Her mouth snapped shut. She didn’t say anything, which made him immediately suspicious. He crossed his arms over his chest and pinned her with a dark look meant to intimidate.
After a tense second or two, he noticed she swallowed thickly as she averted her eyes and stared at his feet. “I was just suggesting that we should pool our efforts.”
“Why?” He stared at the top of her head.
She looked up, blinked once. “To build a chest together.”
“Huh? What the hell are you talking about?”
“Hut,”she said in a rush. “I meant build a huttogether.”
“Why?”
“That’s why.” She pointed at the clearing.
Hank and Margaret stood side by side, staring at what was left of their shelters.
“Your frame is still standing even after the storm.”
“Yeah.”
“The thatch Lydia and I made stayed together in spite of the winds and rain. But our frame collapsed. Your walls blew away, yet your frame withstood the weather. It makes perfect sense to rebuild with your frame and our thatch. A group effort.”
He gave her a long look, then glanced back at the remains of the huts. He rubbed his smooth jaw, then looked back at her. “We’ll build where I decide.”
“But I truly believe it is most beneficial to have the hut near water.”
“So it can flood whenever it rains?”
She glanced from him to her spot. He followed her gaze. He knew the ground was too low, and when it really rained, the monsoon rains of the winter, that stream and pool would flood the area where she’d built that tepee thing.
He turned back and caught her staring at his chest. “Monsoons,” he said before he realized she wasn’t paying attention. Her mouth was open slightly, and he realized why she was acting so strangely. He wasn’t the only one feeling those mating howls.
He didn’t grin, but it was an effort not to. Instead, he closed the distance between them. She shook her head, then looked up at him. Her eyes widened just slightly, and she took a step back. He watched her for a moment and had to give her credit. She was giving him one of those direct looks of hers. But she was breathing through her mouth, and he’d bet she didn’t know it.
He took another step forward. “A partnership? You and me.”
She took a step back and nodded. “Equal partners.”
“A woman partner?”
“Exactly.” She took another step back and butted up against the rocks.
He shrugged and closed the last couple of feet separating them. He looked down at her.
“Is that a yes?”
He nodded.
“Well... then.” She stiffened slightly and looked around them for a second. As if she wanted to shove him away and run like hell. She took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and stuck out her hand. “Agreed.”
He stared at her outstretched hand. His hand closed about hers.
He smiled down at her. She relaxed her guard slightly and gave him a tentative smile.
He jerked her against him, clamped one hand on the back of her head and the other on her butt. His mouth closed over hers.
In the most perfect reaction, she gasped. He filled her mouth with his tongue and tightened his hold.
