“Poppy,” I mumbled.
His eyes flashed with fear. He thought I was going to turn him down. I grasped his shoulders firmly, holding him steady.
“It’s not that,” I promised. “It’s just... Me? Really? Of all fucking people?”
Poppy held firm as he quietly replied, “Yes, you.”
Guilt and shame flared inside me like gas thrown on a fire.
“Iabandonedyou.”
“You saved my life,” Poppy countered, soft but determined.
I couldn’t understand him. How could we have lived through the same shit and come away with such different perspectives? Why was Poppy so damned gracious?
I gave up with a sigh. I couldn’t untangle this right now. Knowing Poppydidn’thate me was sufficient.
As if all the trauma of the day was suddenly dumped on my head, a wave of fatigue hit me. I leaned forward, embracing Poppy again, relaxing when he stroked my back in return. I wished we could stay that way forever. Just us beneath the stars, pressed against each other’s bodies while the rhythmic waves lapped at the shore like a heartbeat.
I didn’t know how much time passed. At least an hour or two. We didn’t do anything except hug. The scene was almost silly: two grown men embracing each other without speaking. But it filled some invisible wells inside us. It was what we both needed.
Poppy shivered. “Ah, it’s getting cold.”
That roused me from my trance. I still had my jacket on, but Poppy only had a t-shirt. Untangling myself from him, I slipped the jacket off and draped it over his shoulders.
“There,” I said. “That’ll keep you warm until we get back home.”
Poppy flashed a tired smile. “Thank you.”
“Come on.”
I reached for his hand and took it without second-guessing myself. Without hesitation, he intertwined his fingers with mine.
Somewhere deep in my soul, a locked door had opened.
12
Poppy
The house wasquiet when we returned. We slipped upstairs without a fuss, holding hands all the while. When we reached Viol’s room, he paused.
“Hey, I know it’s pretty late,” he pointed out. “If you want to go to bed, there’s a spare room down the hall.”
I frowned. After all of that, did he want me to leave?
But then I recalled his comment from earlier.
Me? Really? Of all fucking people?
Instead of letting my anxiety take hold, I chewed on that for a moment. Maybe Viol thoughtIwanted my own room. If I was firmer in my convictions, he might take me more seriously.
“Um, if you want me to stay here for the night, then sure, I don’t mind using a spare room,” I said. “But um... I think I would like spending some more time together. Kind of like a sleepover.”
Viol’s eyes widened like he’d just won the lottery. “Sure, yeah. Um... come in.”
My heart beat fast as Viol opened the door. This all felt new and exhilarating, yet also familiar and homey. As I steppedinto Viol’s room, the scent of him enveloped me like a warm blanket. It permeated the air and all his belongings. I stopped to drink it in. Cologne, leather, rich alpha muskiness, and unique notes of Viol that words didn’t exist to describe. My head swam pleasantly, as if I was floating on a cloud.
Viol snorted, though he looked a bit shy. “You wolves love to smell things.”
