All Chapters of His Mate Or His Step-Sister: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

~ASHTON~The fire had burned down to embers hours ago, a dull red beneath a crust of ash. The forest around us was dark and silver, moonlight slicing through the trees. Somewhere far off, a night creature screamed—a chilling sound—and the hair on my arms lifted. I didn't move. My back was pressed to the rough bark of a tree, knees drawn up, weapon across my lap. Guard duty. That was the deal. Hazel sleeps, I watch. Simple.Except nothing was simple anymore. I was no longer a man that was sure of what he wanted or what was right from wrong. She was curled on her side two feet away, with no blankets or anything really to help keep her warm. The way she slept emphasized her breasts even more than if she were standing. Fuck. Stop staring. Her hair, tangled from days without a brush, spilled over her cheek. One hand was tucked under her face, the other stretched toward me, fingers curled.I couldn't stop looking.I'd promised myself I wouldn't. When she'd finally let her eyes close so

~HAZEL~The first thing I feel when consciousness creeps back is warmth—solid, steady heat beneath my cheek. My eyes flutter open to morning light filtering through the trees, and my heart stutters when I feel someone beneath me.Ashton.I don't even have to look up to know that it's him. He's leaning against the thick trunk of a tree, head tilted back, eyes closed. He looks almost peaceful, the sharp lines of his face softened in sleep, dark lashes fanned against his skin. One of his hands rests lightly on my arm, as if even unconscious he was keeping me safe. My heart melts once more. Only Ashton would do everything he could to protect me even while he slept. Then I realize my position: I'm curled against him, my head pillowed on his thigh. I slept the entire night like this? On Ashton's lap. I push myself up slowly, too slowly, and now I'm inches from his face. Close enough to see the faint shadow of stubble along his jaw, the way his lips part just slightly as he breathes. He

~HAZEL~ I couldn't bring myself to ask Ashton what had been burning in my chest for days. The forest had finally granted us a few quiet mornings—no surprise separation, no distant howls of whatever beasts the Soul Keepers had waiting for us, nothing crazy at all. The silence should have been mercy. Instead, it was everything but that. Every rustle of leaves, every breath he took beside me, felt magnified, like the whole world had shrunk to the space between our bodies. The silence only gave me more time to crave his nearness even more than before. I had tried everything to kill the feeling. I'd recited my own laws: step-siblings may not have feelings for each other, may not claim, may not even look too long, may not desire anything more than the ordinary. I'd bitten the inside of my cheek until I tasted iron every time his hand accidentally brushed mine during training. Tried doing a million things to preoccupy my mind. Nothing worked. My body had declared independence from my min

~ASHTON~I surged to my feet faster than I thought possible, the rough cave wall scraping my shoulder as I shoved off it. In two long strides I was over her, planting myself between Hazel and every cold, blinking red light the producers of the mate hunt had hidden in the shadows of this cave. My body cast the only shield I could give her, broad shoulders squared, feet braced wide, blocking as much of the lens' hungry view as one man possibly could.But fuck, the second I got close, her scent slammed into me like a brick. Sweet. Hot. Moist.It curled through my lungs, sank claws into my gut, and went straight to my dick like it had been starving for this exact smell its whole life. Control.I needed to find some bit of control.I staggered half a step, jaw clenched so hard it hurt. The air in the cave was earthy, but all I could breathe was her—warm honey and slick, aching need rolling off her in waves.How the hell was I supposed to stand here and pretend that didn't completely wre

~HAZEL~"Ashton?" I try once more, softer this time, almost pleading.The silence that follows feels thick enough to choke on.I should let it go. I know I should. Whatever happened last night, whatever made him flinch away from me like I'd burned him, maybe it's better to both of us if it stays buried. I need to pretend I don't notice his weird behavior . Pretend everything's normal.But when I see him, I can't. I can't pretend. It's bothering me. Because the way he's avoiding my eyes tells me it's not small. It's not nothing.He finally turns.Slowly. Like it hurts to even look my way. Whatever I'd done, it clearly had messed things up between us if Ashton was having such a difficult time looking at me. His gaze collides with mine and it steals the air from my lungs. Those eyes, always a little too intense, are darker than I've ever seen them.Burning with an intense flame. "Do you remember what you were dreaming last night?" His voice is low, rough. "Can you recall anything at