sheets are velvety, and I find myself subconsciously caressing the material when the nightstand lamp flickers on.

I blink to look over at him when he startles me by leaning forward, his eyes so much darker, like in the cave. I gasp and jump back against the headboard as I stutter, "What? What are you looking at?"

He further surprises me as he cups my cheek. His touch makes me flutter, and I clench my fist as he takes a deep breath and speaks in a lower decibel, "I should have done it the day I met you." huh? He sighs, "I shouldn't have wasted these past days in denial and let them all know who you are to me."

He holds my gaze as then I roll my eyes and huff, "But what about now? You should have at least thought about announcing it before actually doing it. Everyone was so shocked. The look on Ivory's face and many won't even accept me—" I let out a sigh when he blurts out, interrupting me, "Hell with them, then."

Excuse me? I raise my eyebrows.

He runs a hand through his luscious hair and huffs, "They have been asking me to either find my mate or bring a person as the Luna, so now they do not have a choice when I finally have my mate with me." he looks over at me and squeezes my hand in his as he says, "They have no choice but to give you the respect you so rightly deserve."

His words, tone, and soft expression feel so sincere that they make my heart beat and feel all fluttery.

"Uh!?" Sebastian leaves me speechless as I pout. But I don't want things to be that way. I clear my throat, "I don't think so." he looks curiously at me like he got something to say when I nod and click my tongue, "Respect isn't demanded. It's earned. I don't want to impose anything on anyone."

"Yeah, but dignity is taught by example." he retorts.

I roll my eyes and groan, "Ugh, will it hurt to hear your pack members' opinions and thoughts?"

"No, but it's a waste of time. I hate doing that."  he shakes his head and looks over at me with a pout that makes me almost smile before I narrow my eyes and huff, "You are a tyrant."

He leans back and snorts, "That I know."

I gape at him and scoff, "Well if that's how you think, you gotta learn patience with me. I am not going to be fast. I will waste time because I want to know about the person destined for me."

I tilt my head and playfully grin as I say, "You should value the people you live and work with. Life is too short of having any regret."

Silence.

Utter silence in the room between us as I feel his gaze forcing me to look away. I wonder if he is going to burn a hole in my face. I can feel my face getting warmer.

I try to steal a glance, but he is still staring when his fingers tuck a hair behind my ear, and that makes me look back up as I murmur, "What? Why are you looking at me?" his eyes are as dark as they have ever been before he swoops me in his arms. I gasp but let it go as soon as I feel his lips on my forehead, leaving me speechless.

He whispers through the kiss, "Stop saying things that make me want to kiss you."

I lean back and tilt my head as I challenge him, "And if I don't stop, then?"

He looks back at me and stares in silence for a while before he lets out a chuckle. I frown when he pulls me closer, locks our eyes and mumbles, "Damn, I really want to kiss you."

My heart's racing.

Rayne, as usual, is loving this moment.

"I want to kiss the hell out of you, to be someone who is the opposite of what I usually am — with you and for you." I shudder at his words and how lovesick and fluttery I feel as he holds my gaze.

I pout and lean into him, sighing, "Not that I want you to change completely, but I wish you would be nicer with the rest."

"That can't happen." he scoffs, and I look over at him as he nonchalantly shrugs, "I have a reputation to uphold."

That makes me smile and laugh at the same time.

"Anyway, what are you going to do?" Sebastian asks a minute later.

"About what?" I raise my eyebrow.

He looks at me quizzically and shrugs.

"Ivory."

Oh.

He clicks his tongue, "I know you two consider each other friends. She likes you."

"Ha," I let out a sad chuckle and mumble, "I like her too—" I look up and sigh, "I don't know what to do. I mean, I not only hid that I am your mate but also that I pretended to be a human girl when I was a werewolf."

He caresses my skin and comforts me with his touch as he leans in. "Well, you will figure that out. But if you don't mind, can I ask you one thing?"

I tilt my head and scoff, "Woah, since when did you ask for permission?"

He scratches the back of his head, and I notice a tinge of redness forming on his face as he grins, "Since I decided to accept the former unknown feelings in my heart."

I blush and smile as I say, "Ugh, now you got to stop saying things that pull my heartstrings and make me want to kiss you."

"Well, I won't don't mind you doing that." he teases.

I roll my eyes and pull back as I clear my throat, "So, what did you want to ask me?"

Sebastian straightens back up and briefly, looks around the room before he blurts out, "Why did you do it?"

Huh? I frown.

He clears his throat and says, "At that time, when I saw you in your wolf form, questions arose in my mind, and so was my anger boiling inside."

I purse my lips in a thin line as he sighs and continues, "But it was until that vile scoundrel almost pounced you. I couldn't let anyone harm you, and I decided to ask you my questions after helping you fight them. But now that we are here, I want to ask one thing — why did you pretend and not acknowledge me as your mate?"

I take my time to answer.

I sigh, "I pretended because I thought it was for the best since my powers had weakened, and I needed respite." He looks convinced, right?

He looks away for a second, then meets my eyes as he murmurs, "I'm sorry you got this time too." his voice is so soft and sincere that I feel my heart swell. I find myself smiling at him before something clicks, and I frown, blurting out, "You didn't either."

"Huh, what?"

He looks even more surprised when I lean over to smack his arm. Lightly. I cough up and continue, "You not only were denying the possibility of me being your mate, but you were treating me like a vermin—" "Yeah, I was being stupid." he lets out an embarrassed yet relaxed chuckle as he rubs the back of his head and tilts, "I will make sure to be better and that you also get more rest."

"Just don't let me get bored." I scoff and grin.

"Oh, you don't have to worry about that." he winks and pushes me onto the bed as he moves to get on top of me.

I gasp.

His hand tugs up my shirt and the other on my thigh as he draws circles on my bare skin. I feel like I am on fire. I gasp and tremble when his fingers move up a little.

Trying to be firm, I snap, "What are you doing?" but can't help the stutter because his gaze makes me nervous.

"One touch, and you're already panting." his raspy voice whispers into my ear as he brushes his nose past my cheek and dips his head back down to find my lips.

I taste the faint hint of mint on his tongue and feel it runs along with mine. My entire body feels like it has been ignited. He brings his hands to my face, cupping my flushed cheeks, and what I do with my hands. I wrap my arms around his shoulders and push through his hair, tangling my fingers into his hair and making him groan.

"Oh, look! I brought Jamie. She is the pack doctor I work with—oh, my!" someone barges in through the door and begins to yell, "Oh, my eyes! Ahh-ahhh!!!" frantically.