Marilu Mann - Changing Focus

Micah took a deep breath, closed his eyes briefly, then whirled around and nearly ran down the hall to the kitchen. The last thing he needed to do was get physical with one of his guests. However, the more time he spent with her, the more convinced he became that she was a shifter, specifically, the she-wolf he’d seen and scented in the woods.

He made quick work of heating some milk, adding cocoa powder and sugar. Stirring the concoction until it was frothy and steaming, he added a little vanilla and cinnamon, thinking of Olivia’s sweet spicy scent as he did so. Pouring the mixture into two large mugs, he moved back down the hall.

She sat on one of the large footstools near the fire, her knees drawn up and her arms wrapped around them. Lifting her head, she smiled as Micah came into the room. He took three steps across the room and knelt beside her stool. He handed her one of the mugs, setting the other one down on the floor.

Pulling the screen aside, he stirred the fire and placed another log on the irons. He could feel her watching him. If he turned his head just a little he’d be able to see her. Doing so, he met her eyes, caught again by their unique color. Somewhere between sky and powder blue, they sparkled like the snow outside when the sun hit it just right. For a long moment, neither of them moved, both seeming suspended as the atmosphere around them thickened.

Finally, she blinked and he was able to look away. He looked instead at the fire, feeling the heat on his face as well as in the rest of his body. Micah knew that Olivia was the source of the heat coursing through him. It had been a very long time since a shifter female had stirred him as much as this one did. He also knew from that feeling that the two of them would be lovers before she left the lodge.

Something also told him there would be more to it than that. His grandfather, the wisest shaman he’d ever known, had always told him he’d know, down in his soul, when he met the woman fated to be his mate. The feeling churning in his gut told him it might very well be the woman sitting next to him also staring at the fire.

Olivia cleared her throat, smiling as Micah settled onto the rug beside her stool. “So, thank you for taking me out today. I didn’t realize there was so much involved in walking around in snowshoes.”

“Wait until we go cross-country skiing.” Micah didn’t try to hide the humor in his voice and a slight shiver went through him when she laughed. The sound enchanted him and he immediately wanted to hear more of it.

“Oh no, I’m already sore. I remember how stiff I got the last time I went skiing. I can’t imagine how I’ll feel then.” She stretched her legs out in front of her and Micah let his gaze go from her ankles to the juncture of her thighs. He wanted to offer to massage the soreness away but wouldn’t do so until she gave him a clearer signal of her own interest.

He turned his face back toward the fireplace, unwilling to stare. Her scent reached him again, the smell of oranges wrapping around his senses.

Micah closed his eyes. The urge to pull her into his arms to softly stroke her neck then let his hands wander down the curve of her breasts nearly overwhelmed him. He couldn’t give in. He had to wait.

As a she-wolf, the first move was up to her. If she wanted him, she’d let him know. He could make his interest known, but he wasn’t usually that overt. He knew that among humans the male usually made the first move, but in shifter communities, the female would always let her desires be known.

If they were in a Pack situation, it would be different. As the dominant male, he would be the only one she could offer herself to unless he gave her permission to seek out another or if he were already mated. Since they weren’t in a Pack, he waited.

Picking up his cup, Micah sipped absently at the cooling cocoa, waiting for even the smallest sign from Olivia. The silence stretched between them and he felt her relax beside him. Finally she sat forward, putting her cup on the floor. He turned his head to watch her push her hair back behind her ears then met her gaze as she raised her eyes to his. Here it comes. Now she’ll say something and we’ll be able to make love.

“So, Micah, what do you do when you’re not here? Gareth kind of gave the impression that you were gone for several months at a time.”

He stared for a moment then blinked slowly, pulling his testosterone back under control. She isn’t interested? Damn. How could I be so wrong about this attraction?

Clearing his throat, Micah tried to decide what to tell her. He didn’t want it widely known that he was a bond enforcement agent, especially since her article would include pictures. He hadn’t fully retired from the life as yet.

“What I tell you about my other profession needs to be off the record.”

“Excuse me?” She looked him straight in the eye and Micah had to force himself to sit perfectly still. It’s not a challenge. Don’t overreact.

“I work as a bond enforcement agent, Olivia. If you spread that around and include my picture, I won’t be able to effectively perform my duties.”

“You’re a bounty hunter?”

He heard the interest in her voice and sighed. Why did people, women in particular, find that such a glamorous profession? There isn’t anything glamorous about chasing felons across the country only to turn them over to local law enforcement. Unless you like spending hours doing nothing more than watching and waiting for the prey.

“Yes.” He tried to infuse as much reluctance into his tone as he could, hoping she’d get the hint that he really didn’t want to talk about it. Fortunately, she seemed to be as attuned to his desires-at least the more passive ones-as he was to hers and she let it drop.

“Well, that’s interesting, but I’m really here to write about winter sports. So tell me, what’s your favorite winter sport?”

Micah had to bite his tongue to keep from telling her what sport he’d like to engage in with her. When he was sure he could control his unruly thoughts, he took a deep breath. “I prefer cross-country skiing.”

“Really, why is that?”

He could almost see her taking mental notes so he moved over to the desk in the corner and pulled out a notepad and pen, handing them to her. She smiled up at him from her position on the footstool, taking the paper and pen. Her smile called up those thoughts he’d just wrestled into submission. To see her face flushed with passion as he drove into her…but instead he had to satisfy her curiosity about her subject.

For the next twenty minutes, she asked countless questions about winter sports and he answered them. The clock on the mantle finally caught Micah’s attention and he rose to stretch then offered her his hand.

“Where are we going?” Though she asked first, she placed her hand in his, allowing him to pull her to her feet. He relished the small sign of trust she’d offered. Maybe she just wanted to get to know him better before making her interest in him obvious?

“It’s lunchtime. I hoped you wouldn’t mind continuing this conversation in the kitchen while I make lunch.”

“Not at all.” She followed him down the hall, the sound of her footsteps a quiet counterpoint to his own. He saw her ensconced into a kitchen chair with another cup of hot cocoa then turned his attention to what they’d have for lunch. Settling on stew, he started pulling containers of frozen stew out of the walk-in freezer.

Though she balked a bit at the size of the bowl he put in front of her just a little while later, Micah was amused to watch Olivia eat. She had no difficulty with the broth or the vegetables, but she pushed the meat aside.

“Don’t you care for the stew?”