“I have…” he begins, then stops and reaches for the blankets. “Thank you. I’m grateful for your hospitality.”
His fingers brush mine as he takes the bedding, and goosebumps cover my body. Shivers run down my spine and instantly my nipples harden. It was only a moment of heat, but so much heat. Are shifters always so hot to the touch, or is it him?
“I could put out the fire,” I offer, with my bottom lip dropped just slightly and unable to be brought back up into place.
He raises one eyebrow, looking into my eyes. “If that would make you more comfortable.”
“I thought you might be more comfortable. If you are too warm?—”
“I will be fine,” he says, before I can finish. “I am well in fact.” His tone is low with his last statement. Low enough to bring my thoughts back to where they should not be, at the memory of him in a towel.
“I’m…glad to hear it.” More heat on my face, as if the cottage might light ablaze just like the logs in the fireplace. “I will… I am tired. I will go to bed now.”
He nods and begins to turn away, but stops and faces me again.
“My name is Ryker.” He holds out a big, calloused hand to me. “I thought you should know that.”
My body freezes. Ryker.
I take his hand, holding my breath for a few seconds at how powerful his grip promises to be, though his touch is gentle—extremely careful.
“Idalis.”
“Idalis,” he repeats. The rain covers most of the softness in his voice, but not all of it. “I’m pleased to meet you.”
I’m not sure if he intends it to be so, but the way he speaks is seductive. With a smile and a blush, I pull my hand away.
The cottage, which seemed like far more room than I would ever need before this evening, gets closer still. Every other night before this, when I lay down in my bed, the main room seemed to be miles long.
It is not miles long anymore. Ryker arranges his bed at the foot of mine, out of the strongest heat from the fireplace, and stretches out as if he’s used to sleeping on the floor. All I can hear is the blood rushing in my ears from my pounding heart.
Even in his human form, he is so obviously strong. I stare at the ceiling and press my back to the mattress, so I don’t sit up and stare at him. My eyes stay wide and although sleep begs me to give in, there is no way I possibly could. My mind races with so many thoughts, many of which are sinful. But others, more logical and terrifying.
The rain drums and drums on the roof, and I have the sense the drops are coming through and landing on my blankets and my clothes. Each one is a cool prickle of doubt.
I do not trust other beings. My coven died at the hands of other beings because they’d felt it necessary to fight in the war. A wolf shifter—and a soldier, no less—is no less of a danger to me than the trolls who killed my sisters.
What was I thinking, letting him stay for the night? Why did I hand him a stack of blankets and let him lie down at the foot of my bed? He is practically on top of me.
No, he is not. I cannot fathom what the weight of all those muscles would feel like if he were stretched out over me instead of on the floor.
Or perhaps I can fathom it.
I turn over on my side and squeeze my eyes shut tight, trying not to imagine it. He was able to enter, and he sleeps atop an enchanted quilt. I am safe and the moons protect me. I know this and with those thoughts, I let go of my worries.
I force myself to relax and inhale deeply. There’s certainly more energy in the cottage. All he’s doing is lying on his makeshift bed, but power ripples off him.
Power, but not a threat.
Not to me.
I push myself up on one elbow to steal a glance at him. After a few moments, he turns over and stretches before settling down again.
I lower myself back to my pillow, feeling…off. I don’t like that he is left to be uncomfortable. I know he is a powerful wolf shifter and a soldier, but I saw how he shifted on the blanket, clearly trying to find a better position for his body.
Sleep evades me.
The soldier makes no move to get up from the bed or to come to mine. He does not leap up and growl. He lies there, and all he seems to do whenever I check on him is breathe.
