“I better not.” Eddie shook her head. She was still too unstable emotionally at the moment.
“You’re mad at me. I know, but I didn’t think?—”
“You don’t need to think,” Eddie interjected.Her voice came out rougher than she’d intended. She ran a hand along her face and grimaced at the dirt and blood that came away on her palm. She glanced back at Liana. “You just need to trust me.”
“But I do trust you.” Liana’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. She stood and took a step toward Eddie. She paused at Eddie’s raised hand. A tear trailed down her cheek.
“Then stop risking yourself. I can’t—” Eddie’s words faltered. Her throat constricted on the words that needed to come out, but here she was, too damn afraid to really say what she meant. Would Liana accept her? An alpha bear who had failed twice at keeping her safe? She blinked and drew on the strength of her animal. She might as well find out today. “I can’t lose you.”
That was the honest truth.
Liana closed the gap between them. She rested her hands on Eddie’s waist as she tilted her head back so she could meet Eddie’s gaze.
“Eddie,” she whispered.
She cocked her head to the side slightly. Her dark hair was matted to her scalp, there was a smudge of dirt on her cheek, her fingertips werestill icy cold, but she was still the most beautiful woman Eddie had ever seen.
“What are we?” Liana asked.
Eddie looked at her—really looked at Liana. Her gaze held a curiosity to it. This was her human. Her mate. The woman who fate had literally dropped into her arms.
“You’re mine,” she said simply. It was a promise. A vow. A declaration. “And I’m yours. Whether you know what that means or not.”
Liana stared at her with wide eyes. Her lips parted, and a sigh escaped her. The air thickened around them. It was charged with something deep and unspoken.
“Take a bath with me. Please.” Liana leaned into Eddie. She reached up and guided Eddie’s face down to hers. She placed a chaste kiss on her lips. “Your mate is asking this of you.”
Eddie’s heart stuttered at the use of the wordmate. Her bear roared inside her and slammed against her chest. Eddie stared at Liana with wide eyes. Did she just accept that she was her mate?
Liana stepped back, away from her, and stripped her clothing from her. She dropped each item onto the floor. She bent down and removedthe wrap that had been barely holding on to her ankle. She maintained eye contact with Eddie, revealing her naked form to her. Eddie’s mouth grew dry at the sight of Liana’s large breasts, her dark areolas, her tapered waist, and rounded hips. Her smooth brown skin glowed in the low light of the room. She backed up and motioned for Eddie to come to her.
Eddie’s feet moved on autopilot. There was no way she would be able to refuse such a request from this woman. Eddie took her hand and helped Liana into the tub before she followed in behind her. She sat with Liana in front of her. The warm water surrounded them. It felt damn good, but not as good as Liana saying aloud that she was Eddie’s mate.
“What did you call yourself?” Eddie rasped.
Liana’s lips curled up in the corner as she looked over her shoulder at Eddie. She turned around in the tub and straddled Eddie’s lap. Her knees rested along the side of Eddie’s hips. Eddie’s hands immediately went to cup Liana’s ample bottom in her hand.
Liana reached over to the small table beside the tub and picked up the washcloth and soap. She dipped them in the water and lathered thesoap with the cloth. She dropped the soap back in the dish and turned to Eddie.
“Mate.” Liana slowly ran the cloth along Eddie’s neck and shoulders.
Eddie’s bear practically purred at the sound of the word coming from Liana’s lips.
Her body shook at Liana taking her time in bathing her. She couldn’t find it in her to move. She allowed her to take care of her for once. Was that what a mating required? Eddie’s thoughts raced. She couldn’t tear her gaze from Liana’s face. She appeared to take pleasure in washing her.
Eddie’s bear craved to be the one to protect Liana, and care for her, but maybe she was to take care of them, too. She rested her hands on the edge of the tub. She gripped it tight but had to remember not to crack the damn tub.
“All I could think about in that car was that I needed you. That I shouldn’t have left the cabin. That you had been right,” Liana murmured.
She slid her hands down Eddie’s breasts. She took her time bathing them and ensuring they were clean. Eddie’s nipples were hard as diamonds. Her breath stalled as Liana played with them.
Her eyes flicked upward to meet Eddie’s. “I knew that I didn’t want to die. I wanted to see you again.”
Her hand dipped beneath the water’s surface. Eddie’s heart raced at the thought of the fear that had consumed Liana. She blinked and had to force her bear down. The animal paced inside her, begging to be let out.
Our mate is taking care of us, she hissed to it.
The bear paused, and Eddie felt her slight confusion. This wasn’t something they had ever considered.