The lightning strike hit so close I could smell the ozone in the air. Rain followed immediately, not the gentle drops that build gradually but a torrential downpour that soaked us both in seconds.
While my hair whipped around my face in the wind, Tressa howled and barreled into the gloomy interior.
“Get in,” Hail shouted over the thunder, grabbing my hand and pulling me in with him.
By the time he’d wrestled the shed door closed, we were both completely drenched.
Tressa shook water from her fur and gave us a perturbed look.
The shed was tiny, maybe eight by eight, and not only filled with various tools, but shelves also lined the sides, leaving only a small passage between them. Barely enough room for two people, let alone two people and a wolf the size of Tressa.
“Well,” I said, wringing water from my ponytail, “that escalated quickly.”
“Prairie storms don’t-don’t play.” Hail turned from securing the door.
My breathing came to a halt.
His shirt was plastered to his chest, outlining every muscle and every ridge of his powerful torso. Water dripped from his dark hair onto his shoulders, and when he moved, I could see the play of strength beneath the wet fabric. The green skin seemed richer when wet, and his tusks caught what little light filtered through the small window on the back wall.
He was beautiful in a way that made my chest tight and my pulse quicken.
And he was staring at me with the same intensity, his dark eyes roaming over my face and lower before snapping back up with visible effort.
I glanced down and realized my shirt had become basically transparent and clung to every curve. Heat flooded my cheeks and other places, but I didn’t have anything to cover myself with. More importantly, I found I didn’t want to cover myself. Not when he was looking at me like that.
“Sorry.” Hail’s voice came out as rough as stone. “I should…I should look away.”
“It’s okay.” Was that my voice sounding breathy? “We’re both adults.”
Thunder crashed overhead, making the shed shudder. The sound was so loud it vibrated through my bones, but I barely noticed. All my attention was focused on the way Hail was looking at me, like I was something wonderful and dangerous at the same time.
He took a step closer, and the shed suddenly felt even smaller. The air between us charged, going electric in a way that had nothing to do with the storm.
“Allie,” he said softly, and there was something in his voice that made my heart come to a halt.
“Yes?”
“I want to…I mean, would it be alright if I…”
Another lightning flash illuminated his face through the small window, and I saw uncertainty mixed with raw desire there. I sensed this strong, gentle man who could shape clay into beauty was nervous about getting close to me. The vulnerability in his expression and the way his hands flexed at his sides like he was fighting not to reach for me, made something hot and urgent unfurl in my belly.
My restraint collapsed.
Instead of answering with words, I moved toward him. The space was so small that one step brought me close enough to touch his chest, to feel the heat radiating from his skin despite his wet clothing. Close enough to see the way his pupils dilated when I placed my palm flat against his sternum.
His breath hitched at the contact. “Allie.”
“What did you want to say?”
He shook his head.
“There’s nothing you can’t tell me.”
“I…” He swallowed hard, and his predatory gaze dropped to my mouth. “I want to kiss you. If-if-if you-you-you want.”
My chest ached because he sounded so nervous.
“I think you should.”
