Daniel knew exactly how much pain it took to make someone pass out—something that came with years of experience of being a doctor—and he knew where he could put his claws so that the man beneath him wouldn’t bleed to death. He needed him unconscious, not dead.
After a moment, Lance’s body went slack beneath him, the man eventually passing out, face down in the snow.
Daniel padded warily over to her River, moving slowly and watching to see if she would bolt, but she stood calmly as he approached, and then he shifted back into his human form and took her into his arms.
“Are you hurt?” he asked.
“No, I’m fine. I can’t believe you came for me, or that you managed to find me,” she said as she clung desperately to his naked body.
“I willalwayscome for you,” he vowed softly.
“I believe you,” she breathed.
“We should get you back quickly, and call the sheriff,” Daniel said, stroking her hair. “We’ll report the theft of your bike and the assault on James. Should be enough to get bail revoked for this one.”
“I’m sorry about yesterday,” River whispered, but Daniel just shook his head.
“It was a lot for you to take in. For anyone to take in. Don’t worry about it.” He stared into her eyes and reached up to stroke her face with the back of his fingers, marveling that she was standing here with him, that she wasn’t running or screaming. River smiled at the touch from his hand and pushed herself up onto her tiptoes so she could kiss him.
Her lips lightly touched his and the moment they did he felt all his longing and need come rushing to the surface. Daniel kissed her back passionately, his desire for her barely in check. He felt her hands on his body reaching down and as much as he wanted to throw her down in the snow and take her there and then, he took hold of her hands and broke their bodies apart.
“Not here,” he said. “Not until I know you are safe.” River looked disappointed but she nodded her agreement.
“You must be cold,” she said, eyes looking him up and down, and, if he wasn’t very much mistaken, lingering just a little. “Or maybe notthatcold…”
He chuckled, the sound husky with his need for her.
“My clothes are near the edge of the village. I’ll shift and you can follow me back there on your bike. I’ll make sure nobody sees.”
“Just a moment, I think we should set the scene here a little,” River said, a mischievous glint in her eye.
Epilogue
River
The sheriff was only too happy to lock up Lance Edgware. He’d been found in the forest, face down by the bike’s tire tracks with his belt off. He had some injuries to his back, but they weren’t severe.
He raved about being attacked by a mountain lion, but nobody had seen any such creature, there were no tracks to follow, and it looked to everyone that a man trying to punish his ex-girlfriend had taken a spill off her bike on icy roads.
He was locked up in the sheriff’s jail until cops from the city could come and collect him and send him back to prison with a whole new set of pending charges against him.
James’ head injury was fairly minor, his shifter powers helping him to heal more quickly. Daniel had ordered him to take the day off and rest, but insisted he join the New Year’s Eve celebrations.
The party was in full swing as River and Betty came down to the town square. Grant and Alice were dancing to one side of the stage that Mrs. Thompson had set up. A series of heaters had been erected around the square so the outdoor party didn’t have to be held with everyone in their coats.
Betty had taken River out to buy her a new dress for the occasion and she’d chosen a black tulle dress with gold sequins studding it. She had new make-up, a new bag, and even new underwear—just in case things went where she hoped they might with the doctor. There was never a more suitable evening for her to be wearing everything new and feeling like a newbeginning lay in front of her.
Daniel was standing on the stage in his Father Time costume.
Even in a fake beard and toga, that man is irresistible,River thought to herself. Betty introduced her niece to lots of people, and James asked her to dance a few times.
“Don’t worry, I’m only trying to make him jealous,” James had winked at her and River had laughed. As Father Time, Daniel was the party host and would have to wait until midnight had passed before he could really join the fun.
The band played such a range of music all night, but with a minute to go before the stroke of twelve, Daniel took centerstage and quieted the crowd.
“This year is old, its time has come to pass away,” Daniel called. “We say goodbye and thank it for all that it has brought. Whether bad or good, here we stand, hopeful for the new dawn. So raise a glass and toast with me the passing of this year, and welcome in a brand new one with an almighty cheer—in ten, nine, eight, seven…”
The crowd took up the chant with him, River beaming as she joined in.
