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The burning need for him hadn’t fully returned yet but the slow simmer was there and it wouldn’t take much to fan the embers into a raging inferno again.
Jade was embarrassed when she realized the shifters could smell the scent of her arousal growing stronger. Their nostrils flared and each started giving her sidelong glances. All of them she noticed except Sara who didn’t behave as if anything was out of the ordinary.
Jade wondered if it was out of politeness that she didn’t mention anything since humans couldn’t smell things like that from each other.
“Sara, what do you smell in the room?” Jade asked, careful to keep her tone light to avoid scaring her again.
“The cookies mostly, why?”
“No reason. It’s just you’re the only one not looking at me like I’m sex obsessed and about to jump Clay.”
As soon as she’d finished the sentence she wished that she’d chosen better words to describe what she was feeling because the urge to jump Clay was even stronger once she pictured it in her mind.
She squeezed her thighs together and dug her nails into her palm trying to distract herself. She shivered as if he’d dipped her in cold water when Clay ran his hand down her arm and tangled their fingers together substituting the mental connection for a physical one. His touch made her need more acute, but she forced herself to focus on Sara.
“So, mostly the cookies but what else?” Jade probed again curious what Sara’s answer would be.
“Jace’s shower gel and the cologne that Caleb is wearing.” She answered easily but they were human answers and not the kind of answers she would have expected one of the Lycans to give. She didn’t push it further though as a theory formed. She wouldn’t say anything until she was sure unwilling to cause more turmoil if she was wrong.
She was an outsider to these people and she wasn’t sure they would believe her. Hell at this point she wasn’t even sure they liked her.
When they finished their meal and Jade asked about going out to look for supplies she would need for her spells. They’d packed the items that made up her altar but it would have been impossible to bring all the herbs and provisions she would need.
“I want to come with you since you don’t know the area or the members of Ryan’s pack. Without any way to communicate with you, I’d feel better if you weren’t alone.”
Jade didn’t bother mentioning cell phones since she knew he was referring to the bond and she was feeling increasingly guilty over severing their bond without understanding what impact it would have on them mentally and physically.
She could sense how special it was between the other mates. It seemed revered, creating a deep closeness and she was beginning to feel like she’d stolen something from Clay.No, not just from Clay. Her conscience reminded her, she had lost something too with her rash behavior.
It wasn’t rash! It was necessary, she argued with herself. The coven would have followed that line right to them. This way she could shield she reminded herself. It didn’t stop the remorse though and the fear that without the bond Clay would eventually seek out another mate.
She almost asked him if he would or if that was even possible, but she bit her tongue so she wouldn’t ask. She bit down so hard that she jumped at the sharp pain and the taste of copper filled her mouth.
“You’re bleeding?” Clay looked at her his eyebrow raised.
“I bit my tongue. No big deal.”
He stopped her when she would have stepped off the porch. He tilted her chin and lowered his mouth to meet hers his tongue sweeping between her lips. She would have found the action a little disturbing if it wasn’t consuming and incredibly hot. Instead of being grossed out, she found herself forgetting about her injured tongue. She leaned into the kiss opening further to invite him in she sighed into his mouth as his tongue tangled with hers.
The sting from the bite was gone when he finally pulled back and she was no longer bleeding. She knew there were questions in her gaze as she looked up at him trying to tamp down her arousal.
“We heal fast. You’re my mate whether we share the bond right now or not and my saliva has healing properties, especially for you.”
Clay kissed her forehead. The gesture was so sweet Jade felt her throat clog with emotion
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Jade gathered earth rich in minerals from the area around the lake and asked Clay what kind of plants grew in the area. She could make substitutions but if she did it would add complexity to an already complicated scenario.
“This is more dangerous than you’re letting on isn’t it?” Clay asked while eyeing her carefully as if gauging her response.
“I’ll be cautious,” she answered choosing her words carefully. “No spell is without risks though even under normal circumstances and favorable conditions there is still a chance that something wouldn’t go as planned.”
When Jade was finished gathering the items required she sat down on a fallen log at the edge of the water. She traced her toe in the wet sandy dirt letting the rhythm of the water lapping at the shore soothe her frayed nerves. Jade tilted her head back and breathed in deeply before releasing that breath in a contented sigh.
“The way you're enjoying the lake I wish we had something like that on Yellow Claw pack land.” At the wistful tone in Clay’s voice, Jade straightened so that she could meet his gaze.
“I’m sure I’ll love it there. There is beauty in all nature. If you take the time to appreciate it. It won’t matter that it’s not the same as here.”
