King Hall (Forever Evermore, #1)(37)

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 breasts 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.”

I choked on a laugh, really attempting to keep it contained.

Jack’s panicky mien turned cocky and he snorted as he raised his brows, rumbling, “He could try, but you and I both know the outcome if he even twitched the wrong way at me.”

Pearl crossed her arms, her hair a chaotic mess all over her head. “I have to tell him.”

“No, you don’t,” Jack countered harshly. “We were both sleeping. I didn’t do it to you on purpose, so there’s no reason to piss off your mate because of an accident.”

Pearl snorted hard.

I sniffed the air. “He’s telling the truth.”

Pearl’s eyes closed, and after a few ticks, she grumbled, “Fine. I won’t tell him.” Her eyes slammed open and she pointed a finger. “But don’t you dare try that again.” We still had two more nights’ worth of camping here.

Jack held up his hands. “I wouldn’t dare.”

Again, I sniffed, and nodded to Pearl at her silent, questioning glance.

Sighing heavily, Pearl turned her full attention on us, eyeing our position. “What happened with you two last night?”

“Nothing,” Ezra explained, his lips twitching as he glanced to Jack. “I didn’t even have wandering digits.” More or less honest, only wandering hands. “She just shifted sometime during the night and we woke up this way.”

Jack’s blue brows rose. “Then why aren’t you two pulling away from each other?”

I could answer that one. “I’m not wearing any clothes.” All three stared and I sighed, bringing an arm out of the sleeping bag, pointing. “Can you hand me my shirt over there?”