Page 27 of Pack Baines

“Hey,” I croak, voice hoarse from sleep. “What time is it?”

“Early enough that it’s still breakfast time. Evron is baking chocolate-orange muffins, and Geo is trying to make pancakes,” Creek answers, tracing a finger over my cheek. “Figured you’d be hungry.”

I frown. “What do you mean by ‘trying?’”

“He’s burnt the last three batches, and he keeps glaring at Ev every time he tries to help. Said he wanted to make you breakfast,” Creek shrugs with a roll of his eyes, but I catch the flash of amusement in those pretty blue eyes.

“That’s going to end up in an argument,” I murmur, rubbing my eyes before I remember I still have yesterday’s makeup on. I groan, knowing that I likely look like a racoon right now, and I throw my arm over my face to hide myself away from the fresh and handsome looking twin.

“What?” he asks, trying to nudge my arm away. “What’s wrong?”

“Smudged my makeup. Got criminal trash panda eyes,” I tell him, my voice only slightly obstructed by my arm.

Creek laughs, this vibrant sound that I’ve missed beyond all words combined, and I smile softly at him, even from under my arm.

He tugs at it, though I don’t budge, and says, “Juno, I’ve seen you caked in mud, bags under your eyes from staying up too late, and bruised from when you dared Geo to jump into the lake and hit a tree branch on your way down. You’re beautiful, and I’m sure my opinion won’t differ with your smudged makeup.”

Grumbling, I playfully glare at him as I remove my arm from my face, receiving a sunny smile that I want to bottle for rainy days. My fake anger vanishes, moreso when he says, “I could look at you all day, every day, and think you’re the prettiest damn woman on this planet.”

“Stop,” I snort, shoving him before throwing the pile of blankets that surrounds me away and climbing out of the comfortable bed. “It’s too early for flattery and charm. What are you up to, anyway?”

“Just stating facts, beautiful,” Creek counters, standing and holding his hand out for me to take, lifting me off the bed and eyeing my bare legs for a long moment before that gaze draws back to my eyes. “You’re a damned knock-out, Juniper Henley.”

“Baines,” I correct gently, even as a trickle of nausea crawls into my stomach at the Pack name I was birthed with. Creek frowns, so I elaborate. “Juniper Baines. I changed my name after I was taken from the Henley Pack.”

The lack of shock tells me Lowie has already shared my sad little story, and I find myself more relieved than annoyed, glad that I won’t be forced to repeat the tale again. At least they know now, right?

“Juniper Baines. I really like that. It suits you,” Creek tells me softly, his hand still clutched in mine. He tugs me close, so slow that I’m sure he’s afraid I’ll run again. I won’t, not that he knows as much. After last night with the twins, I don’t think I could leave them behind ever again. The need to flee, to run away, is surprisingly absent. I meant what I said. These men are my happily ever after, and I won’t stand in my own way if it means I get to have them near me, holding my hand, offering me cuddles, and looking down at me like I’m the most important person in the world.

When Creek realizes I’m not going anywhere, he tugs me close enough that his chest brushes mine, the sheer warmth of him bleeding into my own body, and he presses his forehead against mine as he whispers, “I’ve really missed you, Juno Baines. I know I’ve said it already, but I mean it.”

I huff a laugh, a bittersweet sound that sinks my heart and lifts it at the same time, and I quietly confess, “I’ve really missed you, too, Creek Whitlock. More than you’ll ever know.”

His free hand raises to cup my face in a tender touch, those stormy eyes watching me closely, so I smile up at him. A smile I’ve only ever shared with him and the other guys, because only they deserve to see the evidence of how they make me feel. How they’ve always made me feel.

“That smile,” Creek whispers, almost like he’s talking to himself.

Just as I open my mouth to answer him, Creek bends and presses his mouth to mine, silencing every thought I planned to speak out loud. In fact, the moment his lips touch mine, my mind silences entirely, leaving nothing but him and the soft warmth of his mouth pressing against mine, and the ginger and spice scent that fills my every sense.

I sigh against his mouth, my hand tightening around his while the other finds purchase at his waist, fisting his white Henley shirt tightly in my fist.

Like two compatible magnets, our bodies sink into one another, a soft moan slipping from my mouth and into his when I feel every bump and ridge of his muscles pressed against my front. He feels like home, a soothing balm to my battered soul, like one of five things I’ve been missing like lost limbs.

The kiss doesn’t last anywhere near long enough, and I accidentally let slip a small mewl of protest when he pulls back, only to find Creek’s eyes sparkling with delight and satisfaction.

It’s only then that I realize he just kissed me. With a shaking hand, I release his shirt and press the tips of my fingers to my lips, questioning, “What was that for?”

Creek shrugs, the faintest blush pooling in the apples of his cheeks, as he says, “For lost time. For not doing it when I found you. For all the times I’ve wanted to kiss you but held back. For a whole lot more reasons than I want to overwhelm you with first thing in the morning.”

My eyebrows pinch but, in lieu of offering words, I surge up and press my mouth against his. This kiss is firmer, infused with more passion and everything unspoken, and my entire body awakens from the sleepy state it had been in only seconds before. My heart beats in overdrive, my thoughts scattered and confused. I never thought I’d be here, kissing Creek and him kissing me back just as desperately. Never thought I’d find myself in their house after sleeping beside Geo, getting my mind brown by the twins, and now starting my day with kisses I’ve dreamed of all of my life.

When I pull back, we’re both breathless, but Creek has a smile on his face that could rival the intensity of the sun. It’s positively beaming, and a flutter in my belly stirs the butterflies flapping around inside me. Years later and I still get those giddy feelings at his smile.

“What was that for?” he whispers, oh so gently tucking my hair behind my ear.

I shrug. “For everything. For finding me, for being here, being real. For lost time, for not doing it when you found me—"

He kisses me to shut me up, and I laugh against his mouth. A laugh that quickly turns into a soft moan as he pries my lips apart and tangles his tongue with mine. Before I know up from down, Creek is pushing me back onto the bed, carefully leading me to my back without so much as lifting his lips from mine, climbing on top of me with all the stealth of a prowling panther. His movements are fluid and smooth, and I moan again as he rests some of his weight on top of me, an oddly comforting thing despite having his well-defined body lying between my bare legs.

---