Lia Davis: Winter Eve

The crackling from the fire filled the room. She understood what he described. The bond between Sarah and her mate being broken would have been painful. Keegan, in one of his very rare emotional moods, had described it to her. The Alpha had said it was as if someone had reached inside his chest and ripped his heart out with their bare hands. She figured it would be rude and inappropriate to ask how he knew what that felt like and considered he was being graphic to keep her from asking any more personal questions.

When she looked up again, it was to meet Nevan’s eyes. Desire swirled in them, awakening her leopard. He raised his hand to brush a stray hair from her face. Instead of dropping his hand, he slid it behind her neck and drew her closer. His earthy pine scent enveloped her. When his lips touched hers, she lost any hope of control.

She opened, allowing his tongue inside to dance with hers. Her skin tingled and warmed at the pleasure that consumed her. It’d been way too long since she had been kissed like this. Never in her two hundred twenty-three years of life did she remember a kiss being this good.

His fingers touched her belly, making her jump slightly. When his palm cupped her breast, she moaned and pressed into his touch. Then he brushed over a path of scars, and she stilled.

Palms flat on his chest, she gave a gentle push. He broke the kiss. “What…?”

Shaking, she said, “I can’t,” and ran out the back door with her inhuman speed.

Danica fell to her knees in the snow about twenty yards from the cabin, her flesh still heated from Nevan’s kiss and the way he’d moved his hand over her skin. The need to bite him and claim him as hers had made her run away from him. Then there were the scars and the fear he would reject her after he saw how much of her body was ruined.

A tear dropped, forming a dent in the snow. She had spent the last couple of years living alone and coming to terms with the idea of never finding a mate. And she’d just run away from a potential mate.

God, she was an idiot.

“Dani?”

Her head snapped up at Jared’s questioning tone. Great. She didn’t need him, or anyone, seeing her like this. “What do you want?”

“I came to talk to you. Why are you out here?” He paused and sniffed the air. “I see.”

She stood and brushed off her jeans. “See what?”

“I petitioned Keegan for your hand.”

Choking, she squeaked, “You did what?”

Extending his hand to caress her cheek, he grew more serious than she’d ever seen him. “You need someone to care for you, to provide you with the security you deserve.”

She swatted at his hand. “You don’t love me, and I’m not entering a loveless mating.”

“We’re friends, Dani. We could grow to love each other over time. My parents’ mating was arranged, as was your parents’, and they loved one another deeply.”

“My parents were in love from the day they met.” She whirled around, only to have him stop her with his hand wrapped around her bicep.

“I can give you everything you desire.”

Squaring her shoulders, she pulled free from his hold and locked gazes with him. “Could you ever make love to me with the lights on? Could you look at my scars without flinching? Without pity?”

His silence confirmed his answer. “I didn’t think so.”

He stepped closer to her and drew her into a hug. “I’ve seen the scars.”

Another tear rolled down her cheek. Yes, Jared had seen her after the fire and had been there, with Shay, during the painful healing. “You still look at me with sorrow. I don’t want people to dwell on those feelings anymore.”

He lifted her chin with his finger. “You don’t have to give me your answer now. Think about it.”

Stepping back, he moved his gaze past her before he shifted into a large jaguar and vanished deeper into the forest.

“Dani, what’s going on?”

She closed her eyes briefly before turning to face Nevan. Gut turning, she hated that hurt look on his face. “How long have you been here?”

“Long enough.” He stood staring at her for several moments before speaking again. “I’m just going to leave. It was a mistake to agree to stay with you.”

He pivoted around and marched back to the cabin. Cursing, she rushed after him. “Where will you go? It’s about to snow again. You’ll freeze…”

Stopping at the bottom step, he spoke without looking at her. “I’ll go into town and call my brother.”

Fear squeezed her heart. If he left, she’d never see him again. He could be her one, and maybe only, chance at have a true mate, and he was about to walk out of her life. He couldn’t leave, not now.

“Don’t go. Please.” He shook his head and continued up the stairs and into the house. She followed him down the hall to the guest room. When she entered the room, her fear turned to nervous desperation to keep him.

“You can’t leave.”

He looked at her then. “I can’t?”

Her legs started to shake. She’d gone too long avoiding the male species; she wasn’t sure what to do. “I just found you. I can’t let you leave,” she whispered.

Standing stock-still, he studied her. “Who is Jared, really?”

Taking a shaky breath, she wrapped her arms around her middle. “He’s Ashwood Falls’ legal counsel.”

He stepped into her space, making her heart rate increase. “No, who is he to you?”

“A close friend. That’s it. He’s not my true mate.”

“Have you two ever…?”

“No.”

His expression hardened a little. “I heard him say he’d seen your scars.”

With a sigh, she sat on the bed. “Jared pulled me out of the fire and was there through my recovery.”

“Sounds like more than a friend.”

She focused back on his face. Her own fury started to rise. “Jared has a problem with thinking he knows what’s best for others. He also is known for chasing after weaker females.”

“You’re not weak.” He stalked toward her. The gleam in those grey eyes sent heat to her sex.

“What did you mean by finding me and not letting me go?”

She swallowed. “I…you’re the one who’s my potential true mate.”

He stopped a couple of inches from her and cupped her face. She covered his hand with hers and watched shock, confusion, and hint of joy pass over his handsome features in a swirl of emotion. He opened his mouth to speak, but closed it.

She kissed his palm, stopping him from saying anything. Peering up at him through her thick lashes, she drew his index finger into her mouth. His sharp intake of breath and the increase in his pulse encouraged her to continue. She ran her hand up the inside of his leg, stopping inches below the growing bulge behind his zipper.

His fingers wrapped around hers and pulled her hand away. With their gazes locked, he withdrew his finger from her mouth so he could cup the back of her head. She watched the play of emotions on his face. There was a battle going on inside his mind.

“Relax, Doctor. Do what you want and stop analyzing the situation,” she challenged.

His gray eyes darkened as his scent intensified. He lowered his head to capture her lips. Like the first one had, this kiss ignited her from the inside out. She moaned and pressed into him, offering herself to him. What they both needed.

The internal debate was over. Maybe it was overridden by desire. Whatever the case, Danica didn’t care. He broke the kiss, drew back, and lifted the hem of her sweater.

A rush of fear shot through her, increasing her pulse and threatening to close off her airway.

Pushing the garment back down, she was beginning to have a panic attack. “Turn the lights off.”