He turned me around and claimed my mouth in a deep kiss that left me breathless when he finally lifted his head. It took me a moment to realize the pounding I heard was Forest knocking on the door and not my heart.
Bexley told me to put on a pair of pants. I tugged a pair of leggings on, and he was already halfway through the living room before I hurried to catch up with him. He flung open the door just as Forest was about to knock again.
Forest’s eyes widened as Bexley filled the doorway. “Hey, Bex.”
“Forest.” The single word sounded a whole lot more like a warning than a greeting.
Forest lifted both hands slowly in a gesture of surrender.
I blinked between them. “Wait. Is he…?”
“Wolf,” Forest confirmed, darting another look at Bexley. “Not mated. Which means your polar bear here is fully justified in wanting to rip my throat out for breathing too close to his mate.”
He took several very deliberate steps backward.
Bexley growled.
“Yep. That tracks.” Forest swallowed. “Shoulda realized what was going on from the moment I smelled polar out here.”
Possessive energy practically snapped in the air around us.
Forest pointed awkwardly at the snowmobile. “Leaving this in case you need it. Human mate and all that.”
Another growl rumbled up Bexley’s chest.
I didn’t know what the issue was, but it must’ve been obvious to another shifter. Forest didn’t seem even a little confused.
“You don’t need to worry about me stripping and shifting right here.” Forest snorted. “I’m not suicidal. I’ll jog far out of view before I drop my clothes.”
“Good,” Bexley grunted.
Forest’s eyes flicked toward me, mischief sparkling in his eyes, and he added, “You’re in very good hands, by the way. Strong ones. And huge.”
Bexley’s growl was murderous. I slammed a hand against his arm before he could launch himself out the door.
“Bye!” Forest called, sprinting away from the house across the snow.
I shut the door quickly and whirled on the giant polar shifter vibrating next to me. “You can’t growl at everyone who talks to me!”
Bexley crossed his arms over his broad chest. “Seems like it worked just fine.”
I gawked at him. He stared back, not even slightly sorry.
And as wrong as it was, I melted anyway.
10
ROWAN
Iwas ready to scold him for growling like a jealous grizzly at a man who’d literally just brought us help, but when I met Bexley’s eyes, the words evaporated.
He looked wrecked. Like something vital inside him had been threatened.
“You don’t need to worry. He was just?—”
“You’re supposed to leave today.”
That had been the plan, but I couldn’t imagine getting on the flight back to New York to return to a job I didn’t even like. Not after meeting Bexley.
