Jack laughed outright. “I’m thinking she’s out of the game.”
I nodded, then lifted my chin so Ezra could scratch lower, earning a chuckle from them.
Jack yawned. “I’m out, too. I’m tired.” Truth, the spell still activated.
“Fine.” Pearl snapped her fingers, and the spell was gone, the air lighter. “I’m tired, too.” She tilted, and fell on her side, golden hair spread every which way, snoring not even ten seconds later.
Jack chuckled and covered her with her sleeping bag before rolling his large frame, haphazardly tossing his sleeping bag over himself.
I snuggled further against Ezra’s warmth and, a few minutes later, he sputtered a laugh when I whimpered as his fingers quit scratching.
“You’re awfully demanding in your wolf form,” he whispered, being quiet since Jack’s light snore had joined Pearl’s. I whimpered again, and he yawned wide, showing me his white molars before mumbling, “Fine, but only a few more minutes. I’m beat.”
I woofed softly, and rested my head on his chest, listening to his heart beat gently, as he pulled his sleeping bag over us, continuing to pet me. Ah, the simple life as a wolf.
“Time to get up!” A masculine timbre called, invading my haze of dreamland and flittering at the edge of consciousness. I was pretty sure I knew that voice. “I’m coming in!”
Drifting back into my dreams, I snuggled against strength, and warmth, the air frosty, chillingly cold. Heated, muscled arms squeezed me tight, the large palms on my ass pulling me flusher against a gigantic erection. The sensual action felt magnificent, and I ground against it, lightly shuddering. A quiet, deep masculine moan vibrated against my head as the scorching muscles around me flexed, keeping me close.
A feminine sound from my direct left.
Wait. I blinked open my eyes at the same time the man under me jerked.
We froze.
A disturbance of a zipper being pulled resonated, and an arctic breeze, which made the air even colder than it already was, rushed over the back of my head and bare shoulders as Antonio’s voice announced cheerfully, “Good morning, future Kings and Queens! Time to rise and shine.”
I choked, breath catching and realization dawning as I woke fully. I knew where I was. I knew who was under me, gripping my ass. I knew from how cold I was that I was butt naked.
Pearl squealed, and my head snapped in her direction.
Oh, oh my.
The heat spell must have worn off sometime in the middle of the night because it had already been frigid before Antonio let in the bitter cold wind and, during the night, Pearl and Jack had somehow made their way to each other. More than likely, for body warmth: having been lying next to each other, now Pearl was lying on top of Jack like how I was lying on top of Ezra. Right next to us. Both of their expressions shocked as they woke at the same time.
Jack shot his hands out from under the sleeping bag, holding them above his head.
This wasn’t a great situation all around.
Not glancing at the man I was lying on top of, I cleared my throat while tilting my head up to where Antonio was watching us. His features were calm. At least he wasn’t making a big deal of catching us like this, as any other Mys would. Quietly, I said, “It might be a good idea to give us a few minutes.” A scan of the tent showed there were no longer any golden sparkles, so I asked, “Can you do a privacy spell before going, though?” I didn’t think Pearl could handle that right now, hearing how fast her heart was pumping.
“Sure thing, kiddo,” Antonio said, and promptly, we had golden, protective sparkles on the tent’s fabric. “Five minutes, though. Everyone’s starting to get up.” Golden eyes traveled to the man under me.
Oh, no. That wasn’t awkward. Thoroughly embarrassed, I mumbled, “Thanks.”
He pulled his head out of the tent without another word, zipping it up.
“My God,” Pearl whispered, “your hand was down my underwear.”
My mouth shut. Yeah, the privacy spell had been needed.
“I thought I was dreaming,” Jack sputtered, sounding frantic.
I would let them work that one out, my gaze altering to the man under me.
His carefully blank face turned toward me, spring green, sleepy eyes meeting mine.
We stared at one another.
“Um,” I licked my dry lips, “I must have shifted sometime during the night. Sorry.”
One arched brow marginally rose; his hands deliberately moved from my ass to my hips. Long fingers spreading, his grip tightened, lifting and settling me lower so my sensitive lower area wasn’t pressed to his. Unfortunately, the action made my bare br**sts rub down his equally bare chest, and I gasped even as his eyes hooded.
Uncomfortable didn’t even begin to describe this. We were really good friends, and only friends. Both of our nostrils were flared; it meant he was scenting my desire waking like this, and even if the physical evidence wasn’t pressed against my stomach, I was scenting his morning arousal. We could even smell that Jack was turned on, but not Pearl, who was magically unable to be without her mate.
Ezra inhaled again, his eyes hooding even further.
I did the same.
Along with our turned on scents, I could smell stress pouring off of all four of us. I had never been able to smell emotions, my Vampire power level too weak. I only scented as a Shifter does. Facts based on our body reactions, unlike Ezra, who would scent anxiety.
Ezra cleared his throat, and his wide lips curved slightly as he said softly, “It could be worse.”
He got the “special” look that comment deserved. “How?”
His head tilted toward our friends, who scrambled away from each other. “We could be them.”
My chuckle was sluggish. That was definitely true, but I froze when Ezra jerked, giving me his own “special” look because I had bumped him. I swiftly mumbled, “Sorry.”
He glared, sucking in a weighty breath.
“What about them?” Jack shouted, gaining our attention as he defended himself against something Pearl had said. “She’s naked,” a glance at Ezra, “and he looks naked! We didn’t do anything wrong in comparison!”
My lips pursed as I pulled the sleeping bag higher over my back. It had slipped when Ezra had moved me. I shivered, not able to stop the motion since it was so chilly.
“I’m mated,” Pearl screeched, jamming a finger against Jack’s rock-hard chest. “Gideon will kill you if he finds out what your,” her fingers waggled, “drifting digits were doing.”