WOOF!
Noah jerked back, startled, grabbing the end of the curtain to cover himself. We both turned to see Yeti smiling at us from on top of the mattress.
“Yeti, no,” Noah growled, almost as fierce as a wolf himself. “Lay back down.”
Turning back to face one another, Noah leaned in again, his lips finding mine. His hand slid down my spine, leaving trails of fire down to my …
WOOF!
“Seriously?” Noah broke away with a frustrated groan. “We’re fine. Go to sleep.”
WOOF! WOOF!
Yeti jumped down from the mattress and shoved her wet nose between us, tail wagging furiously and rubbing her damp fur all over our skin. I tried to push her away from me, but she used her wet, furry body to drive me back instead.
“Seems we have a chaperone.” Noah growled. “Thanks, Yeti.”
My body screamed in protest as I pulled further away, hiking the blanket back over my shoulders, immediately missing Noah’s warmth. “Maybe she’s right?”
No, she’s not right. Bad Yeti. Bad wolf-dog. Bad.
“Yeah …” Noah cleared his throat. “We should get some sleep. Early start tomorrow to beat any mudslides on the trails.”
I glanced at the narrow mattress in the corner, which was now empty since Yeti had moved between us.
“We could share? Just to sleep,” I added quickly. “Maybe pool our body heat.”
Noah shook his head. “I’ll take the floor.” His tone left no room for argument.
He grabbed Yeti by the collar and tugged her toward the other side of the small room, as far away from the mattress as possible. “Come here. You’re my pillow tonight as punishment.”
Yeti flopped down next to Noah with a dramatic huff, clearly unimpressed about being evicted from her spot on the mattress. Noah stretched out on the wooden floor, using Yeti’s furry side as a cushion.
I wrapped my blanket tighter and curled up on the mattress, stealing quick peeks of Noah on the other side of the room. The fire crackled, casting dancing shadows on the walls as I tried to slow my racing thoughts.
“Goodnight, Sam,” Noah’s voice came softly through the darkness.
“Goodnight, Noah,” I whispered back, touching my fingers to my still-tingling lips.
It didn’t take long for the fire’s warmth to lull me into a hazy dreamland. I don’t know what time it was when my eyes fluttered open, but it was still dark outside, and a sky full of stars had replaced the angry storm clouds.
Peering into the shadows, I saw the cabin had transformed, no longer a dilapidated shelter but a cocoon of warmth, the fire casting golden light. My rough wool blanket had fallen away in my sleep, leaving me naked, totally exposed. I wasn’t cold, though. It felt ... right.
“You’re awake.” His voice came from the darkness.
When I looked up, Noah stood over me, eyes dark and intense as he gazed down at my uncovered body. He wasn’t wearing the tattered curtain anymore. He was naked too, his muscular form sculpted in the firelight.
“Am I dreaming?”
He didn’t answer. Instead, a slow smile spread across his lips as he reached out, fingers tracing the curve of my hip, sending shivers up my spine.
“Is it okay if I touch you?”
“Yes.” It wasn’t just okay. By that point, it was critical to my sanity.
Noah lowered himself onto the mattress, his body hovering over mine. I arched my back, pressing myself against him as his lips found mine. The kiss was slow, deliberate, building a fire within me that burned hotter than any hearth.
His hands explored my body, his touch sending waves of pleasure through me. Every caress, every kiss felt like a dream, a fantasy I never wanted to wake from. The world outside the cabin faded away, replaced by the sensation of Noah’s body against mine, his breath hot on my skin.
