So this is unexpected? I hadn't planned on writing up a new fluff piece but I sat down at the table last night and the idea just came to mind.
Anyway, I hope you guys like it. Enjoy! :D
xx
SSC
Holding hands.
Ariel Carden never gave much thought to such an act. She had passed young and old couples indulging in such an act many times, even little children. She understood it was just a way to remain close, not lose one another, and be aware of one another.
But holding hands with Stiles Stilinski, made her realize things were not as they appear to be.
It was the warmth, the security, the love. All expressed in one simple thing as the weaving of fingers. She could feel the pulse beneath his skin, beating against her own. His palms tended to sweat when he was nervous, but she didn't mind. She rather reveled in it, she knew it was perverse to find pleasure in his anxiety, but she did. He didn't sweat much anymore though, his hand was surprisingly calm and warm, wrapped lovingly around hers.
She glanced down at their tight grip. His hand was bigger in comparison to hers. She always thought she had large hands for a girl but they were actually slender and long. His were deft, with wide palms and strong capable fingers. She could feel the calluses when he subconsciously stroked the top of her hand with his thumb. His skin was harder along the base of his fingers. She knew it was from all of his Lacrosse practice and the way he held the shaft.
Held, she loved the way he held her. Ariel knew there was no where she felt safer than in his arms. Wrapped up in his warmth, and pressed against his chest where she felt his beating heart. He was so real, real to the point it terrified her at times. Real things all had the same inevitable end in her world and she couldn't imagine a life without him.
All these deep thoughts were brought on by the simple act of holding hands, and walking to Scott McCall's house.
"You okay?" His gentle voice brought her out of her thoughts.
"Hm?" She looked to him, blinking quickly under the inquiry of his honey brown eyes "Yes of course, why do you ask?"
Her smile was genuine but the alertness of it made him grin "You've been weirdly quiet, I mean I know that's your forte and everything, but we passed by several people and you didn't feel the need to presume things."
She followed the direction his eyes darted to, he was right. They had passed by several occupants of Scott's neighborhood and she hadn't noticed once. She glanced at the fallen, amber leaves along the side walk, with a vague interest. It was autumn, the cold didn't bother her but the season did give her an excuse to wear her beanie again. She paired her signature head wear with a pair of charcoal skinny jeans and her long sleeved stripped sweater.
Stiles wore a plain grey shirt with his usual red plaid over shirt and his blue jeans. She adored how he delectably tousled he was. Her gaze lingered on his thick mane of brown hair, the sun kissed the bristled ends, highlighting them handsomely.
"Sorry." She murmured squeezing his hand lovingly "I was in my thoughts."
"Are you nervous?" He asked deciding to take a guess. She regarded him with her striking blue eyes.
"About?"
"Going over to Scott's?"
"I've met Scott before." She pointed out flatly. Stiles smiled and lifted their joined arms up and over her head. Curiously she allowed the movement and watched as her right arm was forced across her chest, until their interlocked hands rested against the outer area of her left arm, and she was hugged into his side, under his arm. Ariel couldn't help but smile. She liked the new half embrace as they walked, she felt cherished.
"Yes but this time there will be interactions where you might have to do things beyond your comfort zone." He commented sweetly with his lips pressed against the top of her head.
"Ah yes." She couldn't help but utter, raising her gaze up to meet his. "I'll take my inspiration from you. After all you did something beyond your comfort zone yesterday evening."
Stiles pouted just at the thought of their adventure on her beloved tree, the day before. Despite having climbed the tree before, Stiles was still wary. Especially when Ariel suggested they take a different route to reach the top, a much trickier route. Which resulted in him falling two feet to the ground, right on to his derriere, he remembered rolling around in pain for a good five minutes.
"Don't remind me, my back aches at the thought of your experiment." He grumbled, suddenly aware of a dull throbbing near his tail bone. He was lucky nothing had broken and Ariel's touch had relieved most of the ache.
He felt something cold press against the hollow space under his ear. He shivered instinctively as the skin she nuzzled her nose against immediately heated.
"I rewarded you most generously, did I not?" She purred with that velvety smooth voice of hers that made his stomach flip with want. He suddenly found himself wishing they were walking the other way, heading back to his bedroom.
"That you did b—"He stopped and pressed his lips together, tightly. Ariel didn't see his abrupt nervous expression. However she did hear the catch in his words. He quickly dissolved his apprehensive look when she looked to him.
"What?" She asked.
"Hm?" He uttered, trying to seem aloof as they their walking pace slowed. He averted his attention to the roof top of Scott's home. They were only steps away from reaching his yard.
"You look like you wanted to tell me something." She pointed out immaculately. He looked to her, stumbling to find an excuse.
He knew what he wanted to say, or was about to say. It has been a reflex for a while now, one that he had been desperately trying not to reveal.
Babe, a simple one syllable word the kept rising to the tip of his tongue whenever she was around. It was a doting term for a loved one, but he's never uttered it before and he worried he would be too awkward saying.
Or worse, Ariel not liking it.
"Nothing, we are here." He quickly announced at an attempt to distract her. Her gaze narrowed perceptively but she didn't complain and turned her attention to the hickory painted door of the McCall household.
Stiles brought her out from under her in a twirling motion that brought the smile back onto her face. They were back to just holding hands and standing at the steps of the house. He reached over and pressed on the doorbell, they could hear the ring echo within.
Ariel heard the heavy patter of eager stomping steps against hollow wood that grew louder until they abruptly seized behind the door. Then the door handle twisted and the entrance swung open, revealing a smiling face she wasn't expecting.
It was a woman, five foot six in height with a tan complexion similar to Scott McCall's. In fact, she even shared his dark hair, except her locks were a mess of wrung curls held back in a high pony tail. Ariel took in the nurse's kind eyes and motherly smile and deduced this was Melissa McCall. Ariel had seen her before once, when she was at the hospital, of course Ariel wasn't about to mention that.
"Hey Stiles, I was just about to head out. Scott's upstairs." The nurse suddenly took notice of the tall, beautiful girl with the striking blue eyes, standing beside Stiles and holding his hand.
"Who is this?" She asked. Her smile wavered for a moment from being stunned by the colour of Ariel's eyes.
"This is Ariel, my girlfriend." Stiles introduced, gesturing an open hand at the she-wolf.
"Oh hi." Despite the outstretched hand intended for a handshake, the shock intensified on the young mother's face.
"Hello Mrs. McCall." Ariel greeted, politely accepting her hand and shaking it firmly.
"Wow you are pretty." Melissa murmured in a daze the startled the ones that heard it. Stiles grinned at the bashful way the alabaster skin of Ariel's face turned a bright shade of pink. It was most charming. He wanted to kiss her right then and there.
"Thank you." She responded meekly. Melissa cleared her throat and released the teenager's hand, feeling like she had embarrassed herself.
"Scott told me Stiles has a girlfriend but I just couldn't believe it." She chuckled nervously while rubbing the back of her heard. Ariel was confused by this and glanced between Melissa and Stiles.
"Why?" She asked, with a tilt of her head.
"Well you know..." The nurse trailed her words to a silence while making a motion of her hands, gesturing to Stiles. The young man stood grinning mutely, thoroughly enjoying how uncomprehending Ariel was.
"I don't understand." Carden stated, her words soft and honest. Melissa pressed her lips to a tight line, at a loss for words as she took in the pretty girl's wrinkled forehead. A clear sign that Ariel was not aware of Stiles's awkward social conduct, that Melissa found charmingly irritating.
"SO, I should go." Melissa announced startling them. Ariel and Stiles quickly stepped aside as Melissa brushed past them .Stiles heard her distinctly utter "Before I further embarrass myself."
Ariel obviously heard this too and a look of trepidation scrunched up her appealing features. Scott suddenly appeared. He was laughing, having heard the entire awkward exchange.
"I am so sorry I didn't mean to embarrass your mother." Ariel apologized looking to the True Alpha.
"No its fine, she meant it in a good way." Scott tried to assure her with a flippant laughing smile. Ariel was not assured, she turned to Stiles. He could only smile dotingly at the conflict in her startled gaze, since she was rarely so expressive. He glanced at Scott to find he had turned away and was heading towards the stairs. Stiles took that as a chance to reel her in with an arm around her waist and then placed a sweet kiss to the side of her face.
"I'll explain later." He whispered furtively. Ariel frowned but nodded accepting the request for an answer later.
"Hey Ariel, you've met Isaac right?" Scott introduced her immediately to the lanky teenage boy in his room. Isaac was dressed in a crimson band tee and a comfortable pair of grey, cotton pants. His smile was almost shy as he extended a hand for her to shake.
"In passing." Ariel responded, returning his smile and shaking his hand. She dropped her hand back to her side before looking to her boyfriend. "Stiles told me you were after my head."
Scott gaped in disbelief, Isaac's ear immediately pinked.
"I said out for blood—not that it makes the situation any less awkward." Stiles grumbled from beside her, she grinned.
"Ha-ha yeah. In my defense you did a good job in pretending to be on their side." The tall male uttered, nervously palming the back of his neck.
"Yes, but it's fine. It's good to be ambitious."
"Yeah..." It took a while for the subtle insult to sink in, the moment it did, he was very confused. "Wait, what?"
"So!" Stiles quickly cut in, slapping his hands together in a demand for attention. "What are we going to bond over?"
They all stood at the center of Scott's room. He had set up his TV with his black Xbox on the carpeted floor, in front of it. His black bean bag and a few cushions were placed in a circle, facing the television screen. A bowl filled with popcorn, a pack of Dorito's and four glasses plus a tall bottle of Coke. They were all on a tray beside the bean bag, ready to be consumed.
"I have the new Halo game." Scott announced to Stiles before looking to Ariel. "Do you like video games, Ariel?" He asked, kindly.
"I went to the arcade with Stiles once, which was entertaining." She reminisced casually.
"You took her to the arcade? Where was I, dude?" Scott asked with an unmistakable pout tugging at his lips. Stiles stilled under the scrutiny of Isaac, Scott and Ariel.
"It was during the holidays, you were busy with catching up." Stilinski quickly stammered out his excuse.
"Oh...still. I can't believe you didn't tell me man."
"Yeah Stiles, you could have invited him." Ariel added. The guilt instantaneously left his expression as he reeled around to face his girlfriend.
"Excuuuuuse me?" He drawled out dramatically. His actions immediately tugged at smile at her lips. Her glittering eyes disarmed him a little. "Did you not jump out of a window the first time you met Scott?"
She blinked in realization, his words dawning on to her "Right, sorry about that." She tilted to the side, looking past Stiles and to his best friend "That was rude of me."
Scott grinned and shrugged, dismissing her culpability directly. She averted her attention to Stiles.
"Also I am sorry I toyed with your pressure point."
"My what?" He demanded, like he had misheard her.
"Right before I left, I kinda pressed on a spot on your neck to knock you out. I didn't want you following me." Stiles knew what she was implying when she mumbled left. She was referring to the kiss. He found it adorable that she was bashful at the mention of it. Other than that, her statement cleared up a lot of questions from that night.
"OH, that explains a lot." He mused mainly to himself "I thought I fainted."
Isaac snorted, stifling his laughter behind a clenched fist. Scott was amused but not surprised.
"That does sound like you." The alpha uttered. Stiles rolled his honey-brown eyes before directing a sneer at his friend.
"Thanks." He grumbled, sardonically.
"Pressure point, on the neck?" Isaac echoed looking to Ariel. She nodded in acknowledgement. They all looked to her curiously.
"It's from a Chinese martial art called Dim Mak. Of course I am not fluent in the practice. I only know a little because I was fortunate enough to meet a member of the Buddhist wolf tribe." She explained in her usual calm and controlled voice. Stiles knew from the doe-eyed looks Scott and Isaac directed at her, they were both a little entranced. It reminded him of the time when he was just getting accustomed to her presence. Still, Stiles couldn't help but admit he continued to be spellbound by her.
"That's so cool." Scott droned out, subconsciously.
"I kinda wanna see you do it." Stiles added.
"Me too." Isaac chimed in.
"One of you should volunteer." Stiles suggested looking to Scott and his roommate.
"Not it." They both announced simultaneously. The True Alpha was but a second ahead of the lanky boy beside him.
"Damn it." Isaac cursed as Scott grinned in triumph. Heaving a heavy sigh, he turned is clear blue eyes on to the she-wolf.
"Do it." He said.
"Are you sure?" Ariel asked, uncertainly. She did not understand the amusement in rendering someone unconscious for no immediate gain.
"Heck yeah." Stiles exclaimed before Isaac could. She rolled his eyes at his antics. With lightning fast reflexes she reached up and pressed on the juncture where his neck met his shoulder. Isaac's body immediately went limp as his eyes rolled to the back of his head. Scott quickly caught the male, under his arms before he collapsed on to the floor.
"Cool!" Stiles and Scott chimed simultaneously.
"How long is he going to be out for?" Scott asked reminded of his usually attentive ways as he dragged Isaac over to the seating in front of the TV. He pushed his body, back first on to the bean bag. Isaac didn't even stir from the impact and continued to sleep with his head tilted to a side.
"A couple of minutes." Ariel answered confidently. Stiles and Scott exchanged contemplative looks.
"Let's set up the Xbox while we wait."
Ariel was perturbed by the strangeness of it all. She understood that in a way, she would never truly understand what went on in the minds of men. Considering she had her own pair to deal with back at home.
"...and you fire with this." Stiles completed his tutorial on the many buttons on Scott's, black Xbox controller. Ariel held her own device in her steady hands as she tried to locate the right trigger button under the object. "Got it?" He asked her, attentively, she nodded.
They sat side by side, their rear ends cushioned on the plush square pillows. Scott was busy selecting the location in the Halo menu. Scott sat in between Ariel and, the still unconscious Isaac on his side.
"Yes, so we are playing in a team?" Ariel asked looking to her boyfriend.
"Yup." His head bobbed up and down enthusiastically "Isaac and Scott, you and I. Ever played capture the flag?"
His answer was a wide shake of her head, he smiled in adoration.
"I'll put that on the list." He murmured lovingly, coaxing a smile from her lips. Stiles leaned closer to her, rubbed his thumb under his nose quickly before starting to explain. "Basically they have a flag in their base, we have on in ours and the object is the get theirs before they get ours."
Ariel was listening intently, but her mind skipped over a few words that left his lips. She was a little too distracted by his expressive hands and the shape his mouth made when he spoke.
"Sounds logical and we have to work together right?" She inquired.
"Yup, don't worry, you are with a pro." He stated with a proud lift of his chin, she smiled in amusement.
"Scarf's too tight!" Isaac abruptly yelled out, startling everyone. He woke himself up with his arm flailing. He sat up on the bean bag, alert and his hair sticking up at random ends.
"Great, you are up. I was worried I would have to hold the fort by myself." Scott said. He gave his friend a brotherly pat on the back before looking over Ariel and at Stiles.
"Five minutes." He announced, gesturing an open palm towards the sheriff's son. His fingers were flexing in an insistent manner in his direction. "Pay up Stilinski."
Grumbling and muttering in gibberish. Ariel watched as Stiles made jerky movements and reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded five dollar note. He slammed the currency down on to the True Alpha's hand.
"Damn it." He cursed as Scott giddily stretched the ends of the rectangular piece of paper.
Ariel had a fun day. Despite not being the best at Halo—which didn't set very well with her competitive nature—She enjoyed spending time with Stiles and his friends. Even if most of the time was spent defeating an alien race. She finally knew what the Banshee, Megra was referring to.
They were walking back to the place Stiles's house, their hands interlocked again. Stiles began to explain the incident with Melissa.
"She meant it jokingly because I am the socially awkward weird one and she didn't think I would find someone who could tolerate my sarcasm." Stiles expressed with a casual lift of his shoulders. Ariel could tell he accepted his quirks and she loved that about him. He wasn't abashed in the slightest when Melissa had pointed them out with ease.
"Oh, I didn't get that." Ariel mused while nodding understandingly. "So qualities I find attractive in you, they don't feel the same way?"
Stiles looked to her, his eyes wide in amazement. The corners of his shapely lips were curved upwards in the beginning of a smile.
"You think my sarcasm is attractive?" He wondered, his ears reddening, but that could be from the cold.
"Yes." She stated factually with a hint of a smile on her face "But that's just my opinion."
"Yeah well it's the one that matters." He insisted eliciting a large grin from her which prompted him to chuckle bashfully.
"The incident does prove a theory I read in a book." Ariel deliberated her gaze a far as they walked.
"Which book?" Stiles asked, regarding her with his gleaming eyes.
"The title eludes me." She began, with a hapless shrug of her shoulders. "Apparently the person you are in love with just walks in a different light to how other people perceive them."
Stiles stilled immediately and he was pretty sure, for a moment, his heart did too.
"What?" He was surprised by the volume in his voice, because he felt breathless.
"Yeah, I thought that was strange at first but it makes sense now—"
"You love me?" He cut into her rambling, his voice trembled in uncertainty.
Ariel froze and stiffly turned her profile to face him.
"Yes." She stated quickly. His eyes widened, he hadn't realized he had been holding his breath until he felt the air fill his lungs again. Seeing the obvious vertigo on his face, Ariel peered at him cautiously.
"Is that okay?" She asked meekly.
"YES!"He exclaimed, his leaping form startled her. "I mean it's great I—" He abruptly grasped her by the shoulders and pulled her towards him "You know I feel the same right?"
She smiled at his enthusiastic nature and nodded calmly "I know."
"How—"His ears suddenly reddened at the recollection of his frantic confession, that night she came over after missing for three days. "You heard me that night didn't you?"
"I did." She said, smiling widely.
"Why didn't you say anything?" He asked his hold on her softening. The honey-eyes paired with his pouting lips made her insides melt. She reached out and gently cupped his face in her hands.
"You were already hysterical and mad. I didn't want to add embarrassed to the list." She said kindly. His gleaming, pearly white smile and glittering darling eyes made her heart thud loudly.
"You really do love me." He uttered almost in disbelief before leaning forward and capturing her lips ardently. Ariel lips curved in to a smile against his mouth, until the heat of his body made her relax into the kiss. Her arms wrapped around his wide shoulders as Stiles pulled her further into his hold, his own strapping arms curving over her back. Ariel wondered if she could ever get enough of his soft lips and the lock and key fit of their bodies.
Ariel loved the way he could just wrap her in his arms and will away the world around her.
They were equally winded when the kiss ended, but they remained close. Stiles continued to smile like a love stuck teenager. His fingers combed through her hair, curving the thick, soft strands behind her ears.
"So, do you have to go home just yet?" He asked nuzzling his nose against her cheek. She smiled at the playfulness of his actions.
"What do you have in mind?" She responded, looking to him with her lightning blue eyes.
"I just don't want the day to end." He murmured earnestly, resting his forehead against hers. Her head bobbed in a lazy agreement, she didn't want to go home either. But the sun was starting to set behind them, past the row of houses in the neighborhood they stood in.
"You know there is one thing we have yet to try that I've always wanted to." Ariel mused thoughtfully. Stiles leaned back, taking in her pondering expression. His eyebrows were raised in curiosity at the mischievous grin she flashed him.
"Oh...wh-what's that?" Stiles resisted the urge to face-palm, why did he have to be so gauche?
Ariel continued to beam up at him.
"You are going to have to press a little harder on the gas pedal." Stiles insisted as Ariel drove his jeep on the long stretch of road. He was reluctant at first but Ariel never usually asked for anything. Well she did, but when it came to him, she usually got her way.
"It's tedious to change gears in this." She grumbled while trying to shift into fifth gear and struggling to do so. The device groaned and grunted rebelliously. Stiles reached over and quickly pushed the mechanism for her.
"Don't be afraid to be a little rough."
"Oh?" She murmured coyly, he blushed.
"You know what I mean."
"Do I?" She wondered wickedly, her eyes a gleam.
Normally he would have encouraged her flirtatious ways, but he was a little nervous. She hadn't looked at the road in over ten seconds.
"Keep your eyes on the road." He ordered.
"There is no one approaching us, don't you trust me?" She retorted, steadying her hands on the leather steering wheel.
"Of course I do, just...this is my baby." He cooed, stroking the dashboard affectionately. "I wouldn't want her to get hurt."
"Her?" She echoed disapprovingly, slowly turning her attention back on to the road.
"I see." She muttered under her breath. Stiles did not miss the bitterness in her tone "Seems like I have competition."
For a minute he worried that she was earnestly upset. But then a sudden smile took over her beautiful face and she abruptly released her hold on the steering wheel.
"Look, no hands."
"Ariel!" He shrieked, hurling his body in her direction and planting his hands on the wheel. Her velvety laughter chimed at his spastic reactions.
Stiles was extremely relieved once they had parked at their favourite spot at the oak tree. He felt a little more at ease now that he could unbuckle his seat belt again. She turned off the engine and leaned back into the driver's seat.
"I have something for you." Ariel suddenly announced. Stiles sat up, intrigued as she began to rifle through her pant pocket.
"Here."
It was a paper bat, folded into shape using a matte black card. Stiles accepted it and held it between his fingers, pinching at the sharp edges of its wings and to its tiny point ears. It was small, barely palm size.
"This is so cool. I can't believe you made this." He laughed out in amazement. Ariel grinned, happy by his exuberant response.
"Oh wait!" Ariel watched as he tugged at the end of the shirt and swiftly pulled off a loose string. She observed, keenly as he began to wrap the thin cotton string around and under the bat's body.
"Any chance you can make a bigger one that I can hang up in my room? Or like a lot that I could paste around, it would look like the bat cave." He asked while tying the string into a knot and leaving nine centimeters of access thread.
"I think it would take a lot more than several origami bats to make your room look like the bat cave." Ariel replied gently, she was entranced by his hands again.
"Yeah you are right. I should invest in some more computers, make it all tech savvy. Maybe even hire a British butler." He chuckled at the last part, amused by his own wit. He took the bat and tied the other end of the string behind the rear-view mirror.
He released the bat and watched it swing back and forth. His light brown eyes followed the movement for a moment, a soft smile played at his lips. He glanced at Ariel and was startled to find her watching him.
"What?" He asked, bewitched by the plasma blue of her eyes.
Her attention dropped to his mouth for a moment and he was suddenly aware of the surface of skin.
"You are very strange, Stilinski." She whispered in that silken way that coaxed his heart to race. Despite the lack of light, he saw the trace of her pupils, they were blown and dark.
"Strange turns you on, huh?" He murmured, leaning closer to her side.
"On you it does."
He scoffed out a laugh, utterly charmed by her response. "That's a good answer."
He murmured playfully before kissing her with drugging depth. Ariel replied with equal fervor. He cupped the side of her face, thumbing the length of her jaw line. She moved into his body, or at least tried to.
Her hands moved up to clench his head of hair. His hands moved down the length of her neck, reaching for her waist. He groaned in disappointment, she was too far away.
His moan reverberated through her, igniting her senses. Ariel shifted her position and Stiles moved with her. She rose up and progressed to him. Her long legs crossed over the dashboard, one after the other.
Stiles accepted her with open arms. He was quick to get accustomed to her change in position. Her knees buried into the sides of his seat as she straddled his waist, their mouths never separating.
He steadied his wide hands on her thighs. They traveled up hips and under her waist, pushing up her band-tee in the process. Ariel's lips left his so she could raise her arms above her head. Desperate to feel her supple mouth on his again, Stiles eagerly yanked off the garment before capturing her lips once more.
"You are okay right? I mean it's not too cramped right?" He asked cautiously, despite being breathless and trying not to be distracted by her hands that were crawling under his shirt.
"It's very cramped." She responded equally winded "But I kinda like the restriction."
"Me too. That's weird right?" He questioned, meeting her gaze and tucking a loose strand of her hair behind her ear.
She shrugged "I don't know."
"Me neither."
They resumed kissing ardently. She pushed his red-plaid shirt off his shoulders. Her body quivered when his warm hands pressed into her naked flesh.
"You are wearing the easy bra today. Yay." She stilled, perturbed and confused by his words. She leaned back and settled on to his lap, her scrutinizing gaze falling on to his face. His lips were puckered and at the absence of her mouth, his lips twisted uncertainly.
"Easy bra?" She echoed. A sheepish smile took over his cute face. He wasn't very subtle when he glanced at her breasts.
"I mean you are wearing the bra with the hooks in the front today. This makes this process a whole lot easier—hence the easy bra term."
"Oh, right." His word frenzy made sense. "Easy is a complimentary term for bras. I am not very fond of them. They are not comfortable."
"I agree, they are very constricting. So, let me help you with that." He added eliciting a hearty chuckle from her. He beamed up at her and cupped the side of her face and pulled her down for another kiss. Her long, soft tresses, curtained their face from the night. Her hands moved down the lean surface of his body and towards the hem of his shirt.
His lips parted, their tongue met. His caress moved up the center of her stomach, trailing up the taut line of her stomach as if it was a path for him. She flinched with want, momentarily distracted from her task by his touch alone. His other hand was on her waist, moving around to the front and she was extremely aware of the way his fingers traced the hem of her pants.
She growled low, in desire and sexual frustration from not being able to focus on stripping him. He froze and for a moment she feared she had frightened him. But then a shiver passed through him and she felt it. His kiss took a turn for the urgent, both his hands moved down to her waist, pulling at the button of her jeans.
She smiled and gripped at the end of his t-shirt when a suddenly rustling sound cut into her thoughts. She chose to ignore it, but it continued on, she was annoyed by it.
"Did you hear that?" She asked pulling her lips off his.
"My protest? Yes I do." He uttered quickly, his voice low and deep with need. Her lips parted to respond when the rustling in the forest beside them caught both their attentions.
"There is something out there." Her head craned in the direction of the window, her eyes narrowed on the darkness.
"What, who what—where?" Stiles demanded, alert.
She opened the Wrangler door, despite his objections. She climbed off his lap and stepped out into the night. Her skin prickled in reaction to the cold night. Ignoring the sensation she moved towards the forests. Her body was slouched, her bare feet pressing into the gravel.
"Ariel." She heard Stiles's harsh whisper from behind. She stopped with the intention of turning to face him, only to pause when a warm cloth was draped over her shoulders. Stiles had covered her with his plaid over shirt. She quickly thrust her arms through the sleeves and buttoned up the front of the top with careless efficiency.
"Do you see anything?" He asked from beside her, his fingers lightly gracing her wrist but not grabbing it. Stiles was used to this, he knew if they were in danger, Ariel's hands needed to be free.
"Not yet." She responded. The usual electric blue in her eyes, were now a piercing crimson. Stiles bit his lip, suppressing his complaints and followed her closely as they ventured into the forest, past the tall pine trees.
He didn't understand her need to be so curious, especially in the middle of a hot make out session. He wanted to scold her for it, but he didn't want to give away their location.
She suddenly stopped, he reacted accordingly. Her head rose up, she sniffed at the air. Suddenly her tense shoulders relaxed and she postured straightened. Stiles wanted to question her submissive reaction, but the scuffling noise was his answer.
"Ariel!" Two deep voices chimed simultaneously, making Stiles jump three feet into the air. The lankier teen fell to earth, his rear end making a hard impact with the solid ground. Aiden and Ethan emerged from the row of trees before them. They were both shirtless and in a pair of jeans.
"Wow, very manly reaction there, Stilinski."Aiden mused, teasingly. Stiles grumbled and got to his feet, patting away the dirt that had gathered on his trousers.
"What are you two doing here?" Ariel stipulated, crossing her arms over her chest, wrinkling the front of his plaid shirt.
"Surveillance, duh." Aiden answered, standing beside his brother.
"Out here?"
"Deucalion's orders. Apparently there has been word of a few other packs migrating in this direction." Ethan responded while eying Ariel's choice of clothing.
"So?" Stiles cut in, moving closer to her side "You don't own Beacon Hills."
"No, but we live here now, we can't have any more werewolves coming in and setting up camp. What if they are the unfriendly type?" Aiden answered seemingly rational. Stiles scoffed.
"Yes because when you first came here you guys were so welcoming."
Aiden and Ethan exchanged looks that seemed to agree with the lanky teen.
"This is my territory, so you can go back towards the forest." Ariel cut in, her voice was surprisingly on edge.
"And miss the show?" Aiden spoke in a chiding manner, taking a step towards her. His wicked gaze fell on Stiles. "You two stink of arousal."
"You stink in general." Ariel bit back, her posture radiated in dominance. "Leave." She ordered insistently.
Stiles smiled proudly beside him as Aiden pouted in defeat.
"You are no fun, babe."
Stiles bristled at the doting pet name.
"She is not your-"
"Yeah yeah." Aiden strutted away, dejected. Ethan lingered and turned to the couple.
"Nice shirt, it's a little too sheriff's son, don't you think?"
"You are a little too, in my face. Don't you think?" Stiles snapped. The twin did not appreciate the mockery. He wordlessly left, following his brother.
"How you live with them under the same roof, I will never know." Stilinski stated in disbelief with a pitying shake of his head.
"They are just most irritating when you are around."
"Wow that makes me feel so cherished." His voice was thick with sarcasm as he dramatically palmed his chest. Ariel smile but the notion didn't reach her lustrous eyes. They were cast down in thought.
"You okay?" He asked turning his profile to her. She snapped out of her revere and looked to him.
"Yes, sorry." She mumbled, tucking a lock of her hair behind her ear nervously. "Just, this place suddenly feels compromised." She said, her arms folding over her body "I don't like that they know we come here."
Her gaze was a far, her neck craned in the direction of the forest they emerged from.
"By them, you mean Deucalion." He asked, despite the uncertainty in his voice Stiles knew he had hit the mark. Ariel reluctantly averted her attention to him again, watching him from beneath her long lashes.
He sighed and placed a gentle hand on the curve of her shoulder. "They weren't near the tree Ariel. I mean we are a good few feet away from that area."He reminded her affectionately, his palm stroking the length of her arm, warming her skin.
"Yeah, you are right. I am being too paranoid."She muttered in agreement "This is just the only place I have that I can call my own you know?"
"Yeah I know."
She fell silent, watching him. Stiles didn't mind, he was used to her staring at him and spacing out at the same time. He used to be extremely perturbed by it but he understood now that it wasn't that she was watching him. She was using his face as pinnacle to focus when sinking into her own consciousness.
A slow lazy smile stretched at her full lips. At the sight of her grin, his smile was reflexive.
"It doesn't matter. I still have one more thing they haven't compromised." She whispered, moving into his body, her arms unwrapping from around her torso.
"What's that?" He asked, his caress drifting up her arm to grip the nape of her neck lightly.
"You, of course."
He grinned, his pearly white teeth practically vivid against the night "That actually makes me feel so cherished."
Ariel grinned and tilted up for a kiss and he met her half way. Their mouth's met in a warm, chaste kiss that soon took a turn for the zealous. He buried his deft fingers into her hair while backing up into a tree. Her back met the hard, jagged surface of the wood. She didn't hesitate to demand the removal of his top. Stiles smiled, amused by her enthusiasm and made quick work of discarding his shirt.
He shuddered. Goosebumps prickled his flesh. His skin was exposed to the cold air of the night. She palmed the breath of his shoulders and rubbed down to his chest, immediately warming him. He sighed against her lips, comforted by the tingling warmth that washed through him.
"Hey." He called softly, his hands moving down her midriff, gently plucking at the randomly joined buttons that held the material to her body.
"Isn't that my shirt?" He wondered in a teasing, dreamy murmur. She laughed and shifted her shoulders in a lazy shrug as he pushed his shirt off her body.
The material fell to the earth, pooled around her ankles. Ariel knew their constant interruptions were a starting to be irritating, but at the same time she didn't care. As long as Stiles and she got right back on track, because when she was in his arms, nothing else mattered at all.
"So waking up for school tomorrow is going to be fun." Stiles stated just as he parked the Wrangler right in front of the path to her apartment building. Ariel frowned, disliking the reminder.
"Ugh, I have to make breakfast."
"I would suggest not cooking, but I really want some sandwiches from you tomorrow." He mused fondly. She slanted a look in his direction.
"How about you make your infamous grilled cheese and ham sandwiches?" She suggested while unbuckling her seat belt and guiding the strap over her shoulder.
"Really, you want me to do that? Because I can do that." He said with an enthusiasm she wasn't expecting.
"Alright." She agreed appreciatively "Saves me the trouble. Thank you."
"You are welcome." He cooed leaning over to her side. She kissed him and he returned it ardently. Ariel had gotten into the habit of counting to seven very loudly in her mind, because she knew if she didn't, she would never leave his jeep.
She pulled back, he pouted but he didn't object. It was already an hour past midnight and he was certain his father was tapping his foot impatiently, waiting for his return.
"Night."
"Night." He responded with a dimpled smile. He watched her dazedly as she exited the car and shut the door behind her. She gave one last fleeting glance in his direction before making her way down the stone path.
"Oh wait Ariel." He suddenly called, grabbing her attention. She spun around, her eyes wide in shock.
"Yes?" She demanded in concern. He grinned sheepishly.
"I love you." He hollered without hesitation. She stilled in her approach, stunned by his confession. Then the astonishment in her expression relaxed as a soft, glittering look took over her electric blue eyes. Clearing her throat, she readied herself, and he was awaiting her response.
"I know." She stated, factually with her voice in a humorously low baritone.
His smile fell, from the grin on her face, he knew she intended on making that Star Wars reference.
"No you can't do that to me, damn you Carden!" He protested, predicting her retreat. She spun on the heel of her foot and skipped towards the apartment, her chiming laughter echoing in the night.
Stiles pouted when she disappeared behind the glass doors and into the reception. Despite the unexpectedness of it, he still couldn't help but smile at the hilarity of it all.
He turned the key of his jeep, the engine spluttered and then groaned in to life. He sighed, reminding himself to get a check up for his vehicle. He planted his hands on the steering wheel when his phone beeped. His head snapped around frantically searching for the location. He followed the sound to a space under the seat beside him.
He leaned over and felt the carpeted floor and eventually found the device. He cradled the phone in his large hand and inclined back, simultaneously. He looked at the blaring screen, Ariel was calling him.
He didn't hesitate to answer.
"Yup?" He responded, pressing the phone to his ear.
"I love you too."
His heart thudded from the velvety smooth, tone of her voice and the impact her words had on him. He was grinning so wide that his face was starting to hurt.
"Yay." He was doing a little mini dance that was unseen by her. But from the way she laughed at the other end, he figured she was picturing it.
