Imprint.

Eighteen

The waves were slow and quiet. I expected it to be good surfing weather though that was rare at our beach. We were too far north for nice waves. Or warm water. If it wasn't for the werewolves, I would freeze in the water.

I dug my toes into the sand and stared out at the horizon. The sun was high in the sky, baking my skin to a nice brown color. It wasn't anything close to the werewolves but anything was better than my usual pale.

Warm arms wrapped around me, pressing my arms to my sides so I couldn't fight. Gage chuckled in my ear. "Hold your breath."

"What? No!" I yelled, kicking my legs out in hops of weighing myself down. It didn't work and Gage kept carrying me closer and closer to the cold water.

He got knee deep in the water then started counting to three. "1... 2... 3!" Then he tossed me into the water.

I screamed and hit the water with a large splash. I sunk to the bottom and kicked my legs to push me to the surface.

A hand grabbed my arm and yanked me up. I gasped for air as I surfaced and my body was encompassed with warmth.

Gage brushed the hair from my face, concern on his. "Are you alright?" Even after throwing me in the water, he was still concerned enough to check on me.

"I can't believe you did that." I wrapped my arms around him, desperate for warmth, air, and him. 

"I thought it would be funny. Until you stayed under too long then I got worried."

"I was only under for like two seconds."

He raised his eyebrows at me. "It was a lot longer than two seconds, V."

I opened my mouth to speak just as a scream came from several feet away. Bentley was in the water, only his head visible. Audrey came up from the water and splashed Bentley, a bright smile on her face.

"Do you think we'll ever act like that someday?" Gage asked softly.

I looked back at him, surprised he would ask a question like that. Sure, we talked about our relationship but it felt weird to discuss something more intimate. It was like asking to have sex or something. I hardly felt comfortable talking about it with Will even when we were engaged.

"They look so happy." I followed his gaze and he was right. Bentley and Audrey looked good together. It sucked that the imprint was doing that but maybe they genuinely liked each other.

"Are you happy?" I asked Gage.

He looked startled by my question, like it was such an odd question. "Yeah, I'm having a good day. Aren't you?"

"That's not what I meant. Are you happy... with me? Us?"

"You know I am. No imprint necessary."

"Don't you think we could have what they have?"

He pressed his forehead to mine. "I don't want to do anything that would make you uncomfortable."

"I'd tell you if I wasn't comfortable."

"Can I kiss you?" He whispered. His eyes were wide as they watched me. Every few seconds, they would drop to my lips then back up, like he was hinting at something.

I suddenly got nervous. Being with Gage felt like having a boyfriend for the first time. Everything felt new and I was constantly worried he wouldn't like me or I wouldn't be a good kisser. I couldn't remember worrying about it when I was with Will. Why was I so worried now?

I nodded, anticipating his lips on my own. His were wet from the water and a dark red, darkened like his skin tone. I looked into his eyes as his lips pressed against mine, gentle and careful. He was testing to see how far he could go.

I didn't want any boundaries. I wanted him to kiss me just as passionately as Will had. As any new love would. I wanted his hands in my hair, holding my head close to his. I wanted his tongue to force its way inside my mouth and touch mine. I wanted to feel his teeth on my lip, as if he were pulling my mouth even closer.

But this kiss was soft. Sweet. Not what I was expecting from a werewolf.

His lips barely touched mine but I could still taste him, still feel the wetness of the water. I wanted more but I didn't want to seem overreaching, over eager. I didn't want Gage to think I was either of those things.

He pulled back and a smile spread on his face. I was sure I had one on mine as well.

Audrey caught my eye, standing on the shore, now. She was squeezing the water from her hair. She had an ankle bracelet on but no other jewelry. But what she did have, made my eyes widen.

"What?" Gage asked, tightening his grip on me. He looked around us like there would be some kind of danger he needed to protect me from.

"She has a bite on her neck." Right under her left ear, there was a bite, a werewolf bite, marked into her skin. It was just a scar and it didn't look new but it was more noticeable than a hickey. There was no way she could hide it from anyone.

Gage turned us so he could see as well and he glanced at Bentley. "Must be where he bit her."

"That seems a little..."

"What?"

"Gross? Creepy? That's where vampires bite people."

He raised an eyebrow, clearly not following me at all. "Vampires aren't real, V."

I rolled my eyes. "I never said they were. But haven't you ever watched a vampire movie before?"

"I'm not into scary movies."

"You poor thing. Too scary for you?"

"I'll dunk you again." He challenged, an evil grin on his face.

I pushed away from him and started swimming away. Lucky for him, he could stand and he caught up to me in just two strides, snaking an arm around my stomach. He pulled me back and sent me under the water.

I kicked his legs and he fell back in the water beside me. I smiled, trying not to drink any of the nasty water.

Gage kicked the sand and pushed us both up to the surface. I coughed some water up and rested my head on his shoulder. Swimming wasn't one of my best features. I liked the beach but I wasn't one for actually getting in the water. But Gage did and I didn't want to be a sour puss and just sit in the sand all day.

"Are you done?"

I nodded.

He carried me out of the water and over to our towels and clothes. Bentley and Audrey were sitting nearby, quietly talking to one another.

Gage set me down and wrapped a towel around my shoulders before doing the same with his own. He sat down beside me and shook the water from his hair.

"This was fun." He said.

"We should come here more often."

"Maybe alone next time?" He nudged his head toward Bentley and when I looked over, I saw him leaning over Audrey, kissing her. I was sure it was going to get steamier and I didn't want to be there when it did.

"Come on."