"So?" Tori grinned. "Was he good?"
"Tori!" I blushed.
"What?" she asked defensively.
"W-we didn't d-do . . . that."
"Oh, come on. Really?" she asked dubiously. I nodded quickly, wanting this conversation to be over with as soon as possible. "Well I guess I wouldn't want to do it in the forest either, although Wolfboy might just be kinky enough to like that sort of thing. It's not like there are a lot of options with all the people in this place. What are you waiting for?"
"For us both to be ready!" I exclaimed.
She narrowed her eyes at me. "Yeah, I guess you guys aren't the type to go for a roll in the hay the first day you get together, even if the sexual tension is so thick you could cut it with a knife. Oh well, your choice," she shrugged.
I sighed in relief, but missed her evil grin.
"But he is a good kisser, right?"
"Tori!"
"Just answer the question," she said, aggravated. "Don't you want a girl to talk about these kinds of things with? It isn't like you can talk to your Aunt about this."
I hesitated before answering shyly, "Yes."
"Oh, my god! Ok, on a scale of good to toe curling?" Tori prompted.
"Fireworks," I confessed.
"Really?" Tori's eyes bulged. I bit my lip and nodded at her. She continued to tease and taunt me until Derek and Kit walked back in.
Derek's POV
We walked a good fifty yards from the hotel, towards the woods, where I was able to keep an ear on things in case something happened, but still far enough where we felt we could talk privately. Dad's face got all scrunched up like he just ate an entire jar of ghost peppers.
"Derek, you know I trust you to make good choices, but I have to ask. Did you try to take things with Chloe to the next level?"
"No," I said, keeping my face emotionless.
"Did she try to?" he asked, completely serious. The wolf shot me images of Chloe trying to seduce me and I internally shook my head. Bad thoughts! Bad Derek!
"No," I replied calmly. Even though the wolf clearly enjoyed the thought of Chloe being dirty, I still felt the need to defend my mate's honor. "Dad, Chloe isn't like that; she's so sweet and shy and I really lo-like her." I bit my tongue and cut off my sentence, cheeks flaming.
His eyes softened as he looked at me, "Is. . . Is she your mate?" he asked finally. I dropped my gaze to the ground. "Derek," he said sternly.
"Yes." I looked up so he could see the truth in my eyes. He sighed heavily and didn't speak for a moment.
When he looked up, he said, "I am happy for you, Derek, but there are things that I have to discuss with you that I was hoping I wouldn't have to talk about for a long time," He paused, looking very anxious and awkward. "Much, much later," he muttered under his breath, but of course I heard. He took a deep breath and I steeled myself for whatever he wanted to talk about. "Derek, I know being a teenage boy comes with certain urges and I'm sure being a werewolf living with your mate doesn't help, but" he stopped himself when he saw the look of utter disbelief on my face. So much for my emotionless façade, but come on! "What?" he asked.
"Dad! If this is about what Tori said, don't even worry about it. We didn't even come close to . . . that." I tried to stop the conversation in its tracks by adding, "Can I please go back to the hotel? We shouldn't leave them alone for too long." Even though I knew I would hear if something went wrong.
"Fine, but I'm having this conversation with both you and Chloe once you tell her that she's your mate," he compromised.
I paled but answered with, "Fine" and stalked back to the hotel. When I got back, I saw a very satisfied Tori and Chloe was sitting with her head ducked down and blushing. I hadn't been listening to their conversation, being pretty occupied with mine and dad's, but now I wish I had. Chloe jumped and looked up, startled, when I sat down next to her on the loveseat. I flashed her a grin, causing all three of the rooms other occupants to gasp and Tori to almost fall out of her chair. When Simon and Chloe's Aunt came down and saw me looking at Chloe while grinning, they both looked like they were about to have a heart attack. What? I can't smile? The thought made me frown, but my lips twitched into an almost smile when Chloe grabbed my hand and laced our fingers together.
Back to Chloe...
I felt a shock run up my spine when I grabbed Derek's hand and I hoped and prayed he wouldn't pull away. When he didn't, I let myself relax into his side. H put his arm around me, earning a smile from me, a glare from Aunt Lauren, a fake gag from Tori, and shocked looks from Simon and Kit.
Derek leaned don and whispered in my ear, "When do you think they're going to stop staring?"
When his lips brushed my ear, I blushed and squirmed, practically aching to kiss him. Aunt Lauren chose then to speak up.
"Chloe, may I speak with you for a moment?" she asked through clenched teeth.
Kit jumped in and saved me, "Um, actually, Lauren, I was hoping to talk to you for a minute while the kids take a break and just watch a movie or something."
I could feel my face light up as I looked at my aunt pleadingly. She looked suspicious, but answered with, "Fine" and followed Kit outside. I jumped up to grab drinks from the boys' room and see if this place had any popcorn. They didn't. I pursed my lips and turned to go back to my room, jumping when I noticed Derek had come in after me. I glared at him and he smirked. I pouted and his eyes flickered to my lips, and, as if he couldn't help himself, leaned down to capture them in his own. Once again, kissing Derek took my breath away and made my knees feel weak.
"Come on! What's taking you so long?" Tori shouted from the other room. I tensed and Derek growled, leading me to the girls' room.
When we got back, I noticed Simon and Tori had taken up the only available chairs. Derek laid down on the couch and pulled me on top of him, causing me to blush. I was relieved to see that no one had spared us a glance, too transfixed on their movie Tori must have put on without us. For the first time in my life, I couldn't focus on the movie; I was trying to focus on the steady beating of Derek's heart to calm my own.
I think Derek must have noticed I was distracted because he leaned over to ask in a whisper, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," I answered honestly, sighing in contentment. He gave me a look that told me he understood completely and pressed his lips to mine. I gasped silently and he slipped his tongue in my mouth. He kissed me sweetly, making me dizzy with happiness. Kit and Aunt Lauren walked in, seeing me and Derek lip-locked, and freaked out.
"Okay, okay! Break it up!" Aunt Lauren said, pulling me into a seated position. I stayed curled up to Derek, but we kept our lips to ourselves for the rest of the night.