Page 15 of Eye of the Hurricane (Weathering Doves Harbor #2)

Katherine

Each time I wake up with Ares is more incriminating than the last. The first time was a complete accident and I woke up next to him on the couch. The second, I was neatly tucked into his side with my head resting on his chest.

This time, I’m fully on top of him when I wake up. Not in a sexual way, my entire body is just lying on top of his. As soon as I’m fully conscious and the realization kicks in, I roll off of him.

A low, grumpy groan comes from him. He doesn’t even bother to open his eyes or speak. He just wraps two arms around me and puts me back where I was. I let out a high-pitched laugh that sounds more like a giggle.

“We have to get up,” I whisper in his ear. He shakes his head and grumbles. The warm arms wrapped around my back hold me tighter to him.

“Can’t we just stay in bed all day?” He finally opens his eyes. The bright morning sun hits his brown eyes, turning them amber. There’s a boyish look to him this morning that makes it harder to tell him no .

“Do I seem like the type to spend a full day in bed?” I ask, knowing the answer is no. His chest deflates, sinking me down closer to the mattress.

“No.” He pops his head slightly to the side. “But you should. Don’t you think it would be good for you to rest once in a while?”

“I think it’s good for me to get things done and stay focused. That’s what works for me. It’s what got me here and it’s what’s going to get me that job,” I tell him. Do I think my body would benefit from a day off? Sure. Do I have any intentions of wasting a full day lying around? Absolutely not.

“You’ll burn yourself out.”

“And I’ll work through the burnout. Life goes on.” I shrug.

“Kat, living like this isn’t sustainable.” That remark stings somewhere that I can’t quite place. I don’t know what it is about it that bothers me, but it really does.

I roll my eyes and slide off of him, back onto the mattress next to him.

“Right, of course. I’m a woman, so I don’t know how to balance happiness and success.

Why don’t you let me know? You know, since you’re a man,” I snap.

His face falls, the happy, boyish look he was wearing previously disappearing.

Guilt gnaws at me but instead of relenting like I know I should, I brush the feeling off and decide this is the hill to die on.

“Kat, come on. You know it isn’t like that.”

“Do I?” I’m fully sitting now, looking down at him with a raised brow. I ask myself momentarily how we got here.

Two minutes ago, I was lying on top of him and we were both smiling. Then I remember that it’s me and my big feelings. Me and my sensitivity to how I go about my career.

“Yeah, honey. You do. I’m not sure what I said to upset you, but I’m sorry. I just don’t want the cost of your career to be your own happiness,” he admits.

“I can be happy and work hard, men do it all the time.”

“I have no doubts you can do anything a man can do and then some. I just would also like to see you rest and have some fun.”

“I make time for fun! I specifically pencil it in on my calendar,” I say matter-of-factly. A laugh bubbles out of him and my backbone made of glass shatters. He’s looking out for my best interest and I’m biting his head off for it.

“You can’t schedule fun, Katherine.”

“I do it all the time.”

“Real fun. You can’t schedule real fun,” he corrects himself. “Let me show you how to have real fun. And I promise you won’t miss a single second of work doing it.”

I scoff. “Let me show you how to be disciplined,” I joke. It was a joke. Except to my surprise, he agrees.

“Deal,” he says, pushing himself up onto his elbow and pushing out his free hand to shake on it. I’m already making a hundred other horrible decisions when it comes to him, so what’s one more?

“Deal.” I place my hand in his and shake on it.

“Does this mean we can go back to bed?” he asks.

“You wish. It means we’re getting up. I have work to do and you’re going home.” I push my finger into his chest for emphasis.

“Why do I have to leave?”

“Because you don’t want to watch me work all day,” I answer honestly.

“Fine, do you have any ibuprofen? This headache is killing me.” He clutches his forehead with his hand.

“Yep, in the nightstand,” I start. Before I can even tell him which drawer, he’s reaching for the top one. “Not that one!” I exclaim. Damage is already done. He’s now face-to-face with my sex toys.

I want to sink into the mattress and let it swallow me whole when he picks one up, none other than my hot pink bullet, and turns to face me. The smirk on his face sets my cheeks aflame.

“You touch yourself?”

“Oh my God. We are not doing this.”

“You don’t want to tell me how yo—” I cut him off, covering his mouth with my hand. My cheeks are burning red and my heart is racing. I’m beyond embarrassed.

“Ares, please. I’m embarrassed,” I plead.

“Okay,” he relents. He sets it back where he found it and reaches into the next drawer down for the ibuprofen. He takes it with the water sitting on the nightstand and pretends the last five minutes didn’t happen.

I stand up out of bed and he follows suit. Ares walks to the doorway before realizing I’m not following him. He turns around to see me reaching for the comforter. A knowing smile pops up on his face.

“You can’t go on with your day until you make your bed, huh?”

“Don’t laugh at me, I’m just particular.” I frown. He doesn’t say another word. He just watches me make my bed from the corner with a smile on his face. When I’m done, he slips his shirt and sweatpants back on.

“I’m gonna go so you can get some work done, okay?” he asks. I nod. Disappointment settles in my chest and I know it’s unfair. I’m the one who told him to go. Still, I wish he’d stay.

“Okay.” I nod .

“Do you want me to kiss you before I go? The lines are blurry these days, Kitty Kat,” Ares questions.

I should say no. A casual kiss on his way out feels like a big sidestep from the casual hooking up we agreed on. But I don’t. Call it what you want, I’ll be calling it horny lack of judgment.

“I’ll have a kiss.”

He walks over to me and slips a hand behind my head, dragging my mouth to his.

Every time we kiss, it’s fiery and electrified.

I feel like melting in his touch every time his lips touch mine.

It makes me feel… like a woman. I feel like it unlocks a part of me that didn’t exist until his lips touched mine.

The kiss is short-lived before he pulls away and walks out of the door, giving me a quick goodbye.

“I know Ares was my idea, but can I take it back?” Luna pouts. We’re sitting in a booth at The Sand. I intended on spending the entire day prepping for school to be back in next week, but Luna harassed me to come out.

“Why are we giving Ares the boot?” I ask.

“I thought it would be fun for the plot, I hadn’t thought through my best friend spending all of her free time with her new boyfriend.” She sticks her lip out in a dramatic pout.

“He’s not my boyfriend, Luna. We’re just practicing for the wedding,” I explain. She crosses her arms across her chest.

“The sleepovers?” she prods.

“You’re the one who suggested I hook up with him. ”

“And have you?”

“We made out that night but then the whole virgin thing came up. Now he wants to take it slow.” I roll my eyes. A grin creeps up on her face.

“That’s sweet.”

I groan loudly, throwing my head into my propped-up fist. “I hate being treated different because of it.”

“I think he’s just trying to take care of you, Kat.”

Just because I’m a woman doesn’t mean I have some fantasy about being taken care of. The idea of putting myself in someone else’s hands makes me sick. The only way to be sure things are how I need them to be is to do it myself.

“I don’t need taken care of,” I grumble.

“I mean sexually. I think he’s just trying to make sure things are going at a comfortable pace.”

“I’m comfortable. If anything, we’re going slow for my taste.” I would have let him fuck me the night I asked him to. I’m sure of what I want, I just wish he could believe me when I tell him that.

“Tell him that, he’s not a mind reader,” Luna says as I feel my phone vibrates in my purse. I pull it out to see a new message from Ares.

Ares

Hey, everyone is going camping this weekend. We’ll be back before schools back in on Monday. Do you want to come?

Katherine

Absolutely not. Do I seem like someone who camps?

Ares

Fun remember?

Katherine

I don’t think so.

Ares

Just think about it, okay? I’ll stay home this whole week so you can do extra prep work.

Katherine

I’ll think about it.

“He wants me to go camping with him and his friends,” I tell her, looking up from my phone.

“Um, ask him if Luna is invited,” she nudges my leg with her own.

Katherine

Luna is offended the invite wasn’t extended to her.

Ares

Bring Luna.

I flash the phone over to her and she immediately gives me big puppy dog eyes and clasps her hands together, pleading with me.

“Please, please, please! It’ll be so fun!” That damn word again . I’m beginning to get a complex that everyone thinks I’m boring.

For someone who’s supposed to be sticking to a strict plan, I sure have wandered into an awful lot of extracurriculars lately.

“I don’t know, I really should prepping for school being back in next week.”

“What if we really crunch and you get it all done this week? Then can we go? ”

“It’s really last minute…” It’s my last defense. I know at this point I’m going on this damn vacation.

“Pleaseeee, we can even study there. I’ll help.”

“Fine. I’ll shoot Jacob a text and if he doesn’t need me, we’ll go.”

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Luna squeals.

Katherine

We need more details.

Ares

Come to Audra and Roman’s

Luna and I get in my little blue convertible and drive to Audra’s house. When I pull into the driveway, there’s an unexpected number of cars. A number that has me wondering how many people are going on this damn trip.

I pull my hand up to knock, but Luna opens the door and walks in. She looks back at me with a shrug. “We were invited.”

I follow her into the living room. You’d think Luna’s the one who’s met them all before the way she effortlessly walks into the room. Ares’ eyes catch mine and he nudges his head to the side, telling me to come over there. It’s a little shameful the way I walk right over to him on command.

“We were all just making plans. I think we’re going to head out first thing Friday morning and get home Sunday night,” he tells me. I could have work done in time for that, I think. Especially if I can work a little while I’m there.

“This is a lot of people, who’s all going?” I ask.

“Audra and Roman, Ravyn, Sebastian, Beck, you, me, and Luna,” he points to each person as he tells me. No one really pays us much attention. They all just talk over each other about the plans for this weekend .

“Are you sure it’s okay that we’re coming?” I ask. He nods.

“It was Ravyn’s idea,” he assures me. Being included and thought of is a new feeling for me. I look to my right and Luna is talking and laughing loudly with Ravyn. Luna has always had this way of fitting right into any crowd. I’ve always struggled with it, to nobody’s fault but my own.

Ares and I turn our attention to the group as they start to iron out the details of the trip.

“How far away is this place?” I ask.

“About an hour and a half,” Audra answers.

“What’s the driving situation?” Luna asks.

“Audra and Roman are driving together, Beck and Sebastian are driving together—” Ares starts and Ravyn cuts him off.

“I’m riding with Audi and Roman,” she cuts in. I’m not blind, I can see that it wasn’t the original plan. I know she’s giving him the assist. I don’t call them out on it, though.

“I could drive you and Luna,” Ares offers. An abrupt laugh rips from deep in Luna’s chest. I already know what she’s laughing about before it leaves her mouth.

“Kat does not ride passenger. Fat chance she’s road-tripping it and not driving.”

“We’ll ride with you,” I confirm. Her laugh falls and she’s not alone in intently studying our interaction. I glance to the side and realize everyone is.

“You can drive if you want,” he tells me. I don’t answer, I just shake my head. I know I’ll get an ear-full when we leave here, twenty-questions style.

“Okay, every car take your own luggage and we’ll split up food, drinks, and extra stuff between the three?” Roman asks. Everyone agrees.

“Wait, where are we all sleeping?” Luna asks.

“Audra and Roman are sharing a tent obviously, Beck and Sebastian I think…” Ravyn says, pausing to think. “Actually… Luna, would you be willing to share a tent with me?” She’s not subtle and neither is Luna when her grin widens and she looks right at us.

“Yep, Ravyn and I will share. You wouldn’t mind sharing with Ares, would you?” she asks me, amusement dancing in her eyes. A light blush spreads across my cheeks.

“I don’t mind if he doesn’t.”

“He doesn’t.” Ravyn, Audra, and Roman all say in unison. It’s funny enough to cut the tension I feel over it. I double over in laughter and so does Ares.

“I don’t,” he says, leaning into me and intentionally bumping my shoulder with his.

We wrap up making plans for the weekend. After all the plans are made, we hang out for a couple of hours before we all finally head home.

No sooner than our feet are out the door, Luna is pushing all of my buttons about Ares. Speak of the devil, and he shall appear. He shoots me a text before I even turn the car on.

Ares

I’m excited to spend a weekend in a tent with you.

Ares

Bring those toys I found this morning.

Katherine

We’ll see.