The urge to kiss her overcomes me.
I don’t act on it–of course I don’t–but my dick thickens, and a scratchy, feverish sensation travels across my skin.
Pain seizes my lower belly, simultaneously traveling down to my balls and up to my heart.
Fuck, I want to kiss her.
Those soft, pillowy lips weremadeto be claimed by me.
My vision changes to dichromatic.I’m looking through my bear’s eyes, seeing fewer colors.I blink rapidly, trying to force my bear back down.The physical pain increases.I’m not sure if it’s a side effect of the Moon Cure or simply how it feels to be close to my mate without claiming her.
“Are you okay?”Maisy asks.
My grunt sounds affirmative but barely human.
She rests a soft hand on mine.Her mittens are thin, and I feel the chill of her fingers beneath them.
“You’re cold,” I murmur.My bear settles as I focus on her comfort.Shifters have a slightly elevated temperature, and I’m grateful for it.With my arm around her, I will my warmth to seep into her.
As soon as I’m on the ground, I’m going to tell Daisy that a Ferris wheel in January is a bad idea.The health of my patient—my most important patient—is at stake.
I hear her pulse speeding up, but she lets me cover her mittened hands with mine.I’m so much bigger than her, and right now that’s a good thing—my warmth heats us both.
“How do snowmen pay their bills?”she asks, her voice a bit breathless in a way that makes my cock perk up.
It takes me a second to realize she’s telling a joke and remember how to play along.“How?”
“With cold hard cash.”
A chuckle rumbles deep in my belly.I knew the punchline would be silly, but it’s still funny.
“You like jokes.”I’m charmed by her.She’s utterly adorable.
She blushes.“I used to be afraid of everything.But I had this joke book I was obsessed with.And whenever I was scared or sad, I’d tell myself jokes over and over.And it worked.It still works.”Even as she says this, her eyes dart down to the ground, and she gulps.Being stuck up here is scary for her.And cold.
I love that she’s opening up to me.I rack my brain for any dad joke I know.I vow to learn a hundred by the next time I see her.The only one I can think of is painfully bad, but for her, I’ll tell it.I’ll do anything.“What do you call a cow with no legs?”
“What?”
“Ground beef.”
Her smile lights her face.
“The triplets also had a joke book,” I tell her.“They went through a period where they told the same ones over and over.”
“What do you call cheese that’s not yours?”she asks cheerfully.Her enthusiasm for the joke is really selling it.
I shake my head, my grin stretching my face as I wait for the punchline.
“Nacho cheese,” she cries, and I crack up.My laugh creaks out of me.How long has it been since I’ve had a good belly laugh?Too long.
I need to laugh more.My sense of humor has gotten dusty.
I’m writing myself a prescription for more Maisy.
“You’re a delight,” I tell her with real feeling.She beams at me, and I’m struck by the dazzling stars in her eyes.I knew Maisy was gorgeous and just my type.But I’ve never gotten close enough to have a conversation with her, and now I’m regretting it.I’ve missed so much.
“Thank you.”Her cheeks are bright.She glances down at the ground.“I hope Daisy is calling Axel back.He can fix anything.”
