I stare at her, resisting the urge to comb my fingers through her blond curls. I hesitate before reaching over and brushing my knuckles down her cheek. The taste of her lips remains, the feel of her touch lingers…
Sorry, Blondie…
Sighing softly, I drag myself to my feet, gazing down at the unconscious woman. Her breathing is even and steady now; that faint crease between her brows is gone. I step back, my chest feels too tight, my skin too hot, my wolf pacing restlessly in my mind.
Fuck.
The room holds her scent, dangerously sweet and intoxicating, and my pulse won’t slow down, no matter how hardI try to calm it.
It was meant to be one quick kiss. I shouldn’t have let it go that far.
Turning away, I press my palm to the wall, breathing slowly, trying to focus on anything other than the memory of her lips moving against mine, the soft, sexy sound she made when she thought she was dreaming, the way her body fit against me so damn perfectly.
It was solely meant for returning her voice. But, for one reckless heartbeat, I stopped being careful, instead letting myself enjoy that kiss. She was awake, and I let my guard down.
And that’s what scares the hell out of me. Because I wanted it. I almost didn’t care about the consequences – almost.
I glance back towards her, letting the image of her in her gorgeous nightwear join my treasury of memories of her.
She won’t remember this, and it has to stay that way.
I square my shoulders, forcing the cocky mask back into place even though no one’s watching, even though my hands are still shaking just a little.
I almost fucked up. I can’t afford to make such a reckless mistake.
But it’s not easy, not when she’s fucking perfect, in every goddamn way… I close my eyes as I reach for the doorknob.
Take care of yourself, Sweetcheeks.
“You’re leaving inthree days for Russia. I’m not happy, but I’m glad you didn’t go with Al straight away,” Ma says to Jayce, who’s sitting on the floor in front of her, brushing his fingers over his guitar strings as she plays with his hair. She’s been giving him extra attention ever since he’s been home after leaving the Academy.
I don’t even want to fucking think about how she’s going to feel after she finds out I’m a ‘traitor’.
My days are numbered. Leo and I are making a plan, and it’s going to be put into action before Jayce leaves.
To make it real, to make it hurt.
Get used to it, you’ll be bringing them way more hurt than that,I tell myself.
“I’m needed there, I’ll make sure to call often,” Jayce replies quietly as I grab a handful of nuts from the jar I’m holding.
“Yeah, you better. It sucks that you’re going,” Katara says from where she’s curled up on one of the armchairs, watching an anime. We’re all at the Blood Moon Pack for a couple of days until Jayce leaves.
There’ve been plenty of feel-good moments and then several sad ones. For me, it’s harder than I fucking thought it would be. Knowing that this is it. The very last time we’ll spendtime as a family. All of us together.
I look over at Gramps, who is sitting on the other armchair, with Grandma curled up on his lap. They don’t look a day over fifty, and despite their age, they’re still so in love. Dad is sitting on the other end of the coach Ma is on, smiling over at her, giving her space to fuss over her first baby.
I snicker internally; we’ve teased him nonstop about how Ma’s been treating him since he’s leaving.
Renji is playing a game of chess with Ares, whilst Carter is flicking through a book.
We left Puerto Rico the morning after the wedding, and my final exchange with Heaven still plays and replays in my mind constantly. She didn’t know it, but it was the last time I’ll see her…
She’s a distraction, one that I’ll visit in my memories when the burden of the world feels too heavy to shoulder.
The Morning after the Wedding
“Oh my Goddess! You got your voice back?!” Allie’s voice reaches my ear. I bite into the toast and cock a brow, turning to see the commotion. Heaven’s standing there in a purple minidress, her hair pulled into a very high ponytail, a few strands of hair left out to frame her face. And the light hits off her gloss and large earrings.
