Page 8 of Country and Clove
“What are your thoughts on it?” Lucas asked, drawing Aaron’s attention back to the group. Aaron must have missed the previous conversation entirely. Dane was watching him, curiosity flickering in his bright eyes. Dane was newer to their friend group. The lycan transfer had joined the pack and instantly found his place among them. Maybe he felt accepted among the other transfers. Eventually Dane would call Aaron on his bullshit, but for now he seemed more the strong and silent type when it came to uncomfortable situations.
Aaron quickly recovered, lifting his glass. “Cheers. To a drama-free evening filled with liquor and women.”
“Cheers,” the others echoed in unison. The shots heated his blood, allowing their relaxing properties to take effect. Aaron was finally loosening up.
“Oh shit,” Dane muttered. Aaron followed his gaze.Lark. That white-haired freak had magically appeared next to Aria. Why did he have to show up everywhere she went? Aaron glared Lark’s way but the Celestial wolf never noticed. He was too busy getting his ass chewed by Aria. That at least made Aaron feel better. Aria never backed down from a fight. Aaron didn’t know how Lark did it. His mate was a handful and then some.
His gaze arced past the arguing couple to where the green- and gold-eyed girl was. She snuck out of the roped-off section and sauntered toward the bathrooms. Aaron couldn’t help but appreciate the way her hips swayed with each step she took. The jeans she was wearing didn’t leave space for anything and his fingers twitched with the desire to grip a handful of her ass and haul her against him. Between that and a pair of deliciously thick thighs, he thought the damn fabric may rip. Her steps became more exaggerated and it occurred to him that the movements were more than an attempt to put her womanly wiles on display.She’s drunk.
His throat burned as he downed another shot, losing track at this point, while he waited for her to reemerge. When she did, she was almost immediately greeted by a familiar, petite redhead. Brona swayed on her feet, her body loose.
“Looks like your little witch has had too much to drink.” Aaron smirked, nodding toward Brona. Lucas’s eyes immediately snapped her way, their deep green taking on a subtle glow. “Better go save the day,” Aaron teased, but Lucas was on the move and halfway across the space before Aaron could finish saying the words. He made it to Brona a second before she went toppling over, catching her and lifting her up in his arms.
“Those two have got it bad,” Dane noted, shaking his head and finishing his beer. “Why aren’t they official?”
Aaron shrugged. This was a conversation he’d had with Lucas plenty of times before. “All Lucas ever tells me is that it’s complicated. Trust me, I’ve tried to get more information but he blocks me out every time.” Aaron waited for a response but Dane wasn’t listening anymore. A pretty brunette with short hair and big brown eyes was fawning all over him.
Lucas made his way out of the club with Brona in his arms, leaving the green- and gold-eyed woman alone. She was gazing back at her table. Aaron looked the same way and squeezed the shot glass in his hand so hard it shattered.
Lark had Aria pinned to the table as the two were swapping spit in a way that made Aaron wish Gideon were present. He was pretty sure Gid would remove Lark’s tongue for the way he was sexualizing his sister in public. Aaron grinned. That would be something he’d pay to see. He actually considered sending Gideon a video to see how fast he’d show up. When his gaze turned back toward the woman, she was gone. Her absence sent his heart into fits. He scanned the crowd, searching for her among the throng of tightly packed bodies. His eyes were bleary, their focus distinctly fuzzy.
Where the hell did she go?
Not knowing where this stranger was filled Aaron with anxiety that even his inebriated state couldn’t quell. He pushed away from the bar, leaving Dane behind and moving purposefully to the last place he’d seen her. He stood in front of the bathrooms, turning in circles as the world spun around him. A scent hit his nostrils and his heart damn near burst. It was sweet and fruity, like warm, sun-ripened peaches plucked from a dewy branch in the middle of summer. It made his mouth water and his tongue practically fell out.
There was another scent mixed in, something soft and floral. He breathed deeply and the familiar fragrance of wild honeysuckle crashed into him. The combined essence had his wolf howling and his cock throbbing in his jeans. Somehow he knew the scents belonged toher.
One, two, three deep breaths was all it took to separate her scent from the mass of lycans and humans polluting his senses. Once he caught onto her peachy honeysuckle allure, he turned, tracking her with the precision of an obsessive and highly skilled lycan. The unique aroma called to him on some deep, visceral level. It was like a beacon of light, guiding him out of the club and deep into the forest beyond.
His wolf stirred, its senses on high alert. Aaron stumbled, cursing at the way his excess of alcohol was lending him unsteady feet. He appealed to his inner wolf, knowing he could clear the forest faster on four paws. His animal ignored the shift. As eager as it was to find their girl, it always refused to take control when this much alcohol was present in his bloodstream.
He paused. Had he just saidtheir girl? She was a stranger. Hell, he didn’t even know her name. His wolf just huffed, urging his worthless, drunken body to move faster. The damn thing had the audacity to growl every time Aaron tripped over something. “You try drinking your body weight in whisky and see if your four feet still function the way you want, you ungrateful beast,” he muttered out loud. It was unnecessary, of course. He and his wolf communicated entirely inside his mind.
His boot hooked on a branch, sending him tumbling to the ground—again. His wolf clawed at his ribs impatiently. Had Aaron realized he was going to be chasing some woman through the woods tonight, he would have shown a little reserve in the beverage department.
The breeze blew past and the scent of peaches and honeysuckle intensified. Aaron slowed, his instincts and training forcing him to adopt a predator’s approach as he closed in on his prey. The tree line ended abruptly, giving way to a clearing in front of one of the mountain lakes. His bleary eyes caught sight of a lone figure. Gold and green eyes burned fiercely as she peered over her shoulder. He emerged from the clearing, his eyes taking in the pile of discarded clothing at his feet before moving back up to where her bare flesh awaited his gaze.
He swallowed thickly, his cock hardening the moment he laid eyes on her. Her scent alone had kept him half hard since he’d caught it.
Golden tan skin shimmered in the moonlight. His eyes skimmed their way up, devouring the sight of her thick, muscular thighs and a full ass that was begging for his handprints. Her middle was tapered and smooth. Aaron’s jaw dropped wide as he noted the mass of tattoos that had been hidden beneath her clothes. The phases of the moon were inked along her spine. Each moon phase was surrounded in corresponding runes and an array of constellations decorated her skin from hip to neck. He ached to run his fingers along the darkly decorated flesh. Her hair was shorter in the back, and with her body twisted sideways he could just make out the silhouette of her breasts. They were small, perfect teardrops with nipples that hardened the second she looked his way. He licked his lips, imagining what it would feel like to suck the peaked flesh into his mouth and roll his tongue over the bud.
The moon cast them both in light, allowing Aaron to make out every detail of the stranger. She turned fully to face him and Aaron decided then and there that she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid eyes on. She took steps toward him, closing the space between them.
“Who are you?” he asked, his voice thin. She smiled and his heart liquified, running through his ribs and pooling at his feet.
“Clove.”
Clove. The most beautiful name for the most beautiful girl. He reached a hand out, tucking a strip of blue hair behind her ear.
“Aaron,” he offered as they gazed into each other’s souls. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, his wolf uttered one unmistakable word.
Mine.
Clove’s wolf roared it back and they both gasped. Stars flashed behind his eyes and the urge to touch became too strong to deny. He closed the distance between them, burying his fingers in her hair and pulling her body flush against his. Their lips sank effortlessly together, as if they were made for each other. The tart remnants of lemon and liquor lingered on her tongue. He explored her, driving his own tongue inside, loving the way she moaned into his mouth.
Alcohol still burned through his system, making everything feel like a dream state. He couldn’t even be sure this was really happening.
Clove’s hands dipped beneath his shirt. She slid her fingers along his stomach and up his chest. Aaron grasped the hem and pulled it over his head, letting his hat drop to the ground with the heap of fabric. His hands explored her flesh, tracing his fingertips along her spine. Clove unbuckled his belt, pulling it aside and popping his jeans open. He kicked out of his boots, letting his lips explore Clove’s neck. She cried out as he bit down on her pulse and his cock jerked with need. His hands met hers as he pushed them aside and took control, shoving his jeans and boxers down. Freeing himself from the clothing until they were both laid bare before each other.
