Boarlander Bash Bear 2(37)

“I don’t want to go back to Saratoga tomorrow,” she admitted. “I mean, I know I have to because my computer is there and I need to sort out some messes, but it’s nice to imagine just staying here.”

Bash lifted her hand to his lips and bit her gently, right between her finger and thumb. “Maybe someday you can stay here. If you want. I don’t want to go to work tomorrow. Don’t want to miss time with you before you go.”

“What time do you leave for your shift?”

Bash scratched his sexy, dark facial scruff with the back of his thumbnail and arched his eyebrows at her. “Six.”

“Whoa, that’s freaking early, Bash Bear. I usually roll out of bed at nine and don’t change out of my pajamas until after a few hours of work.”

“Are you grumpy in the mornings?”

“Not if I have a cup of coffee.”

“Then I’ll make you a cup of coffee. Breakfast, too, if you wake up early with me so I can see you before I work.”

“I’ll require bacon for that.”

“Done.” Bash rocked upward and offered his hand, palm up. “Come on. I want to watch TV with you and pretend we’ll do that every night like one of them married couples.”

With a grin, she slid her palm against his and reveled in the warm sensation that sparked through her nerve endings where their skin touched. She’d never felt such a connection with another person in her life. And as they walked down the road toward 1010, she realized it had started even before he’d sat down with her at the diner. Her adoration had started with that sweet compliment at the library, and her devotion had begun to grow before she’d even gotten to know the real Sebastian Kane. With every moment she spent with him, he felt more like home.

With a smile, she waved goodnight to Mason, who nodded his chin and kept strumming that guitar of his. Usually, she was a night owl, but she understood the need for the trailer park to go quiet early. Harrison had explained to her they hadn’t been hitting their numbers in months thanks to Clinton chasing off most of the Boarlanders. All that was left was this skeleton crew, and they had to endure constant pressure to clear entire mountainsides so the Ashe Crew and the Gray Back Crew could come in with the big machinery and clean the felled lumber for transport to Kong’s sawmill in Saratoga. Here was a group of shifters who worked back-breaking manual labor to earn their wages. Her respect for this crew grew with every new thing she learned about them.

“Can I come watch you work someday?” she asked.

A soft rumble sounded from Bash, so she bumped his shoulder and held his hand. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t like the thought of you up there. It’s dangerous. It would be different if I bit you and put a bear in you, but you’re human. You don’t heal like me. If something happens to you… I wouldn’t be able to work with you up on the jobsite. I’d just hover around you all day. Audrey said girls don’t like that shit. I don’t want to chase you away.”

“It’s okay,” she murmured, “I understand.” She liked that Bash was protective without being controlling.

Inside 1010, Bash started digging around in the pantry, so she said, “I’m going to take a shower and get ready for bed.”

“Okay,” he said breathlessly as he stared at her with wide eyes.

With a shy smile, she asked, “Dooo you want to take a shower with me?”

Bash answered by stripping out of his T-shirt and speed-walking past her and into the bathroom, stomping across the floor as he went. He left perfect dusty boot prints in a straight line from her to the bathroom that glowed invitingly from the lights above the sink. The tap water turned on.

With a giggle, she pressed her flip-flop in the center of his huge boot print and marveled at the size difference. When she looked up, Bash was naked and frozen, head cocked as he watched her, his lips curved up in a questioning smile. Her heart fluttered in her chest.

How did anyone have the right to be this happy?

She lengthened her stride and stepped into each of his boot prints until she made it to the bathroom. He reached for her so fast his arms blurred, but he stilled just an inch from her skin. After a moment of hesitation, he slowed down and plucked the string of her bikini from behind her neck and whispered, “Gentle.” He undressed her slowly with steady fingers, gaze drifting from her eyes to her curvy parts as he pulled the fabric away. “I can’t believe you’re mine.”

Silly bear. He stood in front of her, tall enough to almost touch the ceiling, shoulders wide and strong, muscles cut in defined curves, eight-pack flexing with every breath and those bright, inhuman green eyes looking at her like she was prettier than that sunset he’d shared with her.