Page 65 of Mates: Posy

"Oh!" My bottom lip pooched out. "Are the lights not working?"

Cole came up behind me and looped his arms around my waist.

"They’ll come on in a second, honey," he murmured.

I shivered to feel his warm breath in my ear.

"Are you cold?"

I shivered again, and shook my head fiercely. He chuckled a little.

"Maybe you’re shivering for a different reason?"

Turning my head, I caught the little smirk on his lips and a glint in his fern-green eyes.

He’s teasing me!

Before I thought about it too much, I stretched up and kissed his chin. It was as high as I could reach even on my tiptoes.

His body stiffened against mine for a second, then a broad grin spread across his face and his arms tightened around me. Bending down, he pressed his lips to my cheek.

"Your skin is so soft," he whispered and brushed his nose along my jawline.

"Your beard is so prickly." Giggling, I scratched his light scruff.

"Is it okay to hold you closer?" he asked.

When I nodded, he drew my back tight against him, and I rested my head on his chest and closed my eyes. His size, which I had feared when I first met him, seemed comforting now as his bearish body engulfed me.

"Look, baby," he whispered after a moment.

My eyes popped open to see white lights twinkling everywhere.

"Oh!" I breathed, tears stinging my eyes.

I stepped away from Cole and spun in a slow circle to take it all in.

"Look at all these pretty flowers!" Peri clasped her hands in front of her chest. "And my brothers did this? Well, I’m impressed. Good job, guys!"

Giving each of my mates a hug, I thanked them with tears streaming down my cheeks. I ended up in Jayden’s arms, and a wave of fatigue swept over me. I burrowed my face into his chest with a yawn and squeezed him tightly around his waist.

"Tired, sweetness?"

I nodded.

"You’ve had a long day. Why don’t you get ready for your sleepover?"

I tugged on his shoulders, and he knew right away what I wanted. Bending down, he lowered his ear to my lips.

"I’m a little worried," I whispered. "I don’t know what happens at a sleepover."

"I don’t, either," he whispered back. "At least, not for girls. When we were younger, my brothers and I used to take over the living room, eat snacks, and watch TV or movies until we passed out."

"Okay, I can do that! It sounds fun, but I haven’t watched a movie in years. I wouldn’t know what to pick."

"We can give you some suggestions."

"Come on, Posy, Lilah!" Peri called. "We need to make a pillow nest in the living room!"

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