“Grace,” Mom called as she came up from the basement. “I just found a few more blankets with the camping gear. You mind running these back over to the church?”
“Sure.” I sighed heavily, picking up my keys again.
“I’ll do it,” Talbot said. “I should be getting home anyway.”
“Are you sure?” I asked, realizing that I had no idea where home was for Talbot. “You can stay here. Strength in numbers, and all that.”
“I’ll be fine,” he said, lifting his newly sharpened stake.
Mom handed him the bundle of blankets. “You really are welcome to stay, though,” she said.
“Thank you, but it’s getting a bit crowded around here.” Talbot’s gaze locked on something beyond my mother’s head. I followed his line of sight and saw that Daniel had just come through the front door. I’d wondered if I’d get to see him again tonight. Jarem, the tall, dark-skinned pack Elder—had insisted on introducing Daniel personally, and individually, to each member of the Etlu Clan.
I locked eyes with Daniel, and he smiled at me. My heartbeat kicked up a notch, and I barely even noticed Talbot say his good-byes and duck out the front door past Daniel.
“That Talbot is a nice boy,” Mom said. She must have liked his farm-boy charm.
“Huh,” I said. I couldn’t take my eyes off of Daniel.
Something about him had changed. In the way he stood, the way he smiled, even the look in his eyes. He’d finally, fully accepted himself as a true alpha—and Lisa had been right: he wore it well.
Daniel’s smile grew wider as he came down the hall toward to me. My legs ached with each inch he got closer.
“Well, I guess Daniel can take Jude’s room in the basement since your brother isn’t coming back home tonight,” Mom said. “The bed is small but comfortable. Much better than the couch.”
“Yeah, a comfortable bed would be good,” I said. My face grew very hot, very quickly, realizing I’d said that out loud.
“Thank you, Mrs. Divine,” Daniel said, not taking his gaze off of me. “That’s very kind of you.”
Yes, it was very kind. And slightly odd, considering Mom’s usually not-so-warm feelings concerning Daniel. I started to wonder if her thoughtful gesture was a sign that her mental health still wasn’t 100 percent, but then she grabbed me by the shoulders and propelled me right past Daniel before I could properly greet him, and ordered me upstairs to bed. That’s when I understood her true intentions for offering Daniel superior sleeping quarters over the other boys.
Jude’s basement bedroom was the farthest point in the house from mine.
But it didn’t matter, because even two floors away, even with all the snores and noises of so many sleeping people in the house, I could still feel Daniel’s presence. I found it impossible to sleep knowing he was lying on a bed in the dark somewhere in the same house as I was. There were still so many unfinished things—and unsaid words—between us. We’d barely had a chance even to talk about just us since he turned back into human.
How do you spend an entire night holding each other, and then let two floors separate you on another night?
I longed to see him, if just for a moment. Have a few seconds alone in the chaos of our lives.
I could just sneak down there for a few minutes…
Yet the idea of it felt downright dangerous as I contemplated it.
By three in the morning I couldn’t stand it any longer. My body buzzed with so much anticipation and longing, I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep at all unless I could see him.
Just for a minute. Just a quick, “Hello, I love you, don’t forget that,” and a kiss and then I can go back to my room and sleep…
I tiptoed down the stairs, past the sleeping boys in the front room. Slade was still awake, watching infomercials in the family room. I almost turned back when he looked up at me.
“Um, just have to take care of something real quick,” I whispered. “Don’t mind me.”
“Sure,” he said, and nodded, a little too much knowing in his smile.
My cheeks grew extremely hot, and for a second I contemplated running back upstairs, but I realized I’d feel even dumber turning back with Slade watching me.
I held my head high, simply pretending I desperately needed a sweater from the laundry room, and opened the door that led down to the basement. I closed it tight behind me.
My feet moved on their own accord after that, propelling me quickly but quietly down the basement stairs. Right up to the door of Daniel’s bedroom. My hand rose to knock, just to see if he was awake, but I stopped.
He was probably asleep. He was probably exhausted from everything he’d been through today. He probably would think I was nuts for waking him in the middle of the night just to say a quick hello.…
I dropped my hand to my side. It was dumb for me to have come in the first place. I turned, ready to tiptoe back up the stairs so he’d never know I’d been there, when the door opened behind me.
“Grace?” Daniel asked.
I looked back at him standing there in a wrinkled pair of flannel pajama pants, no shirt covering his perfect abs and stomach, hair all rumpled like he’d been tossing and turning. Like he hadn’t been able to sleep, either.
“I hoped you come,” he whispered. “I didn’t think you would. But I’d hoped.”
“You did?”
Daniel’s large hands wrapped around my waist, pulling me against his bare, warm chest. Our mouths melted together, kissing in an urgent, almost-frantic way. He pulled me into his room, closing the door behind us.
“I only came for a quick hello,” I said against his skin.
“That’s all I was hoping for.” He kissed me hard. “Hello,” he said, and kissed me again.
“Hello,” I said, and giggled until he cut off my laugh with his searching lips. His hands felt like fire, clasped against my hips.
“I should go,” I said between kisses, not actually wanting to tear myself away.
“Yes, you really should.” Daniel trailed his lips down my throat.
“I’m going to leave now.” My fingers traced the muscles in his back as I shuddered against his chest.
Daniel’s mouth left my collarbone, and he kissed my lips one more time, pushing me away from him in the same moment. “Go,” he said. “Before I can’t resist anymore.”