We make love in the shower when she tries to cool down. Against the wall when she can’t wait the ten steps to the bed. Slow and deep when the fever ebbs, fast and hard when it spikes.
“Is this normal?” she asks during a brief respite, curled against my chest. “It feels stronger than yesterday.”
“I don’t know.” I admit, stroking her hair. “But we’ll get through it together.”
She nods, already squirming again as the heat builds. “I’m glad you’re here. I don’t think I could handle this alone.”
“You’ll never have to.” I promise, then capture her mouth before either of us can think too hard about what that means.
By evening, we’re both exhausted, but the heat shows no signs of breaking completely. We’ve ordered food twice from the diner, barely tasting it between bouts of need.
“One more night,” I tell her as we lie tangled in sheets that desperately need changing. “Beau arranged it. We don’t have to leave until you’re ready.”
“Good,” she murmurs, already drifting toward sleep. “Because I don’t think I can move right now, anyway.”
I pull her closer, pressing a kiss to her temple. Tomorrow, we’ll have to face the world, answer questions, and make decisions. But right now, in this moment, there’s just us and this inexplicable pull between us.
My bear settles, content for now, with our mate in our arms. Tomorrow’s problems can wait.
Tonight, she’s ours.
CHAPTER 9
BILLY
Ispot the motel manager stepping out of the office with a steaming mug in hand. He clearly keeps the good stuff for himself.
“Morning,” he calls, lifting his cup in greeting.
I nod. “Roads clear yet?”
“Yeah, I just took a trip into town to get some supplies. Any downed trees are already gone.” He digs into his pocket. “Your brother called. Asked me to sort you out with a rental.”
“Thanks,” I say sullenly, taking the keys, disappointed that we have no excuse to stay here now that I have a means of transportation.
When I open the door, I find Carla already up and dressed in the clothes Beau provided, her hair pulled back in a neat ponytail. All signs of last night’s intimacy erased, as if it never happened.
“Morning,” I say, keeping my voice neutral despite the way my heart pounds at the sight of her.
Her eyes don’t quite meet mine. “Morning.”
The awkwardness stretches between us, made worse by the memory of her body wrapped around mine.
“About last night,” she begins, still not meeting my eyes. “My heat… I’m sorry I put you in that position.”
Sorry?My stomach drops.
“You needed me. I was happy to help.” My voice comes out gruffer than intended, and I wince at my awkward choice of words.
“I feel better now, so you can relax. We can get to Grey Ridge, and I’ll take some herbs to manage my symptoms.”
She studies me for a moment, eyes searching my face. “Did you… did you bite yourself?”
The question catches me off guard. “Yes,” I say finally, unable to lie to her.
She looks at me; the cogs turning as she mulls over what that means. “That’s not... Bears don’t...” She stops, seeming unsure how to continue.
“Don’t what? Mate for life?” I let out a humorless laugh. “We’re not as driven by it as wolves, but when we find someone worth keeping, we’re just as committed.”
