She nodded. How did he know?
He breathed out a dramatic sigh of relief. “Amber thought she’d smelled gardenias on you, so I bought you bath soaps in that scent.”
“You did that for me?”
“Of course. I did everything I could think of to prepare for you. Unfortunately Amber didn’t know what your favorite color is, so you’re stuck with a rainbow of colors until you decide to change things. But you know that already, don’t you? You’ve seen your nursery, haven’t you?”
She slowly nodded. She’d seen every inch of his house, including the room he’d worked so hard to prepare for her. She’d watched him paint it late at night. She’d seen how much effort he’d gone to, arranging everything in the room for her.
The nursery. Because that’s what it was. It even had a crib and changing table. Toys and games. A rocking chair. Though she hadn’t been able to fully wrap her head around the lifestyle she’d witnessed in other homes, she knew now with certainty everything she’d seen had been accurate.
She had a million questions, but they were stuck in her throat.
“Did you see my sign, Little one?”
She nodded again. “Yes, Sir,” she managed to murmur.
His grin… It could stop traffic. “I hope it brought you some peace.”
“It did,” she whispered.
“I’m so glad. I wish I had thought of doing something like that weeks ago. The idea didn’t come to me until a few days ago. It suddenly occurred to me that perhaps I could communicatewith you even though I had no way to receive a reaction. I bet you’ve been so lonely and afraid.”
Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes. He had no idea how unnerved she’d been. She was struggling to believe any of this was really happening. She hoped it was all true. Well, most of it. Some parts made her very nervous.
“I have so many things I want to say to you,” Jayce said, “but I’d rather get you out of here and home before we continue. Is that okay?”
He was asking her permission? “Yes, Sir.”
He kissed her forehead again. “I’m going to carry you up the mountain in my arms. I have a vial in my pocket with a potion that will let you sleep during the journey. Would you like that, Sienna?”
She gasped, stiffening. “No. Please don’t.”
“Okay, Little one. I want it to be your choice. If you get too scared, let me know, and I’ll stop and put a few drops under your tongue.”
Unable to resist, she rolled her body more fully against his and wrapped her arms around his neck. It felt so good. Right. His scent was woodsy. Outdoors. Masculine. She could inhale it all day.
For weeks, all she’d had were visions without the other senses. Now she could finally add his scent, the sound of his voice, and the feel of his touch. A part of her wanted to stick her tongue out and taste him, rounding out her senses with that one last piece.
The idea was ludicrous, of course, so she refrained. But she held him tighter and couldn’t stop herself from rubbing her nose against his neck, scenting him so deeply she could almost taste him.
A deep growl rumbled through him, startling her, causing her to ease her grip and jerk back a few inches. Maybe he didn’tlike the way she was crowding against him as if she were clingy and needy.
He shook his head and slid a hand up her back to her shoulder blades. “Don’t stop, Baby girl. Hold on as tight as you’d like. It feels so good to have your arms around me.”
Oh. With less trepidation, she resumed gripping his neck and nuzzling him. She’d never been this close to another person—not in her memory at least. Wolf shifters in the valley weren’t particularly demonstrative. She’d never even seen her parents snuggle in this close.
It was instinctive, though. She needed to be pressed against him. A part of her couldn’t wait to do so without all these layers of clothing. And where did that thought come from?
“Ready?” he asked as if she had options.
“Yes, Sir.”
“Good girl.” His hand slid into her hair and cupped the back of her head as he spoke those words. Words that penetrated deep in her heart and endeared her to a man she’d met only moments ago.
Chapter Two
Jayce
