The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 878

I turn and look up in his face to see him staring a little aghast at the tears in my eyes, and I burst out laughing, offering it to him. “Take a bite and see.”

He does as I bid, taking the world’s smallest bite, and then slowly begins to chew. “I mean it’s good, Ariel, but…”

I laugh again, harder this time, and scootch closer to my mate, leaning against him as I finish my meager little dinner.

I fight hard against sleep as the minutes slip past, talking lightly with my mate about how great it will be to get home. But even as I struggle, my eyes start to slip shut.

“Come on, Tiny,” Jackson murmurs, “time for you to rest.”

Despite my protests, Jackson gathers me into his arms as he stands, kicking some dirt on my little fire. And then he carries me over to the tent, sitting down just inside and then laying back, taking me with him so that I sprawl over his torso. I snuggle closer, deeply happy with my face pressed to his chest – my favorite sleeping spot, and one which I’ve missed so much since I’ve been away.

Jackson sighs contentedly too, drifting an idle hand up and down my back as he takes the thin blanket and pulls it over both of us.

I look up at him with a smile and then glance down over the length of my body and his, wondering how the hell that blanket is supposed to be big enough. But when I see Jackson’s feet hanging out of the tent, the blanket ending somewhere around his knees, I burst into laughter again.

“Jacks!” I say, sitting up a little. “Why didn’t you make mom give you a bigger tent!?”

“I would have,” he murmurs, pressing a hand firm against my back, wanting me to lay down again. “If I’d known how big this one was before she packed it –“

“How did you stay warm!?” I gasp, ignoring his hand and sitting up further, appalled, my legs falling to either side of his body so that I straddle his stomach.

“I didn’t,” he replies, dry, grinning up at me. “But come on, Ari – lay down – I’m warm enough for one more night.”

I smile down at him and bite my lip, considering my choices. Because, I mean, I am very tired.