“Yes. I do.”
Leonie sighed, leaning into him. “I guess I’d insist on doing the same, if I was trapped in a freezer with someone half my size. Thanks.”
He rubbed her back, trying to keep the movement brisk and impersonal. Leonie nestled against him, shudders easing. After a moment, he felt her let out a soft breath of laugher.
“What?” he asked.
“Nothing,” she said, with the tart sweetness of lemonade. “Just remembering your dare. How are you so warm?”
“Qiongqi are similar to Siberian tigers.” Talking, he had to keep talking to distract himself. “I’m adapted for snow. Large paws. Thick fur. I don’t get cold easily.”
Her fingers spread over his heart. “But you’re shaking.”
Not from cold.
He closed his eyes. It didn’t help. Her soft curves pressed against him. He was sick with hunger; dizzy with need.
Leonie had stopped shivering. Even with his eyes tight shut, he knew she was looking up at him, searching his face.
“Shan.” He could feel her heart beating through his chest, as hard as his own. “Why did you refuse to take the kids’ dare?”
Because you deserve better.
Because I am so afraid of hurting you.
Because when I am with you, I forget I am a monster.
“Because.” He had to stop, swallowing. “Because you would have had to say yes. So that the children would continue to believe we are mates.”
Her hand touched his cheek, warm and gentle. He couldn’t help himself. He opened his eyes, looking down at her. This close, he could see all the shades of amber in her tawny irises. She had a thin starburst of gold right around each pupil. He’d never noticed that before.
“Shan.” Leonie’s hand curved around the back of his neck. “That’s not why I would have said yes.”
The freezer door abruptly opened, letting in a sudden rush of brightness and warmth. They sprang apart, colliding with the shelves. An avalanche of frozen food cascaded over them both. Out of sheer instinct, Shan lunged for a sliding packet, catching it before it could hit Leonie’s head.
“Time’s up!” Tiff announced cheerfully, silhouetted in the open door. “You can?—”
The girl stopped, blinking at them. Shan realized he was hugging a bag of chicken thighs like a teddy bear. Leonie juggled an armful of ice cream tubs. In the frozen silence, a box of hot dogs hit the floor with an echoingthud.
“Uh…” Tiff looked from Shan to Leonie, and back again. “Sorry, did I interrupt something?”
CHAPTER 19
The next day wasexcruciating.
Leonie did her best to act normal. This was difficult. None of the kids said anything to her face, but there was a lot of muffled giggling going on.
It only got worse. Gossip traveled fast at camp. By lunchtime, it was cleareveryoneknew what had happened—or almost happened—during Truth or Dare.
See, this is why you don’t almost kiss your co-counselor in a freezer,Leonie scolded herself as she pretended not to notice the snickers and knowing glances.Now everyone thinks you’re screwing like bunnies.
Not that there was any rule against relationships between staff members, as long as you were discreet in front of the kids. A lot of unmated counselors paired up over the summer for temporary flings. What happened at camp, stayed at camp.
She’d been tempted herself, once or twice. But she’d always gently turned down the occasional hopeful overture. As the head counselor, it would have been beyond inappropriate for her to have a fling with a subordinate.
Of course, Shan wasn’treallya counselor.
Unfortunately, most people didn’t know that. And it wasn’t like she could tell them.
