Page 55 of Beastkin
Karrick’s face lit up with such joy that any doubts I had immediately vanished. His smile was so bright it made his tusks more prominent, and I couldn’t help but reach up to trace one with my finger.
“Really?” he asked, his voice thick with emotion.
“Really,” I confirmed. “I’ll bring Lila. We’ll just be two students supporting the school team. Nothing suspicious about that.”
He pulled me closer, nuzzling his face into my hair and inhaling me deeply. “Thank you,” he whispered. “It means more than you know.”
I could feel exactly how much it meant through our bond. There was a surge of happiness so intense it made my own heart swell. For a moment, I let myself imagine what it would be like if we didn’t have to hide. If I could openly cheer for him, wear his jersey, kiss him after the game regardless of who was watching.
“What position do you play?” I asked, realizing I knew literally nothing about football.
Karrick chuckled, the sound rumbling through his chest. “Defensive line. I basically stop the other team from getting to our quarterback. Who, between you and me, could use a few more clobberings. The dude can be a dick sometimes.”
“So you’re good at protecting people,” I said softly.
“I try to be.” His hand stroked my back. “Especially the ones I care about.”
The implications weren’t lost on me. Karrick had always been protective, even when we were kids. I remembered how he’d stand between me and any perceived danger, whether it was a snake on the trail or older kids who might have given us trouble or a bear that had suddenly appeared as we came around a bend in the path.
“What time is the game?” I asked, settling back against his chest.
“Seven. But you should get there by six-thirty to get good seats. The stands fill up fast for homecoming. And the concession lines can be long.”
I nodded, already mentally preparing what I would wear. It would have to be something that wouldn’t draw attention, something that would help me blend in with the crowd and not be recognized.
“And after the game?” I asked, trailing my fingers through the fur on his chest.
His eyes darkened. “After the game, I was hoping you might sneak back here. Win or lose, I’ll want to see you.”
“I think that can be arranged,” I said with a smile. “Lila’s been giving me tips on all the best secret meeting spots around campus.”
Karrick raised an eyebrow. “Has she now?”
“Don’t worry, I’ve been sparing you the details of our conversations,” I laughed. “Trust me, you don’t want to know half the things she’s told me.”
“That vampire is something else,” he said, shaking his head. “But I’m glad you have her. Everyone needs a friend they can trust.”
The wordfriendhung between us, a reminder of what we’d once been to each other before life and prejudice had torn us apart. Now we were so much more, yet still hiding as if our connection was something shameful. It broke my heart to hide how I felt from Karrick and the world. But for now, it was a necessary evil. All we had to do was get through college and we’d be free. Four years had never seemed like such an impossible amount of time.
“After we graduate, we can go anywhere,” Karrick said softly, as ifreading my thoughts. “Somewhere nobody knows us or cares what we are. We could have a normal life.”
I pressed a kiss to his collarbone, tasting the salt of his skin beyond the fur. “Four years feels like forever right now.”
“It’ll go faster than you think,” he murmured, his claws gently combing through my hair. “And in the meantime, we have this. We have each other.”
The bond between us pulsed with warmth and certainty. He was right. Whatever we had to endure to keep this secret, it was worth it. I’d spent too many years without him to give up now. It didn’t matter what kind of fucked up things my parents were involved with. Karrick was mine, and I was never going to let him go.
“I should probably head back to my room soon,” I said reluctantly, though I made no move to leave the comfort of his arms. “Thomas will be suspicious if I’m gone too long.”
Karrick’s arms tightened around me. “Five more minutes?”
I couldn’t help but smile at the pleading note in his voice. For someone who projected such a tough, macho image on the football field and around campus, he was surprisingly tender with me.
“Five more minutes,” I agreed.
We settled back into comfortable silence, and I let myself memorize this moment - the steady rhythm of his breathing, the way his fur felt against my skin, the absolute rightness of being held by him. Friday suddenly couldn’t come fast enough. The thought of watching him play, of seeing him in his element even if I couldn’t openly cheer for him, sent a thrill through me.
“What jersey number are you?” I asked.