Shh, you'll wake them up!

...look so cute like that...

...take a picture?

Soft murmurs cloud the back of my mind. Maybe part of my dream?

He's waking up! Shh!

I squeeze my eyes shut with the hope they'll go away.

Shit, back up! Act natural!

Nope.

I open my eyes. There's the tv, still on. And the other couch and chair.

There's no one here. Just the empty living room.

Then I hear a soft snore as the pillow my face is laying on inflates and deflates beneath me. An arm lays across my shoulder unmoving, and when I adjust a bit, I can feel their hand on my lower back, their fingertips tucked just under the waistband of my shorts.

So I amend my statement, there is someone here: my human pillow.

I groan as I move my stiff legs. While Kal makes for a nice pillow, I've been sleeping like this for too long and I'm getting cramped up.

As I push up onto my elbows Kal shifts a little, probably awakened by my movements. His hands slide up my back and over our heads where he raises them in a feline stretch.

Then he just slumps back down with a sleepy smile aimed in my direction.

A muffled snicker echoes through the room.

Not from me... and not from Kal...

The smiles drop from our faces. I pick my head up even further to peer over the back of the couch—

To find Wren, Aster, and Ronan standing not ten feet away.

Ronan snickers again, through his fingers clamped over his mouth. The other two look far too pleased with themselves and their spying.

"What the fuck, guys?" I spit lazily. "Creepy ass spectators..." I narrow my eyes at them.

"You looked mighty cozy there," Ronan drawls.

"You feel like it too," Wren adds with pointed, shifting grey eyes.

Aster grins warmly, looking back and forth between us. "Sorry to wake you, I tried to peel them away but you know how they are," she rolls her eyes. "I stopped Ro from taking a picture though, so you're welcome."

"Would've gone straight to the blackmail file..." he mumbles grumpily.

Kal taps my arm then, and I glance down to find him blinking sleepy eyes.

"Back t'sleep... they'll go away."

I guess I'm not the only one still tired. I think the nap just made it worse instead of better.

He pulls on my shoulder, attempting to entice me back down, but a quick look over to the smirking, eyebrow-quirked trio has me shaking my head instead.

"Where's Jasper at?" I question them. "I'm surprised he's not back yet, and not ogling us too."

Wren shrugs, thankfully not catching on to the reason for my question. "Not sure."

"He's not here, in your room. If that's what you're trying to figure out." Aster knowingly comments.

Damn it. Yes, that's what I was trying to figure out, but not for the reason she assumes. I just want to go to bed.

"He's at the library studying for an exam he has tomorrow," Ro answers, to everyone's surprise. We all turn to look at him... why would he know that if the rest of us don't?

He stares back, unperturbed. "What? We text."

A silent beat later Wren whacks Ronan's arm, "You text? Since when! He barely even talks to me!"

With their attention temporarily averted, I take advantage of it to whisper to Kal, "C'mon, let's go up to bed. We'll get pins and needles if we stay like this... not to mention we're attracting a crowd."

His eyes are closed—how he's not bothered by the others, I don't know—but he gives me a little nod. He makes no move to get up though, his hand still just loosely holding my shoulder.

"Alright, fine, princess. Hold on tighter then."

He wraps both arms around my neck and legs around my waist, so when I stand up on tired legs he comes with me, clinging to me like Velcro.

I prop him up under his thighs and give my legs a moment to adjust to the new weight before setting off.

The spoiled brat plops his head onto my shoulder, but a moment later it pops back up as we pass by our friends.

"Goodniiiight, everyone."

They all turn to us like predators, finally noticing their prey again. Shit. We probably could've scooted by without fanfare if Kal hadn't drawn their attention.

He's lucky he's cute.

"And where are you two going? It's only 8 o'clock, you're going to sleep already?" Wren sweetly mocks our conversation from the other night.

Kal answers before I can. "We're going to bed."

"Oh, and is this together or separate?"

Again, he beats me to it, making me immediately dread his response. "Together." He chuckles maliciously, and I can almost picture his saccharine smile. "I'm sure ya'll would be happy to know that we're sleeping together now."

I almost drop him.

"Nooo we are not," I cough out.

He leans back suddenly so we're face to face, and the unbalanced shift makes me nearly drop him again. He gives me a half-lidded, sleepy pout. "We're not?"

"Well... I mean... yes, we are still, like, actually sleeping together—"

"Good." He props his chin back on my shoulder.

"—but not in the way you were implying—"

"Don't worry about being too loud down here guys," he interrupts to shout to the others. "I'm sure we'll be just fine sleeping through it, allll night."

Ronan lets out a faint, exaggerated sniffle behind us. "They grow up so fast."

I hasten my steps up the stairs as more snickers follow us.

I huff between breaths, "You're having way too much fun with this." Finally, the upper hallway greets us with safe, empty silence.

"Clinging to you, or teasing you? Because either way, yes." His breathy laugh ruffles the hair at the nape of my neck.

"It's fine," I sigh in defeat, "you're still half asleep and probably delirious."

"True, very true. I have zero filter right now. Which is why I can get away with shit like this..." his head shifts and I can feel his breath right on the junction of my neck and shoulder, then—

A sharp pain jolts me and molten fire races like lightning through my veins. I nearly drop him a third time as my hands burst into flames and I peel them away from his thighs in the hopes I don't burn him.

"OW! Fuck, did you just bite me??"

"Yep." He just tightens his hold around me with his limbs and doesn't even flinch as he glances at my burning hands, which I manage to extinguish almost as quick as they flared.

"What the—Why?? I didn't burn you did I?"

"Mmm," he hums noncommittally. "Just wanted to. I like your neck. And no, but I'm pretty sure I might have to borrow bottoms again since I think mine are toast."

Sure enough, when I replace my hands they meet frosty skin instead of material since I burned hand-sized holes right through them.

"I'm not even gonna apologize, that's your own fault right there. That's some alpha-hole werewolf type shit, like the stupid tropes from the books I read... people don't just do that..." I mumble under my breath, trying, and failing, to calm down my still flaring heart.

My door is finally within reach, so I wobble over to it and prop his back right up against it.

He sucks in a breath at the sudden immovable pressure, finding himself sandwiched between it and me.

I press him into the door so I can free up one of my hands. As soon as the pressure is off, it flies up to feel my neck—to make sure I'm not bleeding or something, cause damn that hurt.

"This is a fun position."

What the hell is he on about now?

Oh.

Close. We are really, really close.

I was too distracted to really notice exactly how I had pinned him against me, and with his legs wrapped around me like this, we are in a bit of a cozy situation.

My heart continues to hammer for an entirely different reason now. With our noses a mere inch apart there's no way I can miss the lopsided quirk of his lips or the way his heavy eyes survey my own face. Have his eyes always been this shade of blue?

"You look a little flustered there, hotstuff. And now you push me against the wall? Wait...did you actually enjoy it when I bit you? Kinky." His playful tone is laced with a little more gravel than usual.

"I-No. Course not." Lie. "I'm pretty sure you're just imagining things at this point."

"Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that." His eyes flick down meaningfully to where our hips are sandwiched together.

Oh, fuck the gods sideways. Why am I getting turned on by this? Why am I twitching in my shorts after he  fucking bit my neck?

Maybe it's exactly because he bit my neck... and insinuated things beyond just sleeping together to our friends... and now in our new position...

"Hey," he catches my attention again, his minty breath fanning lightly across my cheeks. Have his lips always been this shade of red?

"Wanna make out while you pin me against the wall?"

My eyes fly up to meet his, and I'm forced to resist the heat flaring in my palms again. His half-lidded eyes just reflect warm humor, which I don't find surprising given his lazy teasing. But I also catch the hint of curiosity shining there, a little too bright for someone just teasing.

"We could fulfill another one of those tropes you like reading about."

His explanation comes out rushed, making me wonder if he intended it from the beginning, or if he's just fumbling for an excuse.

I lean in.

Only the tiniest little fraction, but enough so our noses touch and both our breathing hitches. His lips part slightly, going slack.

I turn the knob and the door flies open. Kal's eyes and mouth part in a silent "oh" as he jolts backward with the sudden lack of support.

It's tempting to let him fall—he'd deserve it—but I grasp him firmly to prevent his tumble. Which, it turns out wasn't even needed since he's still clinging to me like a koala.

He recovers quickly, his wide eyes narrowing to slits and a pout forming on those red lips. "Such a tease."

I scoff. "Oh, I'm the tease? Shit, if you're like this when you're tired I don't even want to imagine you drunk."

He just blinks up at me through innocent lashes as I close the door again with my foot. 

I turn us around to shuffle towards my bed when he finally speaks up again. "Ya know, I heard lack of sleep can actually be just as bad or worse than alcohol. They both impede motor functions and logical thought."

Well, considering his actions... "Obviously," I monotone.

When my knees bump the side of the bed I release my grasp under his thighs, giving him a cue to finally let go of his clamp on me. He falls gracelessly on his back with a little "oof".

"You've got some balls to tempt me so much," I comment, shaking my head down at him as I stand between his legs.

His golden hair is messily splayed out like a sun's halo around his head. "Nah, I trust you."

He trusts me? Seriously? The guy who lights shit on fire? My hands just burst into flames right in front of him! I could've seriously hurt him and he trusts me?

Part of me wants to chew him out about it, to make perfectly sure he understands how real and scary that is. To pull out a chalkboard and outline the exact reasons he should definitely not trust me. However... It's a nice thought, to have someone say that to me—even if he shouldn't. And it's really not the right time to push the issue. So instead of arguing with him about it, I soften my words to keep up with our playful banter. "A terrible decision, really. I literally just burned through your pants and almost kissed you."

He raises an eyebrow at my admission, his lazy blue eyes dropping down to my lips for a moment. When they come back up to mine he shrugs nonchalantly. "Eh. I egged you on, I can't blame you."

He scrunches up his face then, before patting his thighs—right over the large, half-melted holes I created.

"Hmm. Now that you mention it... I had almost forgotten about these, despite the new breeze blowing on my leg hair."

I watch, mesmerized, as he lifts his hips off the mattress towards me and grips the elastic waistband to push his sweatpants effortlessly down. I have a perfect view as they slide over his tight boxer briefs, and it's not until they reach his knees that I finally pull in another breath. That's also when I realize: I'm creepily perched above him, staring as he takes his damned pants off, with a full-frontal view.

A choked noise escapes my throat as I tear my gaze away. He chuckles at my reaction, taking them fully off and dropping them on the floor, not at all embarrassed by the situation. When he sits up a bit his baggy shirt falls back down just enough to cover his trunks, but not his gloriously bare legs.

"Do you—" I clear my throat and try again, "Do you want to borrow something?"

He picks at his long-sleeved shirt, which I've noted is thinner than his usual sweaters, then flicks a foot up to check his thick socks.

"Nah, I'm good. You'll keep me warm." The apples of his cheeks perk up as he gives me a small smile, before flipping over and scooting up to the head of the bed.

I roll my eyes at his butt in the air, and at his deliberate choice to completely dodge the fact that I was talking about his lack of pants.

"Whatever," I sigh. If he's comfy sleeping like that, then why should I care? It's not like I'm one to judge a guy for sleeping in his boxers; I'm literally only wearing my shorts, as I often do. And I'm led to believe he's aware of it since he's eyed my bare torso a million times tonight. Plus we just woke up with his fingers tucked in my waistband, so I can't imagine he didn't notice the missing extra layer.

He moves the pillows around and pulls back the sheet before sliding under it, then he curls up and pouts at me still standing here like an idiot.

"Your sheets are cold," he comments, "hurry up, buttercup."

I'm glad I changed my sweaty sheets for new ones, but that means they're all crisp and fresh—which is exactly how I like them, but it's probably freezing for him. "I-Yeah. Hang on... I thought I saw an extra blanket in your closet, is it still in there?"

He nods as he blinks slowly at me. "Mhmm. It's purple. Top shelf."

I excuse myself to jet across the hall and into his room. When I get back, he's burrowed deeper into the sheet and pillow mound. I contemplate just standing there for a moment, watching him sleep all bundled in my bed with just his waves and closed eyes peeking out the top. But they crack open as the door shuts, so I pad over to him in an effort to not be a total creep.

He doesn't move as I lay his plush blanket over the top of him, he just follows my movements with his eyes. However, once I reach towards the sheet, he lifts his arm up to open a gap for me and lets out a big yawn as I climb in under the covers.

The bed hog only scoots over a tiny bit for me. It's just enough room to lay on my side to face him, so I pull myself closer to him so I don't fall off the bed... and maybe because I just want to.

He doesn't object in the least. He just turns more onto his stomach so he's leaning on me and tucks his face closer beneath mine. "Finally," he comments in my ear. "It took you long enough, I was getting cold."

I raise my brows. He's joking, right?

"Precisely why I brought you the blanket, Elsa."

"True, thanks." He doesn't comment on the nickname or any of the others I've used tonight, for that matter. A heartbeat later he adds, "It's probably a good thing you brought it because I debated biting you again in order to spike your heat and warm me up."

When I gasp, he continues quickly, "I'm not gonna! Not anymore... I debated it, I said. Between you and the blanket, I'm good. Honestly though, even if I had you probably would've enjoyed it, you freak."

I turn my face enough to catch the glint in his eyes, just visible between the locks of hair covering half his face.

"No way, I would definitely not have enjoyed that." At this point, I'm not sure if I'm trying to convince him or myself.

A smug smile pulls at the edges of his lips causing a few strands to brush the top of his Cupid's bow.

I reach up to the side of his face, and when he doesn't shy away I let my fingers glide over his cheek and nose and forehead, moving that pesky hair off his face and out of the way.

"Keep telling yourself that, Aiden. All I had to do was mention the possibility and you heated right up anyway. I almost hate to say it, because I'm savoring it, but it's actually a little hot under this blanket now."

"I-I... Shut up, idiot."

He's right. I'm overheated all over again. Well, fuck me. The smug little S.O.B. knows he caught me, too.

Fine. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right?

I run my fingers through the hair on the side of his head. "Well, see, I actually have a plan to fix that."

He looks unconvinced. "Oh?"

"It involves a little revenge." I lower my hand a bit, brushing the hair at the nape of his neck, just under his ear.

His brows draw together as I lean up on an arm and tilt in closer to him.

"What are you—"

I move in quick, opening my mouth and leaving a big flat-tongued lick on the exposed skin there.

He sucks in a breath, going still for a full second before he squeals, "Hey!"

I only pull back a tiny bit, I don't want to give him too much wiggle room in case he retaliates. In those quiet, undecided moments I run my tongue over my lips and across the roof of my mouth. I can still taste his skin on my tongue: soft vanilla and sharp peppermint and maybe a hint of sweat, which I don't mind as much as I probably should.

He doesn't retaliate though, instead he just... giggles.

He squirms slightly in my arms so I readjust, laying my head back down to meet his arctic eyes. My hand doesn't go back to his waist though. No, I'm not done quite yet.

It glides down his shoulder and past his waist, where I find the thin material covering his hip. I slide back a little, over the curve of his hip... then I grab a handful of his ass.

His eyes go wide before he lets out another fit of giggles.

I squeeze his firm cheek a couple of times, pulling him closer to me, and he relents, pressing in. All the while we're still grinning like idiots at each other, his half-lidded eyes roaming my face. 

"Revenge is so sweet," I murmur. "Ya know, it almost seemed like you were enjoying it when I licked you. Freak."

He closes his eyes, and with his nose nearly touching me, he's close enough that I can observe every faint freckle making up a constellation over his nose and cheeks.

"Well, I didn't hate it. Plus... now I get to pay you back."

I turn my head to rest against him and close my own tired eyes.

"Not tonight though," he whispers into my neck. "Too tired for those shenanigans. You'll have to take a rain check."

I'm aware he's imitating our earlier conversation, so my only lazy response is to tap his ass.

⋯━━━━━⋯   ☼   ☽   ☼   ⋯━━━━━⋯

〈 A/N 〉

Ya'll... this is my longest chapter yet.

And what's funny is that I actually never intended to write all this... I had originally planned to just gloss over them going upstairs and to bed.

But then I started writing their banter and couldn't stop... so here we are with an entire chapter of just meaningless, flirty banter and I completely love it. ♥