“During the day, they look like this, but when night approaches …” His movements are slow, careful, as he gently taps the black bug three times. “They change.”
The caterpillar shudders, sending a strange tingling sensation up and down my arm. There’s a small crack and then two translucent wings appear from it, a soft orange glow emanating from its shell. The wings flutter once, twice, then it lifts into the air.
“Wow,” I gasp.
“Just wait,” Dayton says, grabbing my arm and spinning me toward the trees. “It just takes one.”
Suddenly, the whole emerald forest is filled with fluttering orange lights, like dancing flames rising into the sky. The Summer Realm’s version of fireflies.
“It’s so pretty,” I whisper, running a hand over the water that ripples with their reflections, like a hundred sparkling suns.
“Quite the scream, for such a little thing,” Dayton says, squeezing my arm.
“I’m usually not scared of bugs,” I say, trying to regain some dignity. “It just startled me.”
“Sure, Blossom.” Dayton smirks.
“Hey, I didn’t grow up in a place where there are bugs as big as my hand.”
Dayton laughs and snatches my wrist. “Nah, it was bigger. Your hand is tiny.” He lines his up with mine, and I feel his calloused fingertips against my palm.
“Only compared to yours,” I breathe, not taking my hand away.
He tilts his head. His hair looks longer wet. Burnished goldenends curl over his damp collarbone. “Your shoulders are burned,” he says.
In a swift movement, he disappears beneath the water, and all I see are bubbles popping on the surface. I shift from foot to foot as I wait, feet sliding over the smooth rocks and silty sand.
Dayton emerges a moment later and takes a deep breath, a strange root in his hands.
“What is that?” I ask, raising a brow.
“Lotusweed.” Dayton tears the bulb open, and a gooey pink liquid oozes out, which he coats his palm in.
A cooling sensation spreads over my skin as he rubs a hand along my shoulders and collarbone.
“You’ll have to let this dry above water before rinsing it off,” Dayton explains. “It’ll help soothe the burn.”
His large hands move softly over my skin. He caresses my chest, fingers nearly brushing the tops of my breasts. My body shivers, and a sinful heat clenches in my core.
I can’t banish the memories of how he’s touched me there, grasping my breast with his whole hand, the melody of kisses he left over my body with his lips. I flick my gaze away, desperately trying to think of something else. I know I should step away, but it’s as if I’m addicted to his touch.
He moves to my back, sending shivers down my spine. I can’t help but let out a soft moan as I practically feel the heat evaporating from my body.
Dayton’s breath hitches as he lifts his hands. Disappointment flutters inside me.Why can’t I ever keep my mouth shut?
“Turn,” Dayton says.
I do, every instinct in me obeying him.
He smears a line of pink goo over my nose. “Can’t have your nose this red. Though it is cute.”
My cheeks heat at his compliment, and he quickly paints them with the lotusweed as well. Though, I think we both know my cheeks aren’t burned.
Dayton steps away from me and rubs his hands together beneath the water. “Guess I’ll stay close by, so you don’t get scared again.”
“Good call. You never know, I may spot a particularly frightful monkey.”
“Monkeys are no joke.” His grin widens. “Got in quite the battle with one as a kid. It kept stealing my coconuts.”
