Eddie’s gaze dropped to her lips. The heat in her eyes flared even more. Butterflies filled Liana’s stomach. She didn’t know how long they had slept or how long she had been in Eddie’s arms.
“No problem. I noticed you shivering again, so I thought to bring you closer to me,” Eddie said.
Ah. She was helping her as she’d slept.
Well, that makes sense.
“You just know how to take care of me, don’t you?” Liana joked. She closed her eyes and leaned her forehead down to put her face back in the crook of Eddie’s neck. She wasn’t going to lie, she didn’t want to move from this spot.
“Yeah, I do. If you’d let me,” Eddie said.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Liana gasped. Her head flew back so she could see Eddie’s face.
The woman stared at her with an expression that Liana couldn’t read.
“You are injured. Allow me to help you,” Eddie said softly. Her hand came up to gently cup Liana’s face.
Liana leaned into the callused palm. This was someone who worked with her hands. Liana immediately fantasized what it would feel like to have those hands running along her bare thighs. A shiver rippled through her.
Eddie’s eyebrows rose. “Still cold?”
“No.” She was far from cold. If anything, she was starting to overheat being this close to Eddie. She looked away from her. “I just don’t want to feel helpless. You have done plenty for me. The least I can do is help out around here to pay you back.”
“You don’t ever have to pay me back,” Eddie snapped. She narrowed her eyes on Liana.
Her expression of anger took Liana’s breath away.
Eddie tightened her hold on Liana’s face. “You were trapped, injured, and in danger. Any decent person would have—or at least should have—helped.”
“But still. It’s just in my nature to?—”
“To be stubborn?” Eddie’s expression softened. Her thumb softly caressed Liana’s face.
The move could be felt all the way down to Liana’s core. Her breaths came swiftly as she focused on the swipes of her thumb.
“Determined. Helpful,” Liana retorted, her eyes fluttering shut.
This woman was doing things to her that made her body come alive. What was this between them? Was Eddie feeling it, or was this all one-sided because it had been a long time since Liana had felt the touch of another in such an intimate way?
“Hmmm…” Eddie murmured. Her thumb paused its movement.
Liana opened her eyes, and her heart skipped a beat. Eddie lowered her head and paused when their lips were millimeters from each other. Liana parted her lips slightly. Eddie groaned and closed the distance between them.
Her lips were firm yet soft. Liana’s opened to welcome Eddie’s bold tongue that swept insideher mouth. Liana lifted her arms to wrap them around Eddie’s neck. Unable to resist, she tugged Eddie to her. She didn’t want the woman to pull away—not yet.
The kiss was heated and possessive. Eddie wasted no time in dominating it. She held on to Liana’s head while her tongue plundered. Liana wasn’t shy in meeting her in the kiss. She returned it with such a fire that it left both of them breathless when they drew apart. They stared at each other for a moment before Eddie spoke.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have?—”
“Please don’t apologize. I mean, unless you have a mate or something,” Liana breathed.
“What? I don’t have a mate,” Eddie replied.
“Then why are you apologizing?” Liana’s fingers played with the small amount of hair that had escaped Eddie’s ponytail at the base of her neck.
There was conflict in Eddie’s amber gaze. She glanced down at Liana and blew out a deep breath. “Because I don’t want you thinking I am taking advantage of you.”
Chapter Four