He felt Mara shift beside him and he turned. “I’m going with you.”
The fear was back in her eyes and he’d do anything to wipe that away forever. He’d defy Cole for that. Might as well just hand his pelt over to her right now. Knowing full well she probably wouldn’t take it.
Why would she? They didn’t know each other well enough.
But then the fear retreated from her eyes and she smiled up at him for several long seconds. When she finally looked away, he felt as if he’d been smashed on the head with a two-by-four.
Vaguely he realized she’d picked up the whiteboard.
Where do we have to go?
Chapter Five
Arin was down for the night and Mara had just closed the door behind Kaisie and Grace, who had stopped by to make sure everything was okay.
Mara had smiled and said of course, they were fine. Race had held up a corner of the living room, arms crossed over his chest. He hadn’t said much but he hadn’t made Grace or Kaisie suspicious.
The story of her son’s encounter with the bear hadn’t left Cole’s house. She had asked Cole to keep it secret until they knew what was going on and he’d agreed. She didn’t know whether to be grateful or even more worried about his agreement.
Arin had fallen asleep after a short feeding and a little rocking, not at all out of sorts. As if nothing momentous had taken place today.
And maybe nothing had. Maybe they were making a mountain out of a molehill.
Sure. Bears always sat and had conversations with babies. And totally ignored the adults.
It made no sense and she couldn’t believe she’d managed to convince Grace that everything was fine. Maybe she hadn’t. Maybe Grace had simply decided to cut her some slack.
She needed a little slack. A little breathing room.
But not too much.
Where’s Race?
She realized it was a thought she had several times a day. She’d grown so used to his presence that when she couldn’t find him, she felt…lonely.
Now he wasn’t anywhere to be seen.
A sharp pain struck her dead center in her chest. Had he left? Without saying anything?
No, he wouldn’t do that.
Would he?
She didn’t know him all that well. What she did know was that she felt safe with him.
And when he kissed her…
She definitely shouldn’t be thinking about that kiss. She had too many other things going on in her life. She should be thinking about what she was going to do with her life when she left the den. She’d have to get a job. She had no money. She owned absolutely nothing, not even the clothes on her back. They’d been bought by Grace.
She had a high school education only because Ettore had employed a tutor for her and Lia who helped her get her GED. She had no head for numbers, but she wasn’t stupid.
Still, she wouldn’t be able to survive without help. And that made her furious. And terrified. And embarrassed.
“Mara. What’s wrong?”
She turned with a gasp, her hand going to her chest.
Race stood in the open front door, wearing a frown, a pair of jeans and not much else. He held a shirt in his hands but she had the almost overwhelming urge to grab it and stuff it in the disposal in the sink and grind it to tiny bits.
Blessed Mother Goddess, the man had a body sculpted by the deities. She’d never felt this way about a guy. Not even the father of her son. That man—she refused to even think his name—had been the first man to show her simple affection. She’d been attracted to him, had soaked up his apparent kindness. She’d given him her virginity and never realized he’d been playing her the entire time.
All because Ettore had wanted her to be a breeding machine.
She lifted her hands. “Where were you?”
His eyes narrowed as he watched her hands before he nodded and lifted his gaze back to hers. “Out for a run. I wanted to check the forest, make sure everything’s okay.”
Then he pulled his shirt over his head and she nearly asked him to take it off again.
“Something happen?”
He strode across the room to her, stopping only inches away and again she was struck by his size. He made her feel tiny. And as if nothing could get at her if he stood by her side. Or in front of her.
Looking up into those dark, dark eyes, she wondered if he knew how she felt about him. If he knew she wanted him to kiss her again. To take her out of herself for just a little while.
Was that so awful? Arin was safe and sound asleep in the little bedroom next to hers. Arin had outgrown the bassinet, and the queen-size bed in her room didn’t leave room for the crib.
She wasn’t sure Race would fit in her bed. And if he did, he’d take up most of it.
And that would be okay.
A muscle began to jump in his jaw and she reached out to run a finger along the rough stubble on his cheeks. He had perpetual five o’clock shadow. It added to the air of danger surrounding him.
With any other man, it would’ve turned her off, made her run the other way.
With Race…it drew her closer.
She took a step forward until only inches separated them. She wanted him to kiss her again but he seemed dead set against it. He held stock-still, his only movements that still-twitching muscle in his jaw and the increasingly labored rise and fall of his chest.
Was he as affected by her as she was by him? He’d kissed her last night then pushed her away. What would happen if she kissed him right now?
She wanted to ask him but she knew he wouldn’t be able to understand all of it and she didn’t want him to misunderstand her in any way.
So how did she show him what she wanted?
Should she rise onto her tiptoes and press her lips against his? Last night he’d kissed her. Maybe she needed to show him just how much she wanted him.
“Are you sure?”
His voice startled her and her gaze flew from his lips to his eyes.
“Just nod or shake your head. I don’t want any misunderstandings. If you don’t want to kiss me, shake your head. If you do, nod—”
Putting both hands on his cheeks, she pulled him down and kissed him. She wanted him to have no doubt that this was what she wanted. That he was who she wanted.
As her lips moved over his, she took her time, learning how best they fit together. How much better they meshed when she turned her head a certain way or how much deeper when she lifted onto her toes.
Race let her explore, let her kiss him instead of taking over.
She felt the tension in his body, as if he were holding himself back from grabbing her and pulling her against him.
She appreciated his control but it wasn’t what she wanted. She wanted him out of control. Wanted him to want her so much he couldn’t keep his hands off her.
Taking the final step forward, she pressed against him from breasts to thighs.
Gods, the man threw off enough heat to warm an entire room.
She wanted to get closer. Wanted to feel his naked body against hers. Over her. Wrapped around her and moving in her.
Did he want the same?
She pulled back and opened her eyes, looking up. His were open, barely, and glittering.
“Are you absolutely sure?”
His voice sounded sexy, dark and enticing. She wanted to hear him telling her how much he wanted her. Not constantly asking if she was okay or if she was certain she knew what she wanted.
She wanted him to know she was okay. Wanted him to trust that she knew what she wanted.
Prove to him she was as adult as she claimed to be.
Making sure she maintained eye contact, she nodded then smiled at him.
And watched desire flush his face.