Page 98 of Red

“Hi,” I say. The room is quiet as I walk over and sit next to him on the cedar bench.

“Hello, mate.” He leans over and kisses me.

I cup his face and pull him in tighter.

When he sits up straight, he looks at me, then back at the painting. “It tells me everything, doesn’t it? If I knew?” he asks, rubbing his thumbs along the frame.

“It does.” I lean into him, not hiding the heat coursing below my skin.

With Pratt’s and Mom’s eyes on me, I wonder what they’d think of me now.

Chapter 27

Home, as in Stark’s house, overflows with werewolves in the hours after we arrive. Members of the other cohorts have started to set up outside. Large tents cover the grass on the wide lawn beside the house. We’re running out of places for them to sleep.

“Give them my room,” I say to Stark and Otis. They’re staring at a paper filled with sleep arrangements.

“Where will you sleep?” Otis eyes me.

“I can sleep in Stark’s room when he’s on shift. It’s not a big deal.” I smile. I’ve been in his room the last few nights anyway.

“When he’s not there. Of course.” Otis winks at me.

“I don’t like what you’re implying.” I cross my arms.

Stark pays no mind to the stare-down between Otis and me.

“We can add another few sets of bunks in there. Should make things work, plus another bathroom wouldn’t hurt,” Stark says.

Over the last few days I’ve shuffled through the house, shaking hands, and giving advice in meetings for the attack set in two days. Stark never gets a second to himself. I sense him, though. Now, the tingles don’t wait for his touch. They flutter across the room the second he steps in.

Jocko hooks his arm into mine. “Who knew you could be so social?”

“Don’t remind me. He better empty this house for a month after this is over,” I say.

“Nothing like alone time with the man,” he says.

I squint my eyes. “More like alone time with myself.”

“Aloka, he’s my best friend.” He pats my arm.

“As you remind me daily,” I tease back.

“Then let’s hear the truth. I’ve never seen Stark with a smile on his face, and look.”

Stark eyes us from across the room. I’ve explained the brother-sister thing, but his alpha instincts still flare when Jocko gets too close. I give him a small smile, and his eyes glow as his cheeks lift. I can’t get enough of it.

“Spirits! The man smiled. Ever see him do that before?”

“Can’t say I paid much attention to it.”

“I’ll catch you.” He smirks. “We live in the same house, and now I hear you two are bunking up. What a coincidence.”

“Lirea,” I say as she passes us. I drop Jocko’s arm and leave him in the kitchen. There is a lot more to prepare.

“Need something?”

“Since I won’t be here at the house, I wanted to introduce you to Iris, Verna, and Wilde. They all have some form of medical training from the cities, like you. We are estimating that you’ll need the hands.”