My lips pursed as I pulled the sleeping bag higher over my back. It had slipped when Ezra had moved me. I shivered, not able to stop the motion since it was so chilly.
“I’m mated,” Pearl screeched, jamming a finger against Jack’s rock-hard chest. “Gideon will kill you if he finds out what your,” her fingers waggled, “drifting digits were doing.”
I choked on a laugh, really attempting to keep it contained.
Jack’s panicky mien turned cocky and he snorted as he raised his brows, rumbling, “He could try, but you and I both know the outcome if he even twitched the wrong way at me.”
Pearl crossed her arms, her hair a chaotic mess all over her head. “I have to tell him.”
“No, you don’t,” Jack countered harshly. “We were both sleeping. I didn’t do it to you on purpose, so there’s no reason to piss off your mate because of an accident.”
Pearl snorted hard.
I sniffed the air. “He’s telling the truth.”
Pearl’s eyes closed, and after a few ticks, she grumbled, “Fine. I won’t tell him.” Her eyes slammed open and she pointed a finger. “But don’t you dare try that again.” We still had two more nights’ worth of camping here.
Jack held up his hands. “I wouldn’t dare.”
Again, I sniffed, and nodded to Pearl at her silent, questioning glance.
Sighing heavily, Pearl turned her full attention on us, eyeing our position. “What happened with you two last night?”
“Nothing,” Ezra explained, his lips twitching as he glanced to Jack. “I didn’t even have wandering digits.” More or less honest, only wandering hands. “She just shifted sometime during the night and we woke up this way.”
Jack’s blue brows rose. “Then why aren’t you two pulling away from each other?”
I could answer that one. “I’m not wearing any clothes.” All three stared and I sighed, bringing an arm out of the sleeping bag, pointing. “Can you hand me my shirt over there?”
Pearl blinked. “I can’t believe you’re modest.” She shook her head, grabbing the shirt. Tossed it to me. “Who ever heard of a Shifter that’s skin shy? Much less, the future Queen?”
“Thanks,” I griped, scowling. “Just because I don’t flash the goods to one and all, that doesn’t mean I’m weird.”
“That’s not what she meant,” Jack interjected quickly, and glanced to Pearl, who nodded in agreement. “It’s just,” he paused, features thoughtful, “new.”
“Whatever,” I grumbled, feeling self-conscious. I ducked inside the sleeping bag, pulling the shirt with me. The action made the location of Ezra’s hands on my hips alter, his fingers running up my sides as I moved down. I breathed shallowly, trying to fight my way through this lingering, unwanted arousal, but all I could smell was our dueling scents under here. It didn’t help matters that his ginormous erection was now against my breasts, his private bit jumping with my movements, his fingers tightening on my bare flesh as I fumbled with the shirt.
Jack muttered, “We’re all wearing more clothes tonight or I’m sleeping elsewhere.”
“And face the wrath of your next play thing?” Pearl asked sarcastically while, from the sound of it, rummaging in her bag.
The crack of a zipper being jerked open unleashed as Jack probably started going through his own. “That would be preferable to screwing up the best friendships I’ve ever had.”
I stilled, arms all askew in dressing.
“What I mean is…” Jack sputtered. “I meant that…”
“I know what you mean,” Ezra spoke softly, his body vibrating under me. “I’m man enough to say, you guys are the three best friends I’ve ever had.”
I sniffed, scenting truth.
There was a quiet pause, and then Pearl murmured softly, “Same with me. I love Gideon. He’s my always, but as far as true friendships go,” she cleared her throat, “I’ve never met three people I click with better.” She paused, but after a moment, added hesitantly, “You guys get me. Get what it’s like to be me, and I get the three of you, too.”
Seeing as it was truth time, I unfroze, yanking the shirt over my head, and muttered, “Same back at you guys. Dominic, I loved. But, he never would have been able to fill the place in my heart you guys do.”
Ezra squeezed my sides before helping me pull the shirt down.
Jack cleared his throat as I peeked my head back out of the sleeping bag, his words firm, even if his cheeks were slightly flushed, as he said, “Well, if we’ve got that all cleared up, let’s not screw it up again.”
We nodded. Pact made.
Chapter Nine
Christmas came…and went…
New Year’s came…and went…