“I love you.” She said it easily, naturally, like it was the simplest thing in the world. “The smugness is a package deal, apparently.”
His arms tightened around her involuntarily.Love.She’d said it last night too, but hearing it again in the clear light of morning, without the haze of passion clouding everything—it felt different. More real. More permanent.
“I love you too,” he said, the words coming easily. “I should probably tell you that more often.”
“Probably.” She nestled closer, her nose brushing the fur on his chest. “But actions speak louder than words, and you did build me a nest. That’s a pretty solid declaration.”
He smiled against her hair, letting himself feel—really feel—the contentment washing through him. She was here. In his arms. In his nest. And she planned to stay.
Forever, the instincts purred contentedly.
For once, he didn’t try to silence them.
CHAPTER 20
“Well, well, well.” Posy’s voice cut across the community center meeting room the moment Sara walked through the door. “Look who finally decided to grace us with her presence.”
Sara felt heat rush to her cheeks, but she couldn’t stop the smile spreading across her face. “I’m not that late.”
Although it had been close. Ben’s kiss goodbye had escalated to the point where he’d ended up taking her against the door, hard and fast, before letting her leave. The memory made her body hum with a lingering satisfaction. The marks she’d seen on her shoulders this morning hadn’t been the only ones.
“No, but you are…” Posy tilted her head, studying her with narrowed eyes. “Different. Glowy. Like someone plugged you into a wall socket.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Liar.” Posy grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the folding table where the other festival committee members had gathered. “You’re practically radioactive with happiness. It’s disgusting.”
Flora appeared at Sara’s elbow like she’d materialized from thin air, her baby blue tracksuit emblazoned with the words “GOOD GIRLS GO TO HEAVEN, BAD GIRLS GO EVERYWHERE” in sparkly silver letters.
“She’s been claimed,” Flora announced, loud enough for everyone in the room to hear. “I can smell it on her.”
She choked. “You can what?”
“Metaphorically speaking, dear.” Black eyes twinkled with wicked amusement. “Though rabbit Others do mark their mates with pheromones. You’re probably covered in them.”
“That’s not true. I don’t…” She looked around desperately for an escape route, but the other women had already turned to stare at her with varying degrees of interest and delight.
“Thank goodness.” Nina set down her clipboard and smiled at her. “Maybe we can finally catch a break. He’s been wound tighter than a two-dollar watch since the day you moved in.”
“We’re not discussing this.”
“We’re absolutely discussing this.” Posy steered her into a chair and plopped down next to her. “Details. Now.”
“There are no details!”
“Your neck says otherwise,” Flora observed, pointing a gnarled green finger at a spot just above Sara’s collar.
Her hand flew to her throat.Damn it.She’d thought the cardigan covered everything, but apparently the mark Ben had left—the one he’d been particularly pleased about this morning—was still visible.
“Is that a bite mark?” Elara leaned across the table, her face alight with curiosity. “That’s definitely a bite mark.”
“Rabbit Others bite during mating,” Flora said matter-of-factly. “It’s a territorial thing. They’re very primal.” She fanned herself dramatically. “I had a fling with a rabbit Other once. Couldn’t walk straight for a week.”
“Flora,” she groaned.
“What? I’m simply providing context.” Flora said innocently. “I assume the nest was involved? Did he carry you into it? Rabbit Others love carrying their mates. Something about securing the territory.”
Sara buried her face in her hands. “This is a nightmare.”
