Chapter 190
The heat was unbearable. Even inside the packhouse, where the walls were thick and shaded, the air felt suffocating. Sweat clung to my skin, and I could feel my clothes sticking to me uncomfortably. The heatwave had settled over the territory like a thick, oppressive blanket, and it didn’t seem to be letting up anytime soon.
Sophie had already declared war on the sun, dramatically flopping onto the couch and refusing to move, while Fatima had gone to the kitchen, attempting to make some kind of iced drink that wouldn’t melt within seconds. The twins were in their nursery, the coolest room in the house, surrounded by enchanted ice packs to keep them comfortable.
I, however, was suffering.
Standing by the open window, I fanned myself uselessly, hoping for a breeze that never came. My hair was damp at the nape of my neck, and my tank top and shorts felt like they were trapping the heat against my skin instead of providing any relief.
“I swear, I’m melting,” Sophie groaned from the couch. “This isn’t normal! Maybe we should go live in the forest like animals until this is over.”
Fatima walked in with a tray of drinks, her hair a frizzy mess from the humidity. “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”
Sophie sat up slightly. “No, think about it! It’s probably cooler out there under all the trees.”
I shook my head, taking one of the icy drinks and pressing it to my forehead before taking a sip. It was sweet and cold, but it melted almost instantly in my mouth.
“The lake would be better,” I murmured.
Sophie gasped as if I had just discovered the meaning of life. “Ayla! You’re a genius! The lake!”
I blinked at her. “I didn’t suggest going—”
“It’s perfect! The water is probably cool, and there’s shade, and we can just float until this stupid heatwave decides to leave.”
Fatima raised an eyebrow. “I’m not floating in a lake. Do you know what kind of things live in lakes?”
Sophie crossed her arms. “Do you know what kind of things live in this packhouse? Me. And I’m suffering.”
I laughed, but honestly, the idea was starting to sound tempting.
“I mean…” I hesitated. “It’s Jake’s private lake, though.”
Sophie waved a hand dismissively. “And? It’s not like he’s using it.”
I considered it. Would Jake be mad if I went to cool off in the lake? He wasn’t even here right now—he had gone off on pack business earlier. Besides, I was dying in this heat.
Finally, I gave in. “Fine. But if we get caught, I’m blaming you.”
Sophie grinned. “Deal.”
The lake was everything I needed it to be. The water was refreshingly cool, the shade from the trees provided relief from the relentless sun, and for the first time in hours, I felt like I could breathe again. Sophie and Fatima were still deciding on what to wear to the lake ,honestly I didn't have time for all that I needed to cool down fast.
I waded into the water, sighing in relief as the chill ran over my heated skin. It felt heavenly, and for a moment, I just floated on my back, letting the water carry me.
I had no idea how much time had passed, but I was so caught up in the tranquility of the moment that I didn’t notice the approaching presence.
Until I heard a low voice from the shore.
“You’re in my lake.”
I gasped, nearly sinking as I whipped around. His Lake? How dramatic.
Jake stood at the edge of the water, arms crossed over his chest, his expression unreadable.
My heart hammered in my chest.
He looked… good. He always did, but right now, with his shirt slightly damp from sweat, his dark hair messily pushed back, and his piercing gaze locked onto me, he looked—
Focus, Ayla.
I swallowed. “It’s hot.”
His lips twitched slightly, but he didn’t smile. Instead, he tilted his head slightly, eyes trailing over me in the water.
“Why are you out here alone?”
I crossed my arms over my chest, feeling self-conscious. “It’s just a lake, Jake. It’s not like I’m stealing your bed.”
His gaze darkened slightly at that. “If you were stealing my bed, I would’ve noticed much sooner.”
My breath caught.
I didn’t know if it was the heat or the way he was looking at me, but my skin felt like it was burning for an entirely different reason now.
Then, to my absolute horror, he started unbuttoning his shirt.
“What are you doing?” I asked, panicked.
He smirked. “Cooling off.”
I turned around quickly, facing the water. “You—you can’t just—”
I heard the splash of him entering the lake, and my entire body tensed. I knew I should move, swim away, do something, but I was frozen.
“Ayla.”
His voice was closer.
I swallowed, keeping my back to him.
I turned my head slightly, just enough to see him. He was in the water now, bare-chested, droplets running down his skin.
It wasn’t fair.
He looked entirely unaffected, while I was struggling to breathe properly.
I needed to leave.
But when I moved to swim away, he was suddenly in front of me, blocking my path.
I gasped. “Jake—”
His hand reached out, brushing a wet strand of hair from my face. His thumb barely grazed my cheek, but it sent a shiver down my spine.
He was too close.
I could feel the heat radiating off him despite the cool water, and when I looked up, his eyes were burning into mine.
“I told myself I wouldn’t do this...again,” he murmured, voice low.
My heart pounded. “Do what?”
His fingers trailed down my arm, a barely-there touch that still made my skin erupt in goosebumps.
“This,” he whispered.
Then his hand slid to the small of my back, pulling me against him.
I barely had time to gasp before his lips were on mine.
The kiss was slow at first, almost hesitant, as if he was fighting something within himself. But then I responded—my hands gripping his shoulders, my body pressing closer—and the hesitation shattered.
His arms wrapped around me fully, deepening the kiss, and I lost myself in the sensation.
The world around us melted away—the heatwave, the lake, the entire pack. There was only Jake, only the way his lips moved against mine, the way his hand splayed across my back, keeping me against him as if I might disappear.
When we finally pulled apart, I was breathless.
Jake’s forehead rested against mine, his breathing just as uneven as mine.
“I don’t know how to do this,” he admitted quietly.
I swallowed. “Neither do I.”
His grip on me tightened slightly. “But I can’t stop.”
I closed my eyes. “Then don’t.”
His lips found mine again, and for the first time, I stopped fighting it.
For once, I let myself have this.
Even if I wasn’t sure what it meant.
Even if tomorrow, everything might change.
For now, I just wanted to feel him inside me again.
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