Page 27 of The Pact

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Ausra

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“WOW, I DIDN’T KNOW that Shep could sing so well,” I observe, sinking my teeth into the gooey, melty center of my s’more.

We’re all sitting by the fire. Shep brought a classic guitar out of the back of his truck and he’s been strumming a few slow ballads, following the music with a surprisingly deep, soulful voice.

Bode smiles, his handsome features made softer by the light of the bonfire. “Oh, he has a few hidden talents. We all do.”

I’m about to ask him what kind of talents when he takes the last piece of s’more from me and puts it back onto the paper plate on my lap.

His smile widens and his voice goes down by an octave as his eyes drop to my lips. “You have some marshmallow right here,” he runs the pad of his thumb along my bottom lip. “It’s all sticky, let me help you clean yourself up.”

He sucks my bottom lip into his mouth, swiping his tongue over it before scooting closer to me and deepening the kiss.

As the sides of our bodies touch, he stops playing with my bottom lip, slanting his mouth over mine. He tastes sweet and tart at the same time, like the pink lemonade he’s been drinking.

His kiss is soft and unhurried and I’ve all but forgotten that we’re sitting in a circle around the bonfire with at least twenty more people.

When he breaks the kiss, one of his hands comes up to stroke the sensitive spot behind my ear. “You taste sweet, pretty girl. And it isn’t just the s’more,” he whispers and I’m sure that he’s about to kiss me again when I’m pulled away from him.

I was so rapt by the feeling of his lips and the dark blue of Bode’s eyes that I didn’t even notice that Shep’s ballads have been replaced by one of the latest hits that’s blaring from someone’s phone.

“Let’s dance, Smokey!” Shep says, pulling me to my feet and starting to shake his booty to the music, dragging me with him and leaving me no choice but to follow his lead.

His hands land on my hips, guiding my movements and making our chests collide.

“Smokey?” I giggle as I sway to the music, following the rhythm he imposes with his hands.

Shep’s green eyes sparkle with amusement as he leans closer to whisper in my ear. “Didn’t I tell you that you’re smoking hot? So Smokey sounds about right.”

Modesty and humility are indispensable virtues to elevate your soul. Flattery shackles you to mundane things, weighing you down—

I shake my head, stepping closer to Shep and smiling back at him. No. I’m not letting Dad’s words ruin tonight for me.

I like Shep’s easy smile and the feel of his chiseled body against mine. I like his hands on my hips and the different golden hues that have appeared on his dark blond hair under the light of the bonfire. His hair is a couple of shades darker than Bode’s and a little longer, caressing his forehead and his ears. It looks so soft that my hands are itching to touch it, to see if it feels like strands of spun gold between my fingers.

As the first song morphs into a different one, a solid chest comes into contact with my back and I don’t even have to turn to know it’s Ashton.

His subtle citrusy scent invades my nostrils as I turn my head to look at him.

“Hey Sheppie, don’t think you get Ausra all to yourself, dude. She did promise me a dance earlier on.”

There’s no heat in his tone and Shep’s reaction is a chuckle and a wink in my direction as he takes one step closer to me, pressing me further into Ashton’s back.

“Be my guest, bro. After all, Smokey here looks completely adorable between the two of us. And you know that especially when it comes to you, I’m totally the sharing type.”

They liked to share girls.

McKayla’s words from earlier echo in my ears but I don’t have time to dwell on them, distracted by the guys’ touches.

I’m pressed against their hard bodies, their manly scents mingling with the smokey tones of the firewood.

The sand is soft under my toes and the touch of their hands is causing liquid fire to course through my body.

Shep squeezes my hips, pulling me closer to his ripped chest while Ashton’s hands are skimming gently along my ribs. His up and down movement is more hypnotic than the music itself and I can’t suppress a shiver when the tips of his fingers graze the side of my breasts.

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