Emberflame Ridge and martinis in my bones

Any tension he'd been holding in his muscles relaxed the moment she spoke, a strange wave of relief washing over him. Her voice was calm, soothing even, and he found himself easing into her soft spoken words. "No" came his response to her question, sea salt eyes glancing from the features of her face to the woodland surrounding them.

It was her later choice of words that stirred a different reaction from the youth, one he'd usually never entertain. But he was curious and so he leaned a bit closer, nose wiggling as he took in her scent. "Yours?" he asked, referring to the pack she had mentioned before.