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True to her word, Elena had some very stern words with my parents when we got back. More accurately, she repeated to Mother what she'd said to me, and when Father and Jackson returned home, she told Father the same thing, before almost physically shoving Jackson and I into each other's arms so we could get in a good hug without being yanked apart. There were some sour looks, but mercifully, the gatekeeping stopped, to an extent. Mother occasionally looked like she wanted to say something, but she kept her mouth shut, probably because Elena glared at her every time she started to open her mouth. Father, thankfully, kept his mouth shut. 116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrROCDJF1x
116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZtwdloDsl
The next day, old troubles resurfaced; Gemma, who'd once been almost as close to me as my own shadow, now no longer wanted to speak to me. I suspected Pearl had gotten to her over the weekend; I'd heard naff all from her, and I got naff all from her when we ran into each other upon arrival at school. I chose to let sleeping wolves lie; if Gemma's friendship had been false because she was of a higher class than I, that was her problem, not mine. I did have other friends, and since we were of similar socio-economic status, Gemma saw us as "beneath" her, and made no attempts to try and break us apart. I'd have ripped her apart at the seams if she had. 116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UqJCnLOks
Georgia, on the other hand, still would not let it go, and when we let out at the end of the day, she confronted me as I came down the front steps. "I suppose you think you're too good for my daughter?" she sneered. 116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAdv5O2egD
I raised an eyebrow. "You've got it back to front," I said. "Your daughter's the one who thinks she's too good for me. It just proves richer folks are all the same; they think their turds don't stink because they're covered in gold, but when you peel the gold away, they stink just as much as more 'common' folks. Kindly move; you're in my way."116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmN3syAaqzn
Georgia refused to budge, until Gemma intervened. "Let's go," she said, giving me a cold look. "I'm not interested in people who try and steal my brother-in-law." Georgia sniffed, but let herself be led away by her daughter, and I rolled my eyes as I resumed my interrupted progress. 116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkP2TUE8E3K
Thankfully, I had homework and an adorable little niece, who rode on my back as I went out for a gentle run to the woods once I'd finished my homework. I took it slowly so as not to accidentally toss her off, and she squealed in delight as we passed through sun to shade and back again. When we reached the pool, I crouched down so she could slide off my back and play in the grass, and as she toddled about, I took a long drink of water before shifting back and flopping on the grass. Saffron knew enough not to wander too far, and I kept my ears pricked up as I watched the puffy white clouds go by. 116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErgEbdrH3Q
"Now there's a sight for sore eyes."116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dQCYBA6NC
I rolled over and propped myself up on one elbow, smiling as Saffron toddled across the grass into her father's arms, squealing with delight as he tossed her gently in the air before catching her again and blowing a gentle raspberry on her neck, making her giggle. Elena waited at Jackson's side, her grey-and-white fur ruffled by the light breeze, and her mate placed their daughter gently on his mate's back. "If you hurry, you might just catch some good cartoons," Jackson added, ruffling Elena's ears. She licked him on the hand before trotting off, and Jackson wandered over, dropping to the grass at my feet. "Did you miss me?"116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Htn0A7QMy
I laughed and gently tugged his hair. It was in sore need of a cut, but I didn't mind. "Like crazy," I said, half-joking, half-serious. I did miss him whenever he wasn't around, a holdover from our two-year separation, and there were times when I feared to come home and find him gone again, this time with no chance of him ever returning. Our parents were a little less gatekeep-y thanks to Elena's bollocking of the day before, but the fear was always present, and a little of it crept into my voice despite my best efforts to hold it back.
Jackson sat up and put his arms around me, resting his head on mine. "Me too," he said softly. "I didn't think I'd ever see you again. Elena is wonderful, and Saffron is a joy to me, but they could never take your place. Thankfully Elena understands; she was probably the only thing getting me through the nights, and when Saffron was born, I felt more whole." He tightened his hold. "But there was still that gap in my heart where you were, and I knew nothing would ever fill it until you were in my arms again."
I shivered as he pressed me close against him; I was getting echoes of our somewhat memorable interlude from two years ago, but I reminded myself that we had been separated for two years. It was a normal reaction for him to be want to be near me as often as possible, and truth be told, I felt the same way. So I pushed the not-entirely-uncomfortable feelings down and gave myself over to the moment, letting time flow past without worrying about what the next minute might bring. "I felt the same," I said, softly so as not to break the enchantment. "Even when I was making my plans for Jethro and I to be together, it felt as if not even winning him as my mate would fill the hole you left behind. Mother and Father hated that I never stopped caring about you, and that's why they pushed so hard for Jethro and I to be together, as if being with him could cancel my feelings for you."
Jackson tightened his hold, almost as if he wanted to pull me into him and make us one being. I wanted to be frightened, but I felt safe, and I let him hold me closer, caring nothing about anyone or anything except him. "Elena's wonderful," he whispered, "but she'll never be you, not in a million years." He placed a hand under my chin, gently tipping my face up. Any fear I had melted away when I saw the look in his eyes, a look I'd have given my soul to receive from Jethro, but never had. 116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXbqKZveL3
The kiss followed, as natural and easy as breathing, and time stopped. I could have pushed him away, as I'd tried to do two years ago when he kissed me for the first time, but this time, I didn't want to, surrendering as easily and naturally as any female surrendering to her mate, and Jackson growled low in his throat as he laid me on the grass, pressing himself full length against me, kissing me as if our very lives depended on it. I tangled my fingers in his hair, urging him to keep going and never stop, all my old fears melting away in the heat rising between us.
A distant giggle broke the spell, and I gasped, wrenching myself clear. "Shit," I groaned, pushing at Jackson. "Get off me, you idiot, move."
Jackson sat up, confusion in his eyes. "What's wrong?" he asked, offering me a hand up. I took it and sat, brushing leaves from my hair. I was still half-overtaken by desire, but the giggling cooled my ardour, and I grimaced, horrified to realise I'd been pinned under my brother without a care in the world, kissing him until neither of us could see straight. Jackson caught a glimpse of my face, and his face darkened with disappointment. "I see," he said flatly. He sighed and stood, his head tilted to the side. "They're close, but not that close. Still, we'd best be getting back to the house. Don't want the guard dogs pouncing on us, do we?" He turned and left, hands jammed in his pockets, his back stiff as a board, and I grimaced as I rose to my feet, dusting the grass from my skirt, wanting very much to break down and cry. Chaser groaned in my head. 116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ciMZcMOCp
'I know,' I snapped. 'Don't go on about it.'
'You're a bloody fool,' she chastised. 'Honestly. What the hell happened?'
I sighed as I started for the house. 'Elena and Saffron are probably playing nearby,' I said. 'Good thing for us, else they'd have busted me having sex with my brother in the middle of the woods.'116Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHNYct2Uzb
'The man is your mate!' Chaser snapped. 'If you haven't worked that out by now, then you're an even bigger fool than I thought.'
'Oh drop it,' I said crossly. 'Cmon, I'm hungry. We'll debate the merits of sex with my brother over some muffins.'
Chaser didn't retaliate as she normally would have, and I sighed again as her disappointment projected itself loud and clear. But it didn't hurt half as much as the pain in Jackson's face, and I feared that our closeness had been shattered.
And I'd have no one but myself to blame.
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