Page 38 of Bad Blood Bear

Lissa stared at him. She’d never imagined living anyplace this nice. This…special. “You’d lend me your tiny house?”

He shrugged one shoulder, looking embarrassed. “It’s better than an abandoned gas station.”

“Don’t diss my squat,” she said. “It’s the Taj Mahal of squats, remember?”

He grinned. “Well, I know this isn’t the serial killer lair you were looking forward to,” he said. “But it has heat. And when I finish hooking up the plumbing, it’ll have hot running water, too.”

Lissa pressed her hand to her chest and grinned at him. “Be still my heart,” she said.

Tank spent the next fifteen minutes showing her all around the tiny house and explaining how everything worked. “You can bring over some sheets and towels from the main cabin until we get you some of your own,” he said. “I’ll add them to the list.”

Lissa felt like she’d fallen down a rabbit hole. Bad things and good things had been happening one right after the other, and she didn’t know which end was up. It felt surreal.

She was about to start crying like a baby, just from people being nice to her. But Lissa Ramsey did not get scared, and she did not blubber like a baby.

Chin up.

She cleared her throat, to make sure her voice was steady. “Thank you for everything,” she said, proud that the held-back tears weren’t making her voice quiver. “You didn’t have to help me, and you didn’t have to do this for me. I hope I can repay you someday.”

He reached over to her, his warm fingers gently cupping her chin and tilting her head up. “There’s no need,” he said. “You deserve to have something go your way for a change.”

That did it. His gentle touch, the soft, caring expression in his eyes, and his kind words sent the tears rushing to her eyes and spilling down her cheeks. “Hey,” he said softly, brushing them away with his thumb. “It’s going to be okay. We’ll take care of you.”

He pulled her to him, wrapping his other arm around her and enveloping her in his warm embrace. She slid her arms around his waist and let him hold her, caressing her cheek and smoothing her hair back.

He was so warm and solid and good. She could feel his goodness inside him. She almost felt like she could see his bear.

“I don’t know why you’re being so nice to me,” she said. “I keep costing you money, and I ate all the food at lunch. And I smell funny. You said so.”

He pulled back a bit and looked down at her, a smile curving his face and softening the grim lines of his mouth. “You smell beautiful,” he said. “I’m sorry I hurt your feelings.”

Want, her bear said softly.

“Then kiss them better,” she whispered.

He looked down at her, his green eyes soft and troubled. Then, very slowly, he lowered his head and touched his lips to hers.

Magic.

That first brush of lips sent warmth through her like sunshine, making her feel happy and safe and excited all at the same time. She wanted more.

She rose on tiptoe and slid her arms around his neck. Tank lifted her up and sat her on the counter top, and then kissed her again.

His lips were warm and soft and moved gently over hers, tasting and sipping. She parted her lips and his tongue slipped inside her mouth, sliding across her bottom lip, tasting deeper.

She pressed against him, feeling his thick shaft pressing against his jeans, hitting her right in the best spot between her legs as she spread them around his hips.

Tank’s fingers were tangled in her hair, his other hand sliding up and down her back, sending tingles up and down her spine.

She moaned, and that one tiny sound seemed to make him shudder. He kissed his way down the side of her neck, his scruff soft on her tender skin, his tongue tasting her, his lips caressing.

Someone pounded on the side of the house. “Hey, you guys in there? How long does it take to tour a fucking tiny house?”

Xander.

Tank rolled his eyes and blew out a sigh. Moment blown. Lissa didn’t know if she was glad or sorry. Tank made her feel things she wasn’t sure how to handle, but every time he stopped touching her, her world got colder and more lonely.

Tank went to the doorway. “What do you want?” he asked.

“Barbecue,” he said. “As in, we’re having one, because we have a new crew member who doesn’t know how much we suck yet, so why not celebrate? And Jasmin feels like cooking outside. You in?”

Barbecue? Lissa’s stomach rumbled, and Tank laughed.

“I guess we’re in,” he said. “Have to keep the new bear fed.”

“Okay,” Xander said. “Food in, like, I guess an hour.” He vaulted over the porch rail and took off.

Lissa tried to straighten her hair and look as dignified as she could, sitting on the countertop after being thoroughly kissed.

“So, barbecue,” she said. “Since there’s no hot water out here yet, could I change in the house? And maybe get a shower?” She frowned. “Please tell me you have a shower in there.”

A grin spread across Tank’s face. “Oh, yeah,” he said. “We have a shower.”