Reluctantly, Rachel pulled back. “I missed you so much.” She stroked her thumb over Sara’s cheekbone, smiling as Sara leant into the touch. “It hurts.”
“I know.” Sara’s eyes were full of tears, but she smiled. “It’s better now you’re here, though. Can you feel it?”
Nodding slowly, Rachel realised she was right. The ache remained but had dulled considerably with Sara’s presence. “I want to kiss you.” They should get inside. The others would be waiting, watching. She could sense their eyes on them.
In answer, Sara tugged her close until their lips touched. “Yes,” she whispered, then opened her mouth and kissed Rachel like they were alone in her bedroom, not standing in the middle of a pub car park.
The rest of the world faded away until only Sara remained. Their bodies touched from chest to thigh, the softness of Sara’s dress a contrast to the firm muscle underneath. Rachel slid a hand along Sara’s ribcage, brushing the side of her breast but not daring to linger.
Sara’s sharp inhale sent heat coursing through Rachel’s body, and she stepped back, quickly putting some much-needed space between them. Sara stared at her, dark eyes intense with a heat that wasn’t helping Rachel’s resolve. “We should join the others.”
“We should.”
Neither of them moved.
Rachel wanted to grab her hand and race off into the forest… but she’d given Cam her word. After all he’d done for her, she refused to let him down, no matter how hard it was to do the right thing.
Sara’s fingers entwining with hers startled her. She looked down at their joined hands and smiled.
“Come on.” Sara glanced over Rachel’s shoulder. “The others are waiting.”
They probably both reeked of arousal, but Rachel doubted anyone would expect otherwise. Squeezing Sara’s fingers, she led her to where the others waited by the open door.
No one said a word about their display, but as they reached the group, Daryl winked at Rachel, breaking the tension.
She rolled her eyes at him and followed him inside.
The pub was larger than Rachel expected. Maybe it seemed that way because it was empty except for them, but the main room was an L-shape, with different sized tables filling the space. A middle-aged woman came out to greet them with a smile, wiping her hands on a cloth.
“Alpha Cornell, always a pleasure.” She gestured to a door at the back of the pub. I reserved your usual table.”
“Thank you, Alice.” Alpha Cornell took the proffered menus from her, then led the way to the door.
“I’ll be out to take your orders in a bit.”
The door led to an outside part of the pub that couldn’t be seen from the car park. Four large picnic benches sat on a wide-slabbed patio area overlooking a small stream at the back of the pub. It was lovely. The kind of place Rachel would like to go with Sara if they were alone.
Alpha Cornell waved a hand out wide. “This area is reserved for us today; no one else will come out here.” She took a seat at the far table nearest the stream and waited for everyone to sit before handing out menus. “I suggest we order first and then get down to business.”
Cam nodded. “Agreed.”
Rachel sat next to Sara, still holding her hand and not daring to let her go. The whole thing had a surreal air to it. After weeks of longing and believing they’d never see each other before their bond faded, here they were. Judging by the death grip Sara had on Rachel’s fingers, she felt much the same.
Rachel had no appetite, but she ordered lunch and a drink when asked, not paying much attention to the conversation around them until Cam set his glass down and said, “Right, let’s get started.” The command in his voice might not have been directed at Rachel personally, but she felt it all the same and sat up straighter. She had a job to do. She wasn’t here just to see Sara, even if that had taken precedence over everything else. She was still one of Cam’s betas.
Alpha Cornell sat forward, hands resting on the table. “How much do you know about the programmes we run here?”
“Nothing, really,” Cam answered. “Alpha Wallace said she had some ideas about how to bring my pack together, but she didn’t have time to elaborate beyond that.”
“Right then, let me explain a bit about what I believe she had in mind.” Alpha Cornell took a sip of her water, then reached into her bag for a sheet of paper which when laid out on the table turned out to be a map. “This is the land owned by the alpha council.”
They all leaned forward to get a better look.
Rachel glanced in the corner at the scale and let out a low whistle. “Wow. I didn’t realise it was so big.”
Alpha Cornell smiled. “Land around here was a lot cheaper ten years ago.” Tapping a spot near the bottom, she added, “This is the main council building, which you’re already familiar with.”
“Unfortunately yes,” Cam muttered.
