With nothing to occupy him, Daryl’s mind naturally returned to what had happened between him and Jason in their room.
After Rachel’s interruption, they hadn’t done anything more.
Daryl wanted to, and Jason hadn’t been shy about saying that he did too, but . . .
And it was thatbutthat stopped Daryl from taking him up on his offer.
Something was holding him back from enjoying a little casual sex while they were here, but he was hesitant to examine exactly what that something was. The long stretch of time where Rachel’s team were out searching meant he had only himself for company. Jason was off through the trees about thirty feet away, but Daryl didn’t feel like having a conversation that the whole forest could hear.
So he had nothing but time on his hands, and whether he wanted to or not, he kept thinking about why he and Jason together were such a bad idea.
You know why.
He closed his eyes and willed the thought away.
It’s because he’s pack. His scent promises safety, loyalty, home—all the things you need.
Daryl stood and walked to the water’s edge. A few stones littered the bank of the pond and he bent to snatch a few up. Skimming them across the surface, he let his gaze wander over to where Jason sat on a rock similar to Daryl’s, head tipped back, laughing at something Jenn was telling him.
Daryl refrained from trying to listen in; it wasn’t his business.
The long line of his throat, exposed in that position, called to Daryl like a siren. His teeth ached with the need to scrape over that pale skin, letting the tips drag over the dark stubble there. Last night had opened up a part of him that he’d kept locked away for years, and with good reason. But struggle or not, he was determined to bury it again.
Even from where he stood, Jason seemed to exude happiness and warmth. His smile lit up his face, infectious to those around him.
Daryl wasn’t like that.
That part of him had been broken when he’d watched his parents’ happy marriage fall apart, helpless to do anything but observe from the sidelines. He’d never put himself in that position. And would never let his wolf instincts take over either. As happy as he was for his fellow bonded packmates. It wasn’t for him. Bonds weren’t the ultimate in shifter relationships as far as Daryl was concerned.
They were the worst thing about a shifter.
And you know the danger of starting anything with a happy, warm, and loyal pack memberlike Jason.
Hooking up with non-pack members held none of that risk because deep down he didn’t trust them. Would never trust anyone who didn’t carry his pack scent. That was just how he felt.
But he wasn’t stupid either.
Sometimes, there was only so much you could do to reign in your wolf before instinct took over and set events in motion.
And that thought terrified him.
He threw his stone hard enough that instead of skipping across the surface, it sank underneath with a splash.
Jason looked over and their eyes met.
The traitorous flutter in Daryl’s stomach made him even more determined to keep his hands to
himself from now on.
If only they didn’t have to do that stupid blindfold thing again later.
Fuck.
“Everything okay?” Rachel startled him, and he cursed under his breath.
How had he not noticed her approach?
Too busy staring at Jason.
