Page 110 of Shrouded in the Dark

The sounds of birds, little creatures like squirrels, skittered away as we ran around.

I lost him about ten minutes into the chase. I skidded to a stop, ending up rolling over a few times before ending up on my back in a soft patch of grass. I was panting with how hard we’d been running around.

Giving up?Jasper’s face appeared above mine. His eyes were lit up in excitement.Do I win?

No way. I’m just taking a break.I looked up through the branches into the sky.This is so different. I’m still me, just more. Does that make sense? I think I’m rambling. I am happy.

Jasper settled down on his stomach, sniffing my ears, making the fur tingle.That makes sense. You’re not just one soul in your body now, you’re two.

I looked up at the clouds as they slowly moved across the sky.

Jasper, what happens now? When we leave Tabernash and return from summer vacation? Do I go back to school? What about Wyn? He’s part of the Venandi. It’s not like they’re going to just let him leave to be part of our family. And Felicity.

Grief gripped my heart. My best friend turned into an enemy without knowing it. The emotions that I had been holding back, with help from my animal, came rushing to the surface making me whimper.

There was a new world that I was just learning about. That world was in the middle of a war with humans. One of my mates was part of that group, albeit a spy among them, but he risked his life every second he had to be part of that group. He wanted out to be with me. There had to be something we could do to help him and Gary with the Venandi. School just seemed so juvenile now.

Jasper nudged me with his nose, making me look at him.What happens is that we work together. I have some schooling left, so you go back to school if you want. All that’s changed is we watch for signs of the Venandi. As far as Felicity goes, Wyn seemed hopeful that he could help her get out of there. Or something completely different happens. Whatever happens, we’ll face it together.

He was right. Wyn had mentioned that. I licked his nose.You’re a genius, you know that?I knew what my next steps were going to be, even if they weren’t the smartest decision. It would be interesting to see what Gary said.

Jasper nudged his face against mine. A warm feeling filled me as I licked his nose again.I’m going to try to shift.

He jumped away just as I thought about shifting. That flash of debilitating pain and I was dizzy for a few seconds. I was standing on just two legs. I wiggled my toes.

“I did it!” Lifting my arms, I looked at my hands. “That’s a rush.”

“It never gets old either,” Jasper’s voice had deepened.

I froze, staring at my thumbnail as Jasper moved into my line of sight that I could see out of the corner of my eye.

“Jasper?” I cleared my throat. “I just noticed we’re both naked.” I looked up from my thumb and just about started to drool.

Jasper was fit, not nearly as muscled as Seth or Wyn, but he was filled out in all the right places. A tribal tattoo ran from his left part of his chest in swirls of black across to his lower right ribs. It just emphasized his skin tone and his stomach muscles.

“Yes.” Mirth danced across his face. “We’re both very naked.”

Goosebumps appeared along my body. I even shivered as he took another step toward me. I didn’t cover myself up as I watched his eyes move over my body. He took in my stretch marks, my droopy breasts, and round stomach and looked at me as if he were starving.

“Say no, Becs. I won’t be able to hold back for long.” His roughened voice wasn’t smooth like normal. He was shaking and it took me a moment to realize it was because he was stopping himself from touching me.

My back straightened as my confidence filled me. Jasper had been the first of these guys to see me for me. My strides took me to stand in front of him with barely a few inches between us.

“Yes.” My hand touched his chest. “Don’t hold back.”

His mouth twisted in a snarl right as he kissed me. The world spun as he gripped my waist with one hand while his other clutched the back of my neck, holding me still as he nipped at my lips.

His body pressed into mine as I lost myself in his unending kisses. His hardened cock pressed into my stomach. I slid my hands between us and took him in them. His chest grumbled out a growl as I explored the veins along his shaft.

“Wait.” Jasper pulled away slightly and I froze. “Becca, I need to tell you something first.”

He stepped back, my hands fell to my sides, but he kept his one hand on the back of my neck. I stared up at him in confusion as he offered a soft smile.

“I’ve actually never been with a woman before.” A flush of color crossed his cheeks. “It’s always just been the guys. That was always enough. I mean, I was attracted to women, but you’ve seen the guys, I didn’t need anything more. Until you.”

Everywhere along my skin turned pink. “Jasper.” These guys were going to kill me with their sweetness. How could I ever have gotten so lucky? Taking that step toward him that he put between us, I pressed against him. “I’m yours, just as much as the others.”

In a second, I was on my back on the soft grass looking up at Jasper, who caged me between his arms. I touched his cheeks, tracing the lines of his face for several moments. His eyes gentled and he kissed the palm of my right hand.