Page 14 of The Hunt

That kiss had been pretty damn magical.She hadn’t wanted it to end.

The hot weather had become bearable, and after a prolonged time beneath the waterfall, getting washed and making out, they had no choice but to move on.

Now, they were building a small fire.There was food that had appeared in their backpacks.Jaxson was the one who built the fire, while she went and gathered more wood and leaves to put on it so they could have a small camp.

She didn’t like the fact they were not talking about it, though it wasn’t like theyneededto talk about anything.So, they made out and had some fun.So what?Only, it wasn’t a so-what kind of feeling.

Her lips still tingled and she loved it when he put his hand on her ass, and now all she could think about was making out with him again.

Their silence wasn’t boring.It was companionable.It was peaceful.It was easy.This wasn’t hard for them.They had done a lot of fun things when they were younger, but they never made out.They never crossed that line between friends.

“Are you hungry?”Jaxson asked.

“Starving.”

And they would talk about everything and anything.She couldn’t even remember half their conversations, but she was pretty sure as kids they even talked about farting.That was how they were.That was an embarrassing memory.

“Do you want to talk about it?”Jaxson asked.

“What?”Would it be easier to play dumb?

“The kiss.The mating.The elder.The Hunt?”

She laughed, but it sounded so forced.“We do have a lot to talk about, don’t we?”

“Yeah and no.I mean, I loved that kiss.”

“Me too,” Calliope said.

“This is what this place is supposed to do.It is meant to strip us of what we think is right when it comes to one another, and make us see how we really are.”

“I guess, when it is hot, we know what to do,” she said.

He laughed.“I don’t know if we were manifesting that heat, or if it was part of this whole thing.”

She found some pans that had magically appeared.“I don’t know.I don’t regret it, though.”

“What?”he asked.

“I don’t regret the kiss.I’m happy we kissed.”She felt her cheeks start to heat.

“I am too.”

She looked toward him.“This is good.This is progress.”

“Come on, Calliope.It’s not like it is going to be hard.We got along once, and we were great together.”

“Yeah, when we were kids, but that is not the case anymore.We’re adults.”She shrugged.“And a lot has happened.”

“That’s true.”

They were silent and Jaxson had already started to cook the food.

“Do you want to be mated to me?”Calliope asked.

He looked up.

“I just figure this is something you and I have to come to terms with.We’re not getting out of here until we realize the same thing.”She pressed her hands together.

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