Atoning (Darkness Rising 3.1)

"That would be a spoiler."

"Um, you haven't let me use it in two weeks. I kinda know you added holds."

"Maybe I was adding something else."

"Seriously?" She grinned at him. "What?"

"Spoiler."

She kept needling him as we walked. When she saw where we were heading, she said, "The climbing ridge is that way."

"Yep, and your first present is this way."

"At my house?"

"Yep."

We stepped from the woods to see Ash awkwardly sitting on the low front step of the rehab shed. Or it looked like the rehab shed. There was an entire second room on the back along with an external wire-covered run.

"You..." Maya stared at Ash. "You did..."

He shrugged. "You needed more room, and you said you'd like a run added someday so..."

She ran over and caught him up in a hug before he could escape it. He wriggled free after a moment and said, gruffly, "Glad you like it. Wasn't just me, though. Daniel did the blueprints, and he and Corey helped with all the material prep."

Maya turned to Daniel. He got the same exuberant hug, accepted with far more enthusiasm. When she pulled back, Corey stood there, arms extended. She rolled her eyes.

"Hey, I promise not to grab your ass this time," he said.

"Good, then I can promise not to smack you for grabbing my ass this time."

"Nuh-uh," Daniel said. "Don't say that. The only reason he grabs it is to get the smack."

&

nbsp; Corey grinned. Maya smacked his outstretched arm and said, "There. We can skip the stages in between." She grabbed Daniel's hand and said to Ash, "Take me inside. Show me what you did."

"Uh, party waiting?" Corey said, pointing toward the woods.

"Go on. We'll catch up."

We stayed at the party for a couple of hours. Then, night fell and Ash wandered off, and Derek took that as the cue that he could leave without being rude. I told Maya I'd come by in the morning to help with the animals, and I left her starting a climbing race against Rafe, with Daniel and Annie at the top of the ridge, shouting support and spotting them on their ascent.

We'd decided Derek would Change. He usually only does it once a week, but the party gave us an excuse to be out late and Changing added to that, which meant no one would be looking for us back anytime soon. He Changed and we played, and then he Changed back, and we played some more.

Afterwards, I was the one catching my breath, feeling as if I'd gone through my own workout...one a whole lot more fun than Changing shapes. I lay there, snuggled against him, heart still pounding, muscles still quivering, the chill night air freeze-drying my sweaty skin and feeling not one moment's inclination to reach for the blanket much less my clothes, content to just lie there and enjoy the aftermath. Derek did too, panting softly, until he got his breath, and then nuzzling and kissing me.

A few minutes of that, and then a few more of whispered words and I love yous. That passed too, and I was about to reach for the blanket, knowing the next stage was usually a dozy half-sleep, but Derek got the cover first, pulling it over us and saying, "Can we talk about school?"

My groan answered for me. But I followed it with, "We should."

I flipped onto my side, facing him.

"I know you think this should be your decision," he said.

"Shouldn't it? If I choose to work--"

"--your ass off to get an extra year of school in because your boyfriend whines about not wanting to Change on his own?"