His excitement running through our bond must be reflected on my own face because I can’t help but smile as I take him in before me. It blows my mind that he can just stand in the middle of sub-zero weather, butt ass naked and not be cold.
I watch as he shifts into his massive bear form for the second time. Less shock and more awe this time. The sounds of his bones popping and changing. The sight of his stupid gorgeous face being replaced by that of an animal. His smooth skin overcome by a thick layer of coarse white fur.
Standing at his full height, he scratches his belly with one massive paw and waves with the other, the sight causing me to snicker.
His eyes light at the sound and he drops onto all four paws and ambles towards me. Instead of waiting for him this time, I bolt towards him, wrapping him in the best hug I can muster with him being this size.
He nuzzles into my neck, sniffing and grumbling about. He surprises me by licking my mate mark, sending a shiver of need through my body, making his bear groan.That sound should not be so attractive.
He shakes his head in a way that makes me think I’m not the only one affected before he lifts his snout and looks to the sky, snorting at whatever it is he sees.
When his gaze returns to mine, he lowers his body to the ground. Before I can ask what he’s doing he looks to me and asks again, this time through our bond,Do you trust me?
My brain can’t immediately comprehend what he’s asking me. His bear snorts and throws his head towards his back, and I realize he wants me to climb onto him.
Old Anya would have laughed right in his face . . . and I don’t even miss her a bit when I grab onto the ridge of his back and pull myself up to straddle him as he rises back to his feet.
His warmth radiates below me, heating me entirely.No wonder he’s never cold.Soaking in more of his warmth, I lay myself across the expanse of his back as he strolls into the dark Arctic night.
35
Kodi
When we finally reach my favorite spot, Anya is nearly asleep on my back. My bear walks in a few circles and plops down in the snow. Waiting. It’ll be any minute now.
From where she still lies on my back, Anya runs her fingers through my fur earning a purr from my bear. She hums in happiness just as a tiny spark of color bursts across the sky.
Anirniq.I get her attention and pull her from the brink of sleep.
“Hmm?” she grumbles. My girl has been enjoying her holiday rest, but I’ll have to risk her wrath for this.
You’ll be mad if you miss this,I say teasingly. She wiggles and raises from where she's lying on my back.
Just as she stretches her arms above her head and her eyes peek open, the very beginning of steady streams of color begin to splash across the sky.
I move my bear into a seated position so that she gracefully slides off my back, landing on her feet, keeping one arm rested on me as I lie in the snow, curling my body into a semi-circle, making myself comfortable.
Get the backpack and grab the blankets. One for you to sit on, and one for you to cover up with.The smile that overtakes her features fills me with pride.Mam also packed a thermos of her hot cocoa for you.If I thought her smile was radiant before, the look on her face that my mother did something for her has my heart clenching in my chest as her eyes fill with tears.
Join me,I plead with her through the bond. She sniffles but nods and moves toward me, laying the thicker blanket on the snow-covered ground before settling in on top it, scooting into my body, and covering herself with the fluffier blanket covered in pink Christmas presents.
“Are these the northern lights?” she asks quietly as if she could scare the natural phenomenon away like a skittish fish.
It will be. Those little flashes of color are only the beginning.
As we wait, she sips on her hot cocoa, and we enjoy having a quiet moment to ourselves after the busyness of our trip so far. My mind also wanders to thinking about my recent retirement. If she wants to, maybe we could move here . . . home.
As the thought crosses my mind, the intake of Anya’s breath catches my attention and draws my eyes to the sky; to one of my absolute favorite things about being home.
The northern lights overwhelm the sky.
Ribbons of sparkling green light dance across the entirety of the sky above us. They shimmer, arc, and sway, pops of blue and pink glowing within the green.
Anya scrambles out of her little alcove of my body and positions herself in front of me with tears now streaming down her face. “It’s not a mermaid truck!”
I’m glad I’m not in my human form because laughing your ass off when your woman cries is a big fat no-no, but that’s exactly what I do.
No, Anirniq, it’s not a mermaid truck.
