“That would be nice,” Liana replied softly. She leaned into Eddie and inhaled sharply. “You are like a furnace. How are you so warm after being outside?”
“It’s just my physiology.” Eddie shrugged. She reached up and pushed some of Liana’s hair that had escaped her braids out of her face. She tucked it behind Liana’s small, rounded ear. She was fascinated by the long coiled hair with its golden ends. She would love to see it wild and free along her pillows back home.
Eddie’s breathing stopped short. The vision that came to her sent her heart rate skyrocketing. Thankfully, her little mate wasn’t a shifter and wouldn’t be able to scent her sharp arousal. This woman in her arms certainly did things to her. The brief moment she’d seen Liana’s naked breasts were etched in her memory forever. Eddie’s core clenched at the scent of her. It was warm and welcoming, even with the tinge of outdoors and the cold. Liana pressed her cold nose to the crook of Eddie’s neck.
“Are you warm enough yet?” Eddie’s voice was a low, husky whisper.
“Getting there,” Liana said. “You definitely help. I love how the heat comes off you.”
That was a dangerous answer. Her bear surged forward. She wanted to claim Liana right at this moment.
No. Not now. Liana needs us to keep her warm,Eddie murmured to her beast. The bear had the nerve to grumble before she settled down. Eddie forced a slow exhale and tried keep all carnal thoughts of Liana out of her mind.
“Keep talking to me. Don’t fall asleep.”
“What do you want to talk about?” Liana laughed.
“Anything.”
“You came pretty fast. Like you knew exactly where I was.”
“I heard you,” Eddie replied. “People may not realize how fast we bears are.”
“I’d love to meet your bear one day,” Liana said.
Eddie froze and glanced down. She was met with the wide-eyed stare of her intended. Eddie’s bear’s head rose at the mention of meeting her. She would love that, too. As the mate of analpha bear, she would be the most protected woman around. Eddie’s bear was strong and fierce. She’d faced down plenty of other bears who had challenged her for the title of alpha.
They’d all lost.
Eddie’s fingers found their way to Liana’s cheek. They were still slightly cold with a rosy tint to them. The fire snapped, sending a flickering flame up the chimney. The wind hissed along the eaves, signaling the second wave of the storm was blowing in.
But all Eddie cared about was Liana.
They were close enough that Eddie could smell the water lingering on Liana, along with the faint sweetness of whatever lotion she’d used. Liana’s pupils dilated wide. Eddie trailed her finger down the softness of Liana’s face and stopped just below her plump bottom lip.
A lip that she’d had the pleasure to taste, not once, but twice.
“You should rest. We need to make sure to get your core temperature up.”
“Maybe…I’m already warm enough,” Liana whispered.
A teasing glint appeared in Liana’s eyes that took Eddie’s breath away. The air in the roomgrew heavy, laced with attraction between the two of them.
“Liana, you don’t know what you’re doing,” Eddie breathed.
“I think I do,” Liana whispered.
Somehow her fingers had found their way to Eddie’s wrist. Eddie’s breath staggered from Liana’s touch. There was no denying the spark between them.
“I’m trying to take care of you.”
“I know and I thank you for it.” Her eyes shimmered in the firelight.
The large window let the natural light flow into the room, but it was the flicker of the firelight that allowed Eddie to see what was brewing in Liana’s eyes. There was something there. Not just an attraction, but trust.
And something deeper.
Eddie cupped Liana’s face. Her eyes fluttered shut as she leaned into Eddie’s palm as if she’d been waiting for her touch. When those dark bedroom eyes opened again, they held a heat in them that took Eddie’s breath away.