"I..." Celeste began speaking, but even she herself was startled by her hoarse voice. She cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure, but the weight of Jeremy's chest against hers made it difficult to speak.
"I..." She tried again, her voice barely above a whisper. The word managed to leave her lips, but it was soon lost in the space between them. Her eyes were locked on Jeremy, watching as the emotions in his blue eyes churned within him like a tempestuous storm. She could feel the heat emanating from his body, enveloping her in a warm embrace.
Her mouth hung open, but not a single word escaped from her tongue this time. The sense of failure prompted her tongue to do something, and suddenly, as if possessed, her tongue lightly brushed against her upper lip with a nervous flick. She could feel the wetness left by her tongue on her upper lip. It sent a shiver down her spine, making her heart race even faster. She pursed her lips, trying to contain the sudden surge of energy coursing through her veins.
Realizing what she was doing, Celeste froze, but the heat in Jeremy's eyes seemed to intensify. His gaze was unwavering, piercing through her like a hot knife through butter and pinning her to the wall.
And then, as if in slow motion, Jeremy's face drew closer to hers, his eyes darkening with the heat.
Celeste closed her eyes, feeling his warm breath on her cheek, sending goosebumps racing down her skin. His lips were soft and gentle as they met her cheek, the rough stubble on his face tickled her cheek, making it itch a bit. But the itch seemed to spread beyond the spot his lips were touching her, but she was uncertain where exactly it was going. The sensation wandered throughout her body like wildfire.
Her heart was thumping wildly in her chest as if it was trying to break free from its confines. But Jeremy's hand held her firmly against the wall, pinning her down with a strength that seemed to trap her heart within her ribcage.
Inside Jeremy's chest, Celeste could feel his wolf leaping and bounding with excitement, matching the rhythm of her own restless wolf. Their hearts were beating so close together now that she could feel the rise and fall of their breaths.
As they stood there, pressed against each other, it felt as if their two wolves had been touching. Jeremy's lips brushed against Celeste's cheek, sending shivers down her spine as she felt the intensity of their connection growing stronger.
Celeste could sense a soft white cocoon surrounding them, almost like a protective shield that was keeping them locked in this moment of intense passion. It was so comfortable and cozy that she couldn't resist letting out a soft sigh, a sound that escaped her lips and came out as a tender and unmistakable moan.
This moan only seemed to intensify the desire that was simmering between them. And it clearly agitated Jeremy's already fragile nerves. His lips were quivering as he leaned closer to her, and Celeste could feel the heat of his breath on her skin.
Celeste squinted her eyes, lost in the heat and passion of the moment, not wanting to resist. Her mind was enveloped in desire, and all she wanted was to be close to him. Closer. And closer.
They were so close that if she opened her mouth just a little, their lips would touch.
In the back of his mind, a judging voice was telling her something. She tried to listen to it, but the voice was too muffled. She wanted to say something, and she could feel Jeremy's lips trembling slightly as if he also wanted to say something.
"Jeremy..."
Eventually, a voice came and reached Celeste's ears. But the voice seemed so far away.
For a moment, Celeste was confused. Was that her own voice? Was she calling out to Jeremy? But this voice didn't sound like her own at all. Celeste widened her eyes and saw a hint of confusion in Jeremy's eyes too.
"Jeremy! Are you in there? Your twin sister is back..."
The words "twin sister" seemed to cast a spell, sucking the air out of the room in no time. Both Celeste and Jeremy were frozen in their position, unable to move.
Suddenly, Celeste was too aware of what they were doing and what almost happened.
The blood that had gathered on her face and neck immediately drained away, her heartbeat thumping in her ears. Jeremy's muscles were stiffened, too. And they locked on him as the realization dawned on him. The panic in his expression must have mirrored her own.
Celeste struggled and broke free from Jeremy's grip. She stumbled backward, her breaths coming in short gasps as she tried to calm herself down.
But even as she caught her breath, the memory of Jeremy's touch lingered on her skin like a searing brand. The sensation was overwhelming, a jarring mix of pleasure and pain that left her feeling raw and exposed.
Celeste's eyes flicked toward the door, which remained firmly shut. Outside, the world continued on as if nothing had happened, but inside, everything had changed. She knew there was no going back from this, no way to undo what had been done.
"Jeremy?" The voice outside called again.
Nancy... It was Nancy again. Celeste didn't know why Nancy always managed to show up at the perfect time. And she didn't know what to make of it. She didn't know if she felt angry or relieved about Nancy's interruption this time.
Even Nancy knew that Jeremy was waiting for Celeste to come back and went out of her way to inform him. She was indeed Jeremy's good helper.
Her wolf felt restless again. She needed to run a few laps in the forest to dissipate the feelings tangled in her chest.
Celeste's gaze returned from the door to Jeremy's face. He was still a bit stiff.
Did he regret it?
Did Celeste regret it?
Celeste couldn't bring herself to think about that question. It was too raw.
Celeste turned and opened the door, her eyes meeting Nancy's startled gaze. Without a word, she turned on her heel and walked away.