“Moving to a big city and then to the middle of nowhere takes real courage,” he said instead, his voice deliberately warm and encouraging. “Most people couldn’t handle either transition, let alone both.”
The tension in her shoulders eased fractionally, and she gifted him with a genuine smile that made his heart skip a beat. “You’re different from other men I’ve known.”
Because I’m not entirely human,he thought wryly. “How so?”
“You actually listen. Most men just wait for their turn to talk.”
The simple observation pleased his polar bear more than it should have. “So I take it that you’ve been seriously involved before?”
She was quiet for a long moment, swirling the wine in her glass. “A few boyfriends in college. Then there was one...” She stopped abruptly, her face going pale. “It ended badly. Very abruptly.”
The pain in her voice made his protective instincts surge with violent intensity. His polar bear caught the scent of fear clinging to her, and his body tensed with the need to hunt down whoever had hurt her.
Easy,he warned himself, forcing his expression to remain neutral.She’s not ready to trust you with that story yet.
“I’m sorry,” he said simply. “Bad endings leave scars.”
She looked surprised by his restraint, as if she’d expected him to pry for details. “They do.”
The storm outside had intensified, wind howling against the windows with increasing fury. Korrak glanced toward the front of the cabin, his enhanced hearing picking up the dangerous pitch of the gale.
“Why don’t we move closer to the fire?” he suggested, rising from his chair. “I can better explain how things work here in Northland Bay while we get more comfortable.”
She nodded, following him toward the massive stone hearth that dominated one wall of the cabin. The flames cast flickering shadows across the rustic furniture, creating an atmosphere that was both intimate and primal.
They settled onto the leather couch, and Korrak had to clench his fists to keep from reaching for her as her familiar jasmine scent enveloped him. The magnetic pull between them intensified in the firelight, every cell in his body screaming that she belonged here, belonged to him.
No,he reminded himself sternly.Control.
“I want you to know that you can count on me,” he said a bit too fast. “Whatever you need, day or night, just reach out on the walkie. I’ll be there.”
Her eyes widened. “I’m grateful for your attentiveness. I really want this place to work out for me.”
“I do too,” he said before he could stop himself, the words carrying far more weight than simple hospitality warranted.
She didn’t seem to mind the slip, though color rose in her cheeks as their gazes locked across the small space between them. The air crackled with unspoken tension, and his polar bear roared with satisfaction at her obvious attraction.
The storm battered against the windows with renewed violence, and Korrak’s expression grew serious as he assessed the conditions outside. “I don’t think it’s safe to take you back to the outpost tonight.”
“I don’t mind staying,” she replied too quickly. “No sense either of us getting stuck in a blizzard.”
His polar bear practically purred at the thought of having her under his roof all night, but Korrak forced himself to maintain appropriate boundaries. “You can take my bed. I’ll sleep out here.”
“That sounds perfect,” she said, her voice slightly breathless as she rose to her feet. “Thank you for being such a gracious host tonight.”
The walk down the hallway to his bedroom was the longest of his life. Every step brought her deeper into his private sanctuary, her scent marking his territory in ways that made his control fray at the edges. When they stepped inside his bedroom, he pulled out one of his shirts from the dresser, the soft cotton still carrying traces of his scent.
“You can sleep in this,” he said, his voice strained as he handed her the shirt. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
It took every ounce of willpower he possessed to walk out of that bedroom and leave his mate alone in his bed. His polar bear raged against the restraint, demanding he claim what was rightfully his, but Korrak made himself return to the living room.
He collapsed onto the couch, running his hands through his golden hair as the reality of the situation crashed over him. Down the hall, Winslet was settling into his bed, surrounded byhis scent, and he was supposed to just lie here and pretend his entire world hadn’t shifted on its axis.
She’s already breached every wall you’ve built,he realized with growing alarm.And you may not be able to hold back much longer.
FIVE
WINSLET
